2013 USPSA Premier Cup Recap

If you were to sum up the 2013 USPSA Premier Cup Tournament in two words, they'd be Strike Force.

After jumping on to the scene during the 2012 Premier Cup tournament, the new wheelchair designed by the Power Soccer Shop was on full display in this year's tournament. This was the first full year for teams to compete in the new Strike Force chairs and they are revolutionizing the sport of power soccer.

Several teams now had athletes who were using the new chairs and everyone was eager to see just how much the game had changed.

Held at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, MN, the top nine teams in the United States Power Soccer Association competed against each other for a chance at a National Championship. For three days, the teams from the Premier Conference showcased their skills in pursuit of the 2013 Premier Cup first-place trophy.

If a team was going to emerge victorious with the Premier Cup title, they would undoubtedly have to go through the defending National Champions, the Minnesota Magic or the perennial power house, the Circle City Rollers. It was no easy task, but the teams were up for the challenge.

For two days, the teams competed in pool play before beginning the playoff rounds. As the semi-finals began, the top four teams remaining were the ASU Sun Devils, the Circle City Rollers, the Minnesota Magic and Turnstone Flyers. The Sun Devils and Minnesota Magic played probably the most exciting game of the playoffs. The two teams combined to score 15 goals as Minnesota came away with the 9-6 win. And after defeating Turnstone, Circle City was set for a rematch against Minnesota for the 2013 Championship.

Before the championship match began, the Sun Devils played Turnstone for third place and came away with a 6-1 win. So the stage was set for the 2013 Premier Cup Championship match.

The Minnesota Magic defeated the Circle City Rollers in last year's Premier Cup, so this was going to be an intriguing match-up. From the opening whistle, Circle City played as if they had something to prove. The Rollers dominated the Magic on both ends of the court as they came away with a convincing 5-0 win and the 2013 Premier Cup title.

The new Strike Force chairs have definitely lifted the competition to a whole new level and made the game more exciting for athletes and fans alike. If the games played during this year's Premier Cup are any indication, the future of power soccer is looking very bright, indeed.

Why You're a Roll Model - And the Responsibility that Comes with it

Yes, that pun was definitely intended.

In my last post, I wrote about the Arizona Diamondbacks drafting Cory Hahn.

Many applaud, myself included, the Diamondbacks organization for this incredible gesture. This was an amazing opportunity for Hahn, and I wish him nothing but the best in his pursuits in a career in baseball. But like Uncle Ben always said, "with great power, comes great responsibility."

While Hahn's accident is certainly tragic and unfortunate, the nature of his injury put him in a very unique position. Even though he lost the ability to walk, he also gained another important ability.

The ability to enact change.

Because his injury occurred on the sports field, Hahn and his road to recovery were put in the mainstream media spotlight. People were captivated by his determination and resolve and cheered him on from across the globe. He is a beaming example of the strength of the human spirit and everyone can't help but root for him. Along with Hahn, former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand has also been widely publicized because of a paralyzing injury. During his recovery, LeGrand received well-wishes from celebrities and appeared on numerous television shows. But while these injured athletes received supports from the rich and famous, Hahn and LeGrand also become celebrities in their own right.

They became the face of the disability community in mainstream media and gained a global audience as they go through their recovery. And because of this, they have an incredible opportunity to enact some real and important change regarding issues for people with disabilities.

From accessibility to transportation, health care to employment opportunities, there is no shortage of issues that need to be addressed and discussed. Here are just a few statistics:

• The jobless rate for people with disabilities is at 13.6% (http://bit.ly/16oovJC)
• The median income is $23,532 for people aged 21 to 64 with a disability, compared to $32,688 for those with no disability. (http://bit.ly/16oqf5E)
• One third of the employers surveyed said that persons with disabilities cannot effectively perform the required job tasks. The second most common reason given for not hiring persons with disabilities was the fear of costly special facilities. (http://bit.ly/17MU3My)

When it comes to improving the lives and opportunities for people with disabilities, there is much to be done. Many of those with disabilities still aren't afforded the opportunities and services needed to live to their full potential, but with people like Hahn and LeGrand, things can change.

I am urging Hahn, LeGrand and other people with disabilities to become more boisterous advocates for the less fortunate who live with a disability. They have been given a platform where they can help bring important awareness to disability issues and become vehicles of change; for the better. Whether they know it or not, they've become important role models to those with disabilities and with that, comes a responsibility to be greater, to achieve more. Not just for themselves, but for those in similar situations.

