Our Mission
After I read the letter to the editor below I knew immediately that this needed to go into the Real Deal because everything we do at Home Team Marketing hopefully shares the same underlying motivation and that is to assist the sustainability of school based sports and ideally allow schools based sports to be properly resourced to flourish. While Marlon is from Cleveland, there is a Marlon in every city and corner of the country and the bottom line is that school based extra-curricular , not AAU – Not club sports – Not video games – Not MTV (which is a total joke in terms of messaging to young people) was the vehicle that allowed Marlon to overcome his personal challenges. Marlon comes from a rough part of town but again not different to circumstances that literally millions of young people face every day. If we have not said it recently, let us say it again…Thank you for everything High School State Associations do– you positively effect the lives of so many young people each and every day. Please read and enjoy!
Published: Sunday, November 06, 2011, 3:00 AM
By Plain Dealer guest columnist
Sports have affected my life in many ways. I played football at Glenville High School in Cleveland. I have experienced many adventures during my football career. I have been able to travel many places and have had opportunities to showcase my talents. I am currently on the University of Akron's football team.
Sports have played a huge part in my life because they have kept me out of trouble many times. I live in Cleveland. There are gangs and a lot of violent things happen around me every day in my city. Sports have affected me by keeping me focused on schoolwork so I could stay eligible to play football. It has been a huge challenge for me because most people who grow up around violence often start to do bad things and join gangs just to fit in or just to feel safe.
Sports have made me better a person on and off the field. I have learned how to be a man and take care of responsibility. Sports have gotten me away from all the crimes and violence that goes on in Cleveland. I could have chosen to sell drugs, rob people or kill people, but I decided to go the football route, which I feel was one of the smartest decisions I ever made in my life.
So sports have affected my life in so many ways. They have kept me off the streets. Sports have kept me very healthy. I have gotten to make more friends than I would have if I were in the streets. Sports have also made me a smarter and better person, mentally and physically.
I feel that it is safe to say that playing sports has saved my life plenty of times. If it weren't for sports, I would be doing some crazy things right now. This is how sports have affected my life.
Marlon Worthington Jr. is a freshman at the University of Akron, majoring in sports management. He plays safety and defensive back for the university football team.
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