Nominations open for Spirit of Cotton Award

Do you know a high school basketball coach who consistently demonstrates the best qualities of coach, educator, mentor and community leader?

For the seventh year, Phoenix Suns Charities will recognize an extraordinary coach with The Spirit of Cotton Award honoring the memory of former Suns head coach Cotton Fitzsimmons.

All high school head basketball coaches in Arizona are eligible to be nominated. Nominations can be made by a community member, fellow coach/teacher, school administrator or student-athlete.

The Spirit of Cotton Award winner will receive a commemorative plaque and ring and a Phoenix Suns Charities grant of $10,000 for use in the school’s athletic programs.

Nominations are being accepted through March 9. The winner will be announced and honored at the Suns regular season finale against the San Antonio Spurs on April 25.

Previous Spirit of Cotton Award recipients include Byron Maynes of Salome High School in Salome (2011) David Lopez of St. Mary’s High School in Phoenix (2010), Howard Mueller of Phoenix Greenway High School (2009), Karen Self of Seton Catholic High School in Chandler (2008) and Gary Ernst of Mesa Mountain View High School (2007).

Cotton Fitzsimmons. Photo courtesy of the NBA.

Fitzsimmons, who died in July 2004, had been an integral part of the franchise since 1970, with his first of three stints as the team’s head coach. He returned to the Suns in 1987 as director of player personnel. In 1988-89, Fitzsimmons added coaching to his duties with the Suns and engineered what, at the time, was the third-biggest one-season turnaround in NBA history, converting the Suns from a 28-win non-playoff team to a 55-win team that advanced to the 1989 Western Conference Finals.

Over a 20-year NBA coaching career, Fitzsimmons won 832 games with four different franchises. He was twice honored as NBA Coach of the Year (1979 with Kansas City, 1989 with the Suns).

For more information on The Spirit of Cotton Award, or to download a nomination form, please visit SunsCharities.org.

The elite meet this week at the VisitMesa.com Basketball Challenge

Several of the elite high school basketball teams in Arizona will be featured this week at the VisitMesa.com Basketball Challenge at Mountain View High School, 2700 E. Brown Road in Mesa. The five day tournament, hosted by the Mesa Public Schools and the Mesa Convention and Visitors Bureau, features 16 teams, including four from out of state.  The participating Arizona schools include three defending state champions, Tucson Amphitheater, host Mesa Mountain View and Westwind Prep from Phoenix.  Other local schools include Phoenix Arcadia, Scottsdale Chaparral, Tempe Corona del Sol,  Phoenix Desert Vista, Mesa Dobson, Scottsdale Horizon, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, Phoenix Pinnacle and Mesa Red Mountain.

The tournament will feature eight games each day from Tuesday, December 27 through Friday, December 30.  The first game each day will be at 9 a.m. and the last game will start at 8:30 p.m.  Two games are scheduled for Saturday, December 31.  A full schedule for the tournament can be found here.

Two of Thursday’s games, the 7 p.m. game between South Sioux City, Nebraska and Corona del Sol and the 8:30 p.m. game between Mountain View and Desert Vista, will be televised on Cox Cable Channel 7.

Tickets for the tournament are $10 for each day and $30 for the entire tournament.

Phoenix Suns form new Suns Kids Dance Team

The Phoenix Suns are forming a new Suns Kids’ Dance Team that will perform as part of the Suns’ high-energy game entertainment. Auditions will be held on the main court of US Airways Center on Saturday, Nov. 19 with registration beginning at noon.

The Phoenix Suns Kids’ Dance Team will be comprised of high-energy, trained dancers between the ages of 6 and 12 who are enthusiastic about the Phoenix Suns and performing in front of large crowds.

The team will perform at a minimum of one Phoenix Suns home game a month, interact with fans and have the opportunity to dance with other Suns entertainment groups.

For more details, contact Kip Helt via email at khelt@suns.com or by phone at 602-379-7951.

Phoenix Suns are recruiting Ball Kids

The Phoenix Suns will hold interviews this month for kids age 16 and older who want to be Suns Ball Kids during the 2011-12 season.

Registration will be held at US Airways Center at 5:30pm on Wednesday, Oct. 12.

Ball Kids are on the court rebounding for the players as the team warms up prior to games and at halftime. They are also responsible for wiping down the court after any player takes a fall during the game.

