The Long Run – April 2013
Association News
Personal Best Tour debuts in San Antonio The opening ceremony of the Texas State Senior Games on April 4 was the setting for NSGA’s inaugural Personal Best Tour event, and the presentation was well received. Marc T. Riker, NSGA CEO with assistance from three time Olympian Bob Nieman recognized Bill Altman of San Antonio with a Personal Best Award. Altman turned his frustration from not finding other senior softball players in 1987 into action and created the San Antonio Senior Softball League. The league now boasts over 500 participants on 30 teams thanks to Altman’s dedication to health and fitness for himself and others in his community. Before leaving the Alamo City, NSGA organized a pickleball demonstration at a “family adventure day” called SiClovia hosted by the YMCA in downtown San Antonio. Police estimated more than 70,000 people filled streets closed to traffic for the day. Thousands were exposed to pickleball and scores were shown how to play by Texas Senior Games athletes. During the day NSGA staffers Becky Wesley, Marc T. Riker and Del Moon shared the senior games message with hundreds of curious attendees. Some expressed interest in “getting in the game” when the Texas state games roll around next year. CLICK HERE to read all about our activities and view photos from our Texas trek.
New Personal Best Web Page has Athlete Features, Tour Blog Visit our Personal Best web page to find information about our new health and wellness initiative designed to raise awareness about the senior games movement and to inspire all adults to keep moving and striving for their own personal best. On the page you will find six extended athlete interviews that illustrate our theme. Read their basic profiles and history, then come back each month until July as we add more quotes about what motivates and inspires them, how they approach fitness and nutrition and what they do to prepare for competition in the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana. As the Personal Best Tour continues throughout the year, follow along as we post a blog and photo gallery about each visit and add new athlete profiles as we recognize them at events around the country. So bookmark www.NSGA.com and come back often where you will find something new and interesting on the Personal Best page! |
Game On!
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HUMANA Heroes: Athlete of the Month
A True Team Player Spectators at the recent NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball regional semi-finals at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia were treated to a special halftime show at games featuring Notre Dame vs. Kansas and Duke vs. Nebraska. You might say it was “one for the ages” as members of the NOVA United Senior Women’s Basketball Associationand guest players from West Virginia, Michigan and Windsor, Canada played 3 on 3 half-court exhibition “games” to the delight of thousands in the stands. ESPN even captured about 30 seconds of the action. Twelve of the thirteen players, ranging from 49 to 73, are registered to play at the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana in Cleveland this summer. “We did this for an NCAA first round game in 2012 so I guess you can say we ‘advanced’ to the Sweet Sixteen this year,” said Helen White of Arlington. “These are the first times senior women’s basketball has been showcased at NCAA tournaments. The crowd loved it and showed their appreciation during and after our play. It was fabulous to do that in front of over 5,000 fans and ESPN.” For someone who keeps herself in the middle of the action, the 59 year old White does not like to be the focus of attention. In fact, she was a little uncomfortable with being selected as our Humana Hero and preferred to give us a photo of the entire exhibition team instead of one of herself. She is #3 on right of the back row. To put it in Shakespearean terms, Helen doth protest too much. The former AARP staffer not only worked her senior players into the NCAA tourney well beyond their eligibility limits, she also co-founded NOVA United, a nonprofit organization that promotes senior women’s basketball in northern Virginia and draws its members from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC and West Virginia. In Cleveland, she will play both basketball and pickleball and is the USAPA Pickleball ambassador for Arlington County. Currently she is completing her master’s degree in sports management with emphasis on senior sports and fitness at George Washington University. While she presents herself humbly, Helen is a passionate advocate and “doer” who makes a difference helping to provide opportunities for senior women in sports. Our guess is that this modest lady turns into a fierce competitor on the field of play. When you see #3 enter the court, you better have your best game ready because Helen White always brings hers. |
Senior Health and WellnessMaine Workout Video Offers Training Tips Proper training and preparation is the key to competing at your best and to avoid needless injury. NSGA board member Deb Smith sent us this fitness workout video featuring one of the women’s basketball teams from the Maine Senior Olympics. While the workout is geared for basketball, you may find some or all of the activities helpful in general training for athletic activity. Thanks Deb! |
NSGA Online Merchandise Store Now OpenGet your Games gear today!
