Team Shannon and Sokol

For my last post for this semester, I wanted to say thank you to classmate who became a teammate for most of my projects that were done through out the semester. Shannon Maule and I worked together from day one creating team “Shannon and Sokol.” Shannon, being an incredible writer, and I, being the multimedia savvy one, we were able to produce quality stories that always included at least one video.

The opportunity to work with a partner on these projects lead to more creative projects because we both brought our separate ideas to the table. Our projects that we created include a profile on Borja Malo, an international tennis player, a special project on the Spanish Heritage Learners Program, a story of Emery Hartstein, a story on Charity Adusei, and a profile piece on Keegan Cooke, an international decathlete.

It was an incredible semester and I learned a lot from my teacher Jay Rochlin and I feel comfortable with the back end of online publications.

Keegan Cooke Sets Zimbabwe National Record

At last weekends Jim Click Shootout, Sophomore Keegan Cooke set a new Zimbabwe national record in the decathlon. Cooke, a native from Harare, Zimbabwe finished eighth with a total of 6,573 points.

The previous record was held by Stanley Flowers. On Aug. 7-8, 1989 in Lagos Nigeria, Flowers scored 6,519 points.

Keegan Cooke

For my second special project, Shannon Maule and I have decided to team up and do a profile piece, so this is just a small teaser of what is to come.

Keegan Cooke, a 23 year old sophomore from Harare Zimbabwe, is a member of the University of Arizona’s track and field team. Keegan competes as a decathlete for the UA team.

From 2009 to 2011, Keegan attended Orange Coast College where he was third in the state for the decathlon and ninth in the nation.

“I came to America to pursue higher education after high school and also to take track as far as I can go,” said Keegan.

“My experiences from Zimbabwe have allowed me to really appreciate what America has to offer, just from the basic commodities to the facilities to the different courses and classes that you can take here at the U of A ,” said Keegan.

Keegan explained that in Zimbabwe there is no opportunity to pursue a higher education after high school. He mentioned that there is one University but that in the last few years there have been a lot of riots and that it is usually the center for political activity.

Keegan’s transition from Zimbabwe’s culture to the culture here in America can be summed up in one hilarious story.

“My biggest cultural experience happened right after I got here was in California. I was staying with some friends next to the UCLA campus, and they had been talking about this Undie Run that every one was going to do. Because it was a run, I knew that it was something that I wanted to be apart of. I didn’t understand the undie part of it, and that weekend I found out that it was a run where every one took their clothes off and went for a run. So that was a huge culture shock, it was quite funny.”

Stay tuned for our special project that will appear on the Border Beat website next month!

Courtney Belcastro shares her experience working with the LA Galaxy

Courtney Belcastro, a senior at the University of Arizona, has been extremely busy over the past few weeks all thanks to the Desert Diamond Cup and MLS Spring Training. Courtney is currently an operations intern with FC Tucson and her responsibilities over the last few months have surrounded the Desert Diamong Cup and MLS Spring Training.
“My responsibilities include promotional events and team and event operations for the LA Galaxy while they are in town,” said Courtney.

“Since my dream is to work in sports, getting an opportunity to work with professional teams and athletes has been an awesome experience,” said Courtney.”Not only do we get to work directly for MLS teams and staff, we develop relationships with them that helps us network for the future.”

“All of the players are awesome and incredibly grateful for all FC Tucson has done, which is humbling, said Courtney. “I feel lucky that I got the opportunity to work with the LA Galaxy especially and have this experience on my resume.”

One of Courtney’s new found friendships includes befriending a certain English soccer player on the LA Galaxy.

“David Beckham has been great to work with,” said Courtney. “When you think about high profile athletes, the stereotypes start filling up your thoughts and you tend to expect the worst.”

“For David, he is the exact opposite of every stereotype,” said Courtney. “He made a point to get to know all of our names and always says hello and thank you.”

“He is polite, humble, and grateful, and doesn’t expect a single thing from anyone,” said Courtney. “There is a lot that goes into managing the event when he is there though, for obvious reasons.”

