JIM MORRIS ("The Rookie")
Imagine growing up as a nomadic, lonely kid with your parents fighting and struggling to make ends meet. In the midst of all this misery, you have a dream to escape and make something of your life, perhaps becoming a baseball player. A major league baseball player.
This was the dream of Jim Morris.
But like so many of us, Jim's dreams were derailed by a lack of preparedness for the rigors of life. He didn't appreciate it when good things happened, because things had always been bad when he was a kid. He was angry and bitter because of his upbringing, mainly the relationship he had with his dad, who was alternately remote and cruel. Jim's mom, however well-intentioned, was having too many problems with her marriage to Jim's father to really be the type of mom that she's become today. Instead, Jim's saving grace as a kid was two-fold : his love for baseball and his grandpa Earnest, who ran a clothing store in Brownwood, TX. People would come from miles around to buy suits from Earnest, including people like Gene Autry. Earnest taught Jim some of the most important life lessons ever. He taught Jim one simple thing: "remember who you are." To Jim, that meant never do anything in public that would embarrass yourself. Jim would make friends by playing baseball.
It took Jim a long time to learn that lesson and make it part of his life. He had athletic talent growing up, but he was too immature to implement Earnest's lessons. When Earnest passed away from Lou Gehrigs disease when Jim was in junior college, it left a divesting hole in his life. Jim couldn't get away from home soon enough and signed a pro baseball contract with the Milwaukee Brewers. After a series of injuries, he retired from minor league baseball at the age of 24, got married, got his college degree at the age of 29, and raised a family. Along the way, he also played football and was an all-American punter, leading the nation's small colleges in punting one year. He probably worked every low-paying job there was trying to make ends meet, from convenience stores to working in a college dormitory. Eventually, he later became a high school science teacher and a baseball coach in the small Texas town of Big Lake. Basically, Jim and his family had had a tough go of it and were having trouble surviving financially. The bill collectors were always at the door and the stresses on their marriage were evident.
At the age of 35, Jim was lecturing his demoralized high school baseball team about pursuing their dreams and about becoming winners. Quite frankly, Jim felt like he'd done everything backwards in his life to that point, but in trying to motivate his team and give back something to others, he got something back from his students: they challenged him to pursue his dreams about baseball. They saw how hard he threw the baseball and really thought he had a chance, but he had no idea how hard he threw the baseball.
A bet was born: if his high school team won the District Championship, something they had never done, then he would try out for a major league baseball team. Miraculously, the small town team came from behind and beat the best team in the area to win the District Championship. Jim then went to an open tryout, where he changed diapers and then went out and threw 12 consecutive pitches at 98 mph to the amazement of scouts in attendance. People at the age of 35 aren't supposed to throw 98 mph. After some heated discussion with his family, Jim signed a pro contract to play baseball at the age of 35.
Over the next three months, Jim got his body in shape and started playing baseball with kids 10 to 18 years younger. He was known as "the old guy" or "old man river." His teammates were amazed by this guy who basically showed up at a tryout and threw harder than any of them. Jim was suddenly in Double-A, higher and closer to the big leagues than he was when he quit 11 years before. His arm was holding up too. Then he got called up to Triple A and agents and Hollywood came calling. On September 17, 1999, Jim Morris, age 35, was called to up the big leagues by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays.
In front of family and friends, including his high school players, Jim was called up to the big leagues back in Texas. After visiting with his family down in the bullpen before the game, Jim was called into the game to face all-star Royce Clayton. As Jim ran out onto the big league field at Arlington, every memory he had experienced getting to this place flashed in his mind. The manager, Larry Rothschild, came out to talk to Jim, and the camera was on them and being projected up on the big jumbotron and he was smiling and laughing. Later that evening his wife asked him "What did Larry say to you? You were laughing." Jim replied "I have no idea what that man said to me!"
Jim then proceeded to strike out Royce Clayton with a 98 mph fastball in his first big league appearance. That night, as Jim sat in his hotel room with his wife and kids eating pizza, the whole country was talking about this 35 year old high school science teacher who made a bet with his high school kids that led to a try out and eventually to the big leagues 3 months later.
