Articles about Fitness
Denton County Teen Bench-presses 700 Pounds, Breaks Own State Record
From the Abilene Reporter-News:
What drove [Matt] Poursoltani to such greatness?
“When I tore my ACL, I didn’t have anything else to do, so I benched every day. I had to do something. It’s all I had,” he said, quietly and without a hint of braggadocio.
Poursoltani played defensive tackle on the Pilot Point Bearcats football team.
“No one moved him,” Coach Jody Allen said.
A gigantic boy among other boys.
Dallas Trails Get Top Priority in NCTCOG Funding Recommendations, May Pull in $5 Million
Deborah Carpenter walks Jenny, Buster, and Lily past a sign for the second annual East Kessler Pet Parade along North Oak Cliff’s Coombs Creek Trail in April 2010. Photo: Christina Barany, for Oak Cliff People
Dallas’ Coombs Creek and SoPac trails may soon get a welcome boost to their coffers, provided the North Central Texas Council of Governments takes its own advice. The two trails are the highest-ranked Dallas-area projects that applied for funding from the council last fall, outshining similar projects in Frisco, Lancaster, Terrell, and other area cities.
Back in September, the Texas Department of Transportation issued a $70 million call for projects, utilizing remaining Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users funds; the Dallas-Fort Worth region was awarded about $13 million to divvy out. Applications were due to TxDOT in November, and staff members have been running the projects through their evaluation and scoring methodologies since. Additional funding for seven Dallas-area projects (and six Fort Worth-area projects) has been recommended; NCTCOG received 37 applications totaling $47 million in requested funding. In order of their NCTCOG rankings:
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Texas Ranger Nelson Cruz Denies Performance-Enhancing Drugs Allegations
In a short statement to the Associated Press, from Nelson Cruz’s attorneys:
“We are aware of certain allegations and inferences. To the extent these allegations and inferences refer to Nelson, they are denied.”
Evan Grant noted that the attorneys, from Pittsburgh-based Farrell & Reisinger, do not include Cruz’s agent. Jay K. Reisinger and Thomas J. Farrell also represented New York Yankee Andy Pettite and slugger Sammy Sosa during various U.S. House of Representative performance-enhancing drug inquiries.
Nelson Cruz Linked to Miami Steroid Clinic
Photo: Keith Allison
A report by the Miami New Times today indicates that Texas Rangers slugger Nelson Cruz may have received steroids or human growth hormones from a  Miami clinic that also catered to San Francisco Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera, Oakland A’s pitcher Bartolo Colón, Cuban boxer Yuriorkis Gamboa, and even Alex Rodriguez.
The clinic in question is Biogenesis, an “anti-aging” clinic that abruptly closed shop last month. A former employee gave the company’s customer spreadsheets to the New Times. As for Cruz’s alleged participation:
But there are also several prominent professionals in Bosch’s records who have never before been linked to steroid use. According to his July 2012 client sheet, Bosch sold $4,000 of product to Nelson Cruz, whom he nicknames “Mohamad.” Cruz, the power-hitting Dominican outfielder for the Texas Rangers, has whacked 130 bombs in his eight-year career without any links to performance-enhancing drugs. Until now. Bosch writes in his 2012 book: “Need to call him, go Thur to Texas, take meds from April 5-May 5, will owe him troches and… and will infuse them in May.”
The Rangers, according to DMN reporter Evan Grant, said only that the team was contacted by the Miami New Times and that it then contacted MLB. The team had no further comment.
Texas Legends Trying to Lure Allen Iverson
From ESPN’s Marc Stein:
Iverson has likewise resisted the Legends’ overtures so far this season — as well as a similar offer last season — but sources say that the Legends are trying again now because they’ve moved back to the top of the list in the D-League’s waiver line, meaning they’d have an unobstructed path to signing Iverson if he could be convinced to put his name in the D-League’s player pool.
The Legends’ pitch to Iverson centers around the fact they’ve just convinced NBA veterans Delonte West and Rashad McCants to join their team with similar intentions, after the Legends signed another 37-year-old earlier this month — point guard Mike James – and wound up putting James in position to earn a 10-day callup to the Mavericks that turned into a guaranteed contract after James completed his second 10-day deal Sunday.
Just imagine Delonte and Iverson playing on the same team. Quick list of things that would be better than that: ______. Nothing. Nothing would be better than that. This random Twitter user channels similar excitement:
OH MY GOD IF ALLEN IVERSON COMES BACK IM GOING TO KILL SOMETHING OUT OF SHEER EXCITEMENT
— perrin moore (@perrinmoore96) January 28, 2013
For-Profit Race Company Poised To Take Money Away From Sick Kids by Competing With Dallas Marathon
UPDATE: Dan Cruz with the Competitor Group sent me a note on Friday letting me know that the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon has been moved to mid-November. Also, he let me know that the Competitor Group has contributed more than $200,000 to Scottish Rite Hospital in the past four years. So all is well.
