Here's a hot fashion and sports tip for you: Some of the top NFL stars will be wearing pink shoes this weekend!
Yeah, pink shoes, as in cleats.
Finally, the biggest news about quarterback Brett Favre won't be the new purple Vikings' jersey he's wearing this season. It'll be the pink cleats on his feet.
Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald has some of the quickest feet in the game. The Cardinals have a bye this week, but next time those fleet Fitzgerald feet take to the field, they will be sporting pink cleats, as well.
Perhaps you thought the only connection between the NFL and breasts were the push up bras worn by jiggly Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders?
No, real men and real football players care about one of the top health issues facing American women today. It's touched many of them personally. Brett Favre's wife, Deanna, is a breast cancer survivor. Fitzgerald's mom, Carol, was being treated for the disease when she died in 2003.
The pink twinkle toes are just the beginning. Throughout October, NFL games will also feature coaches and referees wearing pink game apparel, as well as on-field pink ribbon stencils and special K-balls and pink coins. All the items will be auctioned off at NFL.com. Proceeds will benefit the American Cancer Society and team charities.
Talk about Fantasy football! Thank you to the NFL and all the players and personnel who are thinking pink and taking on that nasty opponent of breast cancer.
Thanks to Brian McCarthy, from the NFL's PR office, who tipped me off on Twitter. You can follow Brian on Twitter here. You can follow me here.
September 28, 2009: Happy Birthday, Darius!
One of the coolest young men I've met while creating this website had a rite of passage this weekend. Darius Weems turned 20.
"What's the big deal?" you ask. "Thousands of young men turn 20 all the time!"
Aha, but thousands don't turn 20 while surviving a disease that doctors were sure would kill them in their early teens.
Darius has Duchene's muscular dystrophy.
As big as that is, it's the not the biggest thing about him. No, that would be the fact that Darius is the star of one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.
I've been telling you about Darius and the film "Darius Goes West" for over a year now. How Darius had never left his hometown of Athens, GA until 11 of his buddies decided it was time for him to see the world.
That road trip is the subject of the documentary. It will make you laugh, cry, and cheer all at the same time.
As fun as it's been to get to know Darius and his buddies, it's been just as great to see first time film maker Logan Smalley and his crew get their movie made and their cause out there.
A year and a half after I told you about this amazing young man, it's nice to see the traditional media catching up and spreading the word, as well. Over the last couple of days, the guys have been featured on CBS and CNN. And just this weekend, MTVU gave Darius Goes West it's national broadcast debut.
Don't worry if you missed it. You can get your own copy of the movie here.
Darius—Congratulations! Happy Birthday! And please give us all a little warning before the big 21 comes around. I don't want to be in your way if you're celebrating and cruising around in that fancy ride of yours!
September 25, 2009: Flood Of Heroes!
There's a good chance you've heard about the heavy flood waters we've had here in Atlanta this week. When 15+ inches comes down over a couple days, there's just nowhere for all that water to go.
Most of the news coverage has been about people instantly flooded out of their homes. 8 people even lost their lives. It is serious stuff. We're very lucky around my house. Water came up, but not as far as the house. We're good to go.
I just wanted to take this blog space today to tell you what you might not have heard.
See, the flood waters aren't the only thing rising up around here.
So are local heroes.
All sorts of folks are using Twitter and Facebook to connect those who want to help with those who need help.
One local pastor set up a website, HopeATL.com that is doing that in a very efficient way.
The local NBC station, WXIA-TV, has done a story on the great efforts going on in this great city to help those in need.
It just goes to show what I've said for a long time. It's not that bad and challenging things don't happen in this world. Of course, they do. But I've also come to know that even in the most challenging of times, ordinary people step up to do extraordinary things.
That's what I focus on and celebrate here at DarynKagan.com. And that's what's happening right here in Atlanta! It feels like sunshine even before the actual sun comes out from behind all those rain clouds.
September 23, 2009: Now, That's One Fun Phone Call!
Who says no good deed goes unpunished?
24 special people recently received the phone call of their lives. They picked up the phone to get the news that someone really appreciates the work they are doing with their lives. Appreciates it so much, in fact, that they have been named a MacArthur Fellow.