Ball Kids must be highly motivated, willing to work hard and able to attend all Suns home games during the 2011-12 season. Interviewees should bring a resume. Parking is available in the US Airways Center garage, located on the west side of the arena (on First Street just south of Jefferson), at no charge.

For more information, contact Shaun Stanhibel at 602-379-7652 or visit suns.com.

And the winners are…

Youth Athlete of the Year Joshua Braun, Phoenix Regional Sports Commission President Jon Schmieder, Youth Contributor of the Year Hugh Smith, Youth Contributor of the Year Erik Widmark, Youth Coach of the Year Melissa Belote Ripley.

The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission announced the winners of the Youth Sports of the Year Awards at a Sept. 24 banquet. The awards recognize exceptional youth athletes, coaches and youth sports contributors for their dedication to positive leadership and outstanding character. The 2011 Youth Sports of the Year Award recipients include:

Youth Athlete of the Year, Joshua Braun

Braun is a senior at Boulder Creek High School, where he is a part of the National Honor Society and is academically ranked 12th in his class of 608 students. Braun currently plays on his varsity basketball team and the AAU basketball team for the Arizona Aces. He has been selected for the Duel in the Desert All-Tournament Team.

Braun was awarded Deer Valley School District Male Athlete of the Year in 2009, has been an All-State honorable mention athlete and was also named the All-Region Most Valuable Player. He helped coordinate various youth basketball camps, actively volunteered his time as a referee and has coached volleyball and basketball teams at his local community center. Braun also dedicates his time to numerous Anthem area events including Emma’s Run and a roadside cleanup effort with military veterans.

Youth Coach of the Year, Melissa Belote Ripley

Ripley spent more than 30 years volunteering as a swim coach. She is currently working with the Rio Salado Swim Club and has been the coach at McClintock High School for the last several years.

Her passion and commitment to the sport of swimming began at a young age and carried her through to the Olympics, where she brought home three gold medals. For the better part of three decades, Ripley has been committed to helping individual swimmers reach their full potential.

Youth Sports Contributor of the Year, Erik Widmark

Known as “Wid” by the community, Widmark has been the driving force behind the Grand Canyon State Games, which is the country’s largest amateur sports festival. Going on its 19th year, the Games offer spirited competition and positively impact more than 400,000 youth participants.

Youth Sports Contributor of the Year, Hugh Smith

Smith has been with The First Tee of Phoenix since 2006 and has been an integral part in growing the game of golf for youth athletes throughout Maricopa County. Through his dedication, the First Tee Life Skills Program has grown to five sites throughout Maricopa County, with 14 staff members and 3,500 full-time students enrolled. The program imparts lessons about the importance of maintaining a positive attitude, how to make decisions by thinking about the possible consequences and how to define and set goals — from the golf course to everyday life.

Hugh has introduced golf into physical education programs in more than 130 schools, which now include over 50,000 students participating in golf-related curriculums.

The winners were honored at the Youth Sports Awards Banquet at the Grand Canyon University Arena. Thirty-four honorees in three categories were recognized and acknowledged.

The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission is a a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation created in 1988 to “Enrich Our Community Through Sports” by bringing national and international sporting events to the state, promoting existing events and teams and supporting youth sports programs. phoenixsports.org.

Youth sports leaders to be recognized next week

Thirty-six youth athletes, coaches and youth sports contributors will be recognized for their dedication to positive leadership and outstanding character during the Phoenix Regional Sports Commission’s Youth Sports Awards Banquet next Saturday.

Winners of the Youth Sports of the Year Awards will be announced at the event, which will take place at 8 a.m. at Grand Canyon University’s new arena, 3300 W. Camelback Rd. in Phoenix. Register for the event here.

The nominees represent all levels of play from various youth sports offered around the Valley:

Jerod Aker (left), head baseball coach for Apollo High School.

Coaches

Rob Gorrell – Coach and co-founder of Sandlot All-Stars Baseball.

Pat Murphy – Coach and co-founder of Sandlot All-Stars Baseball, All Nine Baseball Academy.

Patty Egan - Coaches cross country, girls soccer and track at Cactus Shadows High School.

Steve Bomar - Youth girls basketball coach and founder of the Gilbert Genies Basketball Club.

