MEMBER LOGIN





Lost Password?
No account yet? Register
WHO'S ONLINE
We have 4 guests online
EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Sign up for your complimentary subscription.






BACK ISSUES
Volume 35 Number 104 Thursday, May 08, 2008
Volume 35 Number 103 Thursday, May 01, 2008
Volume 35 Number 102 Thursday, April 24, 2008
Volume 35 Number 101 Thursday, April 17, 2008
Volume 35 Number 100 Thursday, April 10, 2008
Volume 35 Number 99 Thursday, April 03, 2008
Volume 35 Number 98 Thursday, March 27, 2008
Volume 35 Number 97 Thursday, March 20, 2008
Volume 35 Number 96 Thursday, March 13, 2008
Volume 35 Number 95 Thursday, March 06, 2008
Volume 35 Number 94 Thursday, February 28, 2008
Volume 35 Number 93 Thursday, February 21, 2008
Volume 35 Number 92 Thursday, February 14, 2008
Volume 35 Number 91 Thursday, February 07, 2008
Volume 35 Number 90 Thursday, January 31, 2008
Volume 35 Number 89 Thursday, January 24, 2008
Volume 35 Number 88 Thursday, January 17, 2008
Volume 35 Number 87 Thursday, January 10, 2008
Volume 35 Number 86 Thursday, January 03, 2008
Volume 35 Number 85 Thursday, December 27, 2007
Volume 35 Number 84 Thursday, December 20, 2007
Volume 35 Number 83 Thursday, December 13, 2007
Volume 35 Number 82 Thursday, December 06, 2007
Volume 35 Number 81 Thursday, November 29, 2007
Volume 35 Number 80 Thursday, November 22, 2007
Volume 35 Number 79 Thursday, November 15, 2007
Volume 35 Number 78 Thursday, November 08, 2007
Volume 35 Number 77 Thursday, November 01, 2007
Volume 35 Number 76 Thursday, October 25, 2007
Volume 35 Number 75 Thursday, October 18, 2007
Volume 35 Number 74 Thursday, October 11, 2007
Volume 35 Number 73 Thursday, October 04, 2007
Volume 35 Number 72 Thursday, September 27, 2007
Volume 35 Number 71 Thursday, September 20, 2007
Volume 35 Number 70 Thursday, September 13, 2007
Volume 35 Number 69 Thursday, September 06, 2007
Volume 35 Number 68 Thursday, August 30, 2007
Volume 35 Number 67 Thursday, August 23, 2007
Volume 35 Number 66 Thursday, August 16, 2007
Volume 35 Number 65 Thursday, August 09, 2007
Volume 35 Number 64 Thursday, August 02, 2007
Volume 35 Number 63 Thursday, July 26, 2007
Volume 35 Number 62 Thursday, July 19, 2007
Volume 35 Number 61 Thursday, July 12, 2007
Volume 35 Number 60 Thursday, July 05, 2007
Volume 35 Number 59 Thursday, June 28, 2007
Volume 35 Number 58 Thursday, June 21, 2007
Volume 35 Number 57 Thursday, June 14, 2007
