LAURA M. PIPE
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LaDainian Tomlinson: What Horned Frogs Do...

21/8/2017

 
LaDainian Tomlinson graduated from TCU in 2001 just as I was arriving on campus. I remember seeing the fingerprints of his stellar college football career - campus was covered in "LT for Heisman" stickers. As people described LT, the man - the honest, dedicated, and great man - I couldn't help but have visions of an Ernie Davis-like figure. He was a kid doing good using football as a passionate platform. During his Hall of Fame speech, I was reminded of LaDainian, the Horned Frog, the leader, the all around great man who was motivated to do good and be great. Proud of you, LT! You make every Horned Frog before you and after you so very proud of the work a Horned Frog can do.

You were so much more than just a Bmxer

4/2/2016

 
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Dave Mirra was and is the greatest BMX rider of all time - that is a solid truth I will and have always believed. He is a huge part of my life. Larger than life itself, he motivated me to do big things. Much of my scholarship and academic work is thanks to him. He was always kind.

Today, BMX and I mourn. We mourn for different reasons - the legend lost, the friend we won't see, the hero gone. #missed

If you or someone you love is hurting - hug your loved ones closer, remind them that they mean so much.

So missed, so loved...

Tony Stewart's prep work for the Chili Bowl

25/1/2015

 
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click to watch Tulsa Channel 8's coverage

Nigel Sylvester on Advancing while not fitting in - BMX

25/1/2015

 

Caroline Buchanan helps the Next Gen of Women in BMX

25/1/2015

 
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photo from Caroline Buchanan's facebook
World BMX Champion, and Australia's greatest racing champion, is working to support the next generation of women in BMX (bicycle motocross).

Check out the article from The Canaberra Times

The article also mentions Patty Mills tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr., along with a number of Australia's sporting stories.

TCU dominates 2014 Bowl Conversation

2/1/2015

 
TCU overtook Ole Miss 42-3 at the 2014 Chick-fil-a Peach Bowl on 31 December. After a controversial snub by the College Playoff Committee, the Frogs remain the topic of much conversation. Should they or shouldn't they be a team in the Championship hunt? Was it the financial potential of a small religious private or their record that kept them out?
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Credit: David Goldman/AP via Star Telegram
Click here to see Forbes' financial argument against TCU taking a playoff spot.

Click here to see the 2014 Academic Ranking for the top 25 teams. TCU ranked #1.

Click here for coverage of the game against Ole Miss and an interview (video) with Coach Gary Patterson and quarterback Trevon Boykin.

Click here to see how the Frogs stack up in the Jeff Sagarin's latest computer rankings.
TCU ranked #1.


Click here to read the final argument on the TCU vs Baylor debate.

Rally in Minnesota Draws Thousands

2/11/2014

 
Thousands of protesters gathered in Minnesota before the Minnesota/Washington NFL game today. Minnesota has a deep Native American/American Indian history and police estimate that 3,200 people were in attendance. The "Not Your Mascot" protest was also supported by the Mayor of Minneapolis, Betsy Hodges, who was present.

Find out more here from Sports Illustrated or here from BuzzFeed.

Visit the following twitter Hashtags:

#changethemascot
#notyourmascot
#nohonorinracism
Also, check out the video "No Honor in Racism" from Red Circle Agency and the National Coalition Against Racism in Sports and Media.
And don't forget to revisit the National Congress of American Indians' "Proud to be" video

Revisiting Rodney Mullen's TedXOrangeCoast

20/9/2014

 

One Gathering Skate Comp - StrongHold Society

20/9/2014

 
The Stronghold Society is a Native American organization seeking to support youth through suicide intervention. They have been utilizing skateboarding as a key tool in this project.

Stronghold Society supports a "Skate for Life" Program and several skateparks - Wounded Knee 4-Directions Skateparks.

Check out this video of the 2014 One Gathering Skate for Life Event held in Denver, CO.

Tony Stewart, Kevin Ward & Canandaigua

16/9/2014

 
Updated 9/25: Grand Jury returns a decision to not file charges against Tony Stewart. Toxicology reports indicate that Kevin Ward, Jr had marijuana present in his system - "enough to impair judgement." Media are reporting that Ward's family intend to pursue a civil case.

Find out more from NASCAR on Fox
Updated reference 9/16:
The DA in Ontario County announced that information on the incident taking place at Canadaigua Motorsports Park will go to Grand Jury. Stewart will still race this weekend at New Hampshire.

Find out more from the Charlotte Observer.

Updated reference 8/29:
Tony Stewart will race at Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend. Stewart spoke with the media for the first time since the incident. A link to Fox's coverage is here.

Stewart is clearly shaken and deeply saddened by the events in Canandaigua. He expressed a need to get back in the car for healing, sharing his prayerful response for Ward's family.

