Xplorers Visit Frayser Library
July 7, 2003 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Memphis Xplorers News Release
SOUTHAVEN, Miss.âMembers of the Memphis Xplorers arena football team visited with about 50 children at the Frayser branch of the Memphis Public Library system as part of the libraries' Summer Reading Club. To speak with the Xplorers about your community organization or project, call 662-342-1755 and ask for Community Relations.
Children's librarian Willa Stinson introduced Xplorers kicker Steven Green.
"Wow, a real player!" Stinson said to the children. She turned to Green. "Are your fingers okay? Because you're going to be signing a lot of autographs."
"Well, I'm a kicker, so it's really my foot I have to worry about in the games," Green said. "My fingers are in pretty good condition right now, though, so I think we're in good shape."
Xplorers Community Relations Director Michael Rice showed a video about arena football to show children some ways the game is different from NFL football. Rice and Green then explained some of the major differences.
"Do you know how football and reading are related?" Green asked the children. "How do you think everyone learns the plays on the field? Everyone gets a playbook with all the plays in it. Everything is related to reading. To fulfill your dream of playing football you have to learn to read well."
Green talked to the children about his off-season job as television producer with "Fox NFL Sunday," where he works with talk show host Jimmy Kimmel. Green also told the children about his position as a kicker. He uses a drop-kick style, one that hasn't been used much since the 1920's. Instead of having someone hold the ball on the ground, Green holds it in the air, drops it and kicks. This isn't surprising, considering that Green played varsity soccer at the College of Staten Island, a fact which he also discussed with the children.
Each child had the opportunity to try on different pieces of the Xplorers' game uniform, including pads, pants, jersey and helmet. Afterward, Green asked the children to sit on the floor and help him read a story. Green asked volunteers from the audience to come forward and read a page out loud to their peers.
When Green finished the book, he and Xplosion cheerleader Holly Townsend took the children outside. Townsend taught the girls an Xplorers cheer, while Green gave boys a quick lesson in throwing the ball correctly.
The Summer Reading Club is divided into three age groups. Children ages 11 and under are part of the "Dive Into Reading" program. Pre-readers can participate by
having books read to them. Children and teenagers ages 12 to 17 can take part by reading books, magazines, comics, newspapers, and more. Adults can enter by reading for pleasure, listening to audio books or reading to children.
"We are really excited about this opportunity to help children learn to read," Xplorers Head Coach Danton Barto said. "Reading not only is the key to excelling in other subjects like math and science, it can really open up new worlds for children."
XPLORERS TICKETS
For ticket information and purchases call (662) 280-3737 or go online to www.xplorersaf2.com.
ON THE AIR
· Catch the Xplorers on the air this Saturday night against the Arkansas Twisters on Y96.1 FM. The pre-game show will begin at 7 p.m. with the kickoff set for 7:15 p.m.
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