So I challenge them to become leaders, instigators, advocates and mentors. Be more than just an inspiring human interest story and show others what people with disabilities are truly capable of. While their bodies may be weak, they still have the power to make a difference.

With their help, anything is possible.

People with Disabilities in Professional Sports

When I first heard about the Arizona Diamondbacks drafting Cory Hahn in the 34th round of the 2013 MLB draft, I thought it was, and still is, an incredible gesture from a classy organization. 

Hahn was a freshman standout at Arizona State University before he became paralyzed after injuring himself during a head-first slide into second base. With this move, he has a real shot at having a career in baseball.

I've gone back and forth a bunch of times about writing this, but I decided that this topic was too important to ignore. 

As many of you read this, I'm sure you are saying to yourself, "This is just some jealous journalist wannabe spouting nonsense." So before I continue, yes, there are some jealous feelings on my part as I heard about the opportunity given to Hahn. But this issue goes way beyond me and my personal feelings. 

Over the past few years, we have seen injured athletes like Hahn and former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand in the media spotlight. 

The world was captivated as they watched their injuries occur and followed them along their road to recovery. During their rehabilitation, these athletes gained support from celebrities and everyday people alike and even became celebrities in their own right. In LeGrand's case, he's given a speech at the ESPYs, been in commercials and even was drafted by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the NFL. 

But for every Cory Hahn or Eric LeGrand, there are millions of people with disabilities who fight the same struggles, but will never be in the spotlight. Like Hahn or LeGrand, they have dreams about becoming a part of the sports world, but that notion is closer to being a dream than becoming a reality. 

My power soccer teammate, Jordan Dickey, is a huge sports fan. His sports knowledge can possibly rival that of many of the general managers in the sports world. Because of his incredible passion for sports, he is pursuing a degree that will hopefully land him a job in a professional sports industry. Even though he spends his days in an electric wheelchair and has never had the opportunity to play in a traditional able-bodied sport, if given the opportunity to contribute to a sports organization, there's no doubt he would have as good a chance to succeed as his able-bodied counterparts. 

So what does Jordan have to do with Hahn and LeGrand? 

When I see them presented with these amazing opportunities, I can't help but think of all those people with disabilities who weren't put in the spotlight because of their injuries or illnesses. Because of their unfortunate injuries on the field, athletes like Hahn and LeGrand were given a global support system and introduced to opportunities many others will never see. 

Now it's not their fault that they were injured in the public spotlight, and I don't blame them for taking advantage of every opportunity they can. But when I saw Hahn given the opportunity to have a job with the Dbacks after being drafted, it felt like he was given an unfair advantage. 

There are plenty of people with disabilities, myself included, who never had the opportunity to play in the higher levels of sports competition, who have the knowledge and skills needed to be a part of a professional sports industry. But since our injuries or illnesses didn't occur on a baseball diamond or football field, our opportunities will have to be obtained the old-fashioned way, through hard work and perseverance. 

That being said, the Dbacks 34th-round draft choice brings up a great opportunity for a serious dialogue about the role of people with disabilities in professional sports. If an organization is going to make this kind of gesture and give an athlete with a disability the chance to make a living in a sport outside of being an athlete, I ask them to remember those who are still fighting and hoping for that one chance to make it to the show. If they are truly interested in making this more than just a noble gesture, I urge the Dbacks, and every other sports organization, to take a serious look at the hiring of people with disabilities. When given the opportunity, we can be valuable and contributing members to any organization, even at the higher levels.  

Walking in My Dreams

Last night I had a dream about me regaining my ability to walk. This wasn't the first time this scenario had played out in my mind as I slept, but it was by far the most vivid. 

The dream began with me lying motionless in my bed in the middle of the night. Suddenly, I felt a pain shoot down my left shoulder. It was a pain I never felt before and it jarred me from my sleep. 

My bedroom was pitch black except for the green glow of the numbers of the digital clock that sat at the corner of my dresser. As I woke to the pain, I looked over at the clock and saw the silhouette of my wheelchair. The pain began to make my fingers tingle. In my mind, I knew I should try to flex my arm or wiggle my fingers, but those actions have eluded me for the past 15 years. 