Volume 35 Number 56 Thursday, June 07, 2007
Volume 35 Number 55 Thursday, May 31, 2007
Volume 35 Number 54 Thursday, May 24, 2007
Volume 35 Number 53 Thursday, May 17, 2007
Volume 35 Number 52 Thursday, May 10, 2007
Volume 35 Number 51 Thursday, May 03, 2007
Volume 35 Number 50 Thursday, April 26, 2007
Volume 35 Number 49 Thursday, April 19, 2007
Volume 35 Number 48 Thursday, April 12, 2007
Volume 35 Number 47 Thursday, April 05, 2007
Volume 35 Number 46 Thursday, March 29, 2007
Volume 35 Number 45 Thursday, March 22, 2007
Volume 35 Number 44 Thursday, March 15, 2007
Volume 35 Number 43 Thursday, March 08, 2007
Volume 35 Number 42 Thursday, March 01, 2007
Volume 35 Number 41 Thursday, Febuary 22, 2007
Volume 35 Number 40 Thursday, Febuary 15, 2007
Volume 35 Number 39 Thursday, Febuary 08, 2007
Volume 35 Number 38 Thursday, Febuary 01, 2007
Volume 35 Number 37 Thursday, January 25, 2007
Volume 35 Number 36 Thursday, January 18, 2007
Volume 35 Number 35 Thursday, January 11, 2007
Volume 35 Number 34 Thursday, January 04, 2007
Volume 35 Number 33 Thursday, December 28, 2006
Volume 35 Number 32 Thursday, December 21 2006
Volume 35 Number 31 Thursday, December 14 2006
Volume 35 Number 31 Thursday, December 14 2006
Volume 35 Number 30 Thursday, December 7 2006
Volume 35 Number 29 Thursday, November 30 2006
Volume 35 Number 28 Thursday, November 23 2006
Volume 35 Number 27 Thursday, November 16 2006
Volume 35 Number 26 Thursday, November 9 2006
Volume 35 Number 25 Thursday, November 2, 2006
Volume 35 Number 24 Thursday, October 26, 2006
Volume 35 Number 23 Thursday, October 19, 2006
Volume 35 Number 22 Thursday, October 12, 2006
Volume 35 Number 21 Thursday, October 5, 2006
Volume 35 Number 20 Thursday, September 28, 2006
Volume 35 Number 19 Thursday, September 21, 2006
Volume 35 Number 18 Thursday, September 14, 2006
Volume 35 Number 17 Thursday, September 7, 2006
Volume 35 Number 16 Thursday, August 31, 2006
Volume 35 Number 15 Thursday, August 24, 2006
Volume 35 Number 14 Thursday, August 17, 2006
Volume 35 Number 13 Thursday, August 10, 2006
Volume 35 Number 12 Thursday, August 3, 2006
Volume 35 Number 11 Thursday, July 27, 2006
Volume 35 Number 10 Thursday, July 20, 2006
Volume 35 Number 9 Thursday, July 13, 2006
Volume 35 Number 8 Thursday, July 6, 2006
Volume 35 Number 7 Thursday, June 29, 2006
Volume 35 Number 6 Thursday, June 22, 2006
Volume 35 Number 5 Thursday, June 15, 2006
COMMUNITY TOOLS
       Directory
MULTIMEDIA
Click to play tracks