Eric Kibler – Horizon High School baseball coach for more than 28 years and three-time recipient of the Arizona Coach of the Year award. In 2005 he received the ABCA High School National Coach of the Year.

Harry Demos - CCV STARS sports pastor and director of coaching for boys soccer.

James Smith – Head track and field coach at Westwood High School, head coach and president for the AZ Flames Track Club, USATF Masters Chair.

Melissa Belote Ripley - Has been coaching club swimming for more than 30 years and currently coaches at McClintock High School and Rio Salado Swim Club.

Jordan Demos – Youth Soccer Coach for the CCV Stars Soccer Club.

Jake Peterson - Coaches middle school and high school football/basketball for Rancho Solano Private Schools.

Jaime Pagliarulo – Girls soccer coach for Hamilton High School, San Tan Soccer Club and Arizona Youth Soccer Association.

Steve Lewis – Empowerment Through Sports (ETS) Youth Football League coach.

Dameon Blair – Boulder Creek High School junior varsity basketball coach.

Jim Ewan – Football coach for Chandler High School since 2001.

Jerod Aker – Baseball coach for Apollo High School; he has been the head coach of a baseball team for a total of 15 years.

Joshua Braun (left) plays basketball at Boulder Creek High School.

Athletes

Joshua Brown – Plays basketball at Boulder Creek High School, where he is a member of the National Honor Society and ranked 12^th in his class.

Hannah Carson –  Track and field, Chandler High School. She’s ranked #1 in the nation for javelin and has qualified for the 2012 Olympics. She will be attending Texas Tech University on scholarship.

Zach Wright – Golf, Pinnacle High School, committed to Louisiana State University. He is currently ranked #12 Boy in the National Polo Rankings

Brandon Senior - Track and Field, honors student at Notre Dame Preparatory High School and member of the AZ Flames Track Club.

Nathan Ponwith – Tennis, Arizona Virtual Academy, participates in the United States Tennis Association.

Tyler Pugh – Football, basketball and baseball; attends Rancho Solano Private School.

Kyung Kim – Golf, Chandler Hamilton High School, currently plans on attending University of Southern California.

Molly Johnson – Baton twirling, Thunderbird High School, member of Phoenix Superstars Twirl Team, plans to attend Fort Hayes University in Kansas.

Dylan Hambright- Track, Arcadia High School, member of the Arizona Elite Track Club.

Shannon Gurley – Volleyball, attends middle school at Rancho Solano Private Schools, also participates in soccer and drama at school.

Wendy Riddell (S.T.A.R. Pony Club, ASU UC Soccer).

Contributor

Jeffrey Kratzke – Volunteer coach for cross country and track at Cactus Shadows High School.

Hugh Smith-  Executive director of The First Tee of Phoenix, a non-profit organization that provides educational programs, values and healthy choices for Valley youth through the game of golf.

Lisa Sanchez – President of Holiday Park Little League, a volunteer position for an inner city youth baseball league.

Bob Capron – Oversees the Metro Phoenix United States Tennis Association. Inducted into both the USTA Phoenix Hall of Fame and USTA Southwest Hall of Fame in 2005.

John Canter – Started a community weightlifting and training program where 60 local kids are now involved and active.

Wendy Riddell – Youth equestrian coach and S.T.A.R. Pony Club board member, age group coordinator for ASUSC Soccer.

Erik Widmark – Executive director for the Grand Canyon State Games, the largest amateur sports festival of its kind in the country, since 1995.

Chad Robinson – Started the Prime Time Athletics flag football program, the official league of the NFL Flag program.

Peyton Sullivan – Youth Umpire for Deer Valley Little League, certified as a district umpire.

Scott Smith – Volunteer umpire-in-chief for Deer Valley Little League.

The Phoenix Regional Sports Commission was created to “enrich the community through sports.” The 501(c)3 non-profit focuses on three areas: bringing national and international sporting events to the state, assisting in the promotion of existing events and teams and supporting youth sports programs. Learn more.

Great basketball for a great cause

Photo courtesy of Desert Duel Charity Basketball Tournament.

The fourth annual Desert Duel Charity Basketball Tournament will showcase elite youth basketball players from across the nation in a two-day tournament starting Wednesday, July 27, at Mesquite High School, 500 S. McQueen Rd. in Gilbert.