Five days later, Jim Morris' life story rights had been purchased by Disney and "the Rookie" went into Production shortly thereafter, starring Dennis Quaid. Jim Morris not only served as a consultant to the film, but he also co-authored a book entitled "the Oldest Rookie," which was published in 2001 by Little Brown and Company.
Jim retired again from baseball in winter 2001 and his life story was filmed in the spring of 2001 near Austin, Texas. Jim's teammate in pro baseball back in the 80's, Mark Ciardi, was one of the producers, and when "The Rookie" premiered in New York City in March, 2002 after a whirlwind publicity tour, the film opened to critical acclaim. Eventually, "The Rookie" would earn in excess of 150 million dollars worldwide. "The Rookie" has also been rated one of the greatest baseball movies ever and it won the first annual ESPY for Best Sports Film of the Year.
Today, Jim lives with his family near San Antonio and travels the country as America's foremost inspirational and motivational speaker. His story has become an inspiration to anyone interested in living their dreams. Incredibly, Jim receives fan mail from places as far away as India. He has spoken hundreds of times throughout the country and in Mexico and Canada too. He also gives baseball lessons to kids.
BUSTER OLNEY (ESPN)
Buster Olney is a senior writer at ESPN The Magazine. He began covering baseball in 1989, as the Nashville Banner's beat reporter assigned to the Triple-A Nashville Sounds. Later, he covered the San Diego Padres (1993-94), the Baltimore Orioles ('95-96), the New York Mets ('97) and the Yankees ('98-2001). Olney joined ESPN The Magazine in 2003, after six years at The New York Times, and he's the author of the Times' best-seller "The Last Night of the Yankee Dynasty," a book about the Paul O'Neill-Tino Martinez Yankees dynasty of 1996-01.
He grew up in central Vermont collecting baseball cards and listening to Red Sox, Expos, Phillies and Pirates radio broadcasts, and was a rabid fan of the Los Angeles Dodgers. He graduated from Vanderbilt University the same year as hoops legend Will Perdue, and ranks among the all-time leading scorers in pickup basketball at Memorial Gym. He claims to have witnessed the Commodores' winning football season in 1982 (although anthropologists have not yet confirmed this).
Olney also contributes to ESPN.com, ESPN Radio, ESPNEWS, "SportsCenter" and "Baseball Tonight."
FOUAD FARIS (FCA-NE)
Fouad Faris has been the New England Regional Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes since 1999. Prior to assuming his current role, he was FCA Area Director of Upstate South Carolina. He has been on staff with FCA for a total of 23 years.
Of Palestinian descent, Fouad was born in Israel and immigrated to the United States in 1970 with his family. He received his BA Degree from Austin College where he played on a NAIA Division II National Championship football team and was a four-year letterman. He received his MA in Biblical Studies from Dallas Theological Seminary.
Fouad serves as chapel leader for a number of area sports teams, including the New Hampshire Fisher Cats (AA affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays) and the Manchester Monarchs (AHL affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings). He is a frequent speaker at churches, retreats, men’s and youth groups and of course, high school and college campuses and NFL chapels. He is married to Karen and is the proud father of Daniel. The Faris’ live in Londonderry, New Hampshire.
AUSTIN AINGE (Maine Red Claws)
Prior to joining the Red Claws, Austin Ainge was a scout with the Boston Celtics, where among his duties he was charged with working with Celtics rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker while they were on assignment with Utah of the NBA Development League.
Prior to joining the Celtics, Ainge served a stint as an assistant coach for Southern Utah University where he was responsible for perimeter players, recruiting, player development, video breakdown, and developing game plans.
Ainge had a successful playing career at Brigham Young University, where he was a two-year captain, leading BYU to two Mountain West Conference championships, three NCAA tournaments and one NIT appearances. Before playing at BYU, Ainge put his basketball career on hold and served a two-year mission in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic.
The son of Celtics' legend Danny Ainge, Ainge and his wife Crystal have two sons, Andre and Finley.
GARY LAPERGOLA (The Perfect Release)
"My bio goes something like this. I was stricken with Parkinson’s disease at the age of 45, diagnosed on my 45th birthday. I started a basketball training business 18 years ago and am still very active. My belief is that exercise is a key to slowing down the disease. Also I ride a tandem bike with curing results. Briefly I am writing a novel; and recently launched a basketball shooting invention."
Monday, November 23, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Sun., Nov. 22nd on WDeV
Elaine DeBassige D'Amato's vision is that everyone has the ability to be a champion. She is a Sport Psychology and Performance Consultant, Licensed Professional Counselor, and National Certified Counselor. She has graduated from the Universities of Notre Dame, Colorado at Denver, and Denver.
Elaine's passion to work with athletes started as a child when she spent her weekends on the baseball field and talked till dawn with her dad about everything from NASCAR to his days playing hockey on the ice pond in Canada. When ESPN arrived, it only added fuel to the fire, hoping that one day she would be the first MLB female catcher (first inspired by Johnny Bench) or play-by-play analyst, like Tim McCarver.
At Notre Dame, she was a football manager during the last season the Irish won the National Championship. The scene in "Rudy" when he gets accepted into Notre Dame is comparable to how she felt the first time she ran through the tunnel behind the team.
Today, Elaine works with 2 types of champions. The first group is retiring elite athletes who want to take their game off the court as they pursue new ventures. She prepares these champions for their transition to civilian life so that life off the field is as engaging and successful as their athletic highlight reel.
The second group of people she works with is elite athletes just starting their careers. She helps them to develop a strategy on how to build a lifestyle and support system that helps them remain a champion long after their playing careers are over. Elaine teaches them how to manage slumps, success, and surprises.
For more information about sport performance and transition management, athletes and coaches can contact Elaine at www.BeTheChampion.com.
Chris Taylor attended Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he played football, basketball, and track. After graduating from high school, Taylor attended Indiana University. In his true freshman season in 2002, Taylor played in six games, rushing for 229 yards. In 2003, Taylor rushed for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He started two games in 2004, rushing for 323 yards. In his senior season in 2005, Taylor played in all 11 games and ran for 740 yards and four touchdowns and was a captain.
Taylor was signed by the Houston Texans in May 2006 after going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was on the practice squad for 12 games before he was elevated to the 53-man roster for the remainder of the season. Against the Cleveland Browns he recorded a 20 carry, 99 yards, and 1 touchdown performance. Taylor missed all of the 2007 season after being placed on injured reserve on July 30 with a knee injury. He was on the 53-man roster for the first six games of the 2008 season for the Texans before again suffering an injury. Taylor was signed by the New England Patriots on August 17, 2009. He was placed on injured reserve on September 5 with a shoulder injury.
Taylor has had bad luck with injuries over the years but he's an athletic young runner that seems to be an ideal runner in the zone blacking scheme...effective one-cut runner.
Playing at the professional level has been a dream come true. Now it is my dream to help young people have complete access to information that will ease their transition from high school to an appropriate setting that will aid them in meeting their career needs. Student athletes have dreams but do not always have the skills or guidance to develop a plan that will help them reach their potential. I am very passionate about helping young people pursue their dream. SoSportz is devoted to the positive social development of young athletes by focusing and placing emphasis on academics, sports and positive communication.
Kevin Sneddon enters his seventh season as the head coach at the University of Vermont in 2009-10, and his 17th year in the coaching profession. He led Vermont to its second-ever Frozen Four appearance in 2008-09 on his way to being named a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the top Division I coach in the country. The Catamounts attained their highest-ever final ranking in 2008-09, finishing No. 3 in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll with a 22-12-5 record.
Under Sneddon’s leadership the Catamounts have asserted themselves as one of the premier programs in college hockey. Vermont posted a fifth straight winning season last year for the first time since moving to the Division I level in 1974-75. The Catamounts have won a total of 96 games and four in-season tournaments in the last five years.
