Score one for the kids
Bengals, Marvin Lewis'
foundation join in football collaborative
By Mark Curnutte
Enquirer staff writer
About two dozen youth football
players ran up and down the field Monday afternoon at Paul Brown
Stadium.
Not more than 12 years old, and as
young as 4, with the names Titans and Middies printed across the fronts
of their over-sized jerseys, they had just heard an announcement that
could help their chances of some day playing in such a place.
Several organizations, including the
Cincinnati Bengals and coach Marvin Lewis' foundation, revealed plans
for a youth football collaborative and presented three youth leagues
with a $100,000 check.
"Youth football is a worthwhile
activity for all who participate in it," Bengals president Mike Brown
said. "I'm pleased to see how it is coming together."
The initiative will affect 2,600
Cincinnati area youngsters playing in the National Youth, American
Bantam and Buckeye Youth football leagues. The collaborative will
provide equipment, offset league fees and secure field time for
practices and games.
The collaborative also has secured
the participation of the Nike shoe company. It has agreed to donate a
pair of cleats to each of the players in the three leagues.
"I appreciate the fact it pulls all
of us together," said George Jackson, president of the American Bantam
League. "We've been out here for 20, 30 years working with the youth.
This gets all of us on the same page working toward the same goals."
Long-term plans focus on efforts to
build a state-of-the-art youth football facility in Cincinnati.
"Our wish is to empower these young
people," Lewis said.
"At-risk youngsters will be able to
receive guidance they need."
Several Bengals players made
financial contributions to the collaborative. Among them were tailback
Rudi Johnson, quarterback Carson Palmer, offensive lineman Eric
Steinbach, defensive linemen John Thornton and Justin Smith and wide
receivers T.J. Houshmandzadeh and Chad Johnson.
Chad Johnson spoke at the press
conference and dubbed himself the league commissioner.
"We all started small like this,"
Johnson said in a room filled with young players and cheerleaders.
Johnson encouraged the players to
have fun and work hard.
In addition to the Bengals and the
Marvin Lewis Community Fund, other participating organizations in the
collaborative are the Hatton Foundation and the Cincinnati Recreation
Commission.
Each of the three participating
leagues received packets containing 300 tickets to the Bengals'
preseason finale against the Colts on Friday night, Sept. 2.
"It gives the inner-city youth a
chance to stay off the street," said David Brantley, president of the
National Youth Football League. "It's heartfelt. The kids are the ones,
it's a dream. It's been something we've been wanting for years."
League organizers credit Lewis, in
the high-profile position of Bengals coach, for pulling the initiative
together.
"With Marvin stepping forward, it
lets us know the city really cares about the youth of Cincinnati," said
Richard Bedgood, president of the Buckeye Youth Football league. "Our
programs are very important."
The Cincinnati Enquirer is a
financial supporter of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund and another of
its partner organizations, the Anthony Munoz Foundation.
E-mail
mcurnutte@enquirer.com
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