Newswise — LITTLE LEAGUE WORLD SERIES NO LONGER CHILD'S PLAY -- With another Little League World Series under way, the manicured diamonds in Williamsport might be the only legacy that remains of the purity of this annual competition. In 2001, Bronx pitcher Danny Almonte was blowing fastballs by awestruck 12-year-olds. The only problem? It turns out he was 14. Last year, the Harlem squad was suspected--then cleared--of using ineligible players. And Taiwan has rejoined the tournament after being benched in 1996 for flouting LLWS rules. "The factors that go into these violations center on the importance that is placed on winning in our society, which is manifesting itself in youth sports," says Temple sports psychologist Michael Sachs, author of a parent's guide to youth sports. "Even at the Little League level, some parents go to sleep thinking about dollar signs, whether they come in the form of a college scholarship or a pro contract. Or they may be living vicariously through their children. Many parents and coaches have different motivations for participating than the kids, which can lead to these violations." Sachs says that parents, coaches and players should stay focused on the enjoyment--not the outcome--of the game. "Remember why the child is here, which is for four basic reasons: fun, exercise, learning social skills and developing friendships. The idea of winning, to every degree possible, should be out of the picture. The key three-letter word is F-U-N, not W-I-N." Reach Dr. Sachs through the Office of News and Media Relations, 215-204-7476.
NEXT TIME IT FLOODS, BLAME MAN, NOT MOTHER NATURE -- It's becoming a common summer occurrence in the Delaware Valley: heavy afternoon thunderstorms followed by flash flooding. But before you curse Mother Nature, it's more than likely man has caused these problems, says Temple environmental engineer William C. Miller. Miller says that urban areas such as Philadelphia, because of the tremendous amount of pavement, streets and buildings, store heat, which is released into the atmosphere in the late afternoon and creates a "heat island." This, says Miller, pushes the normal summer air mass containing warm, moist air to higher elevations, forming thunderstorms. "It's a fairly typical July and August situation," he says. And once the rain falls, those same city landscapes prohibit the water from soaking into the ground, he adds. "The problem of flooding in an urban area, and even in suburban areas as more housing, offices, stores, streets and parking areas are built, is the lack of infiltration points. More water is staying on the surface, which leads to increased runoff." Miller says the increased runoff causes streams and creeks to run at higher than natural conditions, causing the flooding. And until local governments began recently changing zoning and construction regulations, Miller says, many residences and buildings have been erected in the flood plains along these creeks, streams, and even rivers. "Today, because of the changes that have been made, you just can't do that anymore," he says. Reach Dr. Miller through NMR.
JOB ONE FOR MOST FRESHMEN SHOULD BE PREPARING FOR A JOB -- The typical college freshman's checklist for going off to school might include a computer, extra-long sheets and a mini fridge, but what about job-hunting strategies? Though preparing for the real world (read: having a job after graduation) might be an afterthought for most new students going through the hubbub of packing for college, Chet Rispoli, director of Career Development Services for Temple, says it's never too soon to plan for a career. "I tell students two things when they arrive on campus: Perform a self-assessment to get to know yourself better, and explore your career options through the various channels on campus, whether it is peer mentoring, co-ops or internships," says Rispoli. "That way, they get a better sense of where they might fit into the workplace." Choosing a career path is a matter of self-discovery, says Rispoli. "Students should be careful not to make that judgment too quickly, but gather information about themselves and research what options are available. I encourage them to make wide use of their electives and participate in the various campus groups and clubs to find out what they like." For more Temple back-to-school experts, go to: http://www.temple.edu/news_media/nmr0308_154.html.
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