Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission Executive Director Andrew Foster Wins 2008 Georgia Boxing Official of the Year Award

Georgia Athletic and Entertainment Commission (GAEC) Executive Director Andrew Foster was named the 2008 Georgia Boxing Official of the Year last week by the Georgia Championship Boxing Committee at the Committee’s annual Awards Banquet. GAEC member J.J. Biello was also acknowledged with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The Committee is comprised of managers, trainers, promoters, commissioners and officials throughout the state.

“Andrew’s efforts have helped boxing, wrestling and mixed martial arts create a positive impact on the Georgia economy, increase the safety for the participants of these sports, and make Georgia a more viable option to attract bigger name attractions,” said Secretary Handel.

J.J. Biello won the Committee’s Lifetime Achievement Award for his many positive contributions to boxing in Georgia. Biello has served on the GAEC for 10 years, helping to formulate rules and regulate boxing to make boxing a safe and respectable sport. Further, he has helped to establish the GAEC as one of the most respected commissions in the country. Biello was also inducted into the Georgia Boxing Hall of Fame.

Karen Handel was sworn in as Secretary of State in January 2007. The Secretary of State's office offers important services to our citizens and our business community. Among the office’s wide-ranging responsibilities, the Secretary of State is charged with conducting efficient and secure elections, the registration of corporations, and the regulation of securities and professional license holders. The office also oversees the Georgia Archives and the Capitol Museum.

Mercer Athletics to Add Lacrosse to its Division I Program

Mercer University will add men’s NCAA Division I lacrosse to its intercollegiate athletic program during the 2010-2011 academic year and will add a Division I women’s team in 2011-2012, Athletic Director Bobby Pope announced today. Mercer is the first NCAA Division I institution in the state to announce the addition of lacrosse to its athletic program.

The sport, which originated among Native American tribes in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic before the United States was colonized, has long been popular in those regions and is now the fastest-growing high school sport in Georgia and one of the fastest growing in the country. According to the latest participation survey by U.S. Lacrosse, the sport’s governing body, lacrosse is the fastest-growing high school sport for girls over the last 10 years and the second-fastest growing sport among boys. At the collegiate level, men’s lacrosse has been the fastest-growing sport over the past decade, while women’s has been the second-fastest-growing sport.

“Lacrosse is becoming a very popular sport in the Southeast,” Pope said. “We will be the first NCAA Division I program in Georgia, so this will be a great opportunity for Mercer to set the bar high for this sport in our state.”

The University added men’s lacrosse as a club sport in 2007-2008 and plans to add women’s club lacrosse for 2010-2011. The teams will then make the transition to Division I status in 2010-2011 and 2011-2012, respectively. The men’s club lacrosse team has participated as a probationary member of the Southeastern Lacrosse Conference, a club league. The team has played games against the University of Alabama, Southern Virginia University, Emory University, Palm Beach Atlantic and Kennesaw State University.

Mercer will also be one of the few programs in the Southeast, joining Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and newly established programs at Presbyterian College and fellow Atlantic Sun Conference member Jacksonville University. Currently, there are 64 NCAA Division I men’s lacrosse programs and 89 Division I women’s programs in the nation.

Pope said that the University plans to hire its first full-time lacrosse coach later this year to begin recruiting student-athletes for the teams.

Mercer is the only private NCAA Division I institution in Georgia and currently fields 14 intercollegiate teams, including men’s baseball, basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer and tennis, and women’s basketball, cross-country, golf, soccer, tennis, volleyball and softball. The University also fields a co-ed rifle team.

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Potential Partnership Could Lead to Championship-Caliber Tennis Facility

A proposed partnership between Berry College and the local community could result in the development of a championship-caliber tennis facility near Mount Berry Square Mall.

College administrators met Wednesday morning with government officials, leaders of the Rome tennis community and the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau to discuss details of the proposed complex, which would be constructed on a 23-acre tract of Berry’s river farm property. This land is part of an 80-acre parcel adjacent to Mount Berry Square that will be separated from Berry’s other property by the new Armuchee Connector.

According to Berry President Stephen R. Briggs, college officials are considering various options for the property. The tennis facility is potentially attractive for a number of reasons.