1. - Guitar Heroes
2. - Little Black Dress
3. - The Good Old Days


Music brought to you by John Carey and QFX


Tribute to Eddie Dee Smith

Media Gallery

Credit Card Authorization Form
Home arrow News arrow Lifestyles arrow Mohegan Sun Hosts Coaches Convention
Mohegan Sun Hosts Coaches Convention Print E-mail
Thursday, 18 January 2007
CONNECTICUT

By Earl Heath
 
It was the gathering place for more than 2100 baseball and softball coaches. The Mohegan Sun Casino tucked away in beautiful picturesque Southeastern Connecticut, was the setting for the World Baseball Coaches' Convention and the Black Voice News takes you there.

The Mohegan Sun is the World's second largest casino and is also a sports haven as it is the home of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun. It's hosted World Championship fights including; Evander Holyfield and John Ruiz. This time it was all about baseball and softball. Coaches and vendors came from around America and Canada.

New York Yankee batting instructor Don Mattingly was one of the hot speakers many came to hear. Mattingly, who played 14 years for the Yankees, was the American League MVP in 1985. "I love sharing what I know," said Mattingly. "It helps the game and if I can help youngsters and their coaches do better, that's what's important."

Former Texas Ranger and New York Met manager Bobby Valentine was on hand to share some of he knowledge he has absorbed as a player and manager for 27 years. Valentine, with a 2005 Japan Series championship, discussed with the Black Voice News the difference between professional baseball in Japan and America. "There is no difference, it‘s the exact same game," said Valentine. "There are 12 teams there and 30 teams here, so that's different. There's more money thrown around here (America). Baseball is baseball wherever you play it."

Image
Kevn Smith - Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission
There were not just professional ballplayers or managers at the Mohegan Sun. Kevin Smith, Director of the St. Petersburg/Clearwater Sports Commission, was on hand. Smith was impressed with the Hot Seat portion of the convention. This entailed past and present major leaguers such as B.J. Ryan, Valentine and Mattingly to answer questions from host Mark Leinweaver and the audience members themselves.

"We're here to bring sports and tourism back to the St. Petersburg/Clearwater area," said Smith.

The commission hosts about 46 tournaments a year that last from three days to a week. The World Baseball Coaches Convention is one way to recruit coaches and teams for some of its tournaments. Some areas have four separate one week tournaments in the Sunshine State. "Some of our larger tournaments will have 25 different states represented at one time from California, Texas and many from the eastern seaboard." 

Image
Former Detroit Tiger John Valle with signature glove
Beau Blair represented Team Express from San Antonio, Texas. He was there to promote his baseball and softball equipment that is delivered nationwide. "We have a ton of customers that go by us all the time and we make the effort to be here for them," said Blair.

John Valle was in town from Rochester, New York. The former Detroit Tiger made the trip to push his lines of baseball and softball gloves and bats. The company, Valle Baseball, has distribution throughout the east coast.

Retired UCLA Head softball coach Sue Enquist was one of the most sought after speakers at the convention. Enquist led the Bruins to 11 National Championships. Players and coaches hung on every word as she gave illustrated batting instructions to the audience.

"The game {softball} allows no color line, no ethnic background restrictions. It accepts everyone whether you're fast or slow, rich or poor," said Enquist. "If you decide to work hard and be committed to this game, it rewards you with opportunities to go to college." 

"I've learned how to be more efficient in my practices," said Emily Crompton, head softball coach of Northwood Academy of New Hampshire. "I've learned tons of new things and more hitting tips from coach Enquist. It is interesting to see how people have gotten their program to grow and grow as her team."

Image
(R-L) Bobby Valentine, Chairman g'tine'mong - Dr. Ralph Sturges and Don Mattingly share a moment at World Baseball Coaches Convention at the Mohegan Sun
Baseball coaches Sal Coppola and Jeff Rotteck made the trip from Amity High School in Western Connecticut. They have attended the event for several years and information gathered from previous coaches conventions at the Mohegan Sun has helped their coaching ability immensely. "We implement a lot of the stuff we learn here," said Coppola. "We do have to adapt it because a lot of the coaches are dealing with pro and college players. We take what they give us and adjust it to high school kids. We'll incorporate into our drills and our smaller facilities. We make it work for us."

Amity High reached the Connecticut State Finals three of the last four seasons. This year they are the Class S Champions. Coppola was extremely impressed with speaker Rod Delmonico University of Tennessee head coach . "He's tremendous and talks about philosophy and how to approach the game. We use a lot of what he has to say."

Delmonico is a fiery young coach from the University of Tennessee who was the crowd favorite at the convention. He's led the Vols to nine 40-win seasons on the way to becoming the Vols winningest coach in history with 650 wins. He's straight forward and believes in diversity, as his team has players from many races and all walks of life including Brazil and Puerto Rico. While assistant coaching at Florida State he went to three College World Series in six years and coach Deon Sanders. "For me, I like to give a little bit and learn. Also, I like to give back to the game," said Delmonico. "I believe when you stop learning you're done and you should retire."


 
< Prev   Next >
May 2008 June 2008
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
Week 18 1 2 3
Week 19 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Week 20 11 12 13 14 15 16 17
Week 21 18 19 20 21 22 23 24
Week 22 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Advertisement
Advertisement
 
Advertisement
 
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement