Vote Now...Vote Yes!
We need more fields! We need more parks! We need you at the polls! 

Early voting has begun and this is our chance to make the historic five-year $550 million bond package a reality.  City Bond 2007 addresses San Antonio’s most basic needs including streets, drainage, parks, sports venues and seed money for the UTSA sports complex.  The bond will not raise taxes.  San Antonio deserves an investment in the infrastructure of the city and these propositions reflect the needs of the entire community as determined by citizen committees.

There will be a separate vote on each of the five propositions and they are all important. Once the bonds are passed, there will be a citywide oversight committee to insure progress.  Vote yes, yes, yes, yes and yes!

For details about City Bond 2007 visit http://www.sanantonio.gov/2007bond where you’ll also find a list of early voting sites.  Election Day is May 12.

See you at the polls,



Dr. Susan Blackwood
Executive Director

Alamodome Funding Approved

On Thursday, April 19, San Antonio City Council approved spending $8.3 million for maintenance and improvements to the Alamodome.  Pat Frost (left), chairman of the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee for the 2008 NCAA Men’s Final Four, was joined by the NCAA’s Greg Shaheen, Greater Chamber of Commerce President Joe Krier and former Alamo Bowl chairman Bob Cohen to address City Council in support of the funding that will allow the Alamodome to continue to attract premier and community events. 

North East ISD athletic director Jerry Comalander also lent his support to the effort.  The improvements include a new roof and enhanced sound system plus renovations to the Plaza and Club levels.

CODP Athletes Sweep Diving Honors

Community Olympic Development Program diver Justin McDonald was named the San Antonio Express-News boys diver of the year.  The Brackenridge High School junior recorded a Region VIII-4A meet record 439.2 points and won every meet he entered this season until state, where he came in fifth.
His achievements are even more remarkable when you consider he has only been diving for 1 ½ years.  Basketball used to be Justin’s sport until his mom saw him doing flips off the board one summer and suggested he take some diving lessons.  Justin began in the Dreams for Youth program where he learned basic skills for three months before moving into the CODP.  He hasn’t touched a basketball since.

CODP Diving Coach Tommy Law says Justin is a natural talent and has one of the best rip entries he has ever coached.  “He has a daredevil way about him,” says Tommy.  “He will try difficult new dives without much goading.”  Justin says learning all the new dives is what he likes most.  “Getting the smacks on those new dives…it’s great!”  Justin’s current favorite is a front 3 ½ pike double bounce off a three-meter board.  Justin doesn’t mind practicing 5 days a week because “it’s fun and I can’t get enough of diving.”  His goal is to earn a diving scholarship and go to the Olympics. 

The Express-News runner up boys divers of the year, Marshall Edwards and Christopher Medley, also train in the CODP at Palo Alto College.

Good Luck, Interns!

Interns (left to right) Evelyn Reyes, Melissa Harman, Kari Chapman and Michelle Villalpando at the Sports Hall of Fame in February.  Not pictured:  Renea Wright.

Every semester, the Sports Foundation is fortunate to have interns from area colleges share their time and talents with us.  This spring, our five interns were bright, fun and dedicated.   As each of them finishes their last days with us, we want to thank them and wish them all the best. 

Kari Chapman is an accounting and sports management double major at the University of the Incarnate Word.  She’ll graduate in December then hopes to either begin working or play volleyball overseas.

A communications and German major, Melissa Harman will graduate from Trinity University this month and plans to return home to Chicago and pursue a public relations job in the sports world (perhaps with the Bears because she knows next year is their year).

Evelyn Reyes is a UTSA sports management major and will graduate this month.  Originally from Corpus Christi, Reyes plans on getting a job and getting a masters degree in business next spring at UTSA.

Michelle Villalpando will graduate soon from Texas State University with a bachelor of science in recreation administration. Villalpando hopes to pursue her masters in recreation and leisure services recreation management at Texas State.  She also envisions working in special events.

After graduating from Trinity University with a degree in business management, Renae Wright plans on returning home to Wichita, Kansas. She hopes to find a job and also hopes that the KU basketball team has an outstanding season next year.

SALOC Staff Hiring for 2008 Final Four®

The San Antonio Local Organizing Committee plans to add a third full-time staff position beginning in June and continuing through April of 2008 in preparation for the 2008 NCAA® Final Four®.  SALOC is looking for a hard-working, event-oriented individual who will be passionate about and committed to the success of the Championship.
                            
For more information on the job description or to forward a resume, please contact Jenny Carnes.  Resumes will not be accepted after Wednesday, May 9. 

SASF Golf Classic a Great Success

A record 130 golfers came out to play golf and help our youth initiatives on Monday, April 16 at the Dominion Country Club.  The team from Chase Bank took 1st place honors, with 2nd place going to the defending champion team from Merrill-Lynch.  The San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau took home 3rd place honors.  For their accomplishment, the Chase Bank team received floor seats to an upcoming Spurs playoff game, compliments of the presenting sponsor, Coca-Cola. 

Over $30,000 was raised to help support the youth initiatives of the San Antonio Sports Foundation: Dreams for Youth, the Community Olympic Development Program, the Valero Go!Kids Challenge, and our newest initiative, GoGirlGo! San Antonio. 

Plans are already underway for the 2008 golf classic so stayed tuned for more information!

Hoop It Up Scores  

If you love street hoops, then you were at the Alamodome last weekend, April 28 and 29, for the Hoop It Up 3on3 Basketball Tournament.  The 287 teams featured players from 8 to well over 30 years of age. 

Congratulations to the Hoop It Up winners and to all of the participants.

DFY Kicks Off Inner City Games

The San Antonio Sports Foundation will kick-off the city-wide Inner City Games this Saturday, May 5.  The Inner City Games, a program of the San Antonio After-School All-Stars, allows children to showcase their athletic skills and will continue throughout the summer. Forty divers and 50 fencers are expected to participate this weekend.  Diving will be held at Northside Aquatics and fencing will be held at Palo Alto College. 

Children who participate in five Dreams for Youth sports—fencing, diving, team handball, gymnastics and badminton—will have an opportunity to compete and earn a medal and t-shirt.  Badminton will be held at Poe Middle School May 7-9.  The gymnastics and team handball competition will be held on May 19 at Miller’s Pond Parks and Recreation Center. 

Fencing Brothers Finish Well

Brothers Alex (17 years old) and Nick Walker (11 years old) finished the 2007 fencing season on a high note.    Alex Walker placed seventh overall at the Oz Parson Memorial-Sectional Circuit Cup #5 (Oklahoma City, OK) and finished the year ranked third on the USFA- Southwest Sectional Point List (the Southwest Section is composed of Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.).  Alex’s goal for the 2007-2008 season is to win first place overall. 

Little brother Nick Walker is right on his heels, however, winning the bronze medal at the Regional Youth Circuit (RYC) #3 in Houston, TX  last weekend, and winning first place overall for the year as the 2007 RYC Rolling Point Y-10 Men’s Foil Overall Champion.  

Sports Foundation volunteers are the best!  In this and future Sidelines issues, we’ll highlight the work of our volunteers and post news specific to volunteer activities.
                 
Robert Romo Recognized With National Award

Robert Romo was eight years old when he began volunteering, so with more than 50 years of volunteering experience, it’s no wonder Robert was recently honored with a lifetime achievement award and inducted into the National Hispanic Sports Hall of Fame.

“I first heard about the Sports Foundation at the San Antonio Torch Run for the 2001 Olympics. I actually got to carry the torch!  After that event, I’ve helped out at numerous Final Four events and other sports championships that the Sports Foundation is responsible for,” said Robert.

Robert is a key volunteer for the Sports Foundation and helps recruit other volunteers through his job at Wal-Mart. He was further encouraged to help others after his son became ill with a blood disorder and received great care and treatment at the Santa Rosa Christian Children’s Hospital. On May 29, Robert will receive the Sam Walton Hero Service Award for his volunteering efforts through Wal-Mart.

“I just love to give back to the community,” Robert said.  “Nothing is stronger than the heart of a volunteer.”

Do you share Robert’s volunteer spirit?  Then become a Sports Foundation volunteer today.  Register online or call Michelle Rodriguez at 210-820-2191.

Joel Horlen
Hall of Famer and Sports Foundation Member

On April 18, Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle threw the first no-hitter of his career. It was also the first White Sox no-hitter since San Antonio native Joel Horlen beat Detroit 6-0 on Sept. 10, 1967.   Horlen, who won the World Series in 1972 with the Oakland A’s, was inducted into the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame in 2004.  That same year he also became a member of the San Antonio Sports Foundation.

“The Sports Foundation does quite a bit for the San Antonio youth and underprivileged,” said Horlen.  “They’ve worked with thousands of kids and have really done a great job with that. I really enjoy going to some of the foundation’s meetings.”  Horlen and his wife, Lois, are involved with securing and donating auction items for the San Antonio Sports Hall of Fame event each year.

After his retirement from playing the game, Horlen became a minor-league pitching coach with the Mets, Giants and Padres. While his throwing days are over, Harlan has not giving up on swinging and hitting. He’s traded baseballs for golf balls.  

“I participate in about 10 charity golf events all over the nation. Some of them are organized through the Baseball Players Alumni Association.”