Now you can be the first on your block to wear NSGA and 2013 Senior Games gear with the opening of The NSGA Store at www.NSGA.com. With a couple of clicks, you can view and select from the first line of apparel to be made available featuring the official logo of the 2013 Senior Games. More items will be added as the games get closer. Of course, a wide range of merchandise will be available for sale at multiple venues during the games, but you’ll want to grab something early to let everyone know you’re an athlete in the senior games movement. So get in gear now! |
- Published in Newsletter
“A True Team Player” – April 2013 Athlete of the Month
Helen White, 59, Arlington, Virginia
Spectators at the recent NCAA Division 1 women’s basketball regional semi-finals at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia were treated to a special halftime show at games featuring Notre Dame vs. Kansas and Duke vs. Nebraska. You might say it was “one for the ages” as members of the NOVA United Senior Women’s Basketball Association and guest players from West Virginia, Michigan and Windsor, Canada played 3 on 3 half-court exhibition “games” to the delight of thousands in the stands. ESPN even captured about 30 seconds of the action. Twelve of the thirteen players, ranging from 49 to 73, are registered to play at the 2013 National Senior Games Presented by Humana in Cleveland this summer.
“We did this for an NCAA first round game in 2012 so I guess you can say we ‘advanced’ to the Sweet Sixteen this year,” said Helen White of Arlington. “These are the first times senior women’s basketball has been showcased at NCAA tournaments. The crowd loved it and showed their appreciation during and after our play. It was fabulous to do that in front of over 5,000 fans and ESPN.”
For someone who keeps herself in the middle of the action, the 59 year old White does not like to be the focus of attention. In fact, she was a little uncomfortable with being selected as our Humana Hero and preferred to give us a photo of the entire exhibition team instead of one of herself. She is #3 on right of the back row.
To put it in Shakespearean terms, Helen doth protest too much. The former AARP staffer not only worked her senior players into the NCAA tourney well beyond their eligibility limits, she also co-founded NOVA United, a nonprofit organization that promotes senior women’s basketball in northern Virginia and draws its members from Virginia, Maryland, Washington, DC and West Virginia. In Cleveland, she will play both basketball and pickleball and is the USAPA Pickleball ambassador for Arlington County. Currently she is completing her master’s degree in sports management with emphasis on senior sports and fitness at George Washington University.
While she presents herself humbly, Helen is a passionate advocate and “doer” who makes a difference helping to provide opportunities for senior women in sports. Our guess is that this modest lady turns into a fierce competitor on the field of play. When you see #3 enter the court, you better have your best game ready because Helen White always brings hers.
- Published in Athlete of the Month
San Antonio, Texas
We didn’t expect a chilly morning in San Antonio, but the Personal Best Tour was given a warm reception at the opening ceremony for the Texas State Senior Games. More than 325 energetic seniors converged on O.P. Schnabel Park to celebrate the beginning of the annual games and to take to the park trails for a fitness walk after the ceremony.
The majority of attendees came from and active adult communities, YMCA and senior centers from around the city.
NSGA CEO Marc T. Riker introduced our theme and noted that everyone who came for the fitness walk were themselves pursuing their personal best. He then introduced three-time Olympian Bob Nieman, acknowledged by many to be America’s greatest modern pentathlete ever, who also spoke about the importance of staying active. “The challenge never ends. Stay active and never stop,” he concluded.
The two then welcomed Bill Altman, our Personal Best Award recipient for this inaugural tour event. Bill Altman Profile. “Get involved in something. Get off the couch,” he said. “I encourage everyone to keep moving if you want to live to an old age and have a great life.” He then excused himself to go get ready for an afternoon with his Tigers senior games softball team for the opening of senior games competition.
Fox 29 News covered the event, and the San Antonio Express News daily newspaper interviewed Altman for a feature in their health and wellness section. Talk radio KLUP scheduled a studio interview with Altman for next week and local ESPN radio also mentioned the event.
An enthusiastic team from our national games sponsor Humana turned out to cheer on the participants and share some of the interactive pieces of their Well Being Tour. The event closed with music and dancing when the walkers returned to the pavilion. Our thanks to Cathy Pottorf for her great work organizing the Texas Senior Games and the opening ceremony.
After visiting the Texas State Senior Games competition on Friday and Saturday, the NSGA team took to the streets Sunday to participate in a great “family adventure day” event called SiClovia organized by the YMCA of San Antonio. An estimated 70,000 citizens took advantage of street closures to cycle, skate and walk through downtown and participate in recreation zones along the way.
NSGA hosted a “Senior Activity Zone” with a demonstration of pickleball, a fast growing sport similar to tennis that will be added for medal competition at the National Senior Games Presented by Humana this summer. Several senior games players came out to help show how it’s done. Thanks to joe and John Torres, TJ Hapshire, Rita Neureuther, Dale Paulick and Col. Jamie Houston for joining in the fun. Literally thousands viewed the sport during the day and many stopped by our table to learn about the Personal Best Tour and the senior games movement. Humana got into the act by bringing its “Well Being Tour” to set up next to the playing court. This same interactive health and wellness exhibit will be a major attraction at the National Senior Games in Cleveland in The Village sponsored by AstraZeneca.
- Published in Personal Best Tour Blogs