Updated reference 8/20:
Tony Stewart has withdrawn from all Sprint Car races for the year (could be revised). He also did not participate in the Sprint Cup Race for Watkins Glen and Michigan. Announced today that he will also not race at Bristol this weekend. Read Fox Sports coverage here.

Tony Stewart on Sprint Car Racing released the week prior to Canadaigua

Updated reference 8/14:
Fox Sports posted two videos today. One is very important, Kevin Ward Jr was laid to rest today. Please take a moment to honor him and his family in your thoughts. Click here to watch coverage.

The second, Racer Erin Evernham gave a full run down of how Sprint Cars drive - including what can be visually seen on the right side. Click here to watch Evernham's account.



Additional reference added 8/13:

There is a significant amount of media coverage. A simple web search and you are up to your ears in fact or opinion. From Kevin Ward Sr.'s interview with the Syracuse Post Standard to interviews with Stewart's hometown locals, a range of opinions of Saturday night's events are offered up as fact or truth. Honestly, these opinions are truths. Each author has their own truth of that night. We live in a world where scientific capital T truth reigns - when in reality many micro and macro truths exist.

The common thread is this - non-racing media's coverage seems to be "Stewart, the killer," racing media's coverage is just shear disbelief.

Racer.com's Robin Miller takes a somewhat honest view - who's Tony, where am I bias, and what's reality... reality, "only Tony knows what really happened." Check out Miller's article here.



Additional reference added 8/12:

New York Daily Mail released an article calling for the media (particularly non-race fans) to pause before they jump to conclusions regarding Stewart, his motives & his temper. Check it out here.

Original post from 8/11:

I had hoped to avoid this post - but know it would be negligence on my part not to acknowledge what happened in Canandaigua. It would also be negligent on my part not to preface that this post is highly personal and does contain both fact and my opinions. I have noted where my personal opinions are included.

I love racing - I grew up with it my whole life, from stock cars to BMX bikes.  I know the dangerous realities of these sports - watching my hometown, Randleman, NC,  all but shatter under the weight of heartbreak for our first family - the Petty family - with the death of Adam Petty in 2000. As well as living the heartbreak felt throughout the BMX community with the death of Freestyler Colin Winkelmann and the tragic injury sustained by Dirt Rider Stephen Murray. Anyone close to racing and action sports cannot help but feel a similar heartbreak for the family of Kevin Ward, Jr, Tony Stewart and the small track in Upstate New York that will be changed forever.

This weekend served as a reminder that racing, at any level and within any discipline, is dangerous. On Saturday night, Tony Stewart, three-time Sprint Cup Champion in NASCAR, was enjoying his favorite off track pass time - dirt track racing of Sprint Cars. He truly embodies the passion of a racer, someone who has achieved success at the highest level of his sport but just cannot shake the love of racing laps around local dirt tracks across the country against virtually unknown competitors. Associated Press Race Reporter, Jenna Fryer, wrote a great article about the "essence of Tony Stewart" - an essence forever changed by this weekend's events that turned tragic. 

This weekend we saw a frenzy of reporting on the tragic death of Kevin Ward, Jr, a 20 year old Sprint Car driver, in what could be considered the most senseless accident in the sport's history. After colliding with Stewart on track, Ward was turned sideways and his racing night ended - common in racing. In the proceeding caution lap, Ward left the safety of his car, walked onto the track and was prepared to confront Stewart as he drove by. For racers, at all levels - including the elite Formula 1, this is not unusual behavior. Showing dissatisfaction with another driver's behavior and its perceived impact on your performance is common - remember these sports are built on aggressive and competitive driving. However, this night - Ward either got a little too close to Stewart's car or Stewart turned a little too close to Ward. Either way, Ward was too close to Stewart's car and was pulled under the car and hurled across the track. He died on the way to the hospital. To be honest, we may never know which is true - my opinion is that the former is much more likely than the latter. Could it be wishful thinking for fear of what the latter would mean at all levels of racing?

This post reflects two important truths - racing, in a variety of disciplines, will feel the ripples of this event, both due to Stewart's significance and his dedication to all of racing. The second, the media are bias and fickle. To be honest, I am not sure how any of the "sporting media," particularly those close to the racing community, could remain unbiased. Many in the racing media have noted that the event will force all of us, from fan to participant, to pick a side. However, I offer my opinion - Motorsports.com's Steven Cole Smith wrote an excellent piece that really paints a picture that for me is reality. He broke down the facts of how Sprint Cars are raced and driven that I believe helps the reader understand what may have happened that night. I encourage you to read it - click here for the full story.

I leave you with a few photos - these are snapshots of media posts regarding the event. Note the difference between national media, sporting media and racing media. As you read more about the event in the media - I ask that you consider your sources, evaluate the facts and keep in mind that this will have lasting fingerprints on these sports - and on the greater public as they form opinions about the sports I love.
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