This website is designed for students to share their research of their sports heroes with others. It can be utilized for enjoyment reading, learning, or as a resource site. The style of the material is biographical. The authors are students in high school completing a requirement for Sports Literature, one of the English Literature requirements for graduation. www.myhero.com

Task

Students will write researched reports with clear focus, coherent organization, sufficient detail, paragraph structure, word choice, audience in mind. (grades 10-12, General writing strands 19-27.) Students will research, organize, revise, edit, present, 24.6,27.8). Work will be orally presented to the class, and displayed on the website. http://www.school-for-champions.com/biographies/resources.htm

Students write a research report of the Sports hero of their choice. The report format will consist of the hero personality, sports life and athletic achievements. A minimum of three resources is to be referenced, with only two of the same kind. Posters or visuals are to be adapted to a disc for storage. Their presentations will be grouped by sport and linked to a class web page for access. www.lib.utulsa.edu/bi/Research%20Paper.htm

Rubric

Resources

Jim Abbott was born in Southfield, Michigan on September 19,1967. His parents, Kathy and Mike were nineteen years old. Mike was a meat packer and sold used cars. Kathy worked part time and went to school to become a teacher. They were concerned that Jim was handicapped, but glad he showed no mental impairments. His brother Chad was born when he was four. His parents did not make a big deal out of Jim having no right hand. “It was an obstacle, a challenge to overcome, but no big deal.” (Macht, N. p.20). Youngsters would tease him and call him names like Stub, Rag Arm, and Crab, and they would remark his hand looked like a foot. When he wore an artificial hand, commonly called a hook, children called him Bionic, so he wouldn’t wear it. The teasing stopped when others saw how well he could play ball. He learned to play ball with his father, and he practiced with his brother and friends before playing team baseball. Jim had no hand and had to learn to make a “glove- hand switch” to catch and throw the ball. This allowed him to throw the ball with his left hand, while balancing a right hand fielding glove on his right arm. To catch the ball, he would slip his left hand into the glove. After that, he would move the glove to his right arm and throw with his left hand.

Jim’s sports hero was Nolan Ryan. Jim would imagine he was he when he would practice throwing and catching. He went to baseball games with his dad, and he also collected baseball cards. All Jim asked for was a fair chance to participate. Coaches gave Jim the same chance as anybody else. In 1979, he started baseball in the Grant Hamady Midget League. Once, he pitched a five-inning no-hitter. He was one of the best little league pitchers in town.

The high school coach was concerned with Jim’s ability to catch a ball that was hit at him. Jim could catch the ball and throw out the hitters at first base. Then coaches quickly realized just how good a player he was. Jim played junior varsity ball in ninth grade. The following year, he played pitcher and left field for the varsity team. Jim was a varsity-pitching ace for Flint Central High School in his sophomore year. His fastballs reached speeds of 90 miles per hour. He played Connie Mack baseball in the Summer League. He pitched four no hitters as a senior high school player.

All of a sudden, major league scouts were at high school games. Newspaper and television reporters began to interview Jim Abbott. Scouts admired his fastball. He averaged more than two strikeouts per inning.

He also played high school football as a quarterback. Jim’s favorite subjects were History and English. He was in the National Honor Society and won a Red/Black award for scholastic and athletic excellence. He also helped younger children overcome physical disabilities. By his senior year, major- league baseball scouts were watching his pitching. Jim graduated in June 1985.

He did not become a professional ball player with the Toronto Blue Jays as he anticipated. He went to the University of Michigan instead. He was more challenged in college with academics and sports. By sophomore year, he was a communications major with a B average. He worked hard to maintain his grades. In Ann Arbor, Michigan, the media was extreme. Jim was an example to other handicapped youngsters, because of his ability. “ I don’t want kids to be like me because I have one hand, I want them to be like Jim Abbott because he is a pitcher at Michigan and won the Big Ten Championship Game!”(p.50 Macht, N. , Jim Abbott) His sophomore year baseball record was 11-3. He was invited to try out for the Pan- American Games in 1987. He learned to throw a slider pitch. He was the first baseball player to receive the Sullivan Award.

In his junior year in college, he was eligible for professional baseball draft again. Jim wanted to finish the Olympics first. Afterwards, he was drafted by the California Angels in Midland, Texas, ( A- farm club). He put his studies on hold and left U Michigan for a $207,500 sign on bonus. The B-squad is the equivalent of a junior varsity. After his first game, he moved to the A-squad. He never pitched in the minor leagues, but he was still a successful rookie.

Abbott’s first year salary was in 1989 at $68,000. In 1990 his salary increased to $185,000 per year. 1991 was not a good year for the Angels, having finished in last place. The Angels were losing money, and there was a new manager, Whitey Herzog, from the St. Louis Cardinal’s. In 1991, Jim Abbott earned $357,500. His 1992 one-year contract was for 1.85 million, which was less than he asked for.

In December 1991, Jim Abbott married Dana Douty, a Californian, and they lived in Newport Beach. The 1992 season ended with the Angels in fifth place. The 1993 season started with contract disputes; Abbott wanted more than $16 million for four years. Instead, he was traded to the Yankees,

after returning from his Hawaiian vacation. In 1993 the Yankees ended the season in second place. Abbott’s pitching was not the best. He was given the 1993 Free Spirit Award, and donated the monies to a charity he selected. This recognized his work with children.

Jim was then 26 years old and had been in the major leagues for five years. He was not satisfied with his 1994 contract for $2.65 million. Finally, the Yankees offered him $2,775,000 for a one-year contract. Jim would have preferred a longer contract, but the Yankees preferred to spend less money. At this solution, the Abbott’s moved from California to Greenwich, Connecticut.

The Yankees were first place in the American League in 1994. That year, players struck over health care contracts. Pension and salary caps stopped the season. Jim Abbott was not a free agent and could not go to other teams. By December 22, 1994, he was a free agent. His new salary cap was to be $3,052,500, a ten percent increase from the previous season. The Yankees did not renew his contract.

Next, Jim went to the Chicago White Sox in 1995. He was picked up by the Angels in the 1995-1996 season, and went back to the White Sox in 1998. After a short time off from baseball, he and his wife, Dana, had a baby girl. Jim could return to the White sox in 1999 after spending some time playing in the minor leagues.

