“Sunnyside kids score visit with the Mets” plus 1 more |
| Sunnyside kids score visit with the Mets Posted: 31 Jan 2011 06:10 AM PST A few feet away, sitting on a couch, watching footage of games on a huge TV screen, were a couple of Mets pitchers, Bobby Parnell and Dillon Gee, talking shop with their friends, a few more students. This intermingling of baseball heroes and their pint-sized admirers was part of the third season of Citi Field Kids, an event started in 2009 to provide city students the chance to combine education with baseball. Thole, Parnell, Gee and fellow players Jose Reyes, R.A. Dickey and Mike Pelfrey, as well as newly appointed manager Terry Collins all participated in the event, but the stars of the day were undoubtedly the 28 fifth and sixth graders from the after-school sports program run by Sunnyside Community Services. "I'd like to introduce one special group to another special group," Collins said, as he invited the players to join the youngsters in a question-and-answer session. The kids grilled their favorite players. "What inspired you to want to play baseball?" one child asked. "My friends were doing it," Pelfrey replied, "so I started and had fun. You find out you have a little bit of talent. You start believing in yourself." "What's your favorite team to play against?" another wanted to know. "The Phillies," Thole said. "There is always going to be a good battle every night." In response to further questions, the players offered many other insightful comments. "I always wanted to play. I'm from Dominican Republic, and most of the kids play baseball there," Reyes said. Dickey enjoys the sport's strong sense of camaraderie. "When you fight for a common goal, you share a special bond with the guy next to you on your team," Dickey said. To stay positive when things aren't going well, Parnell talks to his teammates. "You have to remind yourself there's always tomorrow," Parnell said. When he's not playing baseball, Gee said, "I get ready to play baseball. I try to see my family. Relax. Enjoy life. And get ready for next season." The athletes were asked if they are familiar with the history of the game; Collins responded, "I think you have to know the history to respect the game and to love the game. The game is bigger than us." "When you're on the field," one youngster asked, "How do you feel? Nervous, excited?" "It's all those things," Dickey replied. "If you're not nervous, you probably don't want to be there enough." Following the press conference with the students, the players signed baseballs and T-shirts for their young fans. "It's just awesome," said 11-year-old Andres, whose favorite player is Reyes. "He's very good, very talented. I like his style of playing." Brothers Daniel and Jose Cruz, both physical education teachers at PS 150, said the students were selected on the basis of how well they achieved their goals in the classroom, as well as their involvement in extracurricular activities such as student council and drama club. "We were in the same program as kids," Daniel said. "We came back as teachers. It showed us the right path." "We should feel proud of ourselves," said fifth grader Yvonne. "The principal and our teachers chose us. It takes a lot to get here. Some kids didn't get picked. I tried to tell them they should try to do better in class." The day seemed to provide equal amounts of fun and education. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for these kids from Sunnyside to see their heroes up front and personal and to experience their locker room and learn about Jackie Robinson and the struggle for equality," said Councilman Jimmy Van Bramer (D-Sunnyside), who joined the children at the event. "I hope it's inspirational so the children know they can experience their dreams." The Mets players also found the experience worthwhile. "We were all kids looking up to role models," Gee said. "We are blessed to be in that position now." Reyes agreed. "It's a great feeling to be able to teach them about how it is in the big league. I was a kid, too," said Reyes, who, at 27, is the longest-tenured member of the team. Looking back on the day, one of the students, Kean, said, "It's something I'll remember for a long time."
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| Posted: 30 Jan 2011 01:38 AM PST The cafeteria at Weber Elementary school was nearly silent Saturday morning as local students focused intently on their chess games. In the room next door, students waiting to play ran and shouted to one another and played practice matches. Nearly 150 kids in kindergarten through sixth grade participated in the fifth annual Winter Chess Tournament. Saturday was Daniel Song's first time at the Weber tournament, but at 9 years old, he's practically a chess veteran. He sat quietly at his chess board contemplating his next move against his opponent, 9-year-old Christopher McSweeney. Song has played in tournaments in Cedar Rapids and recently placed fourth in his age group at a statewide competition. "I've played in a lot of tournaments, and this one is fun," Song said. McSweeney said he first began playing chess with his grandfather and then went on to teach his sister. "I like how it's all strategic," McSweeney said of the game. Weber parent Greg Schmidt first organized the Winter Chess Tournament five years ago as a way to introduce kids to the game and provide an outlet for those who already were playing, he said. The tournament draws participants of all skill levels. "I wanted to get kids to play and feel the thrill of playing," Schmidt said. "There seemed to be a lot of interest, so I thought there would be a good response. Five years later, here we are." Schmidt said the game provides kids a good opportunity to learn about respectful competition. "It's good because it teaches patience, planning and fierce competition," Schmidt said. "But it also teaches how to compete with civility." Julie Kabat of Coralville attended the tournament with her 9-year-old son, Noah. Kabat said the tournament was an opportunity for kids who play chess regularly, including Noah, to try it out at a more competitive level. "It's good exposure for kids who haven't gotten a chance to play competitive chess," Kabat said. "It builds logic skills, and unlike at a sporting event, it allows kids to excel at an event that requires brainwork." This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
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