July 18, 200818 yr As some of you may know, I'm on the Palm Beach County Sports Commission and one of my duties is to Co-Chair the "Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches." This is a two-day event where over 40+ sports are featured in an "indoor festival" setting to introduce sports to children between the ages of 6 and 14. There are traditional (football, baseball, soccer, basketball, hockey, and golf) sports, as well as "non-traditional" sports (hanetball, netball, polo, malletball) here. Each sport is represented by a "clinician" who assists the child in participating in that sport. With sports such as archery, rugby, judo, tai chi, lacrosse, tai kwon do, etc. the kids have a blast doing each "station" in the Expo Hall here at the South Florida Fairgrounds. This year we had two football "clinics." One was provided by FAU, where they bring some of their players and set up a basic skills course involving running, jumping, getting hit by pads, and throwing a football through targets. The other "clinic" was sponsored by the "Bennie Blades 36 Foundation." I got to spend some considerable time today with Bennie Blades, as well as the other former Canes and NFL players who work with him, like James Jones, James Pruitt, and Michael Rumph. Brian Blades was supposed to be there, but Randy Moss . . . yes, THAT Randy Moss . . . called him to participate in a music video he was shooting today here in Palm Beach. I gotta say, I was thoroughly impressed by Bennie Blades. He is as sharp a man as I've ever met! His foundation has established a school for troubled kids in Broward where he serves as principal, teacher, and athletic director. The same holds true for Michael Rumph, what a great guy to just talk to for a while! I got to talking to these guys and they're all amazing people. Finally, since my son's camp was there today, I pulled my "Staff/Co-Chair Privleges" to introduce him to the guys. He was in "sports heaven" as Bennie Blades just picked him up and flung him into the air for this picture: As Ice Cube says, "It was a good day."
July 18, 200818 yr Bennie Blades still works at Piper High school on the security staff IIRC, I went there and got to see him daily, he really is a cool guy and all about helping the kids. I was there when Piper retired his and his brother's (Brian's) jerseys. I also got to learn some football from him which was definitely a treat. I gotta say SoFla, I remember Bennie being a pretty big guy, you look like you're toe to toe with him, ever consider playing safety for the Lions? :lol
July 18, 200818 yr Author Bennie Blades still works at Piper High school on the security staff IIRC, I went there and got to see him daily, he really is a cool guy and all about helping the kids. I was there when Piper retired his and his brother's (Brian's) jerseys. I also got to learn some football from him which was definitely a treat. I gotta say SoFla, I remember Bennie being a pretty big guy, you look like you're toe to toe with him, ever consider playing safety for the Lions? He's the Headmaster, Athletic Director and volunteer Football and Track Coach at Academy High School in Coral Springs. As for suiting up for the Lions, or any other team, my knees have been shot for at least 12 years, so it's mainly softball and ice bags for me!
July 18, 200818 yr He's the Headmaster, Athletic Director and volunteer Football and Track Coach at Academy High School in Coral Springs. Wow, must have happened in the past 2ish years then, can't say I blame him at all because as I was leaving Piper, the principal took him off as head football coach, which I'll always find a horribly dumb mistake... good for him though getting all that at Academy though, he was really under-utilized at Piper As for suiting up for the Lions, or any other team, my knees have been shot for at least 12 years, so it's mainly softball and ice bags for me! :high5
July 18, 200818 yr It's not every day you see a former Canes football player who isn't A) In jail and B) Contributing to the downfall of society. For this, I give him a round of applause :Clap
July 18, 200818 yr It's not every day you see a former Canes football player who isn't A) In jail and B) Contributing to the downfall of society. For this, I give him a round of applause :Clap Ouch.... it's typically football/NFL players in general Puma... it just so happens that UM sends so many of 'em to the NFL people tend to make that mistake :shifty But seriously, it's obviously very much not a canes thing
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