Jim does not appear in the roster list of the Brewers, or White Sox later on. He is listed as a motivational speaker on a web site today.

In conclusion, you can now see why Jim Abbott is not just any regular athlete. Most athletes have all of their limbs and body parts. However, Abbott is no less determined than any other athlete to succeed, despite the lack of his right hand. He wants to be recognized for his athletic abilities and talents and not for his handicap. Even though there may be many people missing a hand or other limb, Abbott wanted to still be thought of as two-handed. He also wanted to still become a professional baseball player, which he did. Basically, Abbott was a reminder to people that even professionals aren’t completely perfect.

The main reason I chose Jim Abbott, as a sports hero has to do with his success, despite his right hand. I similarly, am missing my left hand. I also plan to go to college and have a successful career (as an architect). Therefore, I also do not let the absence of a left hand get in the way of my plans for the future.

1993 Free Spirit Award, Freedom Foundation, monetary award to charity of choice.

Emmitt Smith

by Tony

Emmitt Smith was born on May 15,1969 in Pensacola, Florida. Smith was a consensus All-America running back and prep Player of the Year by Parade Magazine and USA Today. As a senior at Escambia, FL, High School, he posted the third highest career rushing and scoring totals in national high school history with 8,804 yards and 106 touchdowns. He also averaged 7.8 yards-per-carry and ran for over 100 yards 45 times, recorded only six fumbles. Emmitt was drafted to the NFL in 1990 as the 17^th pick overall by the Dallas Cowboys. Emmitt Smith was a great pick for the Cowboys; he was committed to the Dallas Cowboys franchise.

Once the Dallas Cowboys drafted Emmitt, he started helping the community of Dallas by helping out with the fight against drugs and violence. For example in 1986, he represented the nation's prep football players at the White House as part of the 'Just Say No' anti-drug campaign. Emmitt also does a lot for the town of Dallas and for his people. He was the Cowboys' United Way spokesman in 1994-95. Smith has supported the following organizations: 100 Black Men of Pensacola, Pensacola Family Care, Boys Clubs of Pensacola, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, The Kidney Foundation, Oak Cliff, TX, Little League, Buckner Children's Home of Texas and The Theater Arts for Youth. From 1992-98, the Emmitt Smith Charity Golf Tournament was played each spring in Pensacola.

He was a Miller Lite NFL Player of the Year finalist in 1991, 1992, 1994 and 1995 and the 1993 winner, donating all money received through the awards to the Sickle Cell Anemia Foundation. One of Smith's main focuses off the field is working with and aiding youth and children. Smith recently founded the Open Doors Foundation. The foundation focuses on today's youth through ' among other things ' motivational talks. Open Doors provides schools with needed equipment and supplies and providing students with study aids.

He also works with children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Emmitt Smith hosts many visits with Make-A-wish children at the club's Valley Ranch practice facility during the season. Smith also works with the Salvation Army and American Lung Association, the Battered and Abused Children's Foundation and B. A.D. (Boxers Against Drugs). His annual, Feed The Children, holiday food drive supports over 3,000 families in the Dallas/Fort Worth and Pensacola areas. As the national spokesman for the Starter/J.C.Penney 'Take A Player to School Program,' Smith also makes numerous speaking engagements at schools in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and in Pensacola.

These things that Emmitt does for the town of Dallas is why he is loved the way he is in Dallas. Smith has helped and changed a lot of lives in Dallas. The effort and time that Smith puts into helping the town, has changed a lot of lives in Dallas. All these actions that Emmitt accomplished, shows what kind of person he is and how much the town of Dallas means to him.

One of Emmitt Smith’s best seasons in the NFL was in 1994. Smith had one of the leagues best scoring seasons in 1994, with an NFL high 22 touchdowns and tying for second in scoring and along the way. He became the first non-kicker to lead Dallas in scoring since Bob Hayes and Dan Reeves tied for the team lead in 1967. His 22 total touchdowns, 21 rushing touchdowns and 132 points were all Dallas single-season club-records at the time. The 22 total touchdowns tied the fourth highest single-season mark in NFL history. He also holds the third-highest rushing total in the league at 1,484 yards on a league-high 368 carries. Despite touching the football 449 times on carries and catches, Smith did not lose a fumble all year. He also finished third in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 1,825. He accomplished all these things despite struggling with hamstring injuries that kept him out of all or part of five games during the season. Smith opened the season with a bang at Pittsburgh recording a season-high 171 yards rushing. He made one touchdown on 31 carries against a Steelers' defense that would finish second in the NFL in total defense. In just his 65th career game, Smith passed the 6,000-career yard mark with 143 yards against Detroit. It was the fastest a Dallas runner had ever reached that mark. Dorsett reached this mark in 73 games. Smith also added a season-high seven receptions against Detroit to lead the team. In back-to-back games at Washington and against Arizona Smith notched two first-half rushing touchdowns, despite pulling a hamstring in the first half against the Redskins that limited him to nine carries and 22 yards against the Cardinals. Smith moved past Don Perkins (6,217 yards) and into second place on the Cowboys all-time rushing list with 106 yards against Philadelphia, his fifth straight 100-yard game against the Eagles and a club record for consecutive 100-yard games against one opponent. When the Cowboys traveled to Cincinnati, Smith had a nine game touchdown streak and seven game rushing touchdown streak stopped when he was held out of the end zone, despite rushing for 92 yards. Smith established a club-record with 35 carries against the N.Y. Giants, while scoring two touchdowns and picking up 163 yards. The next week at San Francisco, Smith moved into second on the club's all-time carry list, passing the 1,500 career carry mark in his 72nd career game. Smith moved past the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth consecutive season with 85 yards and two touchdowns against Washington. Four days later on Thanksgiving Day against Green Bay, Smith got 208 total yards (113-rushing, 95-receiving) on 38 carries and catches while scoring twice. His 95 yards receiving were a season-high and included a season-long 68-yard catch. When Smith reached the end zone twice at Philadelphia, it gave him 19 touchdowns for the season, breaking the single-season club-record. The following week against Cleveland, Smith became the first back to top the 100-yard rushing barrier against the Browns in 1994 when he picked up 112 yards and a touchdown. He also added his first receiving score of the year, marking the sixth consecutive week he had posted two scores. Smith picked up 74 yards and his 22nd touchdown of the season at New Orleans before pulling his left hamstring late in the third quarter. Smith missed the first start of his career due to injury in the season finale at the N.Y. Giants, but he returned to action in the Cowboys playoff win over Green Bay. He picked up 44 yards on seven first quarter carries (6.3 avg.) before re-injuring his left hamstring. Nursing that sore hamstring, Smith picked up 74 yards and two touchdowns on 20 carries at San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game before pulling his right hamstring in the fourth quarter. Smith was an All-Pro for the third straight year that injury kept Smith from playing in his fifth-consecutive Pro Bowl, despite being selected. One Quote that I found on Emmitt Smith was when he said “For me, winning isn’t something that happens suddenly on the field when the whistle blows and the crowds roar. Winning is something that builds physically and mentally every day that you train and every night that you dream.”( cyber-nation.com )This quote shows that Emmitt Smith trains day in and day out to win.

