Sports Task Force Jam update

ADVANCE ONLINE TICKETS SALES HAVE ENDED
We want to thank everyone that purchased already. Your ticket will be in an envelope waiting for you when you arrive and you can get it when you pick up your NABJ convention registration.

TICKETS ARE STILL AVAILABLE IN PERSON
If you didn’t get tickets yet, you can still purchase them in person at the NABJ convention registration area in the Philadelphia Convention Center. If you’ve missed any of the five previous parties (2006 in Indianapolis, 2007 in Las Vegas, 2008 in Chicago, 2009 in Tampa and 2010 in San Diego), you don’t want to miss this one.

EXTRA INFORMATION ABOUT THE 6TH ANNUAL PARTY
The luxurious Whisper Night Club (1714 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103) is only a 15 minute walk (0.6 miles) from the Marriott Hotel or a 5-minute drive (1 mile). We recommend car pooling (if you are driving) or taking a cab to save your feet for dancing. Party goes from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. and ticket prices can be found right here and check out the party’s Facebook page to see who’s coming through on Thursday, August 4.

Sports Task Force announces Pioneer awards honorees

Thanks to Sports Task Force members Ron Thomas and J.A. Adande, the duo have assembled a first-class lineup for next week’s Pioneer Awards. And thanks to Ricky Clemons’ fund-raising efforts, the bills have been paid. There’s lots of great sports history represented among the honorees, and you’ll probably be introduced to some groundbreakers you hadn’t heard about before.

Here they are, the 2011 honorees:

Donald Hunt – Journalist of the Year – Philadelphia Tribune

Basketball coach John Chaney – a combined 748-309 at Temple and Cheyney State, including 17 NCAA Tournament appearances and a Div. II national championship

Philadelphia Stars of the Negro Leagues – Mahlon Duckett, Harold Gould, Bill “Ready” Cash and the late Stanley “Doc” Glenn

Sonny Hill – Philadelphia’s “Mr. Basketball” – founder of the Sonny Hill Community Involvement League that has provided tutoring and career guidance to far more than 10,000 children, celebrated WIP-AM sports talk show host, played 10 years in the semipro Eastern League when quotas limited the number of black NBA players

Wendell Scott (posthumously) – only black winner of a NASCAR race, focus of a 2011 ESPN documentary, risked his life to pursue his sport

Tina Sloan Green – first African-American female head coach of an intercollegiate lacrosse team, compiled a 207-62-4 record at Temple and won three national championships, co-founder of the Black Women in Sport Foundation

Smokin’ Joe Frazier – heavyweight boxing champ from 1970-73, participated in arguably the fiercest boxing match in history when he lost to Muhammad Ali in the “Thrilla in Manila.”

So reserve time to attend our annual awards ceremony 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 5.

What: Sports Pioneers Awards ceremony
When:5 p.m. Friday Aug. 5 (buffet open at 5 p.m., ceremony starts at 5:30 p.m.)
Where: 119A (Convention center)

NABJ national golf tournament in Philadelphia

As you prepare to make your way to Philadelphia don’t forget to bring your golf clubs. The NABJ National Golf Tournament will be held Saturday morning Aug. 6. Transportation will be provided from the hotel to the golf course. The event will be held at the Historic Freeway Golf Course, one of the oldest black-owned golf courses in America. If you know you want to play and still want to get the pre-registration rate, send an email to Charles Robinson III, NABJ’s national golf tournament director. On site fees are higher.

Where: Historic Freeway Golf Course, 1858 Sicklerville Road, Sicklerville, NJ 08081
When: 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 6
Info: Buses leave hotel starting at 7 a.m. and return between 1 p.m. and 2 p.m.; All food costs sponsored by the Bill Bishop Golf Tournament.
Registration: Includes transportation, practice balls, breakfast, lunch (lavish Bar-be-que), golf cart, and green fees. – http://www.nabj.org/events/event_details.asp?alias=golftournament

Sports Task Force convention programming – 2011

As the 2011 NABJ Convention and Career Fair nears, we’ll be posting more and more about our members and the task force. Today, we wanted to remind our members and non members alike of the Sports Task Force programming. Please check out our panels and workshops, and don’t forget to buy your ticket to the Sports Task Force Jam, supporting scholarships in journalism. Get your ticket now!

See you in Philly.

