Warmup:
West Virginia University (WVU) Athletics is set to honor the legendary Jerry West throughout the entire 2024-25 athletic season, celebrating his unparalleled impact on Mountaineer sports.
https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/wvu-to-honor-jerry-west-throughout-2024-25-season-with-special-tributes-and-celebrations/article_9f9567ae-5b3b-11ef-b18f-fba3c5d3d1c4.html?utome
High-Stakes Showdown: Penn State vs. West Virginia Drives Skyrocketing Ticket Prices
Old News
Who won the Olympics? Final medal count, standings, most gold winners by country for 2024 Paris Games
Sports Sources:
WV MetroNews – https://wvmetronews.com/sports
West Virginia University Athletics – Official Athletics Website – https://wvusports.com/
WV Sports Now – https://wvsportsnow.com/
Marshall Univeristy HerdZone – https://herdzone.com/
The Touchdown City Show – https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/tdc/
AP Sports – https://apnews.com/sports/
West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission – https://www.wvssac.org/
Wally’s and Wimpy’s Football Digest – http://www.wallywimpysports.com/
WV Sports Now – https://wvsportsnow.com/
Gold and Blue Nation – https://www.wboy.com/goldandbluenation/
The Touchdown City Show – https://www.wvgazettemail.com/sports/tdc/
RealTime Sports and Sports-related
Jackson County seniors starting this fall will have a free pass to all high school games.
Sports Betting
Study finds people bet on sports instead of investing in the stock market
People in monetary distress are particularly susceptible.
Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record
Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record
West Virginia Del. Fluharty leads bipartisan group to promote iGaming expansion
Keep your eye on the ball . . .
This Summer, Skip Spikeball and Try These International Games Instead
Seven pastimes for the park, beach or garden. None involving a mini trampoline.
https://www.insidehook.com/longevity/best-summer-games-international
How Golf and Physics Are Raising the Limits in Shot-Put
For NFL kickers, new kickoff rules mean abandoning old habits, but also new opportunities
https://www.aol.com/sports/nfl-kickers-kickoff-rules-mean-184206851.html
Gen Z doesn’t care about sports. That’s part of a bigger problem. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/01/07/gen-z-disinterested-sports-nfl-college-football-championship/72117123007/
Why Youth Sports in America Are in Decline https://www.theringer.com/2023/5/23/23725236/why-youth-sports-america-are-in-decline
Features
Why ‘College Football ’25’ means so much to its long-suffering fans
A decade after its last update, the beloved college football title from EA Sports returns. Its biggest fans are feeling nostalgic.
https://mashable.com/article/ncaa-college-football-2025-ea-sports-return-reviews
Uncoordinated? You Can Still Be an Athlete?
I was really bad at sports in high school. This study helps me understand why.
https://www.vox.com/2016/5/30/11767704/practice-doesnt-make-perfect
Fitness for Kids Who Don’t Like Sports (for Parents)
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hate-sports.html
Why Is Pickleball Good For You?
If you haven’t noticed, pickleball is picking up in popularity. And sure, it’s a pretty easy game that just about anyone can play, but it’s also getting people healthier. This TikTok doctor explains all the reasons pickleball is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s unclear whether or not he actually plays.
And Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Pickleball
https://blog.cheapism.com/pickleball-facts/
Weekend Special: All in the pickleball family
WVSSAC
Executive Director Newsletter
https://www.wvssac.org/
Gen Z doesn’t care about sports. That’s part of a bigger problem. https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2024/01/07/gen-z-disinterested-sports-nfl-college-football-championship/72117123007/
Why Youth Sports in America Are in Decline https://www.theringer.com/2023/5/23/23725236/why-youth-sports-america-are-in-decline
Features
Why ‘College Football ’25’ means so much to its long-suffering fans
A decade after its last update, the beloved college football title from EA Sports returns. Its biggest fans are feeling nostalgic.
https://mashable.com/article/ncaa-college-football-2025-ea-sports-return-reviews
Uncoordinated? You Can Still Be an Athlete?