When Michelle Kwan skated to music she has to listen and when everyone watches Michelle is sending a message to everyone that is really graceful. Michelle does her jumps really well up in the air and pulls, together a routine with the music. When she skates is so powerful and when I see figure skating on television that is when, I see Michelle Kwan. I think Michelle really likes to skate from her heart and let it come out to everybody who is watching. When Michelle went on the ice she really likes to skate to powerful music that made her a world champion. Michelle’s mother is happy with her because Michelle was really good when Michelle had touched the ice for the first time.

Michelle Kwan was a winner in the world championship and a gold medal. Her coach can technical, artistic, and presentation. In the past year there was Ice Queens for ladies figure skating for the champion. The year was 1908 the figure skating was held at Great Britain and the winner of the year was Madge Syers. Michelle never did a short program was her biggest fear and never went to the Olympic. Michelle was now attempting to get the gold in the Olympic. Michelle wanted to be in the spot light on the ice when she performs her music. Michelle really wants to be involves of the relationship of the ice when she performs. Michelle was in a red custom and on the ice to “Lady in Red”. When Michelle was younger she started figure skating, Michelle thought the coach was the skater then a coach. Michelle wanted to be independent when she skates on the ice on a free well. Michelle and Frank talks about differences that they always ran into. Sometimes Michelle’s father stands in a coach-like position. Her father wanted to be a cheerleader when she competes, Michelle’ s father on the other hand had no pompons in his hands that was when she said. The United States had got 2 gold’s from Kristi Yamaguchi in the year of 1992, the other gold was from Tara Lipinski in the year 1998. When Michelle dropping Nichol she went back to the short program in the year of 1998. Michelle Skated to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto the number 3 and was choreographed by Nichol. When Michelle was a age 12 Carroll did not want her to take the senior tests.

Michelle went on to the nationals to be a senior and the youngest senior for the 20 years to combine. Michelle was watching and learn she was an alternate it was in 1994 for the Lillehammer Olympics it was when Michelle was only 13 years old. Michelle Kwan finishing in second place at the U.S. Olympic trials Nancy Kerrigan had to set out and could not compete. Right in 1996 Michelle Kwan won the U.S. national title. Michelle was the youngest of the third of a champion. Michelle Kwan lost to Tara Lipinski right in 1997. Kwan was a favorite for the Olympic for the gold. For the year of 1998 for the Olympic trials was for the perfect marks was 15 for the artistry. That will be hard to beat. Lipinski beat Kwan again at the Olympics and from a defeat Michelle was ok with it. Michelle would like the experience that taught Kwan a lesson for figure skating. Michelle was talking about the richest people on earth. Including the happiest people that is not famous. Michelle was not overwhelming and was not in the year of 1998.This was her rival because from the Nagano Olympics was in Russia. But Irina Slutskaya was in the fifth place in the year of 1998.

The presentation for Slutskaya’s was not good as Kwan’s but her technical skills was higher than Kwan. Michelle was not too happy at all. In the past two years Kwan beat Slutskya in the goodwill games in October on the other hand Slutskaya beaten Kwan three times before. The pressure was on Michelle because Sarah Hughes was only 16 at the time and won from Skate Canada. Sarah Hughes was ahead of both Kwan and Slutshaya.

When Kwan was on the ice she did a combination she did the landing really well it was triple-triple. In 1998 Lipinski did a difficult triple loop. Michelle did a performance that got a gold-medal combination for triple-triple. Michelle worked on a safer triple-double combination that was cleanly done. For the past Kwan took the World Championship and beat Slutskaya in the past and took the gold. Kwan had said, “ The question is,” Kwan said something else “ do you take that risk?” Michelle was really late in Nagano, but she was afraid and it would not be comfortable for her training was more facilities. Michelle had to marched into the opening ceremonies and she has to deal with the cold.

Michelle had to wait with the other performers to do their music and to see the judges for their marks to give the skater. Michelle had done five triple jumps for her error-free program and had to proclaim the title. The judges liked Michelle’s skating and gave her scores that let her win the title again, for the technical score is 5.7to 5.8 that was good for Michelle for the presentation score is 5.6 to 5.9. Michelle was so happy to win.

Michelle was really good in figure skating and went on got 4 more US National titles, and the other was another when she won again was 3 World Championships. Michelle was very good for the figure skating. When Michelle was skating she fell out of one of her jumps. Michelle brought back to our country was the bronze.

Michelle did not know she was qualified in the year 2003 of the World Figure Skating Championship, she was really good and went on winning the seventh US national title. She could not believe what was happening to her for the 10^th straight appearance. Right at the World Championships Michelle already got seven medals she is a great skater. Michelle is the skater of American history.

Michelle Kwan likes to figure skate she started when she was young. Michelle would like to be a famous figure skater someday that day came to her she won figure skating of the World Championships, US national title, Goodwill games. When Michelle won the Championships she was so happy that she won the gold. Her chance by getting where she wanted to do she was happy, but when she was on the platform to get her medal she looked so happy.