In 2010, Dallas Marathon (or, at that time, the Dallas White Rock Marathon) officials signed a contract with Competitor Group, which produces the Rock ‘n’ Roll race series, forbidding it to produce a race in Texas between December 1 and May 31. This clause would protect Dallas Marathon and let it grow into a big event that attracts runners, vendors, and business to the area. It would also allow the nonprofit organization to continue to raise money for Scottish Rite Hospital.
It appears that the Competitor Group forgot/misread/overlooked/didn’t care about the contract and just announced that the San Antonio Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon will take place on December 8 this year, which just so happens to be the exact same date as the Dallas Marathon.
Runners and businesses are upset about the news. But, according to this article, it sounds like many will be loyal to Dallas. Competitor Group said that sharing the date of the Dallas Marathon will only negatively affect 776 runners.
Dallas Marathon’s official response is after the jump.
Dallas’ Trail System May Continue to Grow
.23 PM” src=”http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/Screen-shot-2012-12-17-at-12.40.23-PM.png” alt=”" width=”300″ height=”398″ /> Source: DallasParks.org
Dallas’ Parks and Recreation board will vote on nearly $3.5 million worth of trail construction and procurement projects Thursday, projects that will grow the city’s trail system in South Dallas, West Oak Cliff, and Lake Highlands.
First up is the Chalk Hill Trail, which you see on your right. The Board will vote on procuring the land needed for the trail from BNSF Railway Company, which owns the right-of-way. The cost is $757,000, which, when you break it down, is about $22,000 an acre; the money comes from 2006 bond funds. The goal is to eventually connect the trail to the Coombs Creek Trail in North Oak Cliff, and the goal for that trail is to stretch it to the proposed Trinity Trail, which will attach to the Katy Trail and Santa Fe Trail. So: Cockrell Hill to White Rock Lake, all on trails. Not bad.
Next up is Lake Highlands Trail work. $1.1 million of work, specifically. Board approval would allow for construction procurement of 1.5 miles of multi-use trail, from the White Rock Trail to Ferndale Road. Funding for this trail also comes from ’06 bond cash.
The final item may be the most complicated (the first two are on the consent agenda, which usually means little-to-no discussion): Five Mile Creek Trail upgrades were moved from the Dec. 6 agenda, which usually means more discussion/vetting is in order. This chunk of the trail is short – less than a mile – and stretches between two parks in South Dallas. Funding would be split between ’06 bond money and an $858,000 Texas Parks and Wildlife grant. The land has already been purchased for the project.
Park board decisions are then forwarded on to the City Council; expect a vote early next year.
DeMarcus Cousins Punches O.J. Mayo in the Groin, Says He Didn’t Punch O.J. Mayo in the Groin
Spotted this last night:
O.J. Mayo to ref re: DeMarcus Cousins: “Check the tape, he hit me in my nuts!” Double technicals.
— Tim MacMahon (@espn_macmahon) December 11, 2012
Some choice quotes from O.J. Mayo, via ESPN:
“Man, I was so pissed,” Mayo said after his 19-point, seven-rebound performance in the rout. “It’s just, where does that come in in the game, you know what I mean? He’s a talented player, has a chance to be an All-Star. But you do stuff like that, it takes you down a class.”
“That guy has some mental issues, man,” Mayo said. “He’s a talented player. He has an opportunity to be the face of that organization, but I don’t think he wants it. …
“He’s immature, man. Big maturity problem. Hopefully, he’ll grow up out of it and become great. He definitely has the talent to.”
When O.J. Mayo is smacking your maturity, it’s time to step it up. For the record, Cousins said he was just pushing off. With a closed fist. Into the groin.
Leading Off (11/19/12)
Ann Margolin Will Not Seek Reelection: The last time the district 13 city council seat was vacant, Ann Margolin beat-out Brint Ryan in what was the most expensive campaign for a single council seat in city history. Now Margolin, a respected voice on the council, has suddenly and surprisingly decided to not seek an additional term in 2013, citing “personal obligations.”
Arlington Gym Teacher Sued By Student: The student in question, Alyssa White, has a medical condition. She is also a star soccer goalie. When she was late for gym class one day at Ferguson Junior High, her gym teacher punished the student by making her run strenuous exercises. A lawsuit now claims that those exercises landed White in the hospital and jeopardized the student’s potential soccer career.