In 2007-08, Sneddon was named the Bob Cullen Hockey East Coach of the Year and was a finalist for national coach of the year after leading the Catamounts to a 17-15-7 record and their first-ever trip to the Hockey East Championship Game at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Mass.
Sneddon guided Vermont to an 18-16-5 record and a championship in the prestigious Ice Breaker Invitational in 2006-07. The Catamounts finished second in the country in scoring defense with a 2.00 goals against average and they ranked third nationally on the penalty kill at 88.8-percent.
In 2005-06, the Catamounts had an 18-14-6 record in their first year in Hockey East. Vermont established the best start to a season in school history by winning its first seven contests. The Catamounts went on to claim tournament titles in both the Nye Frontier Classic and Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamount Cup.
During the month of December that season, Vermont was ranked as high as third in the country in both national polls, giving the Catamounts their highest ranking in a decade at the time. Vermont finished third in the nation in goals against average at 2.16 and won the Sportsmanship Award in Hockey East for the least amount of penalty minutes in conference play. In addition, captain Jaime Sifers ‘06 was one of seven finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey’s finest citizen.
During the 2004-05 season, Sneddon led the Catamounts to their first 20-win season in eight years. With a 21-14-4 mark, Vermont was also the most improved team in the country winning 12 more games than it did the previous season.
Vermont was picked to finish 10th in the ECAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll that year. Instead, the Catamounts finished fourth in the ECAC and were ranked as high as 10th in USCHO.com/CSTV Poll that season. Vermont also advanced to the ECAC Championships in Albany, N.Y., for the first time since 1996 after defeating Dartmouth in the ECAC Quarterfinals. Vermont also defeated the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the first time in school history with a 3-2 victory at Minnesota-Duluth in October.
A 1992 graduate of Harvard University, Sneddon is just the third coach in the last 44 years at Vermont. He succeeded Mike Gilligan, who stepped down in April of 2003, after 19 years behind the Catamount bench.
The head coach at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., from 1998 to 2003, Sneddon was associated with the Union men's hockey program since 1993-94, when he was named assistant coach under former head coach Bruce Delventhal. He was named head coach in the summer of 1998, and in 2002-03 Sneddon led the Dutchmen to their first-ever ECACHL home-ice playoff series. Union qualified for the ECACHL Playoffs three of Sneddon's last four years with the Dutchmen. His career record at Union was 50-99-18 in five seasons.
Sneddon's first recruiting class at Vermont produced the ECAC Rookie of the Year in goalie Joe Fallon ‘08 and ECAC All-Rookie Team member in forward Torrey Mitchell.
Fallon, a sixth round pick in the 2005 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, finished his career ranked first or second in every major goaltending category at UVM. His 20 career shutouts rank second all-time in NCAA history and his 2.05 career goals against average is 11th best all-time in Division I. Fallon holds a total of 11 career, single-season and freshman records at Vermont. Fallon signed an NHL contract with Chicago in April of 2008.
Mitchell, a San Jose Sharks 2004 NHL draft choice, completed his career with 35 goals and 70 assists for 105 points. He signed an NHL contract with San Jose in March of 2007 and was one of the NHL’s top rookies in 2007-08.
Last season Viktor Stålberg, a sixth-round NHL Draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006, became the fourth Catamount in program history to be named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top college hockey player in the country. Stålberg was also named a First-Team NCAA All-American and signed a NHL contract with the Toronto in April of 2009.
Sophomores Drew MacKenzie (209 overall, 2007 NHL Draft, Buffalo) and Matt Marshall (150 overall, 2007 NHL Draft, Tampa Bay), junior Kyle Medvec (102 overall, 2006 NHL Draft, Minnesota) and freshman David Pacan (177 overall, 2009 NHL Draft, Chicago) are other Sneddon recruits to be selected in the NHL draft.