Courtney said that he handles the fans and the situation well so it makes it easy for her and her staff to manage.

Professional soccer brings a lot of international athletes, but also a lot of international staff.

“I have had to drive some players from their hotel to practice, and it was cool how some were practicing their English with the American players while others were speaking Spanish with each other,” said Courtney.

Courtney said that the equipment staff from LA speaks mostly Spanish to each other but English to her and her staff.

“It’s awesome to experience different cultures and how they all share a universal game,” said Courtney. “Despite language barriers and different cultural values, they all unite for soccer, which is cool to have a part in.”

“Plus all of these guys play on different teams throughout the world aside from the Galaxy, so they each bring those experiences to the field as well. Soccer is definitely a great way to work in sports and travel and embrace new cultures.”

Sean Lieb, a senior at the University of Arizona and former football player, shares what it was like to be on the team with international student-athletes.

Lieb played football at the UA during the 2010-2011 season. During this season, Lieb said that there was four Samoan players on the team.

“It was fun getting to know them, and learn their lingo and culture,” said Lieb. ” They had a lot of different phrases that they would say and it was fun to try and pick up on them.”

” It was different coming from a predominately white high school and playing football there to attending a large University that had so many kids from so many different ethnicity’s,” said Lieb. ” It was fun to be around that and see where every one was coming from.”

Lieb says that some of his best memories with these athletes happened while at football camp.

” During football camp, they were playing ukelele’s and singing and some of the African American players were sitting there rapping to the music, ” said Lieb.

” I think they all fit in pretty easily.” ” Every one on the team has a common background with football, so I don’t think it was hard for them to adjust.”

FC Tucson

Nic Piper, a senior studying marketing at the University of Arizona, currently works as the game day, training, facility, marketing, and operations intern with FC Tucson. FC Tucson is Tucson’s very own premiere development league soccer team.

“FC Tucson started in 2010 as an independent soccer team. They just got accepted into the USL PDL, which is the premiere development league, which is the equivalent to triple A baseball in the MLB,” said Piper.

Piper has the opportunity to work with various members of the team including international players.

” Right now we have two players from Trinidad and Tobago on the team,” said Piper. ” Those players are living here in Tucson with one of the coaches.” ” We also have a few players from Mexico.”

” It is the exact same working with the international players, because they have already been here for awhile,” said Piper. ” They know every thing because they all have been playing soccer back and forth between America and other countries.”

Piper said that the international players definitely bring different music to the locker room and different Samba dancing.

Piper also said that the international players even dress differently on the field, choosing to wear their shorts shorter than how American’s wear them.

” Skill-wise, international players play completely different from American players,” said Piper. ” American players are bigger and more physical, while international players are more skilled, finessed, and light on the ball.”

FC Tucson is currently preparing for the 2012 Desert Diamond Cup that is set to take place February 22, 25, 29, and March 3. LA Galaxy, New England Revolution, New York Red Bulls, and Real Salt Lake will all venture to Tucson for the tournament.

National Anthems of the World

The National Anthem. A song that signifies the start of a sporting event. A song that is embedded into our heads from a young age. A song that has so much history behind it.

Now imagine moving to a different country, possibly one that speaks an entirely different language. New country, new National Anthem. Imagine sitting at a sporting event and having to listen to a song that every one around you feels a connection to and you don’t even know a single word.

The University of Arizona has over 30 international student-athletes ranging from 21 different countries. Thirty students face the challenge of trying to learn and understand an entirely new National Anthem.

For my next story I want to interview various international student-athletes and ask them what it was like adjusting to a different countries national song. Was it hard for them to not only learn the words (assuming they know them) but also to adopt this song as their new anthem. Also I am hoping that I can have some of the international student-athletes sing me their countries national anthem.

I feel a special patriotic connection to the Star Spangled Banner and it would be hard for me to adjust.

I think it would be great to hear from their perspective.