“Berry’s future is inseparable from that of Rome and Floyd County,” Dr. Briggs said. “We care deeply about the prosperity of our community and the quality of life. A facility of this type has the potential to be a great success for all involved. Potential benefits for Greater Rome would include economic development, increased tourism and visibility, higher-caliber tournaments, and, of course, a first-class facility for use by recreational players. Potential benefits for Berry include increased opportunities for students participating in our work experience program and increased visibility for the college and our athletics program.”

Berry has engaged its planning consultants to develop a conceptual layout for the proposed facility. Initial design options feature 49 outer courts configured around a central core of six “championship” courts with seating for a minimum of 360 spectators. Local tennis leaders and national organizations have suggested that a facility of this size would help make Rome an ideal location for regional and possibly even national tournaments. Only one facility in the Southeast would offer more courts, according to information provided by the United States Tennis Association Southern Section.

Lisa Smith, executive director of the Greater Rome Convention and Visitors Bureau, estimates that the economic impact of such a facility could be as much as $20 million annually.

“The possibility of a public/private relationship with Berry College would provide an outstanding opportunity for cooperative marketing of Rome and Floyd County,” Smith said. “Building on Rome’s already considerable reputation in tennis circles, the proposed facility could make Greater Rome a major tennis destination for players throughout the Southeast.”

The viability of the project is aided considerably by its location, Smith noted. The parcel is just two miles north of Turner-McCall Boulevard with direct access to downtown thanks to Riverside Parkway and the new connector (due for completion in 2011). The Armuchee Connector also would provide a direct connection to the existing trail system that runs from downtown Rome northward through Ridge Ferry Park to Ga. Loop 1 and beyond. Other major attractions in close proximity to the site include Mount Berry Square Mall and State Mutual Stadium as well as Berry’s 26,000-acre campus, Oak Hill and The Martha Berry Museum.

Under the proposal, Berry would commit the land to local governments through a long-term agreement but would retain ownership. In addition, the college would help to operate and manage the facility through its student work program, thereby providing valuable experiences for business and sports-related majors while defraying operational costs for the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority, which would have oversight of the complex.

Richard Garland, executive director of the Rome-Floyd Parks and Recreation Authority, sees great potential in the proposed partnership and the facility that could result.

“In terms of both the design work that has already been done and the future potential of student assistance with operations and maintenance, this plan represents the most viable option we have seen for making a tennis complex of this type a reality in Rome and Floyd County,” he stated.

Berry officials share Garland’s enthusiasm.

“We are delighted to work with the city and county to explore this project’s feasibility,” Dr. Briggs said. “Berry is committed to being an active partner in fostering the future prosperity of Rome and Floyd County and enhancing the attractiveness and distinctiveness of the Greater Rome community.”

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It's Official: Georgia State Joins CAA Football

The Georgia State University football program has been officially admitted as a member of CAA Football when the Panthers begin conference play in 2012.

Colonial Athletic Association Commissioner Tom Yeager extended the official invitation to Georgia State President Dr. Mark Becker, Director of Athletics Cheryl L. Levick and head coach Bill Curry in a Thursday afternoon news conference on the Georgia State campus.

Kicking off in 2010, the Georgia State football program will play two seasons as an independent before joining CAA Football in 2012. The Panthers will compete in the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), formerly known as NCAA Division I-AA.

“The inclusion of Georgia State University's program in CAA Football is another important step forward in our journey toward the Fall 2010 inaugural kickoff for GSU Football,” said Becker. “CAA Football has emerged as the premier Football Championship Subdivision conference in the nation, and that athletic success is matched by an exemplary commitment to excellence in academics and scholarship. This is a perfect partnership for Georgia State in every dimension.”

Georgia State began competing in the CAA for all sports in 2005-06. The league, which celebrates its 25th anniversary in the coming year, includes 12 all-sports members: Delaware, Drexel, George Mason, Georgia State, Hofstra, James Madison, Northeastern, Old Dominion, Towson, UNC Wilmington, VCU, William and Mary.

CAA Football currently includes Delaware, Hofstra, James Madison, Northeastern, Towson and William and Mary, along with New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Richmond, Rhode Island and Villanova. Old Dominion begins its football program this fall and then joins CAA Football in 2011, and Georgia State will be the league’s 14th team in 2012.