Horlen says he often sees other retired baseball greats that he played with and against at these golf events. When asked whether there are still any hard feelings over games lost or won, Horlen denies it.

“We just tell each other how great we used to be.” 

Join Joel Horlen as a member of the San Antonio Sports Foundation.  Click here to join online or contact Vince Rosetta at 210-820-2122 or vrosetta@sanantoniosports.org.

Champions Club
Individual Members at $1,000+

Dr. Lawrence Anderson; Gary & Shelia Arthur; Rich Attkisson; Scott Beckendorf; Col. George Becknell; George P. Becknell, III; Morton Baird; Sam Barshop; Ralph Bender; Ed Benninger; James Blackwood; Susan Blackwood; Diana Braschler; June Bratcher; Tim Brierty; Howard Burris; Jim Callaway; Jeff Clark; Bud Curtis; Ross & Laura Davis; James Doyle; Alan Dreeben; Jim Dublin; Charlie Ebrom; Steve Edlund; Donald Engelhardt; David Fevsdahl; Lisa & Frank Fichtel; Pat & Kelley Frost; Dr. Jamie Garza; Claude Gilmer; William Greehey; Joe Guinn; Bob Gurwitz; Bill & Marcia Hanson; Cheryl Haywood; Scott Hefner; Scott Helbing; Ronnie  Hengst; George C. Hixon; Peter Holt; George C. Hixon; Michael Imbimbo; Steve Isom; Mary & Chuck Japhet, Gary Joeris; Stacey Johnson; Michael Jones; Michael Jourdan; Kent Krauss; Dr. Gary Lawton; Michael J. Lynd, Jr.; Greg & Leigh Ann King; Lowry Mays; James Mickey; Phil Miner; Dr. Edward Mueller; Randel Norris; Kelly O'Connor; Juan Rangel; Bob & Laura Raymond; Tom Reardon; Marty Roos; Dr. Robert Schnitzler; Dr. David Schmidt; George Scofield; Daniel Simons; Dr. Earl Smith; Steve Souter; Michael Stoltz; Steve Stroud; Virginia VanSteenberg; Richard Wade; Neill Walsdorf, Jr.; Carri Wells; Jeff Wentworth; Robert Wright, Jr.; Paul Young

Corporate Champions

City of San Antonio; AT&T

$50,000

IKON Office Solutions; San Antonio Express-News; Time Warner Cable; Valero Energy Corporation

$20,000

Pepsi Bottling Group; San Antonio Coca-Cola Bottling Co;

$10,000

Budget Car & Truck Rental; Corporate Travel Planners; Enterprise Rent A Car; Flemming's Prime Steakhouse and Wine Bar; Langley & Banack; Maverick Video Production; NuMedia: Oak Farms Dairy; Paladin IT Services; Spectrum Health Clubs; Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio

$5,000

The Alamo Travel Group; George Becknell; Bender & Associates; BudCo., Inc.; The CE Group - Communication & Events; ChapmanSchewe Benefits Consulting; Comet Neon Advertising; Ernst & Young; Frost Bank; H-E-B Grocery Company; The Gambrinus Company; KPMG; Merrill Lynch; Methodist Healthcare System; Miner Corporation; The Plaza Club; RunTex; Security Service Federal Credit Union; Sterling Bank; SWBC; US Global Investors; Walton Signage; Wells Fargo Bank; Zachry Hospitality, Inc.

$2,500

Allegra Print & Imaging; Allied Advertising; Bank of America; Broadway National Bank; Don Strange of Texas, Inc.; Colonial Supplemental Insurance; Cox Smith Matthews Incorporated; Ear Medical Group; FIRSTMARK Credit Union; GLI Distributing; Halo Distributing; MassMutual/The South Texas Agency; MarmonMok Architecture; Marriott Plaza San Antonio; Marriott Rivercenter/Riverwalk; Mission Pharmacal; Pape-Dawson Consulting Engineers, Inc.; San Antonio Economic Development Foundation; Sterling Foods; Tesoro Petroleum Companies; Yantis Company

Grants/Foundations

The AT&T Foundation; The Alfred S. Gage Foundation; Bexar County Health & Human Services CDBG; Bexar County Women's Bar Foundation; Brown Foundation; Charity Ball Foundation; Coleman Foundation; Criminal Justice Division JJDP Grant; Criminal Justice Division Safe and Drug Free Schools Grant; GAC Halff Foundation; Light Foundation; Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust; The Sequor Foundation; David & Betty Sachs Foundation; Smith Barney; Women’s Sports Foundation

Founding Sponsors

City of San Antonio; H-E-B; USAA Foundation, A Charitable Trust; Valero Energy Corporation