That means they'll be receiving a "Genius Grant." Nice name, yes? How about the sound of this? Each fellow will receive $500,000 over the next five years. No strings attached! Oh, and by the way--they have no idea who nominated them!
Who deserves that kind of honor? The winners range in age from 32-69. According to the foundation, they include an infectious disease physician, an ornithologist, a painter, a photojournalist, a bridge engineer, a climate scientist, an economist, a papermaker, a mental health lawyer, and a poet. All were selected for their creativity, originality, and potential to make important contributions in the future.
Some of my favorites include Jerry Mitchell who is an investigative reporter in Jackson, Mississippi. Dr. Mary Tinetti is doing fascinating work looking at the effect of falling and the health of older people. Richard Prum's world is all about the science of birds.
If you just feel like hanging out with a bunch of geniuses, you can meet all 24 of them here.
Isn't that a great idea? I thought it would be fun to start our own unofficial genius roll going. Anyone you think the world needs to know about? Who do you think is doing genius work? Please share over in our social online community.
September 17, 2009: However Tall The Mountain
Awista Ayub has a message for everyone who has a dream of making the world a better place.
Do it.
That's right. Do it.
Is it going to be hard? You bet.
Will people tell you that you're nuts? Whoa, the stories Awista could tell you! Imagine telling your dad that you want to step away from your Chemistry degree to teach girls sports. Yeah, that one didn't go over so well at first.
But after 9/11, this young woman, born in Afghanistan, raised here in the US, knew she had to do something.
She did something really smart. She followed her heart. Because she had the opportunity to grow up here, she had the chance to learn, participate and fall in love with sports.
She told me, "The lessons that I learned on the field, on the playing court were lessons that I learned and helped me in the classroom and the real world."
That's what she wanted to pass along to girls back in her native country, picking soccer as the sport she wanted to support.
Sounds sweet, but what about the fact that Awista was only 23, fresh out of college, had no non-profit experience, even described herself as naïve? The list could go on and on.
Basically, the column of reasons why this was a good idea wasn't that long. Awista could've done what so many of us do when we have an idea to make the world a better place. She could've listened to that tape in our head. "I can't because.." No doubt you've heard it? "I can't because I don't know how. I can't because I don't have money. I can't because I don't have connections." The tape can go on and on.
Here's the difference between Awista and most folks. She had an old Afghan proverb in her back pocket. It goes, "However tall the mountain, there's always a road."
Did Awista find that road? Just check out today's story to find out.
Meanwhile, if you're looking for some inspiration to go for your crazy dream to change the world, you'll want to get Awista's book. It's fresh off the presses. Guess what it's called? However Tall The Mountain: A Dream, Eight Girls, & A Journey Home.
Thanks, Awista, for showing us a way and giving us a whole other kind of headline out of Afghanistan than we're seeing day after day in the traditional media.
September 16, 2009: Making Yellow Taxi Out Of Lemons
Jay Field is a man with drive.
He's also a man who now drives….a lot.
It's how he's supporting his family.
I bet there are a lot of you who can relate to Jay's story. He was lucky enough to find his dream job—reporting news for public radio stations in San Francisco and Chicago.
Wouldn't it be nice if the story ended there? Well, no. Because, one, it doesn't. And two, I personally think it gets even better.
See, like millions of Americans, Jay was laid off as the economy beganto tank. And like millions of Americans he went looking for that new job. Turns out it was harder than he thought. With a wife and two kids, he figured he had to go do something. So, Jay is now driving a taxi.
Why do I love his story? Jay realized he might not be getting paid to tell stories right now, but he still has stories to tell. So, he's started a blog called Recession Taxi.
He shares great entries like how his little boy could care less what Daddy's job was when he was a reporter, but now that drives a cab? Whoa! Doesn't get any cooler than that! Daddy's might as well be an astronaut!
I know I'll be keeping up with Jay and the taxi. I appreciate a man who can take his lumps and disappointments and still gather his family and say, "We're going to do what we have to do." There are few things more attractive to me than that.