Arnold Schwarzenegger

By Mike

In the world of bodybuilding, Arnold Schwarzenegger proved to be one of the world’s greatest athletes of his time. At the age of thirteen he told his mother and father "I want to be the best-built man in the world!” They shook their heads in shame but that didn’t stop him from reaching his goals. He trained hard for most of his teenage years and received many awards for his achievements in the bodybuilding world. Later in his career he began acting in small action movies, which soon grew to big budget Hollywood films. Arnold hasn’t competed as a body builder since the early 80’s but he’s still considered the sports number one icon.

Back in the day, bodybuilding was Arnolds career. At age 14 he started an intensive training program with Kurt Marnul, the former Mr. Austria. Back then bodybuilders didn’t emphasize nutrition. A strict

diet for Arnold was plenty of calories, protein, and carbohydrates before and after a work out. At age 17, he officially started his competitive career. He did many competitions in Austria then began doing nation wide competitions. In 1966 Arnold won Best Built Man of Europe, Mr. Europe, and the International Power Lifting Championship. When Arnold was 20, he won the 1969 Mr. Universe Pro, the youngest to ever achieve this in history. (Pumping Iron video) At the age of 21 Arnold moved to California to train with some of the best bodybuilders in the world. At the age of 23, Arnold had already completed most of his goals, which he thought would take ten years to accomplish. From 1970 to 1979 Schwarzenegger won six Mr. Olympia’s. In 1980 Arnold retired from bodybuilding but soon came out of retirement to return to win his seventh Mr. Olympia. Soon after he began his career, Arnold has stared in almost 30 movies, from action thriller, The Terminator to the bodybuilding documentary, Pumping Iron. Arnold achievements throughout his life show he set goals and worked harder then ever before to achieve these goals. On screen, and on stage Arnold has only one personality. Tough! He doesn’t take anything from anyone. Onstage, Arnold’s competitive personality takes control and helps him to give his all to win the competition. Off screen, and off, stage Arnold is a completely different person. Arnold was his suave and sleek, which helped him to win seven Mr. Olympian titles. But outside of his acting Arnold is an extremely generous man. He donates to the Special Olympics several times a year and is the co founder and chairman of the Inner City Games for under privileged kids who want to play sports. They also provided academic programs for children who wish to do so. Arnold is also on the presidents Council of Physical Fitness and Sports. Arnold graduated from the University of Wisconsin with a Bachelor of Arts degree and a major in international marketing of fitness and business. In 1986 Arnold married Maria Owings Shriver. She is from the famous Kennedy family from Massachusetts. Since then Maria and Arnold have had four children, Katherine, Christina, Patrick, and Christopher Schwarzenegger.

The accomplishments Arnold has achieved in his time are out standing. He’s done more in a lifetime then most people today. Schwarzenegger has competed in almost 30 bodybuilding competitions and made nearly 30 movies. His bodybuilding career might have ended and he might not have the twenty-two inch biceps that he used to but his acting career still holds strong. At the moment Arnold is working on the third Terminator movie, to be released at the end of 2003. Arnold’s outstanding generosity makes him an even better hero.

Surya Bonaly

by Jessica

Surya Bonaly was a phenomenal figure skater as well as an overall great person. She has inspired young kids all over the world to want to figure skate and has accomplished several things over her career such as, She finished almost all of her performances with her trademark of a back flip and landing on one foot. Surya is an incredible person on and off the ice. She not only just figure skates she goes and talks to kids about how fun skating is and how you can make a living off figure skating.

Surya Bonaly was born in 1973 in Nice, France. An architect and a psychical education teacher adopted her as an infant. There are several stories around the mystery of her birth. Her adoptive parents said that Surya had been born on the island of Reunion, a French territory in the Indian Ocean east of Madagascar. Where she had been abandoned on a beach. At the age of 18, her adoptive parents finally told her that she was from France but that her biological mother was from Reunion. Even at such a young age Surya showed an interest for gymnastics and sports.

When she got out onto the ice for the first time she really took to it. Since the rink was located outside it could only stay open for four months a year, so this made skating rather difficult for Surya to take skating seriously. Bonaly soon attracted the attention of Paris figure skating coach Didier Gailhaguet. He invited her to come to Paris to take figure skating lessons so she moved to France to learn to skate. By age 12, she had learned how to do triple jumps and was soon competing for money. To save some money, Surya began traveling throughout Europe for competitions with her family in a camper.

In 1989, Surya competed in her first World Figure skating championships. She finished tenth overall but had won a place in the figure skating world. As Surya was becoming bigger and bigger her mother began running her life, and wouldn’t even let her daughter talk to the press. Bonaly won her first metal at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France. With this being her first place victory that would make Bonaly the first black person to ever win an Olympic gold metal. Before the Olympics even began Surya had ran into problems with her mother, she was being controlling again and made Surya go back to the United States for private training. She continued training and after a disappointing performance at the 1992 World Figure Skating Championships she decided to change her coach and her way of skating. She was going to practice more on her overall performance rather than her jumps. (Sports Illustrated, March7, 1994). Surya’s new coach Frank Carroll from California told Surya “The main thing I stressed to Surya and her mother was not to be so selfish about who they were trying to please.” (Page 29). Surya did give a very strong performance at the 1994 Winter Olympics during her short program, but she fell and won the silver instead of the gold. But finally at the 1995 European Skating Championships she broke her toe but continued to skate and it bothered her during her performance. Although she was extremely disappointed with her performance she still loves to skate and told the Chicago Tribune, “I am becoming half French, half American”. (Page31).

Surya’s life off the ice is a little different from most skaters’ personal lives. Surya do not eat meat or cheese. She prefers grains, and vegetables. When it comes to Surya and her mother she decides to keep her life rather personal. Like Surya says, “Some like to go to the reception, and some like to go into the forest. But if we have a choice, we prefer to walk in the forest. Skating is not often a nice place. But this is life”. (Page 31).

Although Surya has been faced with many problems throughout her life she has always had friends and family behind her. She has also set a name for herself. Journalist Randy Harvey said, “Surya Bonaly can out jump almost every woman to compete in the sport and many of the men”. (Page24). Surya is an absolutely outstanding figure skater and has done more than just inspire kids; she had given kids the inspiration for be all that they want to be.