“We are very excited about Georgia State joining CAA Football in 2012,” said Yeager. “The state of Georgia is known for its passion for college football, and we look forward to welcoming the Panthers into the best FCS conference in the country.”

CAA Football has enjoyed remarkable success at the FCS level, boasting four NCAA championships by four different schools as well as three national championship runners up since 1998.

“On behalf of everyone at Georgia State, we’d like to thank the Colonial Athletic Association and Commissioner Tom Yeager,” said Levick. “The CAA has been a great fit for Georgia State athletics, and it is the perfect home for Panther football.

“The response to Georgia State football has been remarkable. Around campus and throughout the city of Atlanta, there is a positive buzz for our new program. The membership in the CAA is now official, and we are ready to kick off practice in August.”

Five CAA Football programs reached the 16-team NCAA playoffs in 2008, highlighted by national champion Richmond. The league has garnered multiple playoff berths for 18 straight years, including 24 playoff teams and 38 playoff victories over the last seven seasons.
Thirty-nine CAA Football alumni were active on NFL rosters in 2008, including Baltimore Ravens starting quarterback Joe Flacco, a first-round draft choice out of Delaware.

“CAA Football is the best FCS football conference in the country, by record and playoff performance,” said Curry. “The numbers are simply astonishing.

“The opportunity to compete in a conference this successful and this prestigious will only help our program grow. We know that we have our work cut out for us, and we can’t wait to get started. This University, this state, and this conference demand excellence, and that’s what we’re going to strive for from day one.”

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Thrashers Youth Goaltending Camp to be Held June 15-19 at Duluth IceForum

The Atlanta Thrashers will host their 2009 youth goaltending camp from June 15-19 at the team’s practice facility, the Duluth IceForum. Thrashers goaltender Kari Lehtonen, forward Eric Boulton and Assistant Coach Steve Weeks will be on hand at select times throughout the week to work the camp attendees.

The Atlanta Thrashers hockey camps provide the ultimate mix of hard work and fun. On-and-off the ice, the camp promotes teamwork, discipline, leadership and progressive skill training. All elements of the curriculum focuses on the end result of providing a fun yet challenging experience for all campers.

WHAT: 2009 Atlanta Thrashers Youth Goaltending Camp
WHO: Forward Eric Boulton (Tues., 12:30-2:30 p.m.), Goaltender Kari Lehtonen (Wed., 12:30-2:30 p.m.)
Assistant Coach Steve Weeks
WHEN: June 15-19
WHERE: Duluth IceForum, 2300 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30097

Atlanta Thrashers Season Tickets for the 2009-10 regular season start as low as $10 per game and are available by visiting atlantathrashers.com or calling (866) 715-1500.
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Deja Vu: 10 More Aflac All-Americans Picked in First Round of 2009 Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft

/PRNewswire / -- For the second year in a row, 10 former Aflac All-Americans were selected today in the first round of the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft. Donavan Tate, regarded as the top high school player in this year's draft, went No. 3 to the San Diego Padres.

Aflac All-Americans have been well represented in the first round since the Aflac All-American Game's inception in 2003. Overall 62 Aflac All-American alumni have been selected in the first round, including current major leaguer Justin Upton (No. 1 overall, 2005) of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Last year, Tim Beckham was the first of 10 All Americans selected when the Tampa Bay Rays made him the draft's top pick.

The annual Aflac All-American High School Baseball Game showcases 38 of the nation's top high school players in an East versus West matchup following their junior year. Aflac All-Americans are chosen by official selection partners Baseball America magazine and prep scouting service Perfect Game USA.

