Florida Sports Foundation

Like to talk sports? Sure you do. Everyone likes to talk sports.

The Florida Sports Foundation (FSF), the official sports promotion and development organization for the State of Florida, now offers a speakers bureau for interested groups or meetings. The Foundation employees available for speaking engagements are knowledgeable on a variety of sports topics. They know the ins and outs of the business in sports that makes Florida - Where the World Comes to Play.

With an endless list of sporting ventures and experience, the Florida Sports Foundation strives to globally promote Florida's unique sports industry. Listed below are a sampling of topics contributing to the $32 billion economic impact sports brings to Florida annually.

• Amateur sports bringing athletes to Florida for competition.
   • Professional sports bringing spectators and exposure to the State.
   • How amateur sports benefit Floridians and their quality of life.
   • Spring Training Baseball in Florida and its long and storied history.
   • Golf and Fishing & Boating in Florida, both billion dollar industries.
   • Professional sports license plates - Who Benefits?
   • How the FSF and local sports commissions benefit from Florida sports.
   • Event Management 101.
   • Getting started in a career in sports.
   • A behind-the-scenes look at Florida's Sunshine State Games and the Florida Senior Games State Championships, the State's only Olympic-Style Sports Events.

For more information about the FSF Speakers Bureau, please visit http://www.flasports.com/page_aboutus_bios.shtml or contact Nick Gandy.

Inland Lakes Railway will start train service Lake County to Orlando for basketball fans
Reported by the Orlando Sentinel, 8/24/07

TAVARES - Lake County basketball fans will soon be able to glide into Orlando by rail to watch Magic games.

Starting Nov. 18, Inland Lakes Railway will offer train service starting from downtown Eustis, stopping in Tavares and then running into Orlando near the Amway Arena about two hours later.

After the game, the train will take fans back to Lake County. The service will be offered for select weekend home games.

Neil Bagaus, Inland's general manager, announced the service Wednesday and said he hopes to capitalize on Magic fans wanting to take leisurely train trips into Orlando to catch their basketball team.

During the trip, passengers will be able to stroll into the lounge car or grab a bite to eat in the dining car, according to a brochure from Inland Lakes Railway.

The rail company will use existing tracks -- which wind through pasturelands south of Lake Dora, through Zellwood, Plymouth and Apopka -- under a lease agreement with Florida Central Railroad.

According to an agreement between Inland and the Magic, round-trip tickets, which include seats in the Arena's lower bowl, will cost $90. Tickets with upper-bowl seats will run $60.

Tavares City Administrator John Drury said he's on board for the train service because it will provide an economic lift to his city's struggling downtown. He sees entrepreneurs opening shops and restaurants around Wooton Park in downtown Tavares where the train is scheduled to stop.

It also will provide an incentive for a future commuter rail line, transporting Lake County residents to jobs in Orlando or vice versa, he said.

Mark Mulder and Pedro Martinez pitch at Roger Dean Stadium
Reported on www.rogerdeanstadium.com (8/25/07)

Pitchers who have compiled over 300 major league wins took the field at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday, August 26 and Monday, August 27.

On Sunday, St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder, with 103 career wins, pitched a rehab assignment for the Palm Beach Cardinals against the St. Lucie Mets. Mulder, a two-time American League All-Star (2003, 2004), returned to the mound for his first rehab start of the season, Mark Mulder (0-1, 6.75), gave up four runs, only one being earned, on three hits and a walk in 1 1/3 innings. His forty pitches was the first work in game since he was sidelined last year when he had season ending rotator cuff surgery.

On Monday, New York Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez pitched six innings in a rehab assignment for the St. Lucie Mets against the Cardinals. The three-time Cy Young Award winner gave up an unearned run while allowing five hits and striking out four. He did not figure in the decision as the Mets lost 3-1 to the Cardinals, before a crowd of 1,423.

Summer/Fall edition of 2007 Florida Fishing & Boating is now available

One of the FSF's complimentary publication, Florida Fishing & Boating, is now available to the public by contacting Nick Gandy at the FSF to request a guide. The 70-page book breaks down the state by areas and gives an overview of fishing and boating opportunities within that area.

Boating and Fishing opportunities in National and State Parks are listed as well as marinas throughout the state.

The annual guide also has fishing license information, updated fishing and boating regulations and other valuable information from the Florida Wildlife Conservation Commission.