I stared down at my arm for a brief moment and an unfamiliar sensation fell over me. As I looked down on my hand, I focused all my energy to lifting my arm to my head. For a few seconds I intently stared down my arm as something amazing happened. 

My entire body began to tingle and my hand lifted up from my bed. I could feel my heart race faster and faster as I moved my arm towards my head. I was amazed at what I just did. For the first time in since I was a teenager, I was able to move my arms. I reared up as I was surprised at what just occurred. I felt the cool breeze hit my cheek as tears rolled down my face. 

My entire body suddenly felt different. I no longer felt chained down by some mysterious illness. After I put my arm back at my side, I decided to see how much movement I regained. 

I peered down at the red blanket that covered my legs. Underneath the cotton fabric, I noticed that my toes were wiggling underneath the covers. I smiled from ear to ear as I realized that my movement was returning. With my newfound strength, I wanted to see if I could get up on my own. 

As if I was experience this sensation for the first time in my life, I slowly sat up in my bed and stared into darkness that covered my bedroom. I wanted to stand up immediately, but I still wasn't at 100%. After a couple big breaths, I mustered up enough strength and courage to stand. 

Standing up was an amazing feeling. I could feel all of the muscles working in my body. I was a little wobbly, but I was too excited to care. My life was changing, just as it did 15 years ago. With what little strength I had, I started to walk to my parents bedroom. 

The hardwood floor felt so cold as I staggered down the hall. It had been quite a while since I felt any sensation at the soles of my feet. Slowly, I made my way to my parent's bedroom. As I made it to the doorway, I released my excitement.

"Mom, dad..." I proclaimed. "I can walk!"

My parents jumped from their bed and quickly turned on the light. To their amazement, they found me standing at the foot of their bed. 

"Gabe!" My mom shouted as she threw off the sheets and ran toward me. "How'd this happen!"

She gave me a huge hug before I woke from the dream. That was the last thing I remember before waking up. 

I have dreamed about regaining my movement many times. I have dreamed about being able bodied and doing things from outside my electric wheelchair. But this time it felt different. This felt real. As I was dreaming, I felt like it was reality. The sensations, the images, the happiness. It all felt like it was really happening. 

Was it a premonition of things to come? Was it just a fantasy of a future I will never experience? Who knows. All I do know is that I will never stop fighting. I will continue to hope and dream about overcoming my illness and regaining the use of my arms and legs. 

Calais Campbell Throws Out First Pitch

For the first four weeks of the 2012 NFL season, Calais Campbell, Darnell Dockett and Patrick Peterson wreaked havoc on opposing offenses and helped the Arizona Cardinals to an unbeaten 4-0 record.

On Tuesday, the trio took some time off from the gridiron to try out their pitching skills as they threw out the first pitch before the D-backs game against the Rockies.

Defensive end Calais Campbell towered over the pitcher’s mound with his 6’8’’ frame. Dockett and Peterson also showed fans that they’re just as imposing on a baseball diamond as they are on the football field.

We are happy to report that all three players threw their pitches over the plate. The umps will decide if they were balls or strikes.

“It was an awesome experience,” said Campbell. “I just didn’t want to throw it in the dirt, so that was a win in my book.”

Along with his first pitch duties, Campbell was at Chase Field to promote his partnership with United Way and Team NFL. As a member of Team NFL, Campbell has pledged to recruit volunteer readers, tutors and mentors to help kids in the local community.

To learn more about United Way’s effort to reduce the high school dropout rate and information on volunteering, visit www.unitedway.org/teamcalais. 

My 15th Anniversary

Today is the 15th anniversary of the day I became a quadriplegic. Even though my body may be weak, I believe my illness has made me a stronger person. It's a weird feeling to realize that I've now spent more time in a wheelchair than being able-bodied. For all the good and bad, it's been a crazy and exciting 15 years. Even though this isn't the way I planned my first 29 years to go, I'm determined to live life on my own terms.

Here's to the next 15 years...

My First Skillshare Class is Now Live!

From the first time I found out about Skillshare while I was reading articles in my Google Reader feed, I knew I wanted to be a part of it.

Skillshare is an online marketplace that allows people to create and teach public classes without the hassle and high costs of a university experience. Check out this video made by Skillshare explaining the need for this new learning experience.

They encourage anyone to become a Skillshare teacher and share their knowledge and experience with others. Whether you’re teaching particle physics or scrapbooking 101, everyone has something to share and teach to their community.