Mike Metzger

by Peter

I chose Mike Metzger for my sports hero because he is an excellent athlete who performs in a sport that is very difficult to perform. Most people still think motorcross is not a sport but it is because it became recognized as a sport when the IMFA came out which stands for (International Motorcross Freestyle Association). Mike Metzger has been racing dirt bikes since he was six years old, the reason he started so young was that his father had raced dirt bikes in the past and bought Mike his first dirt bike when he was only years old. After his father broke his back on a dirt bike he bought Mike one.

His nickname is Metz, The Godfather, and he was born in Huntington Beach, CA USA. His birth date is 11/19/1975; he is five foot ten and one hundred and sixty pounds. His hometown is Menifee, CA, and he has been in the freestyle competition since 1981. Now he is a two-time X-games gold medallist/freestyle motorcross star.

Mike M. is know as the freestyle legend, and has been freestyle jumping since he was sixteen, he is twenty three now and is still freestyle jumping and still coming up with new tricks. He said, “ He was born and bred to race dirt bikes”. He did not go to college because he knew he didn’t need it to make something of himself in life, and he knows he can not jump dirt bikes forever so his plan is to make as much money as he can as long as he can ride dirt bikes and live off of it in the future when he is old and can not perform anymore. He plans to race and jump dirt bikes as long as he can and then race street bikes when his body can’t handle the jumping anymore. Mike M. says that he would like to see more women ride in motorcross because he thinks it would be interesting to see a girl hit a ninety foot jump with a 210 pound dirt bike. He has raced dirt bikes all over the world and has two videos called “Crusty” and “Terra Firma”. In the dirt biking business there are about thirty people that dirt bike world wide.

Mike says that he will always be in a motorcross arena for his whole life and will be riding or hanging out with the riders when he gets too old to jump dirt bikes. In the future he will live off of the money that he makes from his earlier years of freestyle motorcross. Mike’s first appearance at the winter X games was the summer of 2002, and he made jaws drop when he competed in it because he did back to back flips. Along with the back flips he took home the gold medal in motto X freestyle. After adding variations to his back flip he won another gold medal in the Motto X big air competition, and followed that performance with the silver medal in the step-up which is another jumping competition.

Mikes riding skills crowned him with the X games best overall athlete with a custom signatured fender guitar. After he put on the show in Philadelphia he left the people in shock from his performance, and from then on freestyle motorcross just wasn’t the same. Metzger says, “The back flip that he has perfected has changed his life”. The motorcross world looked at mike as the “most talented rider in history” and in the month of October 2002, he was offered the most money anyone has ever offered him for jumping dirt bikes, and this was so much money that he gave it a nickname and he called it, “the two wheel deal”. Mike and his wife Mandy are the proud parents of their daughter Michaela Rose and are expecting a second child in may of 2003.

Some of the people that Mike Metzger rides with are Tommy Clowers, Nate Adams, Brian Deehgan who is part of the metal mulishia, Travis Pastrana, and many more followers whose try to make a bid name in Motocross. The media says mike is a rider for all seasons. Some of mike career highlights are his double back flips and his no-hander back flip. Mike says that when he does his back flip it feels like he is on his bicycle but a lot bigger and a lot more time in the air. To do his famous double back flip he shifts in his first rotation on the first jump so when he lands hell have enough speed to hit the next to complete the double back flip. One jump that he can do and also won a gold medal for is the “flying fritz” and that is a jump that clears a forty-five foot gap. To practice the back flips he used a regular bicycle at his house and landed twelve back flips in a row with that. His house is located at Paradise Ranch where he lives and that is his favorite place to ride, it has every one of his favorite jumps including all of the dirt bikes he ever dreamed of.

Some more major accomplishments of his were the 98-99 vans triple crown champion, 200 gravity games silver, and 1991 AMA mini bike 80cc 14-15 champion. He usually ride once a day every day, and some of the bikes he owns and rides are CR250 which is a Honda, a RM250 which is a Suzuki, and a YZ426 which is a Yamaha, and he has other bikes for trail riding. The first bike he ever had was a JR50 Suzuki, the hardest trick that was ever invented by him was the double can discos. The longest distance he ever jumped was 175 FT. The worst injuries he had were breaking both of his arms and both femurs, and broke his back three times.

Mike’s favorite rider besides himself is Twitch, because he says Twich defines smooth riding. Twitch is one of the most insane riders like himself. One of the articles I found was in the article is called “2002 Freestyle Motocross Final, Pastrana and Metzger backflip onto podium.” This took place in august 3 2002, this year was called the year of the backflip, and the judges seemed to share the crowds excitement for FMX’s newest trick and scored it so high that the contest was split into two, which was Mike Metzger Vs. Travis Pastrana which are the only ones there that could do back flips for the gold medal, and those who didn’t compete for the gold they go for the bronze. Mike Metzger and Travis Pastrana were in an agreement to both pull these stunts: the back flip no-hander, and the back flip no hander lander. For every back flip Travis Pastrana does he gets $2000.

These are quotes after Travis and Mike completed there back flips, Mike Metzger: “well, I’m pretty excited now that I know how to do back flips.It seems like it makes a 20 point difference in your score if you do a back flip or not. I had a great time. We still have big air tomorrow, so I'm not done having fun yet.” Travis Pastrana: “ there were a few things that I really wanted to do today that I couldn’t. I wanted to do a backflip no-hander, a backflip no-hander lander, and I wanted to jump into the lake (North Coast Harbor). But they said the city of Cleveland will fine me $500,000 if I jump into the lake and I would have crashed if I tried to do any of the other tricks.” From these quotes you can tell Mike Metzger got the better score in this competition.