And thanks to Jay for sharing his little boy's fresh perspective. One man's lump is another little man's lottery grand prize.
Good luck, Jay! Don't take this the wrong way, but I hope that next radio job doesn't come along too soon. I want some more time to ride along in your taxi.
You want to screw your head on for a smile and attitude adjustment? Check out Jay's blog here.
September 11, 2009: Inside Out Stories
Today is the perfect opportunity to explain how and what I do.
"How can you possibly make a case for talking about good things happening in the world when there is so much tragedy and bad news?" my critics cry.
Look, you don't have to point out to me that bad things happen in the world. Work in TV news for a long time and you get that. I can and do what I do because of amazing people like the Fazio family.
When I was on the air on 9/11 covering the destruction of the World Trade Center for CNN, Ronald Fazio, Sr. was living his final moments inside those burning buildings.
His grown kids tell me that their dad was last seen holding the door open for other people to get out to safety, an opportunity that escaped him as he was saving other lives.
The Fazios smile as they share the last vision of their dad. They weren't surprised at all. That was there dad—always holding the door open to help out someone else.
So, no, I'm not going to tell the Fazios that bad things don't happen in the world. I don't have to. One, they've lived it. But even bigger, they have a more important story to tell.
See, the Fazios are living what I call and "inside out" story, where someone takes an event they would've never picked to happen to them, turned it inside out and chosen to transform their lives and the world around them.
They've done it with their Hold The Door For Others Foundation. The baton has been passed from father to children, who are now in the business of helping out others.
It's the kind of story I came to love in my years at CNN. No matter how dark and difficult the situation, there are always everyday people who rise up to amazing and inspiring things.
People like the Fazios continue to teach me that it's not what happens to you, it's what you choose to do with it. That's where the power comes in.
By the way, you can find another great story like this with Cathy Carilli. Her husband, Thomas Stinton also died in the Towers on 9/11. She's turned her grief inside out by creating Tower of Hope. If you want to celebrate America, heroes, and animals, then this is the story for you.
So, there you have it. That's how and why I do what I do. That's why I shine the light on the positive. Because it's out there, it's happening and it's just as important to talk about and celebrate as the things we would never pick to happen to us and our loved ones.
What about you? Why do you like to see and share positive news? Please let me know over in our social online community.
September 8, 2009: Happy New Year!
I swear whoever created our calendar thousands of years ago got it wrong. This is the start of the new year. So much more than January 1st. End of summer playtime, kids back in school. Whether or not you have kids, this is the time of year when things get revved up.
I'm starting our new year together by sharing some random notes that have been piling up in my yellow legal pad:
Best Facebook Posting I Saw This Week: "Fear is the result of your brain imagining danger; Faith is the result of your brain imagining the possibilities."
Most Intriguing Movie Trailer I Saw This Week: Love Happens. Nothing deep here, just looks like a good chick flick is on the way. And I love the title. Ties into the Facebook posting, don't you think, having faith that Love Happens? And I'm always rooting for Jennifer Anniston to get a win. Here's a peek.
Best Example The Love Comes In All Sorts Of Packages: I'm loving being a Big Sister. I've already been a big sister biologically for a big chunk of my life. Since the middle of summer, I've been a Big Sister, as in Big Brothers/Big Sisters Of America. I have a delightful 4th grader. RF is keeping a smile on my face and inspiring all sorts of adventures. Saturday we went for golf lessons at the historic College Park Golf Course in Atlanta. It was a lot of fun to watch us both progress on our swing. Then, over subway sandwiches she shared that she's designed her dream house. It will be all pink and purple. Excellent. Can't wait to come visit!
Best Dancing In The Shower Song With The Worst Title: What? Come on. Everyone talks about singing in the shower, but what about dancing? Am I the only one? Sometimes it's a dance party, sometimes part of the fully choreographed act…singing AND dancing. If this includes you, you have to check out "Catch My Disease" by Ben Lee. I clarified that it was a terrible title. It's actually a very happy, upbeat tune with the perfect zing. Let the dancing begin, but be careful of slippery floors!