So as I thought about what I could teach for my classes, the first thing that came to my mind was social media. I’ve spent the past three-plus years in the marketing field and have extensive experience with all of the popular social media platforms. From using social media in marketing campaigns to optimizing profiles for personal and professional use, I think that learning how to use social media effectively and responsibly is an important skill to have.

Over the past few years, sites such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube have become an important tool in how we consume media. We now have access to an endless stream of news and entertainment and this new medium is revolutionizing the way we communicate. These sites are gaining new users everyday and their popularity is only getting stronger.

Whether it’s a grandmother looking at photos of her grandkids school play on Facebook, or a local restaurant offering discounts to their followers on Twitter, social media is becoming an important part of our everyday lives. Because of my job, I’ve been approached by friends and family members numerous times to help them set-up Facebook profiles and Twitter feeds.

Every time I help someone with social media and show them all of the cool stuff you can do with it, it’s awesome to see them light up and get excited about participating in this great online community. So when I saw Skillshare, I knew this would be a great way to share my knowledge and passion of social media  with the community.

My first class will be Digital Citizenship 101 - Managing Your Online Identity. In this class students will be introduced to the popular social media networks and learn how to utilize these platforms for personal and professional use. The class will be held on August 9, 2012 from 4:30-6pm at the Co+Hoots Coworking Spaces. Those interested in attending can register online at the Skillshare class page and enrollment is only $20.

If you can’t make it to this session, I will be offering more dates in the future, as well as other social media themed classes. Be sure to subscribe to my Skillshare profile or follow me on Twitter and Facebook for updates on my classes.

My Experience at the Youth Empowerment Summit

Imagine sitting with three of your closest friends in high school. You are all enjoying yourselves as you talk about classes, movies and plans for summer vacation.

Now imagine that one of the friends you’re sitting with will not be able to graduate on time. This scenario is all too real for high school kids across the United States as recent studies show that 1 in 4 high school students will not graduate high school on time. Research also shows that a student drops out of high school in the U.S. every 26 seconds, a truly alarming statistic.

In an effort to improve the current education landscape in the U.S., United Way has partnered with several players from the National Football League to recruit volunteer readers, tutors and mentors. As a part of an initiative to cut the dropout rate in half by 2018, United Way and Team NFL are pledging to recruit these volunteers to help students succeed in the classroom and reach their graduation goals.

To kick off this initiative, United Way held a Youth Empowerment Summit at American University in Washington D.C. this past June. Some of the best and brightest high school students from across the country were invited to participate in the summit and help United Way spread the word about the importance of earning your education and helping students in your community.

During their time at the summit, students were partnered up with several United Way volunteers and NFL players and participated in workshops to discuss the state of education and come up with ways for the community to help students achieve their academic goals.

As a Team NFL intern and representative for Arizona Cardinals Defensive End Calais Campbell, I was invited to participate in the summit and help promote and share the activities via social media. From status updates to tweets and blog posts, me and the rest of the Team NFL interns documented and shared all the activities that took place during the summit. Social media is revolutionizing the way we communicate and utilizing this medium is an excellent way to reach a global audience and spread the word about the volunteer recruiting efforts. Throughout the three-day summit, I worked with Campbell and several high school students from states across the western U.S and shared my experience via my social media profiles.

From the first moment I walked into the summit, I was in awe of those who were participating. On one hand you had incredible United Way volunteers who are dedicating their time and energy to put together an amazing event and help spread the word about the importance of volunteering. And on the other hand you had a group of some truly extraordinary high school students who have overcome their own adversity to succeed in school. Being able to speak to these students and hear their stories was an inspiring experience.

Everyone was in such great spirits and was eager to share their thoughts and ideas on how to help students and reduce the high school dropout rate. The enthusiasm and optimism was infectious as students and NFL players interacted and shared their stories about their education experiences. During one of the workshops, Calais Campbell even shared his own personal story about education and how earning his degree was an important part in his success both on and off the field.

After the day of workshops, the players and students made their way to Capitol Hill and met with several congressmen and staff members to urge them to help promote this initiative and recruit volunteers. On a personal level, this was my 1st trip to Washington D.C. and it was a truly amazing experience. As I walked through the halls of Congress and stood at the steps of Capitol Hill, I was in awe of my surroundings. Just being in such a historic environment and interacting with such prominent political figures in an incredible atmosphere was amazing.