Aflac All-American players drafted in today's first round included:

3 - Donavan Tate, OF, Cartersville HS, Carterville, Ga. (San Diego)
6 - Zack Wheeler, RHP, East Paulding HS, Dallas, Ga. San Francisco)
9 - Jacob Turner, RHP, Westminster Academy, St. Charles, Mo. (Detroit)

11 - Tyler Matzek, LHP, Capistrano Valley HS, Mission Viejo, Ca. (Colorado)

14 - Matthew Purke, LHP, Klein HS, Spring, Texas (Texas)
21 - Jiovanni Mier, INF, Bonita HS, Pomona, Ca. (Houston)
29 - Slade Heathcott, OF, Texas HS, Texarkana, Texas (New York Yankees)
30 - LeVon Washington, INF, Buchholz HS, Gainesville, Fla. (Tampa Bay)
36 - Matt Davidson, INF, Yucaipa HS, Yucaipa, Ca. (Arizona)
39 - Kentrail Davis, OF, Tennessee (Milwaukee)


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Aflac Outdoor Games Return to Columbus for a Second Year

/PRNewswire/ -- Aflac announces it will be the title sponsor for the 2009 Aflac Outdoor Games held on June 19-21. For the second consecutive year, the popular three-day event will take place at the South Commons Softball Complex in Columbus, Ga.

Aflac Outdoor Games is a combination of several events including the Collegiate and Professional Championships of the STIHL(R) TIMBERSPORTS(R) Series, a competition consisting of eight disciplines that challenge competitors' strength, endurance, stamina, tool skill and agility. The saw chips fly, and the competition is fierce. In fact, last year during the Aflac Outdoor Games, New Zealander Jason Wynyard broke the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS world record in the stock saw discipline, making three cuts through a foot-wide log in just under 10 seconds.

"Last year was a tremendous success for everyone involved," said Paul Amos II, president and chief operating officer, Aflac U.S. "Aflac is very pleased to return as the Outdoor Games' title sponsor and to help bring this quality family event back to our hometown."

"Our athletes were impressed with the hospitality Aflac and Columbus showed last year, and we are excited to bring the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series back to be part of the Aflac Outdoor Games," said Roger Phelps, promotional communications manager for STIHL Inc. "With the level of competition growing each year, fans can be assured that this year's professional and collegiate championships will be the most exciting yet."

The STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series is broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU, which will bring national exposure to the region. For more information on the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series, visit www.espnoutdoors.com/timbersports.

Among the events making an encore performance at the Aflac Outdoor Games will be the Pig Bowl, a national and local barbeque cooking contest. The Kansas City Barbeque Society, an organization that has sanctioned almost 300 barbeque contests throughout the United States, has put its seal of approval on the professional portion of the Pig Bowl competition to be held during the Aflac Outdoor Games. The local contest is open to amateur cook teams from the Valley area. Dog dock diving will be back with a new event called Ultimate Air Dogs. Agility Dogs and Flyball also return. There will be a designated area just for kids with the Knology Family Zone, a place for small ones to climb, bounce, draw, and many more activities.

In addition to the events back from 2008, the Aflac Outdoor Games will host two new entries - the Georgia State Frisbee Dog Championships and the Extreme Power Sports Archery Challenge. These competitions were created to add more quality events to an already robust lineup.

"We're very excited about planning for the 2009 Games. The success of last year's event generated a great deal of interest for the 2009 Games," said Warner Neal, president of Outdoor Events.

"Bringing back last year's events and adding events we feel will be fan favorites in 2009 should make this even more appealing to everyone in the Valley area. The benefits to the area are immense. There is the obvious economic impact and, the exposure Columbus will gain from the STIHL TIMBERSPORTS Series being broadcast on ESPN2 and ESPNU. It's a win-win for the Valley area for sure."

Advanced tickets per day are $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 5-12. Admission is free for children under 5 years of age. Family and military rates are also available. Tickets can be purchased at all area Piggly Wiggly and Lewis Jones stores.

For more information on the events -- including registering for some of the events -- please visit AflacOutdoorGames.com.

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Atlanta Braves Unveil On-Field Braves Batting Practice Experience

The Atlanta Braves began selling exclusive tickets yesterday for the Braves Batting Practice Experience, where fans, who also have a game ticket, come down to an exclusive area of the field directly behind the batting cage to watch the Braves take batting practice up close and personal.

Guests will see approximately 30-45 minutes of Braves batting practice and about 10-15 minutes of visitors batting practice. Tickets are $50 and will be limited to 75 people per session. Braves season ticket holders can purchase tickets for $40 and groups of 20 or more receive a $10 discount per ticket.

