Thunder And Lightning To Promote Tobacco Free Sports For World No Tobacco Day

Published on May 25, 2007 under USL First Division (USL-1)
Minnesota Thunder News Release


ST. PAUL, Minn. (Friday, May 25, 2007) - The Minnesota Thunder, the Minnesota Lightning, Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation, and the Minnesota Department of Health are teaming up to celebrate World No Tobacco Day at the double header Thunder and Lightning home games on Saturday, May 26th at the National Sports Center in Blaine. The Minnesota Lightning will host the Chicago Gaels at 5:05 pm. The Minnesota Thunder will host the Puerto Rico Islanders at 7:35 pm.

The Minnesota Thunder and Minnesota Lightning players have taken a pledge to be tobacco-free during their season. Youth who attend the game can join both teams in taking a pledge to be tobacco-free. They will also receive a FREE tobacco-free poster featuring Minnesota Thunder players Kevin Friedland and Godfrey Tenoff and Minnesota Lightning players Caroline Smith and Megan Almanzo.

"We believe it is important to be healthy role models for youth," said Amos Magee, Minnesota Thunder Head Coach. "Youth look to athletes as role models, and we want them to know that tobacco use is a bad choice for anyone who wants to be the strongest and healthiest person he or she can be."

Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation Director Brittany McFadden said it's important for athletes to set a positive example for young people. "Young, aspiring athletes look up to popular, successful athletes. It's important for adult athletes to educate kids that tobacco and sports don't mix," McFadden said. She explained, "Smoking hurts young people's physical fitness in terms of both performance and endurance."

Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Minnesota; unfortunately, nearly 30% of Minnesota high-school seniors are smokers. She also pointed out that more than half of Minnesota students of middle-school age and higher are exposed to secondhand smoke every week, and that secondhand smoke has been shown to affect learning. "World No Tobacco Day is a great opportunity for all Minnesotans to talk with kids about the dangers of all kinds of tobacco products," McFadden said.

The World Health Organization sponsors World No Tobacco Day every year on May 31st to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use among teens and adults. Tobacco consumption continues to be the leading preventable cause of death in the world. The World Health Organization calls tobacco a "communicated disease" marketed by advertising and sponsorship, including a significant presence in stadiums and sports arenas around the world. WHO estimates that tobacco companies spend the equivalent of more than $150 million in television advertising every year in the U.S. via sponsorship of motor sports events, despite the federal ban on televised tobacco advertising.

According to WHO, tobacco industry attempts to connect tobacco and sports create a host of problems, including false perceptions about athletic excellence and smoking. For the athlete, professional or recreational, tobacco use lowers performance and the ability to play the game. For spectators, tobacco use at sporting events not only reduces their enjoyment of the game and sends the wrong message to kids, but it also exposes them to secondhand smoke, which is linked to an estimated 53,000 deaths in the United States every year. For sports teams and facilities, tobacco advertising and sponsorship runs counter to the ideals of health and fair play embodied in sports. In short, tobacco and sports do not mix. For more information, go to http://www.who.int/tobacco/communications/events/wntd/2005/en

About the Minnesota Department of Health

The Minnesota Department of Health is the state's lead public health agency, responsible for protecting, maintaining and improving the health of all Minnesotans. The department operates programs in disease prevention and control, health promotion, community public health, environmental health, health care policy, and regulation of health care providers.

About Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation

Tobacco-Free Youth Recreation is a recreation-based tobacco prevention program that promotes tobacco-free sports through partnerships with professional, collegiate, and local sports teams and park and recreation departments. TFYR offers assistance in tobacco-free policy development and also distributes materials that promote the tobacco-free sports message throughout Minnesota.

About Saturday's Double Header

The Minnesota Thunder will look to get its second straight victory over the Puerto Rico Islanders Saturday after beating them on their home turf last weekend 2-1. The Thunder will play the second game of a double header that follows the Minnesota Lightning's season opener against the Chicago Gaels. The Lightning game will kick off at 5:05 p.m. followed by the Thunder game at 7:35 p.m.

For tickets call 651.917.TEAM or visit www.mnthunder.com

About the Thunder

Minnesota (1-3-2, 5 points) has been on the road for five of its first six games. However the Thunder has come away with five points in its first five road games. Last year the Thunder only earned seven points on the road all season. Young players, including midfielder Brian Farber, have been stepping up and contributing to the offense. Farber was names to the USL Team of the Week for his performance in the Puerto Rico game last weekend after posting a goal and an assist.

Thunder defender Kevin Taylor should see his first action of the year after coming off a broken foot. Forward Keisuke Ota is out for Saturday's game due to suspension from a red card.

About Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico (1-2-3, 6 points) has a new coach for this week's game and will look to use that as momentum and get three points back from the Thunder. Former FC Dallas head coach Colin Clarke has taken the reigns of the Islanders after head coach Toribio Rojas was removed from his coaching duties. The Islanders recently acquired the services of former Thunder forward Melvin Tarley. Tarley scored in last weeks match up against the Thunder, but it was not enough for the victory.

Season Series

The Thunder faced the Islanders last Sunday and handed them their second loss of the season 2-1. The Thunder bounced back after Tarley scored for the Islanders early in the match. Thunder midfielder Farber got the Thunder on the board near the conclusion of the second half. Playing a man down due to a red card ejection of Thunder forward Ota, the Thunder got the game winning goal from Leo Gibson for the 2-1 victory.

Up Next

The next Thunder game is Saturday, June 2 against the Charleston Battery at James Griffin Stadium. Kick off is set for 7:05 p.m. For ticket information, call 651.917.TEAM or visit www.mnthunder.com

About the Lightning

The Lightning will look to pick up where they left off last season when they compiled a record of 9-3-2 and making it to the playoffs in its inaugural season. Coach Dan Storlien has put together another competitive crop of players that include returning players Caroline Smith, Megan Almanzo, Joanna Haig, Jen Gaylor, Kelsey Hans, Kaitlin Wagner, Krystle Kallman, and Lindsey Schwartz. New players joining the Lightning this season include Ann Gleason, Sheri Ferron, Sheri Eckstrom, Tamara Strahota, Sarah Oligney, Kaitlin Neary, Lyndsey Mueller, Whitney Owusu, Michelle Molinari, Elena Fruci, and Julie Rezac. The Lightning's leading scorer Caroline Smith returns for her second season after scoring 11 goals and contributing three assists. The Lightning will be without defender Holly Gault this season who joined the defending champions, the Vancouver Whitecaps.

About Chicago

The Gaels will be playing in their second game of the season after beating the Ft. Wayne Fever last weekend 4-2. Four different players scored for Chicago in the contest.

2006 Season Series

The Gaels are the only team in the Midwest Division that the Lightning did not beat last season. Chicago beat the Lightning 5-2 in Minnesota on June 21. The Lightning tied the Gaels 1-1 in Chicago on July 22 to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Up Next

The Lightning's next two games will be on the road when they travel to Cleveland to take on the Internationals on June 8 and the Ft. Wayne Fever on June 10.


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USL First Division Stories from May 25, 2007


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