FSF appoints Pensacola Sports Association Director Ray Palmer to its Board of Directors

Ray Palmer, Pensacola Sports Association Executive Director, has been appointed to serve on the Florida Sports Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Palmer joins 14 other board members appointed from the private sector and 15 board members appointed by the Governor to oversee programs developed to promote Florida's $32 billion sports industry.

Palmer, executive director of the Pensacola Sports Association since 2002, has been an active member of the National Association of Sports Commissions and has served on numerous National Collegiate Athlete Association (NCAA) committees, including its Division II Fall Festival National Championships organizing partnership, which brought thousands of athletes and spectators to Pensacola during November, 2006. Palmer also directs sports marketing investments underwritten by the Tourist Development Councils of Santa Rosa and Escambia counties in the Florida Panhandle and will serve on the FSF Grants Committee.

Palmer will attend his first FSF Board of Directors meeting on September 14 in Tampa.

FSF President/CEO inducted into Florida State University Athletic Hall of Fame

Larry Pendleton, the President/CEO of the Florida Sports Foundation since its inception in 1992, was an offensive guard and linebacker for the Seminoles from 1966-68 on teams that went to the Sun, Gator and Peach Bowls. He will be inducted in the Florida State Athletic Hall of Fame on September 7 with eight other former Seminole athletes. Pendleton started 33 consecutive games and was twice selected to the Florida All-Star team. The Winter Garden native was known for his quickness, speed and his reliability on the field.

Pendleton’s contributions to Florida State after his playing days also stood out. He returned to his alma mater in 1973 as a graduate assistant football coach under then head coach Larry Jones and coached the offensive line in 1974-75 under Coach Darryl Mudra. In 1976, he moved into the athletic academic advising department assisting athletes for the next five years. In 1980, he was elevated to Assistant Athletic Director where he handled operations, scheduling, and travel arrangements for the Florida State men’s basketball team.

He was at the forefront of some of the Seminole facility expansions and improvements in the late 1970’s and through the 80s. He coordinated the building of the first Moore Athletic Center in 1983 as well as improvements to Doak Campbell Stadium, Dick Howser Stadium, Bim Stults Aquatic Center and Mike Long Track. In 1987, Pendleton coordinated the addition of the then state-of-the-art matrix scoreboard and sound system for Dick Howser as well as the installation of prescription turf in Doak Campbell.

He spent 18 years in the Seminole athletic department, before accepting his current position with the Florida Sports Foundation.

Miami Dolphins, Orange Bowl Committee And FIU Team Up To Host Youth Clinic
Reported on MiamiDolphins.com, August 25, 2007

The Miami D

olphins, the Orange Bowl Committee and Florida International University (F.I.U.) teamed up to offer a free youth clinic on August 22, 2007 to teams of the Orange Bowl Youth Football Alliance, as part of the “Play Football” Campaign.

This was a unique opportunity for youth football players to learn from collegiate players, their current youth football coaches and former Miami Dolphins players. The “Play Football” Campaign is an initiative started by USA Football to help lead the expansion of football on a grassroots level.

Dolphins Alumni Twan Russell, Woody Bennett, Bobby Harden, Darrell Malone, Troy Drayton, Gator Bennett, Sean Hill, Jed Weaver, Randal Hill, Bryant Salter and John Bock along with FIU football players, conducted two clinics for 600 kids from the Liberty City Optimist Warriors and the Tamiami Colts. One clinic was held at Hadley Park in Miami and the second at Tamiami Park in West Dade. Eight youth groups participated at each park, age ranging from 4 to 14 years old.

The players taught the kids drills on passing, tackling, catching, special teams, offensive and defensive line and linebacker techniques. They also spoke to them about life outside of football, how to be successful people and the difference between boys and men, emphasizing the importance of positive decisions. The players signed autographs and took part in a question and answer session.

These clinics are also part of the national “Play Football” Initiative, a platform developed by the NFL, NFLPA and USA Football to promote the sport’s intrinsic values, and to help drive support and participation in youth football throughout the United States.

As part of the “Play Football” Initiative, the Miami Dolphins will also host various youth football organizations at their August 25th game against intrastate rival Tampa Bay. Four-thousand (4,000) youth football players and cheerleaders will be in attendance. The pre-game show will involve over 500 different youth football players welcoming the Miami Dolphins through the player introduction line. The half-time show will feature two flag football games of teams from the Miami Dolphins Summer Flag Football Camp.