Off the ice, Sneddon works hard to develop his student-athletes. Whether its helping his players to achieve goals in the classroom or teaching them important values away from hockey, he takes pride in preparing his players for "life's greater challenges." Sneddon serves as the Executive Vice President for the Jarred Williams Foundation and has been involved with the organization for the last six years.
The Catamounts participate in several community service projects each year. Among them are: volunteering at the local Ronald McDonald House, visiting children at Fletcher Allen Health Care and residents in local nursing homes, the Jarred Williams Foundation Hawaiian Boat Cruise, the Travis Roy Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament, Green Up Day and volunteering for the Burlington Amateur Hockey Association.
Sneddon has been very involved at the conference and national level in the sport of hockey. He served on the ECAC Executive Coaches Committee and the ECAC Strategic Planning Committee from 2001-03 and was Vice President of Convention Planning for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) from 2003-06. Four year’s ago proceeds from Vermont's "Midnight Madness" went to Hockey Coaches Care, the official charitable organization of the AHCA. He also is a member of the Executive Board for the Hockey Humanitarian Foundation.
Before beginning his coaching career, Sneddon had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Kings. Back surgery cut short his career and he made the decision to become a coach shortly thereafter.
In the collegiate ranks, he was a four-year starter at Harvard University where he helped the Crimson win the NCAA Championship in 1988-89. That season he was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team, the NCAA All-Tournament Team, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings. During his four years at Harvard, he was the 96th captain of the Harvard men's hockey team, participated in the World Junior Camp, and the Albany World Cup. Unfortunately, Sneddon suffered two season-ending injuries, and operations on his shoulder and back limited his playing time in each of his last two seasons.
Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, where he attended Nelson High School before heading to Harvard, Sneddon has been involved with hockey his entire life. His father, Robert, played professional hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks and the California Golden Seals. He spent much of his career playing in the AHL and IHL minor leagues.
Sneddon, his wife Toni, and daughter Gabrielle live in South Burlington.
Brian Lowe is the reporter for Patriots Today, the team's daily, in-depth show dedicated exclusively to the Patriots and airing on Patriots.com He began as host of Patriots Video News, the team's previous internet TV show, in 2003; and has covered the team home and away the last 5 seasons, including at Super Bowls XXXVIII, XXXIX and XLII. He also hosts the "Fantasy Lowe Down" radio show on Patriots.com and appears on Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight on Comcast SportsNet.
Elaine's passion to work with athletes started as a child when she spent her weekends on the baseball field and talked till dawn with her dad about everything from NASCAR to his days playing hockey on the ice pond in Canada. When ESPN arrived, it only added fuel to the fire, hoping that one day she would be the first MLB female catcher (first inspired by Johnny Bench) or play-by-play analyst, like Tim McCarver.
At Notre Dame, she was a football manager during the last season the Irish won the National Championship. The scene in "Rudy" when he gets accepted into Notre Dame is comparable to how she felt the first time she ran through the tunnel behind the team.
Today, Elaine works with 2 types of champions. The first group is retiring elite athletes who want to take their game off the court as they pursue new ventures. She prepares these champions for their transition to civilian life so that life off the field is as engaging and successful as their athletic highlight reel.
The second group of people she works with is elite athletes just starting their careers. She helps them to develop a strategy on how to build a lifestyle and support system that helps them remain a champion long after their playing careers are over. Elaine teaches them how to manage slumps, success, and surprises.
For more information about sport performance and transition management, athletes and coaches can contact Elaine at www.BeTheChampion.com.
Chris Taylor attended Cordova High School in Memphis, Tennessee, where he played football, basketball, and track. After graduating from high school, Taylor attended Indiana University. In his true freshman season in 2002, Taylor played in six games, rushing for 229 yards. In 2003, Taylor rushed for 464 yards and three touchdowns. He started two games in 2004, rushing for 323 yards. In his senior season in 2005, Taylor played in all 11 games and ran for 740 yards and four touchdowns and was a captain.