Tracy McGrady

by Jim

Tracy Lamar McGrady was born on May 24, 1979, in Bartow, Florida, the only child of Tracy McGrady Sr., and his then-girlfriend Melanise Williford. Both his mother and maternal grandmother, Roberta Williford, a custodian in Auburndale, Florida, raised McGrady. Growing up Tracy had several nicknames given to him, among these were, Pumpkin head, head, and T-Mac. McGrady’s Hobbies were, looking for alligators, jet skiing, and four-wheeling. McGrady had a lot of positive people in his life but among these were the most important influence of all, his parents. Tracy respected his parents very much for everything that they had done for him just so that he could enjoy himself and become a well-developed athlete. His parents may have had an effect on his life and the way he acted but the most influential person to the way he plays his game would be his high school coach . McGrady like most kids always had a favorite team growing up, But there’s one coincidental thing about McGrady’s favorite team growing up, The Orlando magic, He plays for that team now.

Beginning at the age of five, McGrady played many organized sports, including baseball, football, and basketball, his favorite of all of these is baseball . By the time he entered Auburndale High School, basketball was his focus, but he did continue to play football and other sports. Though McGrady was putting up great numbers in basketball, he was not disciplined in his home life or at school. He just barely remained academically eligible. Colleges did not really go after Tracy, though he averaged 23.1 points and 12.2 rebounds per game as a junior. With the assistance of a coach from another school who saw McGrady's skills and a representative from Adidas, McGrady attended a high profile basketball camp, ABCD, the summer between his junior and senior years.

He was the center of the camp, a complete unknown who was soon recruited by some of the best colleges in the country. Tracy Attended Mount Zion Christian Academy in Durham, North Carolina because of lingering academic problems, to complete his senior year of high school. When McGrady graduated from Mount Zion in the year of 1997, Tracy decided to enter the NBA draft. McGrady had signed a shoe contract with Adidas for six years 12.3 million dollars. McGrady had been selected in the first round of the draft, Ninth overall, to the Toronto Raptors for three years 4.68 million dollars.

McGrady’s first season with Toronto was not as spectacular as everyone thought it was going to be. He had sprained his ankle blocking a shot and had missed 11 games in November of 1997. This put McGrady in a deep depression. The last 14 games of the regular season for McGrady proved to be his best. He only averaged 10.3 points per game. Although his last games proved to be the best he still only ended up with a season scoring average of 7 points 4 rebounds per game. In the 1998-1999 season McGrady improved drastically. He was joined by rookie sensation Vince Carter, Who he later learned was a distant cousin by marriage. McGrady and Carter had lived in the same apartment as roommates and spent most of their off-court time together . With the help of Carter McGrady averaged 9 pointes and 6 rebounds per game to end his 98-99 season. In 99-00 McGrady finally showed some promise. He averaged 15 pints and 6 rebounds per game to end the season and he also added almost 2 blocks per game also. When his contract with the raptors had come to an end, McGrady then became and unrestricted free agent. McGrady had signed to a major deal with his home team, the Orlando Magic. They signed a blockbuster deal worth 93Million over 7 years. Through the first 74 games of the season with Orlando he averaged 27 points and 40 minutes per game

. When McGrady was asked how it was to be back in Orlando? McGrady said, “ Oh its great, I love it.” Many people had idolized McGrady. People view McGrady as the youngest sensation to come out of high school. “I think you’ve seen the start of McGrady”. This is a quote that doc rivers had said about McGrady meaning that McGrady is still young and he has a long time to develop and mature and within time Tracy will become better than any other player in the NBA. Tracy does well on the court as well as off the court. He helps the community a lot in mostly dealing with children. One of the young victims in the sniper attack, Iran Brown, Had always dreamt of meeting T-Mac. When T-Mac had heard this he had immediately contacted brown and asked him if he wanted to play with him and meet him. The Magic and their sponsors paid for Iran and his family to take a Florida vacation, with a chance to shoot with the team, visit Walt Disney World and attend two NBA games. “He just stands out better than all the other players," said Iran, "He has a nice shot, a great shot." "I thought it would be a good idea for him to come down, hang out with a couple of guys, shoot around and get a chance to go to a game, Disney World," McGrady said Monday. "Hopefully, he'll enjoy this time. It's good to have him down." McGrady shines both on and off court. This is his most famous off court thing that he has done but it is not the only. Tracy Lamar McGrady is my sports hero because of what he can do on and off of the court.

Ted Williams

by Shane

Ted Williams was an American hero. He was an avid baseball player, war hero, and fisherman. He had so many achievements on and off the baseball field. He was a loving, caring man who thought about everybody else before him. His family loved him, his fans loved him, and his friends loved him. He truly is an icon and a hero in the sports world, and in the regular world.

Theodore Samuel Williams was born on August 30, 1918 in San Diego, California. When growing up, Ted’s parents did not get along. He was left alone much of the time. He spent his time when he was alone fishing and hunting or playing baseball at a local baseball field. He attended Herbert Hoover High School in San Diego. Williams became an outstanding baseball player at the high school. Before he could graduate in 1936, a New York Yankee scout tried to sign Ted, but his mother refused. His mother, May, moved the young Williams out of town before graduation. Williams became a professional ballplayer when he was 17 years old.

He started out with the San Diego Padres in the Pacific Coast League. He received $150 a month. After batting .349 in 1937 the Boston Red Sox purchased Williams for $25,000. Williams played for the Minneapolis Millers in 1938. He arrived in Boston for spring training in 1939. The Boston fans fell in love with the cocky right fielder and giving him the name, "The Splendid Splinter". He finished his rookie year batting .327 with 31 home runs and 145 RBI’s. In 1940 he was moved to left field to block the sun in his eyes. It helped his batting when he hit .344. His other numbers were down though. The Boston fans turned on him and the media started to rag on him. The media and the fans both stated that he didn’t work hard enough. Williams was so angry at the fans that had turned their backs on him. He stated he would rather be a fireman. For the remainder of his career he would go one on one with the fans and the media. Williams proved them wrong however in the 1941 season, the same season Joe DiMaggio hit for a 51 game hitting streak. He went on an unbelievable hitting rampage. At the all-star break in 1941, Ted was batting .405 and blasted 16 home runs. He finished the season batting .406. He was the last man to over .400 in the 20^th century. In 1959, "Teddy Ballgame" was ready to call it quits. At his last at bat, he took it deep over the right field fence off of Jack Fisher of the Baltimore Orioles. He finished his career with 521 home runs.