Tackling Obesity

Reported by www.buccaneers.com on Aug 24, 2007

Tampa Bay Buccaneers All-Pro linebacker Derrick Brooks recently took a break from his busy football schedule to welcome Florida Governor Charlie Crist and a host of special guests and public visitors who were on hand for the inaugural meeting of the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness.

Gov. Crist established the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness in March 2007 with the goal of reducing the rate of obesity and chronic disease in Florida’s children, adults, and senior citizens in 10 years.

“Having a governor’s council on physical fitness is an idea that kind of came to us during the course of the campaign, and all of you in the room understand and appreciate the importance of physical education and activity – what a difference it can make in a life, how it can add to the productivity of young people in particular,” said Gov. Crist.

Brooks’ duties, however, were hardly limited to those of a welcoming party. As chair of the council – a role he accepted last March after being appointed by Gov. Crist – Brooks, in his typical fashion, used the afternoon to get down to business and begin forming a winning gameplan with the governor and his new team.

“We want to develop a state plan of action over the next few months, a starting plan for our state that will address physical activity and healthy nutrition promotion among our youth in schools and adults in our community, he said.”

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, approximately 60 percent of overweight children have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and approximately 25 percent have two or more risk factors. Additionally, the Florida Department of Health estimates that 60 percent of adults in Florida are overweight or obese, and 25 percent of high school students are overweight, or at risk of becoming overweight.

Under Gov. Crist’s leadership, the State of Florida is already well on its way to addressing fitness and nutrition issues among the state’s youth.

As a result of 2007 legislation, Florida public school elementary students in grades K-5 must receive at least 30 minutes of physical education each day. But the council believes that’s not enough. It would like to see that effort expanded to encompass all students at the middle and high school (6-12) grade levels by the year 2012.

As committed to the effort as Brooks is, he knows its scope is far too large to tackle alone, especially considering that he’s got an upcoming NFL season to play. That’s why he’s getting an assist from fellow committee member Shannon Miller. Miller, a seven-time Olympic gold medalist in gymnastics, joined Brooks at One Buc Place Thursday where it was announced by Brooks that she will serve as co-chair of the committee.

In accepting the role, Miller reiterated the need for physical activity among Florida’s youth, but also stressed the need for the inclusion of Floridians of all ages, advocating for education and opportunities for the not just the young but the young-at-heart as well.

As council chairman, Brooks headlines a noted group of athletes that in addition to Miller includes Rocco Baldelli, outfielder for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays; Jennifer Capriati, former Olympian and women’s professional tennis standout; Nancy Hogshead-Makar, three-time Olympic gold medalist swimmer; Ken Griffey Jr., outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds; Shaquille O’Neal, center for the Miami Heat and four-time world champion; and Corey Simon, former NFL defensive tackle.

For more information on the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, visit HealthyFloridians.com.

The Second Annual Tampa Bay Lightning College Hockey Classic
Reported by www.lightning.nhl.com- 08/24/2007

The S

t. Pete Times Forum will play host to a four-team NCAA Division I Hockey tournament, The second annual Lightning College Hockey Classic, on Saturday, December 29 and Sunday, December 30. The tournament features Notre Dame, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, the University of Massachusetts, and Colorado College.

Notre Dame will serve as the host institution for the Lightning College Hockey Classic presented by Embassy Suites Hotel Tampa-Downtown, and the Fighting Irish are scheduled to play in the event for at least three years. Notre Dame will face the University of Massachusetts in the opening game at 5:00 p.m. with Colorado College facing Rensselaer at 8:00 p.m. The third-place and championship games will be played the following night at 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

Last season, the Irish won the first ever Lighting College Hockey Classic with wins over Army and Air Force.

The St. Pete Times Forum is scheduled to play host to some of the top college events in the nation over the next several years, including the NCAA Women’s Final Four in 2008, the first and second round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship in 2008, the Southeastern Conference Men’s Basketball Championship in 2009, the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Championship in 2009 and the NCAA Frozen Four in 2012.

Tickets for this event are on sale at the MCDONALD’S BOX OFFICE at the St. Pete Times Forum and all Ticketmaster Outlets including Spec’s Music and FYE. To order tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 813.287.8844 or 727.898.2100. Single game prices are: $27.75 for reserved plaza center ice seats and $17.75 for general admission seating . Prices do not include service charges. For more information please visit www.stpetetimesforum.com.