Taylor was signed by the Houston Texans in May 2006 after going undrafted in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was on the practice squad for 12 games before he was elevated to the 53-man roster for the remainder of the season. Against the Cleveland Browns he recorded a 20 carry, 99 yards, and 1 touchdown performance. Taylor missed all of the 2007 season after being placed on injured reserve on July 30 with a knee injury. He was on the 53-man roster for the first six games of the 2008 season for the Texans before again suffering an injury. Taylor was signed by the New England Patriots on August 17, 2009. He was placed on injured reserve on September 5 with a shoulder injury.
Taylor has had bad luck with injuries over the years but he's an athletic young runner that seems to be an ideal runner in the zone blacking scheme...effective one-cut runner.
Playing at the professional level has been a dream come true. Now it is my dream to help young people have complete access to information that will ease their transition from high school to an appropriate setting that will aid them in meeting their career needs. Student athletes have dreams but do not always have the skills or guidance to develop a plan that will help them reach their potential. I am very passionate about helping young people pursue their dream. SoSportz is devoted to the positive social development of young athletes by focusing and placing emphasis on academics, sports and positive communication.
Kevin Sneddon enters his seventh season as the head coach at the University of Vermont in 2009-10, and his 17th year in the coaching profession. He led Vermont to its second-ever Frozen Four appearance in 2008-09 on his way to being named a finalist for the Spencer Penrose Award, given annually to the top Division I coach in the country. The Catamounts attained their highest-ever final ranking in 2008-09, finishing No. 3 in the USCHO.com/CBS College Sports Poll with a 22-12-5 record.
Under Sneddon’s leadership the Catamounts have asserted themselves as one of the premier programs in college hockey. Vermont posted a fifth straight winning season last year for the first time since moving to the Division I level in 1974-75. The Catamounts have won a total of 96 games and four in-season tournaments in the last five years.
In 2007-08, Sneddon was named the Bob Cullen Hockey East Coach of the Year and was a finalist for national coach of the year after leading the Catamounts to a 17-15-7 record and their first-ever trip to the Hockey East Championship Game at the TD Banknorth Garden in Boston, Mass.
Sneddon guided Vermont to an 18-16-5 record and a championship in the prestigious Ice Breaker Invitational in 2006-07. The Catamounts finished second in the country in scoring defense with a 2.00 goals against average and they ranked third nationally on the penalty kill at 88.8-percent.
In 2005-06, the Catamounts had an 18-14-6 record in their first year in Hockey East. Vermont established the best start to a season in school history by winning its first seven contests. The Catamounts went on to claim tournament titles in both the Nye Frontier Classic and Sheraton/TD Banknorth Catamount Cup.
During the month of December that season, Vermont was ranked as high as third in the country in both national polls, giving the Catamounts their highest ranking in a decade at the time. Vermont finished third in the nation in goals against average at 2.16 and won the Sportsmanship Award in Hockey East for the least amount of penalty minutes in conference play. In addition, captain Jaime Sifers ‘06 was one of seven finalists for the Hockey Humanitarian Award, given annually to college hockey’s finest citizen.
During the 2004-05 season, Sneddon led the Catamounts to their first 20-win season in eight years. With a 21-14-4 mark, Vermont was also the most improved team in the country winning 12 more games than it did the previous season.
Vermont was picked to finish 10th in the ECAC Preseason Coaches’ Poll that year. Instead, the Catamounts finished fourth in the ECAC and were ranked as high as 10th in USCHO.com/CSTV Poll that season. Vermont also advanced to the ECAC Championships in Albany, N.Y., for the first time since 1996 after defeating Dartmouth in the ECAC Quarterfinals. Vermont also defeated the No. 1 ranked team in the country for the first time in school history with a 3-2 victory at Minnesota-Duluth in October.
A 1992 graduate of Harvard University, Sneddon is just the third coach in the last 44 years at Vermont. He succeeded Mike Gilligan, who stepped down in April of 2003, after 19 years behind the Catamount bench.
