Bramlett’s Q-School achievement a milestone in African-American golf

By Farrell Evans, Golf.com

The history of African-American golf has some notable milestones. In 1961, the fall of the PGA’s caucasian-only clause gave men like Charlie Sifford and Pete Brown a chance to play on the PGA Tour. In 1975, Lee Elder became the first African-American to play in the Masters. (Four years later, he was the first person of color to compete in a Ryder Cup.)

These milestones might only be known to hardcore golf fans, but everybody remembers Tiger Woods embracing his dad after winning the 1997 Masters. What Jim Nantz called “a win for the ages” had a unique significance for African-Americans like the World War II veteran who told me that Tiger’s win felt as good as when Joe Louis beat Max Schmeling in their 1938 rematch at Yankee Stadium. After Woods’s first victory at Augusta National, many African-American parents saw golf as a sport their children could play, just as Barack Obama’s election made the presidency seem possible.

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Bass Spreads Holiday Cheer at Florida Hospital for Children

By Dan Savage, Orlando Magic

The Orlando Magic always make an extra effort to increase their immense number of off-the-court endeavors around the holiday season.

This year is no different.

Prior to heading on his team’s west coast trip, the Magic’s Brandon Bass paid a visit to pediatric patients at Florida Hospital for Children to spread some holiday cheer.

The 6’8” power forward did his best impersonation of Kris Kringle, donning a Magic-themed Santa cap as he popped into the rooms of countless children throughout the evening.

Mariah Stackhouse, Trey Kaahanui named American Junior Golf Association player representatives

SOURCE: WorldGolf.com

Mariah Stackhouse of Riverdale, Ga., and Trey Kaahanui of Tempe, Ariz., have been chosen to serve as the 2011 player representatives on the American Junior Golf Association Board of Directors.

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, the AJGA is governed by a Board of Directors, which meets quarterly to discuss relevant topics concerning the state of the Association. Player representatives are the voice of the AJGA membership, which has exceeded 5,000 each year since 2006.

Stackhouse, a high school junior, has been playing in AJGA tournaments for the past four years and built a notable resume over that time by collecting 12 top-10 finishes. Because of her example on and off the course, Stackhouse has been chosen as the first African-American in this position. Already a role model from her playing career, she will now be given the opportunity to step into an even greater leadership position.

Terrell Owens reaches out to 6-year-old

By Ben Houser, ESPN

Terrell Owens parlayed his NFL resurgence into an off-the-field cause this week, helping to lift the spirits of a young boy in need.

Owens reached out to 6-year-old Josiah Viera with a heartfelt e-mail and a package that included a jersey and his eighth touchdown ball of the season.

Viera suffers from a rare genetic disease called Progeria.

“Josiah’s face lit up like a Christmas tree as I handed him the football and said this is from Sunday’s game,” said Josiah’s mother, Jennifer. “He gave me the biggest smile as I read what T.O. had wrote on the ball and jersey.”

Kansas African American Museum honors Barry Sanders

SOURCE: Wichita Eagle

Wichita native Barry Sanders, a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, was named a 2010 Trailblazer on Saturday by the Kansas African American Museum.

Sanders was inducted into the museum’s Trailblazer Hall of Fame in a gala at the Hyatt Regency Wichita for his contributions to the Kansas African American experience.

Sanders, who played at Wichita North High School, spent his entire career with the Detroit Lions before retiring in 1999.

For the Carroll family, competition in politics and sports

By Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald

It’s the summer of 1999 and 12-year-old Nolan Carroll II, a talented little soccer player and track star, is rollerblading around his Jacksonville neighborhood with a stack of political fliers, going door to door to campaign for his mother.

He is racing his younger sister, Nyckie, and brother, Necho, to see who delivers the most leaflets for Jennifer Carroll, who is running for the U.S. House.

It became a ritual in the Carroll household over the next 10 years. Mom runs for office, kids canvass neighborhoods, wave signs on street corners, smile and shake hands at rallies. They got good at it, and whenever they could make a contest of their political duties, they did.

NBA moms charity basketball game helps local charities

SOURCE: Orlando Sentinel

Click on the link above to see video.

Let the rivalry begin.

Flo Allen-Hopson, mother of Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen, said the NBA vs. NFL moms charity basketball game, sponsored by the Orlando Magic, will return to Orlando in 2012. The NBA moms defeated the NFL moms 24-12 Aug. 7 at Olympia high school to a sold-out crowd of over 2,500 fans.

The NBA moms also held a charity fashion show the following day with proceeds from both events benefiting the United Negro College Fund and Florida Hospital. Both recipients will be presented with checks Tuesday afternoon, Sept 14.

Flo Allen said the large turnout at the charity basketball game helped the Mothers of Professional Basketball Players organization to raise more money than the previous year, despite the struggling economy. She would not reveal the dollar amount, as the checks have not been presented to the charities yet.

The NBA moms will travel to Los Angeles to participate in a flag football competition against the NFL moms and will return to Orlando the following year for a basketball game. She also said the MPBPA would look to find a bigger venue. Some fans were turned away at the door due to the capacity turnout.

“We never want to turn anyone away, we want to bring the community in,” Allen said.