"We are always trying to make the game experience for our fans as unique as possible," said Derek Schiller, Braves Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "We're opening up an area of the field that was off limits before, and I think our fans will enjoy how close they get to the action."

Fans interested in the Braves Batting Practice Experience can purchase tickets in advance through www.braves.com/battingpractice up to one hour before batting practice begins.

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Nationwide Tour Returning to Athens in 2010 with new site: The Athens Classic at UGA will benefit need-based scholarships for UGA students

The University of Georgia and the PGA TOUR announced today that professional golf will remain in the Athens area for a fifth straight year – but with a new venue and host organization. The Nationwide Tour’s “Athens Classic at UGA” will be played at the UGA Golf Course and operated by the University’s Auxiliary Services Department. All proceeds from the event will support need-based scholarships for UGA students through the Arch Foundation.

“The University of Georgia is proud to be the host of the Athens Classic at UGA, and especially glad that the tournament will stay in the Athens area,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “This has been a great event for the community, and we look forward to teeing off next April and raising money for need-based scholarships.”

The tournament will build upon the success of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic, held from 2006-2009 at Jennings Mill Country Club. The event, which has boasted very strong community support and crowds, has showcased many UGA alumni over the years including Chip Beck, Matt Peterson, Brendon Todd, Justin Bolli, Ryan Hybl, Erik Compton, Bubba Watson, Chris Kirk, Franklin Langham, Tommy Tolles, Tim Simpson, David Denham, Scott Parel, Kevin Kisner and the Nationwide Tour’s first million dollar earner, Paul Claxton.

Although the 2010 Nationwide Tour schedule will not be finalized until the fall, it is expected that the Athens Classic at UGA will continue to be played some time in April.

"Athens has been very supportive of the Nationwide Tour since we first came here in 2006," said Nationwide Tour president Bill Calfee. "We are confident the association with the University of Georgia and its wonderful UGA Golf Course will take the Classic to new levels of impact and interest among sponsors and Bulldog fans. We look forward to many great tournaments in the future and adding to the already impressive list of UGA golfers who have played their way on to the Nationwide Tour and PGA TOUR. In addition, we wish to thank the Athens Regional Foundation for bringing the Nationwide Tour to Athens and the many contributions they have made to the community through the tournament the last four years.”

As the Athens Classic at UGA will be a continuation of the Athens Regional Foundation Classic, tournament records will be maintained. Patrick Sheehan won the 2009 event in a playoff over Michael Sim after both finished regulation play at 14-under par.

UGA joins only a handful of institutions of higher education to host a Nationwide Tour event since the Tour’s inception in 1990. Events have been held at Seven Oaks GC in Hamilton, N.Y. (Colgate University), Finkbine GC in Iowa City, Iowa (University of Iowa), Yale GC in New Haven, Conn. (Yale University) and the University of New Mexico Championship Course in Albuquerque, N.M. (University of New Mexico). The Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio has hosted the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Invitational at its Scarlet Course since 2007.

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Thrashers Re-Sign Defenseman Anssi Salmela

The Atlanta Thrashers have resigned defenseman Anssi Salmela to a multiple-year contract, according to Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Salmela, 24, recorded six points (one goal, five assists) in 26 NHL games last season with New Jersey and Atlanta. He made his North American debut with the Devils on Oct. 10 vs. the NY Islanders and recorded his first-career point with an assist on Nov. 12 vs. the Rangers. Salmela, who was acquired by the Thrashers for Niclas Havelid and Myles Stoesz on March 2, scored his first-career NHL goal in his second game with Atlanta on March 16 vs. Washington. He posted three points (one goal, two assists) in nine games with the Thrashers following the trade.

The 6-1, 200-pound defenseman also appeared in 40 American Hockey League games with Lowell and Chicago, posting 24 points (eight goals, 16 assists). Salmela played for Finland at the 2009 IIHF World Championships last month, scoring one goal in seven games. Salmela was originally signed by the Devils as a free agent on May 30, 2008.

