Becoming a professional athlete has its benefits. The fame, the attention and, of course, the money are all nice side effects of making it to the big leagues in any given sport.
For some athletes, however, hitting the big time is also a big deal because it allows them to give back to their community as a thank-you for helping them get to where they are today.
LaMarr Woodley, it appears, is one of those athletes.
The Steelers linebacker donated $60,000 to the Sagniaw, MI public school district in order to allow the entire school district to waive participation fees for student-athletes.
“Because of this, kids will have an opportunity to participate, an opportunity to be part of a team,” Saginaw High athletic director Dan Szatkowski said. “People don’t understand how important that is.”
Szatkowski claims that fall practices had began with low participation numbers as a direct result of the school’s budget cuts to the athletic department. The cuts had resulted in a $75 fee that each student-athlete was responsible for paying.
“This is one block removed for kids to participate,” Szatkowski continued. “Hopefully, with this taken care of, we’ll see more kids playing.”
By funding the entire district and not just his former alma mater, Sagniaw High School, Woodley also won over some rival school administrators.
“There are a lot of millionaires out there who make no impact on their community,” Arthur Hill athletic director Fred Townsend said. “But LaMarr Woodley has gone out of his way to make a tremendous impact on his community.”
The craziest part of all this? Last year, the school district had the same problem until Magic Johnson came along and funded the whole thing like Woodley.
“Here’s a professional player who gets it,” Szatkowski concluded. “This is a big deal. He’s providing the means for kids to participate. What’s the price you can put on that? What price do you put on an experience? LaMarr Woodley is providing for that experience.”
Good for him.
Photo of the Night
Ummm…. What?
Photo via Twitter/@Nick_Underhill
Quote of the Night
“It’s something you’d like to bottle and sell on the street corner.”
–Bobby Valentine, either describing Clay Buchholz’s dominance or brainstorming a perfume line
Tweet of the Night
It doesn’t unlock the multiball?
Contrary to popular belief, you do not get credit for an extra out if you do a cartwheel after catching a popup: atmlb.com/RZoJR7
— MLB (@MLB) August 17, 2012
Video of the Night
Ryan Lochte is good at swimming. Acting? Not so much.