I was really bad at sports in high school. This study helps me understand why.
https://www.vox.com/2016/5/30/11767704/practice-doesnt-make-perfect
Fitness for Kids Who Don’t Like Sports (for Parents)
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/hate-sports.html
Why Is Pickleball Good For You?
If you haven’t noticed, pickleball is picking up in popularity. And sure, it’s a pretty easy game that just about anyone can play, but it’s also getting people healthier. This TikTok doctor explains all the reasons pickleball is one of the best things you can do for yourself. It’s unclear whether or not he actually plays.
And, Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Pickleball
https://blog.cheapism.com/pickleball-facts/
Overtime
The Hidden Mathematics Behind Sports Strategies: A Deep Dive into Game Theory and Sports
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/hidden-mathematics-behind-sports-strategies-deep-dive-rao/
Lawn Mower Racing and Other Strange Motorsports You Didn’t Know Existed
https://blog.cheapism.com/strange-motorsports/
Is Chess A Sport? – Chess.com
https://www.chess.com/article/view/is-chess-a-sport
Sports Betting Revenue Hit a New High in 2023
https://www.insidehook.com/sports/sports-betting-revenue-record
Sports Opinion
Taylor Kennedy: Fathers are life’s best coaches
Taylor Kennedy Jun 16, 2024
Submitted photo
Athletes are surrounded by multiple coaches throughout their lives, whether it’s a family member, close friend of the family or just a new person.
These coaches create connections with athletes in different ways that can last a lifetime.
I’ve been spoiled by having great coaches throughout my 24 years of life.
However, none of those coaches will compare to my dad. My dad, Chris, was my very first basketball coach growing up when I started falling in love with roundball.
He coached me up until my sophomore year of high school, when I did travel basketball.
Was it always easy? No. He’d also agree with me because, trust me, I was a wild card at certain points growing up.
Yet, he didn’t give up on me and still doesn’t.
My dad always gave important lessons, whether he was my coach at that moment or not, when I was growing up playing basketball.
One time that stands out when I was in the fifth grade.
I wanted to quit my youth league team because of how difficult it was.
I can remember talking with my dad about it and how I wasn’t having fun.
My dad told me, “Giving up doesn’t get you anywhere. Persevering and hard work helps you down the road.”
In that moment, I knew what he meant to an extent, but I didn’t want to be someone that gave up. That’s just not what he taught me and my brother, Ryan.
I finished the year, thanks to the support and knowledge of my dad.
He was also a hard teacher. Meaning, he was, and still is, hard on me to get the best out of me.
I didn’t play basketball my junior year of high school. However, I wanted to try and get one last crack at it my senior year and play with my friends.
I spoke with my dad about it, and he was very transparent about the work needed to possibly get an opportunity.
He told me that I needed to run every day leading up to tryouts, work extra hard in offseason workouts and practice footwork to play as a taller forward.
So, every day, I went out and ran a mile to a mile and a half in our neighborhood in Fraziers Bottom.
That success led to me running a personal-record six-and-a-half-minute mile during an early-morning workout session with the team.
I broke several personal records in the weight room during workouts.
I got better with my footwork by doing toe touches on our back deck for upwards of a minute.
All of that hard work got me a position on the basketball team my senior year.
My dad has always been a tough teacher and mentor for me and my brother.
However, I am starting to realize that he did what he did in the past to prepare me for my future.
Coaches can be on or off the court and still have influence in various ways.
Yes, they are tough, but those individuals want what’s best for their people.
Dad, thank you for continuing to be a coach in my life, regardless how difficult I can be.
I appreciate and love you for everything you have done and will continue doing in my life.
Happy Father’s Day and enjoy your day, because you are deserving of it.
And Happy Father’s Day to every dad out there celebrating this weekend.
Taylor Kennedy covers sports. He can be reached at 304-348-7935 or tkennedy@hdmediallc.com. Follow @Taylor_kennedy7 on Twitter.
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