During the 1942 season, Ted enlisted in the Navy Air Corps. His baseball career was interrupted, and put to a short halt. He was a certified pilot. He trained a lot of Navy pilots during WWII. He later returned to baseball in the 1946 season. It did not last long though. He was called back into service during the 1952 season. The Korean War had just started. Ted was now a captain in the Marines. On February 4, 1953, Ted arrived in Korea as a member of the Third Marine Air Wing, 223^rd squadron. Ted then went directly into combat. After about ten missions he became very sick. His nose and ears were blocked and he began visiting the infirmary every other day. But that’s not what almost killed him. On February 17, 1953, Ted was involved in a huge mission in which involved over 200 flyers that were dropping bombs. Ted’s plane went to low when he lost sight of the plane in front of him. His landing gear was shot off by enemy fire and his plane caught fire. Ted made an emergency crash landing and some how survived. The next day he was back in the sky flying. While in Korea, Ted flew 39 missions.

Besides baseball and flying planes in wars, Ted loved to hunt and fish. He spent most of his free time on a lake fishing or in the woods hunting. I’m sure he did this for some stress relief figuring he spent his life in wars or being ridiculed by fans or media. He is now in the National Fishing Hall Of Fame.

Ted Williams passed away on July 5^th 2002 in Florida. His son had him frozen in a lab in Arizona. Ted had so many achievements in life. In baseball he was a two time Most Valuable Player. He was the 1939 Rookie Of The Year. He won the 1942 American League Triple Crown Award. He also won the 1958 Silver Slugger Award. He won twelve batting titles. He led the American League in home runs and in runs batted in five times. He finished his career with a .344 average. Ted was the last player to bat over .400 finishing his 1941 season with a .406 average. Ted received more bases on balls than any other player besides Babe Ruth. He was a member of the 1999 Baseball All-Century Team. Ted was the first person to ever be inducted into both the National Baseball Hall Of Fame and the Fishing Hall Of Fame. He also had many war achievements. He was awarded 3 air medals for his courage and bravery during aerial operations. He also received a Navy Unit Commendation and the Presidential Medal Of Freedom. Along with those he received an American Campaign Medal, Asian-Pacific Medal, WWII Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and a Republic Of Korea Presidential Citation. He also received a Top Gunnery Honor, Wingman Honor, and the U.S. Marine Corps Sports Hall Of Fame.

Ted Williams was truly an American legend in the sports world and in

the regular citizen world. He left what he loved doing to fight for his

country and put his life on the line a dozen times. Despite all of the fans

ridiculing him for not working hard enough, many people loved him. I am

one of those people. That is why Ted Williams is my Sports Hero.

.

Ricky Williams
by Ryan

Ricky Williams was “born on May 21, 1977, in San Diego, California with a twin sister Cassie.”

Williams was “raised in San Diego primarily by his mother, after his father left the family when he was five

or six years old.” The father was convicted of crime for sexually abusing the twins. “As a child Williams had

anger management problems and received counseling, but he was intelligent and athletically gifted

throughout his school years.
Williams is a great running back for the dolphins and a great person inside the body. Ricky was the,
“Preseason All America selection by playboy and Athlon…and injured his knee back in college at
Arizona State.” After injuring his knee it made him have to end his season for surgery. Ricky William

an All American running back and will always live by that awarding name, Ricky Williams.

Ricky Williams # 9, 5'-9",187 lbs. W.W. Samuell HS, Dallas, TX.   Personal:   Son of Lydia Williams     Honors: All-district




Back in the day, when Ricky played football and baseball in High School, he was wanted by many different colleges for football and really wanted in baseball. It was all about football. Ricky played football for Duncanville High School, and was an excellent athlete. As a senior in High School Ricky had gained 1,669 yards on two hundred carries, and had an average of about eight point three yards per run. The highest amount of yards that Ricky made in one game was two hundred sixty
yards, and scored twenty touchdowns that season. Once Williams was in college he did very well. At Set Tech school the freshman had the single season rushing record. Williams rushed for eight hundred and four yards on about two hundred one carries, and had eighty-three yards per game average. That season for him was incredible because of the fact that he was all over the field in yards and had that many yards averaged into one game. Most running backs in college cant get more than 65 yards/game, so Ricky did very well for his freshman season. As two years went on Ricky was a junior in college and was returning to the incredible sport of Football. The year of 1999 was when Williams busted his knee up, but thankful that he was able to play in the year of 2000. Eventually college ends and your off to the real world.

Finally Ricky Williams “graduated from High school and was drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies, a major league baseball team, in the eight round as an
outfielder.” Williams was going to play for the major league baseball team, but the contract that he’d already signed by the Phillies said that it would pay for his college education and understood that he would play college football. Williams had a history of colleges that wanted him to go to their school once he got out of High School. “Many Different colleges recruited Williams, including the University of Southern California”, but he then decided to go to the University of Texas. Where his
football career began to be successful. During college Williams kept himself occupied during the summer. “Williams played minor league baseball during his first three seasons, before focusing exclusively on football. At the end of Williams’ college career he, “averaged over one hundred seventy yards per game and gaining 1893 yards on the season. He ran for two hundred yards per game six times and scored 25 touchdowns.” After college Williams was drafted by the New Orleans Saints and had been picked to New Orleans the title. Even though Ricky Williams in an incredible football player it doesn’t make things easier for his social anxiety disorder. Social Anxiety Disorder is a disorder that makes you not be able to look another person in the eyes, and be able to talk socially to others with out having a problem. This disorder doesn’t stop the incredible running back from having a great game or a fabulous season. This disorder makes the human race not be able to communicate with one another. Ricky Williams is a great guy but cannot be looked in the eyes by another person, and this is why Williams is always seen with a visor on his helmet.

Ricky Williams was first with Texas when he was college. Then the magnificent running back was drafted to the New Orleans Saints, and finally in today’s life Ricky Williams plays for the Miami Dolphins, as a starting running back.

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Kirk Gibson

By Mike

            Some people think of superman and batman as “heroes”, that’s when kids liked fighting games and action. Not really sports as much, but when I was a kid and my dad showed me “Sports Illustrated Fantastic Finishes” and I saw Kirk Gibson hit that game winning homer in the 88 world series, I was amazed.