— Compiled by Sherlon Christie, Asbury Park Press

THURSDAY, AUG. 4

Sports Task Force Mentor Breakfast powered by ESPN
When: 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.
Where: 119AB (Convention Center)
Summary: Join the NABJ Sports Task Force and ESPN for its annual mentorship breakfast. Aspiring journalists are paired with professional mentors from broadcast, print and online newsrooms.
Speakers: ESPN’s Rob Parker and Claire Smith.

The Vanishing Black Sports Reporter: Why Diversity Matters
When: 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Where: 119A (Convention Center)
Summary: In an era where African Americans dominate the playing fields and arenas, the press boxes above and around them do not reflect that trend. The latest AP Sports Editors census reveals fewer people of color covering or leading newsroom coverage. What’s changed since earlier in the decade when America had six African American sports editors compared to today having one? What should those in power do to change the dynamic?
Panelists: David Aldridge, reporter and analyst for TNT, NBA TV and NBA.com; Hollis Towns, executive editor and vice president-news, Asbury Park Press; Michael Anastasi, managing editor for sports, features and production, Salt Lake Tribune; Steve Smith, studio analyst, NBA TV; Mark Lazarus, chairman, NBC Sports Group; Garry D. Howard, editor-in-chief, Sporting News.

Cultural Tensions in the Black Community
When: 3:30 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Where: 115A (Convention Center)
Summary: Several issues have divided African Americans for years, including educated/uneducated, middle class/poor and urban/rural. As a result, offensive terms have been used to take aim at one’s “blackness.” Such instances have garnered national attention in the past year including ESPN analyst Jalen Rose’s “Uncle Tom” remark aimed at black Duke players in the 1990s; boxer Bernard Hopkins questioning the blackness of NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb; and Dr. Cornel West’s criticism of President Obama. In addition to closely examining these examples, we will also explore how these stories have been and should be covered by the media.
Panelists: Soledad O’Brien, correspondent, CNN; Roland S. Martin, analyst, TVOne, CNN, Essence; Dr. Argie Allen, director of clinical training programs, Drexel University; Isiah Thomas, former NBA star and college basketball coach; Greg Anthony, former NBA player and current basketball analyst; Nathaniel Normant, chair and associate professor of African American Studies, Temple University; Bill Rhoden, sports columnist, New York Times.

Sixth annual Sports Task Force Scholarship Jam
When: 10 p.m. – 3:30 a.m.
Where: Whisper Night Club (1714 Walnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103)
Summary: What are folks saying about the best party at the NABJ convention the last five years running? Check out the Facebook group.
Tickets: $15 for NABJ members, $25 for non members and $100 for VIP (limited). Buy online here: http://www.nabj.org/events/event_details.asp?id=160866

FRIDAY, AUG. 5

Sports Pioneer Awards Ceremony
When: 5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Where: 119A (Convention center)
Summary: More info coming on this soon.

SATURDAY, AUG. 6

Black Athlete Manifesto
When: 10:30 a.m. – Noon
Where: 119A (Convention center)
Summary: The Black Athlete has suddenly changed in front of our eyes. The superstars of our games are now born in the late 1980s, where they have faint memories of the Cosby Show or The Notorious B.I.G. and definitely have little concept of the Civil Rights Movement or the sacrifices of their predecessors. How do we deal with these athletes as journalists? How do we deal with those who are in the forefront of the Twitter generation, U-Stream craze and who seem to tattoo every one of their life achievements or opinions on their bodies? How do we close the generational gap and social gap between reporters and those athletes? And are these athletes more difficult to cover than those in the past?
Panelists: Kyle Draper, studio host, Comcast SportsNet New England; Jerry Brewer, columnist, Seattle Times; Stephen A. Smith, host, ESPN Radio; Mitch Richmond, former NBA player; Vinnie Goodwill, Detroit Pistons beat writer, Detroit News.

Sports Task Force Business Meeting and Elections
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
Where: 118C (Convention center)

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For more information on the convention hotel, the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown, go to NABJ.org.

Do’s and Don’ts for the NABJ convention

With the 2013 NABJ Convention and Career Fair only eight days away, the Sports Task Force has put together an extensive list of Do’s and Don’ts for new members and young journalists. This advice is culled from convention discussions among the many Sports Task Force members.

— Compiled by Adena Andrews