A Twice-Told Tale For the second time, a federal appeals court upheld a lower court's ruling that Michigan's high school sports schedule discriminates against girls in some sports. Issued by a three-judge panel of the Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati, the Aug. 16 ruling provides the latest chapter in an eight-year dispute between Communities for Equity, a group spearheaded by two Grand Rapids, Mich.-area mothers of female student-athletes, and the Michigan High School Athletic Association.
Following the court's decision, the MHSAA said in a prepared statement that it will study its options, including filing a motion to the Sixth Circuit for a rehearing en banc (by the full court). Meanwhile, the association said the court's ruling would not affect Michigan's athletic calendar for the 2006-07 school year.
Sports Ill-fated China boasts the world's fastest-growing economy, fueled in part by the public's ever-increasing demand for sports entertainment. That said, one might deem the country as being more than ready for its own version of the popular magazine Sports Illustrated.
However, Chinese officials appear to be less enthusiastic about the endeavor. Just as the magazine's first issue-featuring on its cover Yao Ming of the NBA's Houston Rockets-hit Beijing newsstands this month, a spokesperson for the government's General Administration of Press and Publication told Agence France-Presse that the Chinese Sports Illustrated "was not approved."
A joint project between Time Warner Inc. (Sports Illustrated's publisher), Hong Kong-based advertising firm SEEC Media Group and the China Sports Daily Publishing House, the magazine's Chinese edition was originally announced in March. At the time, officials said the new title would predominantly carry original content created by a permanent staff of Beijing-based writers, editors and designers. Correspondents stationed throughout China, in the United States and in Europe were to focus on Chinese and U.S. professional basketball, European and Chinese soccer, and popular summer sports to be featured at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. (In fact, within the pages of the first issue are articles about Chinese Olympic hurdles champion Liu Xiang and the national badminton team.)
But preceding the project's inception, in fall 2005 the Chinese government banned all new periodicals (except science and technology magazines) jointly produced with foreign publishers-even if those projects had secured local partners.
Prior to Sports Illustrated, the highest-profile casualty of this mandate was the Chinese version of Rolling Stone, which published its first and last issue in March.
Bobrick Washroom Equipment (North Hollywood, Calif.) acquired the assets of the General Accessory Manufacturing Company, a manufacturer of steel and specialty washroom accessory products.
Spalding (Jefferson, Iowa) entered into a three-year partnership agreement with the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) to be the official basketball equipment, volleyball equipment and cheerleading foam-backed carpet sponsor of the NFHS.
Action Sports Media (Knoxville, Tenn.) signed a 10-year marketing partnership extension with Purdue University to run through August 2017. Action Sports Media will help finance an end-zone video board and sideline advertising panel for Purdue's football facility, Ross-Ade Stadium.
Brenda Loube, president and co-founder of Corporate Fitness Works (Montgomery Village, Md.), was recently interviewed by Brian Wilson, host of FOX News' Weekend Live. She spoke about the growing number of companies allowing their employees to take time out of their work day to work out or engage in other healthy activities.
In July the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association (IHRSA) launched the IHRSAONE membership for health club industry professionals. Previously known as the IHRSA Professional Alliance, IHRSAONE is a renewable annual membership for individual fitness professionals.
efi Sports Medicine (San Diego, Calif.) has donated more than 150 of its Total Gym machines to U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Most recently the recipients were 32 Army soldiers stationed in a remote location in Iraq.
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Incredible Keynotes Headline at ABCTerry BradshawThe Athletic Business Conference & Expo not only features great seminars and an exciting trade show, but three incredible keynote speakers: Terry Bradshaw, Kevin Carroll and Mike Greenberg.
Carroll, author of the highly successful Rules of the Red Rubber Ball, will be the opening keynote speaker on Wednesday, Nov. 15. Founder of the Katalyst Consultancy, Carroll was formerly a "Katalyst," at Nike, someone who helped turn creative ideas into reality.
Bradshaw, legendary quarterback and Fox NFL Sunday analyst, will headline the Athletic Business/NAYS keynote on Thursday, Nov. 16. In "Why Not Your Best," Bradshaw will share his strategies for maintaining success through persistent self-improvement.
Greenberg, co-host of Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN Radio, will be the guest speaker at the Facility of Merit Awards Reception on Thursday, Nov. 16.
Conference fee: Cost is just $395 for the first person, $340 per person for the second and third person from the same organization, and $160 per person for each additional person (4th and beyond) from the same organization.
Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, is seeking a skating program coordinator who will be responsible for coordinating and teaching Physical Education, Health & Sport Studies classes for Goggin Ice Center, and who will assist the skating director and assistant skating director in teaching, organizing, managing and directing the recreational, educational and competitive ice skating programs.
The position requires an undergraduate degree in related discipline or equivalent skating industry experience and successful experience in teaching group and private skating lessons. Knowledge of ISI and USFS programs, rules, policies and procedure is required. The position is 10 months/32 hours per week; work schedule will include evenings and weekends. Proposed annual salary range is: $24,000 to $25,000.
Send cover letter, resume, e-mail address and a list of three professional references to: Ronda Strunk, Assistant Director for Administrative Services; Goggin Ice Center; Miami University; Oxford, OH 45056. Screening for this position begins immediately and will continue until the position is filled.