            Kirk Gibson was born on May 28, 1957, in Pontiac Michigan. In college he played flanker on the Michigan State football team, and an outfielder in baseball. Gibson didn’t go through college un-noticed, he set several Spartans football records, including 24 touchdown catches, 112 receptions, and 2347 yards. He is not done yet; the NFL St. Louis Cardinals drafted Gibson in the seventh round in 1979. He also was playing pro baseball too; the Detroit Tigers in the first round drafted him in 1978. They signed him for a $200,000 bonus after his only season of college baseball. Gibson had made up his mind and decided to play baseball at MSU to get some leverage in negotiations with NFL teams. Gibson hit .390 in 48 games, drove in 52 runs, and set a school record with 16 home runs.

In 1978, Kirk started his baseball career with Lakeland. He played his last season of college football that fall and joined Evansville baseball in 1979. “Despite suffering a knee injury, he helped Evansville to the title in the American Association with a .429 batting average.” In September, the Tigers promoted him. The Detroit manager Sparky Anderson compared him to Mickey Mantle. So that just added more pressure to him. But it all died out on September 25, 1979 he hit his first home run, off Baltimore’s Steve Stone. Gibson had a temper outburst in 1979 during spring training and was sent back down to Evansville rather then making the ML team. Gibson quoted, “I really don’t know why they brought me down here. You can’t do anything playing once every five days. What do they expect a guy to do, playing like that- go 15-for-15?” Gibson only had three hits in 15 at-bats, but all of them were home runs, and struck out eight times. No matter how embarrassing the frequent flare-ups would be, the Tigers still remained high on their outfielder. Sparky Anderson said, “There is no limit to what he can do. God was very good to this man. He gave him smarts upstairs and great ability…there’s nobody that big, that strong, that fast.” Gibson went back to Evansville and was hurt in his very first game when a fellow outfielder ran into him and injured his knee.

A natural all-around athlete, Gibson exhibited power, speed, intensity, and competitiveness. Injuries plagued him throughout his major league career, as he often attacked the diamond as if it were the gridiron. In 1980 Gibson appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated, titled as “The Rip-Roaring Rookie.” He began the season with Detroit, starting in center field and hitting a home run and a triple on opening day. Gibson was leading the team with nine homers when he suffered tendon damage in his left wrist in June and missed the remainder of the season. Gibson also had a bad start to the 1981 season when a ball bounced off his head in center field on opening day after he lost it in the sun. That didn’t stop him from having a good season though. Gibson had a career high .328 batting average and stole 17 bases. He played 49 of the Tigers 52 second-half games in 81`, hitting safely in 41 out of the contests. Many people may have herd of Kirk Gibson for his memorable game seven winning walk off home run against Dennis Eckersley in the 1988 World Series. But he also had other great moments as well.   Like in August he enjoyed his first dramatic Yankee stadium moment when he entered the game in the ninth inning as a pinch-hitter with Detroit trailing 4-2. Facing Ron Davis with two men on base, Gibson belted a 2-0 fastball into the right field stands to give the Tigers the lead and the win. Six weeks later, on October 1^st, Gibson blasted a historic home run in Tiger Stadium against the Orioles. The ball would have left the stadium if it hadn’t hit the edge of the third deck in right field. Anderson called the shot “awesome.”

In 1988 the Los Angeles Dodgers acquired him. That spring he set the tone for the Dodgers team after a player named Jesse Orosco put shaving cream in his hat. Gibson flipped out and wondered if the prank filled clubhouse was the reason the team didn’t win. His message was put across and he assumed the leadership of the club. That same season, he had his finest all-around campaigns, he his .290 with 25 home runs, 76 RBI’s, 106 runs scored, and 31 stolen bases in 35 attempts in 1988, earning NL MVP and helping the Dodgers win the NL pennant. But in the NLCS against the favored Mets, Gibson batted just .154, but he provided two key home runs.

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		Excellent	Very Good	Average	Minimum	Improvement Required-rewrite	Score
English Usage	paragraph	10	8 (-2)	7 (-3)	6 (-4)	4 (-6)	8
	sentence structure	10	8	7	6	4	8
	grammar	10	8	7	6	4	8
	spelling	10	8	7	6	4	10
	punctuation	10	8	7	6	4	7
Requirements	personality	10	8	7	6	4	9
hero	sports life	10	8	7	6	4	10
	athletic achievement	10	8	7	6	4	10
Format	references in body	5	4	3	2	1	3
	resource bibliography	5	4	3	2	1	5
	page numbers	5	4	3	2	1	5
	cover page	5	4	3	2	1	4

	possible points	excellent	average	below average
Visual for presentation	15 pts.	15 pts.	10 pts.	5 pts.
Overview of Work	10 pts.	10 pts.	7 pts.	3 pts.
Common Threads	60 points	60 points	40 pts.	20 pts.
Audience Appropriate	10 pts.	10 pts.	7 pts.	3 points
Depth ( 10-15min.)	5 pts.	5 pts.	3 pts.	1 pts.
Videotape	10pts.	10pts.	7 pts.	3 pts.
Not presented	0	0	0	0

1995 Chicago White Sox	25	$2,775,000.00	-
1995 California Angels	52	Undetermined	-
1996 California Angels	52	$2,200,000.00	-
1998 Chicago White Sox	25	Undetermined	-
1999 Milwaukee Brewers	25	$400,000.00	-

Introduction

Task

Process

Rubric

Resources

Baseball

Football

Skating

Jim Abbott

Introduction

Task

Rubric

Improvement

Score

Resources

Emmitt Smith

by Tony

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Arnold Schwarzenegger

By Mike

Surya Bonaly

Tracy McGrady

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Kirk Gibson

By Mike

Introduction Task Process Rubric Resources	Baseball	Football	Skating
	Jim Abbott	Emmitt Smith	Michelle Kwan	Arnold Schwarzenegger
	Ted Williams	Ricky Williams	Surya Bonaly	Mike Metzger
	Kirk Gibson			Tracy McGrady