The head coach at Union College in Schenectady, N.Y., from 1998 to 2003, Sneddon was associated with the Union men's hockey program since 1993-94, when he was named assistant coach under former head coach Bruce Delventhal. He was named head coach in the summer of 1998, and in 2002-03 Sneddon led the Dutchmen to their first-ever ECACHL home-ice playoff series. Union qualified for the ECACHL Playoffs three of Sneddon's last four years with the Dutchmen. His career record at Union was 50-99-18 in five seasons.
Sneddon's first recruiting class at Vermont produced the ECAC Rookie of the Year in goalie Joe Fallon ‘08 and ECAC All-Rookie Team member in forward Torrey Mitchell.
Fallon, a sixth round pick in the 2005 NHL draft by the Chicago Blackhawks, finished his career ranked first or second in every major goaltending category at UVM. His 20 career shutouts rank second all-time in NCAA history and his 2.05 career goals against average is 11th best all-time in Division I. Fallon holds a total of 11 career, single-season and freshman records at Vermont. Fallon signed an NHL contract with Chicago in April of 2008.
Mitchell, a San Jose Sharks 2004 NHL draft choice, completed his career with 35 goals and 70 assists for 105 points. He signed an NHL contract with San Jose in March of 2007 and was one of the NHL’s top rookies in 2007-08.
Last season Viktor Stålberg, a sixth-round NHL Draft pick by the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2006, became the fourth Catamount in program history to be named a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award, given annually to the top college hockey player in the country. Stålberg was also named a First-Team NCAA All-American and signed a NHL contract with the Toronto in April of 2009.
Sophomores Drew MacKenzie (209 overall, 2007 NHL Draft, Buffalo) and Matt Marshall (150 overall, 2007 NHL Draft, Tampa Bay), junior Kyle Medvec (102 overall, 2006 NHL Draft, Minnesota) and freshman David Pacan (177 overall, 2009 NHL Draft, Chicago) are other Sneddon recruits to be selected in the NHL draft.
Off the ice, Sneddon works hard to develop his student-athletes. Whether its helping his players to achieve goals in the classroom or teaching them important values away from hockey, he takes pride in preparing his players for "life's greater challenges." Sneddon serves as the Executive Vice President for the Jarred Williams Foundation and has been involved with the organization for the last six years.
The Catamounts participate in several community service projects each year. Among them are: volunteering at the local Ronald McDonald House, visiting children at Fletcher Allen Health Care and residents in local nursing homes, the Jarred Williams Foundation Hawaiian Boat Cruise, the Travis Roy Foundation Wiffle Ball Tournament, Green Up Day and volunteering for the Burlington Amateur Hockey Association.
Sneddon has been very involved at the conference and national level in the sport of hockey. He served on the ECAC Executive Coaches Committee and the ECAC Strategic Planning Committee from 2001-03 and was Vice President of Convention Planning for the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) from 2003-06. Four year’s ago proceeds from Vermont's "Midnight Madness" went to Hockey Coaches Care, the official charitable organization of the AHCA. He also is a member of the Executive Board for the Hockey Humanitarian Foundation.
Before beginning his coaching career, Sneddon had a brief stint with the Los Angeles Kings. Back surgery cut short his career and he made the decision to become a coach shortly thereafter.
In the collegiate ranks, he was a four-year starter at Harvard University where he helped the Crimson win the NCAA Championship in 1988-89. That season he was named to the ECAC All-Rookie Team, the NCAA All-Tournament Team, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings. During his four years at Harvard, he was the 96th captain of the Harvard men's hockey team, participated in the World Junior Camp, and the Albany World Cup. Unfortunately, Sneddon suffered two season-ending injuries, and operations on his shoulder and back limited his playing time in each of his last two seasons.
Born and raised in Burlington, Ontario, where he attended Nelson High School before heading to Harvard, Sneddon has been involved with hockey his entire life. His father, Robert, played professional hockey for the Chicago Blackhawks and the California Golden Seals. He spent much of his career playing in the AHL and IHL minor leagues.