Another Piece of Dallas History Destroyed: The 88-year-old Thomas building was imploded Sunday. As we learned awhile back, the building, described as a “relic of when cotton was king,” was razed, its Charlotte-based owners said, because of the high cost of asbestos and disrepair.
Planning Running Events in Dallas Just Got More Difficult
Photo by George Vasquez.
When I first heard about the new regulations that are going into effect today for running events, I was a little upset. I like to run. (Or, at least, I like to think I like to run, and by run, I mean walk with bounce.) I like when others run. I also like activity on the streets of Dallas. So anything that makes it harder for people to run on the streets of Dallas makes me a little upset. “But,” people said to me, “what about those who live in houses who can’t get out of their driveways because of runners? What about those who wake up to the sound of runners chatting as they pass their windows? What about those who can’t get to church because the streets are blocked off?” I live in an apartment downtown. Streets get shut down, noises filter through my windows. I have very little sympathy.
Then I talked to the woman who designed the regulations. Her name is Lori Chance. She really believes in what she’s done. If there’s anything that can melt my hardened heart it’s someone who believes in their work. So I talked to a couple other people who are involved in this situation and below is what they said. I tried to be unbiased, because I really do understand both sides. You can yell at me in the comments if you think I failed at that.
Is This Some Old Guy Exercise Secret I Am Unaware of?
This morning, I worked out at the Jewish Community Center. My son goes to summer camp there, and to make that possible, my ex-wife and I have to get a summer membership. So I was trying to make the most of it, instead of wasting that money, as per usual. ANYWAY, when I was getting changed to leave, an older fella walked in. He opened his locker and used the shelf to pop the top off a bottle of Heineken. Then he poured about two inches of it into a water bottle. Then he filled up the rest of the bottle with Perrier. Almost all of this seems like something I would not want to drink while exercising. But I have to wonder: does this guy know something I don’t?
SMU Women Rowers Have Nice Legs
First some guys from the Harvard baseball team did it. Not bad. But then the SMU women’s rowing team one-upped them with their Carly Rae Jepsen routine. Pretty solid work. Far superior camerawork, too.
Michelle Obama Should Focus on the Teachers, Ctd.
An alert FrontBurnervian points us to this survey, which says: “Based on a health and wellness self-assessment survey, 74 percent of [DISD] employees are at risk for high blood pressure, 74 percent at risk for obesity, 67 percent do not get enough exercise, and more than 48 percent have four or more risk factors” (see item No. 16). In short, the people who work for DISD are not a healthy bunch. That’s not good for the teachers (obviously). But it’s also not good for students (lost productivity due to teacher absenteeism as a result of illness, bad examples being set), and it’s not good for taxpayers (we’re paying for part of their healthcare).
I would think that an incentive program could easily be designed to make a huge impact on teacher health. Set a target BMI and then reward teachers for making progress toward that goal. Give them paid days off. Free lesson-planning periods. Hell, even cash. It would pay for itself in saved health-care costs. Even better, you can enlist the kids as a the support group, turn the thing into a class project of sorts. Get all of Mrs. Smith’s students invested in improving her health (and, by extension, the class’s health).
Michelle Obama Should Focus on the Teachers
The first lady is in town to further her campaign against childhood obesity. This morning she visited DISD’s Moseley Elementary, which was chosen because the district has made big strides in improving the fare it serves to students. DISD has more schools than any district in the country that have met the highest standards set by the USDA. I can attest to the district’s progress. The food that comes out of my daughter’s lunchroom is much improved over the stuff they were serving just a few years ago. So kudos all around. Let’s keep working to make those kids healthy.
But we should be looking at the teachers, too. Because — and you’ll forgive my bluntness — I think we’ve got a lot of fat teachers setting a bad example for those kids. The first time I started thinking about this was a couple years ago, after one of those district-wide meetings at the AAC. Afterward, I listened to a handful of teachers talk about how disturbing it was to see so many of their colleagues seriously overweight.
Dallas is the 33rd Fittest Large City in U.S.
According to this fitness site floating around Facebook, Dallas ranks 33 out of the 58 cities with more than 300,000 people. That’s behind Minneapolis (1), Pittsburgh (4), Seattle (5), Washington, D.C. (7), Austin (9), New Orleans (25), Oakland (28), and San Antonio (32). Behind San Antonio? At least we’re ahead of Tulsa (36), New York (40), Fort Worth (43), Houston (44), Arlington (47), Oklahoma City (49), L.A. (52), Corpus Christi (55), and El Paso (57). Take that, Tulsa.