The tournament attracts the country’s top college coaches, recruiters and talent scouts and benefits Gilbert-based Tom Crawford’s Leadership Children’s Foundation, which funds various children’s charities. Since its inception in 1997, TCLCF has directed more than $2.5 million to organizations dedicated to helping children, including the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Childhelp, Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network, and TGen Foundation for Brain Cancer Research.

TCLCF has handpicked the tournament’s participating teams. Last year the event attracted more than 250 college coaches with more than 175 from the Division I level, resulting in 175 players receiving scholarship offers valued at more than $3.2 million.

“We are so honored to be a part of an event that provides opportunities for athletes and hope for children in need,” says Tammy Crawford, executive director for the foundation.

The tournament is open to the public. Admission is $20 for both days for adults and children under 12 are free. The entry fee has been waived for all teams, thanks to donations made by the tournament’s sponsors, which include ESPN, Nike, Powerade and Valley Toyota Dealers.

Learn more.

Mercury hosts Dog Days of Summer

Mercury forward Candice Dupree.

The Phoenix Mercury is hosting its 5th annual Dog Days of Summer game on Sunday, July 10. The team takes on the Tulsa Shock at US Airways Center with tipoff set for 3 p.m.

A canine-focused festival will take place prior to the game, beginning at 1 p.m., in the Casino Arizona Pavilion, with 27 animal-friendly vendors and rescue organizations on-hand.

Participating businesses include:

43rd Ave Animal Hospital

Dermatology for Animals

Eye Care for Animals

Furbabies Delectable Delights

Hands on Dog Training

Howland Studios

Hug N Pups Pet Grooming Salon

Natural Paws

PALS

Pete and Mac’s Recreational Resort for Pets

The Spectrum Group

The Pet Club – Tolleson

The Synthetic Grass Store and

Villa La PAWS Resort and Spa

Last year's Dog Days of Summer event.

Participating animal rescue and non-profit organizations include:

Dogs even ended up courtside at last year's Dog Days of Summer event.

Arizona Adopt-a-Greyhound

Arizona Golden Rescue

Arizona Jack Russell Rescue

AZ Saint Bernard Rescue

Banner Good Samaritan Paws 4 Hope Dog Therapy Program

Canine Companions for Independence

Empty Bowl Pet Food Pantry

Fallen Feathers

Gabriel’s Angels

Lost Paws Sterilization, Education, and Rescue

MinPin Haven Rescue

Arizona R.E.S.C.U.E. and

Toy Fox Terrier Rescue

Fans can stay cool during the Dog Days of Summer while taking in Mercury basketball for as little at $10. Tickets can be purchased online at phoenixmercury.com or by calling 602-252-WNBA.

UP NEXT: The Mercury celebrates Season 15 on Friday, July 15 at 7 p.m. against the Washington Mystics. Cheryl Miller, the Mercury’s first head coach, will be in attendance and will address fans at halftime. Fans are also encouraged to bring bottled water to donate to the annual Salvation Army Water Drive, which benefits the Extreme Heat Emergency Plan.

Grant Hill announced as spokesman for the arts

Grant Hill has an eye on the future. “In my world, competition is fierce on and off the court,” the Phoenix Suns forward says in a new public service announcement. “It’s more important than ever to prepare the next generation to face challenges head on.”

Hill believes exposure to the arts is significant to that preparation. That’s why he signed on to be campaign spokesperson for The Choice is Art, a four-year statewide campaign by the Arizona Commission on the Arts to promote access to arts education.

In his first PSA for the program, Hill describes the positive effects that the arts bring: “The arts teach skills like discipline, dedication and teamwork. And for kids struggling with academic, social or family challenges, the arts can change lives.”

Hill is no stranger to the arts; he and his wife, Grammy-nominated singer Tamia Hill have been longtime patrons. In fact, their 46-pierce collection of African-American art went on tour as the Something All Our Own: The Grant Hill Collection of African American Art exhibition from 2003-2006. The collection featured several major works from acclaimed artists Romare Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Hughie Lee Smith and John Biggers.