All in all, the summit was an amazing event. From the support of the NFL players and United Way staff, to the enthusiasm and inspiration of the high school students, I learned and experienced things that I will never forget. This is a great initiative that encourages everyone in their communities to help students reach their graduation goals by volunteering to be a reader, tutor or mentor. Anyone can make a difference in a student’s life and whether it’s for 5 min. or 5 days a week, every bit can help and make an impact.

At the end of this initiative, United Way hopes to have recruited 1 million volunteers and cut the dropout rate in half by 2018. While it seems like a large task, with everyone’s help, this goal is completely attainable. If we all do our part in our own community earning a high school diploma can become a reality for any student who dreams of success both inside and outside the classroom.

If you would like to become a volunteer reader, tutor or mentor for students in your community, join Team Calais and sign up online at

http://www.unitedway.org/calais

.

Overcoming My Biggest Fears

Over the past 14+ years, I have been asked several times if I was ever scared when I first became a quadriplegic. My answer has always been yes, to a certain degree. Of course, being in a hospital surrounded by numerous doctors and nurses would frighten even the most courageous of teenagers, and I was no different.

Looking back on my hospital stay, I found it difficult to ever remember being truly scared; probably because I was so focused on trying not to die, I shoved the fear into the back of the dark reaches of my mind. For a while it was so hectic it seemed impossible for me stop and really come to grips with what was happening to me.

Once I was able to take a moment, I did find myself becoming afraid about what was happening to me. But I wasn’t afraid that I was going to die, or that I’d be in the hospital forever. I was scared that I was going to lose the life and everything I knew. For 14 years, everything seemed to be on track. I was a great students, had amazing friends and a supportive family. And as I laid motionless in my hospital bed, all I could think about is that I would never see that life again.

While my life did change on that fateful September day in 1997, I can say that I’ve faced this adversity head on and beat my illness to live the best life I can. But while my past fears may be gone, I find myself with a new fear.

From the first day I became a quadriplegic, there isn’t a moment that goes by where I don’t think about what it was like to be able-bodied. There are times when I find myself remembering playing soccer with my friends, sitting in Mr. Cranson’s 8th-grade Spanish class and riding my bike to the Links for a round of golf. But lately I’ve begun to notice something different about these memories. While I remember doing these things, I’m finding it harder and harder to remember what it felt like to kick a soccer ball, sit in a chair or ride a bike. I know that I was able to have 14 years of life with the ability to move my arms and legs, but as the years go by, remembering what that feels like is getting more and more difficult.

And that scares me to death.

Hopkins Syndrome has robbed me of my mobility, and as I get older, time is robbing me of the remembering the experiences of my past. Now that I’m spending my days in an electric wheelchair, my memories are all that remain of my life as an able-bodied person. And just like it did 14 years ago, the fear is starting to return from the dark reaches of my mind.

But just like I did 14 years ago, I’m going to fight and overcome my fear. While this disease has taken away my ability to move my arms, I’m going to hold onto these memories for as long as I can and never let go.

Player Promoter Internship: Day 1

I was retweeted by @Campbell93 on day 1!This week, I began my internship with United Way as a member of their Team NFL Player Promoter program. As a player promoter, I am helping the United Way recruit volunteer mentors, leaders, and tutors for students in the local community. The United Way has an overall goal to cut the high school dropout rate in half by 2018, and to do so; it's going to take help from everyone. In a partnership with the NFL, players from NFL teams across the country are helping United Way recruit volunteers in their local communities. As a part of this initiative, each NFL player who participates in the program is pledging to recruit at least 3,000 volunteers.

With this lofty goal, I have been tasked as a Player Promoter to help Arizona Cardinals Defensive End Calais Campbell recruit volunteers in the Phoenix area. Campbell has been very active in the Valley of the Sun and is a big advocate of improving education environment in the local community. By promoting Campbell's efforts in the community via social media and other marketing channels, I'm hoping to raise awareness on the importance of education and volunteering to improve the lives of students.

I'm going to be blogging about my experiences as a player promoter throughout my internship, so check back often for updates. This is going to be an awesome opportunity and I can't wait to see how many people I can help recruit!

For more information on the NFL lives United initiative and how you can become a volunteer, check out Calais Campbell's player page on the United Way website.