Sneddon, his wife Toni, and daughter Gabrielle live in South Burlington.
Brian Lowe is the reporter for Patriots Today, the team's daily, in-depth show dedicated exclusively to the Patriots and airing on Patriots.com He began as host of Patriots Video News, the team's previous internet TV show, in 2003; and has covered the team home and away the last 5 seasons, including at Super Bowls XXXVIII, XXXIX and XLII. He also hosts the "Fantasy Lowe Down" radio show on Patriots.com and appears on Mohegan Sun Sports Tonight on Comcast SportsNet.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
"The Rookie" to appear on my sports rant & talk show!
No, not Dennis Quaid; but Jim Morris will be joining SCORE, the Sun. Night Special Edition on WDeV FM and AM Sun., Nov. 29th @ 9:20 PM (EST).
Courtesy of Wikipedia,
"Morris signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization at the age of 35. He started out with the Minor League Double-A Orlando Rays, but after a few appearances he moved up to a spot with the Triple-A Durham Bulls. Thanks to solid pitching performances with Durham, Tampa Bay gave him a chance to pitch with the big club when the rosters expanded, and on September 18, 1999, against Royce Clayton of the Texas Rangers, the 35-year old Morris made his debut, striking Clayton out on four pitches. His goal of pitching in the majors was finally realized, and he made four more appearances later that year.
Morris made 16 major league appearances in 2000, during which his arm problems recurred. His final appearance came on May 9, 2000, at Yankee Stadium. He entered a tie game in the bottom of the 10th inning with the bases loaded, and issued a game-ending bases-loaded walk to his first batter, Paul O'Neill, after which the Rays released him. He attempted to catch on with the Dodgers the following spring but wasn't able to overcome his injuries. At the end of his major league career he was 0-0 with an ERA of 4.80 and 13 strikeouts.
Morris has released an autobiography, The Oldest Rookie. He often appears as a motivational speaker, and currently receives $9000-$15000 for each appearance."
Courtesy of Wikipedia,
"Morris signed a professional contract with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays organization at the age of 35. He started out with the Minor League Double-A Orlando Rays, but after a few appearances he moved up to a spot with the Triple-A Durham Bulls. Thanks to solid pitching performances with Durham, Tampa Bay gave him a chance to pitch with the big club when the rosters expanded, and on September 18, 1999, against Royce Clayton of the Texas Rangers, the 35-year old Morris made his debut, striking Clayton out on four pitches. His goal of pitching in the majors was finally realized, and he made four more appearances later that year.
Morris made 16 major league appearances in 2000, during which his arm problems recurred. His final appearance came on May 9, 2000, at Yankee Stadium. He entered a tie game in the bottom of the 10th inning with the bases loaded, and issued a game-ending bases-loaded walk to his first batter, Paul O'Neill, after which the Rays released him. He attempted to catch on with the Dodgers the following spring but wasn't able to overcome his injuries. At the end of his major league career he was 0-0 with an ERA of 4.80 and 13 strikeouts.
Morris has released an autobiography, The Oldest Rookie. He often appears as a motivational speaker, and currently receives $9000-$15000 for each appearance."
Monday, November 16, 2009
UVM Catamounts
Congrats to:
1.) the Lady Hoop Cats, defeating Western MI and NC State to win the Sheraton Raleigh Invitational.
2.) the men's hockey team who rebounded nicely from a 7-1 loss to BC, defeating them yesterday 3-2 on their pond.
3.) the men's basketball team who defeated Buffalo yesterday 58-57; evening their record to 1-1 after Fri.'s loss to Loyola of Maryland
1.) the Lady Hoop Cats, defeating Western MI and NC State to win the Sheraton Raleigh Invitational.
2.) the men's hockey team who rebounded nicely from a 7-1 loss to BC, defeating them yesterday 3-2 on their pond.
3.) the men's basketball team who defeated Buffalo yesterday 58-57; evening their record to 1-1 after Fri.'s loss to Loyola of Maryland
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)