“From a young age, my father instilled in me a respect for well-crafted and historically significant artifacts and works of art,” Hill writes in a letter of support for the campaign. “He took me to museums and taught me to appreciate the energetic vision of artists, especially African-American artists. This family tradition of collecting is another reason I continue to acquire impactful works of art. Now, as a father myself, I recognize the value of passing this appreciation on to my two children. They have a natural affinity for creative works, and it is inspiring to see them make their own artistic discoveries.”

A veteran of the NBA, Hill graduated from Duke University in 1994 and became one of the best all-around players in the league at that time, sharing Rookie of the Year Award honors with Jason Kidd. After being plagued with injuries throughout the prime of his career, Hill came to Phoenix in 2007 and joined Steve Nash as a team captain. He won his first career playoff series victory in 2010, when the Suns swept the San Antonio Spurs in the Western Conference Semifinals, and averaged 13.2 points per game in the 2010-11 season. — Robert T. Balint

Listen to RAK’s 2008 interview with Grant Hill.

Read about Hill’s experiences juggling minutes on the court and quality time with his two little girls, Myla and Lael.

Hill also promotes healthy, active lifestyles for kids. In January, we wrote about his involvement with the Kids Sports Stars healthy lifestyle challenge.

Grant Hill’s thoughts on fatherhood, from a Father’s Day interview in 2008.

Sports around the Valley: weekend update

Mercury opening weekend

The Phoenix Mercury look to start the first home stand of the 2011 season off right against the visiting San Antonio Silver Stars in the home opener tonight at US Airways Center. The first 6,000 fans will receive a free T-shirt commemorating the WNBA’s 15th season of existence. Then, on Sunday, the Mercury will host the Indiana Fever at 3pm.

The Mercury are two-time national champions, winning titles in 2007 and 2009. Forward Penny Taylor has already made a splash, averaging 15.5 points per game through two games. A native Australian, Taylor was a member of the national squad who took gold at the 2006 Sydney Olympics.

Star point guard Diana Taurasi was held to just nine points by Seattle in a 71-78 loss on June 4, but returned to her characteristic self June 10 in a 84-98 loss to to the Los Angeles on June 10, scoring a game high 31 points.

“I’m excited about it,” head coach Corey Gaines said in a phone interview about returning to familiar territory. As a team, Gaines feels, “We’re jelling.” Tipoff tonight is at 7 p.m., and tickets can be purchased at the arena or wnba.com.

Contact/Tackle Football Camps at Phoenix Christian High School

This weekend, Phoenix Christian High School will host a football camp that will teach the basic technique of football tackling to Valley athletes from grades 3-9.

The offseason is the best time to improve, and Phoenix Christian High head coach Brandon Harris and Phoenix Christian Junior High head coach Coach Mo Streety will instruct on blocking, tackling and other necessary skills on the gridiron. This weekend’s camp is the first of three that Phoenix Christian High will host this summer.  Coach Harris is entering his first year as head coach; Coach Mo has brought success to NFL players and Valley high school athletes alike.

Participants should wear comfortable athletic shorts and a T-shirt, and bring both running shoes and cleats. The cost for the two-day camp (6pm July 18-19) is $25 per athlete. Sessions will also run on the 20th and the 27th-29th as well as July 11th-13th & 25th-27th, all at 7pm. Camps will also be held during the first two weeks of August, times TBA. For details, contact Brandon Harris at 602-265-4707 or by email at bfharris@phoenixchristian.org. Phoenix Christian High School is located at 1751 W. Indian School Road in Phoenix. Download the release waiver here.

Diamondbacks host Sox for three-game series

The Chicago White Sox are coming to town this weekend for a three-game series. The Diamondbacks will look to make up lost ground after losing a three-game stand against San Francisco, and every game will count as the two teams are battling for first place in the NL West.

Friday:
First pitch @ 6:40pm
Projected starters:
ARZ: Daniel Hudson (7-5, 3.82 ERA), RHP
SFO: Edwin Jackson (4-5, 4.39 ERA), RHP

Saturday:
First pitch @ 5:15pm
Projected starters:
ARZ: Zach Duke (1-1, 4.56 ERA), LHP
SFO: John Danks (2-8), 4.54 ERA), LHP

Sunday
First pitch @ 1:10pm
Projected starters:
ARZ: Josh Collmenter (4-2, 1.86 ERA), RHP
SFO: Philip Humber (6-3, 2.95 ERA), RHP

— Robert T. Balint