Prior to his North American career, the Nokia, Finland native spent four seasons in the Finish Elite League, recording 77 points (36 goals, 41 assists) in 208 games with Tappara Tampere and Lahti.
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Al Horford to Participage in Basketball Without Borders 2009

NBA/FIBA coaches and players to train and mentor over 150 top players from three continents

U.S. Olympians Carlos Boozer, Chris Bosh, and Dwight Howard, along with the Atlanta Hawks’ Al Horford will headline Basketball without Borders 2009 it was announced today by the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA). Basketball without Borders (BWB) is the NBA and FIBA’s global basketball development program that uses the sport to create positive social change in the areas of education, health and wellness. The camps will be held in Beijing, China, Mexico City, Mexico and Johannesburg, South Africa.

“Basketball without Borders helps us to grow the game of basketball and bring attention to important social issues that affect communities around the world,” said Kathleen Behrens, NBA Executive Vice President, Social Responsibility and Player Programs. “We know that by teaching the values of the game - teamwork, sportsmanship, hard work, and healthy living our current and former players and coaches can also make a lasting impact on communities in need.”

Two NBA players will bring the camp to their home countries this summer. Houston Rockets center Yao Ming will lead Basketball without Borders Asia in Beijing, China July 30 to Aug. 2 and Basketball without Borders Americas will feature Eduardo Najera of the New Jersey Nets in Mexico City, Mexico from Aug. 6 to 9. Atlanta’s Al Horford will join Najera in Mexico City. For the seventh consecutive year, Basketball without Borders Africa will be held in Johannesburg, South Africa from Sept. 2 to 6 starring Boozer, Bosh, Howard and Slam Dunk champion New York Knicks’ Nate Robinson.

“Basketball without Borders is a unique program in that it emphasizes more than basketball skills in top-young talent” said FIBA Development Director Zoran Radovic. “Campers benefit from both the highest level of basketball instruction and they are also equipped with the tools to make a positive impact among their peers and become role-models in their communities.”

The top youth players 19 and under from Asia, Latin America and Africa, as selected by the NBA, FIBA and participating federations, will train under NBA players and coaches and compete against their peers. Campers will be divided into teams independent of race, religion or nationality to promote friendship and diversity. NBA players will partner with local community groups to lead daily life-skills sessions focusing on the importance of education, leadership, character development, health and wellness. Through NBA Cares, the league’s social responsibility initiative, NBA players and coaches will participate in extensive community outreach programs with local non-profit organizations including the creation of places for children and families to live, learn or play.

Nike, a BWB partner since 2002, will again outfit the campers and coaches with Nike apparel. “Basketball without Borders teaches young basketball players the importance of hard work, dedication, teamwork and sportsmanship,” said George Raveling, Global Director, Nike Basketball Sports Marketing. “These are all vital attributes to the young campers, which will serve them well in the future both on and off the court, and we are proud to be working with the NBA and FIBA to promote these values.”
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Atlanta Thrashers Become First NHL Club to Implement USA Hockey’s American Development Model into Local Youth Hockey Programming

The Atlanta Thrashers, and its Youth Hockey Development Team, fully support USA Hockey and will be the first NHL club to implement its recently-launched American Development Model into local youth programming, including the Junior Thrashers program and Thunder AAA Hockey Club (Tier 1 AAA youth hockey).

USA Hockey created the American Development Model in conjunction with the National Hockey League to provide a blueprint for youth hockey associations throughout the country for optimal athlete development. The ADM concept has never been done before in the United States and will help influence increased participation by providing a better overall experience for the player, regardless of ability level.

The Thrashers have long-standing ties to USA Hockey, led by Executive Vice President and General Manager Don Waddell, and have been a staunch supporter of youth hockey development since the team’s inception in 1999.

“USA Hockey’s American Development Model is an initiative that is a priority for all NHL member clubs located in the United States,” commented Waddell. He went on to say, “This undertaking is an exciting opportunity for all of us involved in youth hockey and we look forward to working with USA Hockey and being a host city for the program model at every age level.”

“The ADM is based on age-appropriate training methods and we’re excited about is implementation because it will positively affect our children,” said Ken Martel, Director of USA Hockey’s American Development Model. “We’re grateful to the Thrashers for their support and know the people of Atlanta and surrounding communities will enjoy learning more about the ADM.”

The Thrashers Youth Hockey Development Team, led by Darren Eliot (Community Hockey Liaison), Reagan Carey (Director of Hockey Development), Chris Uber (Manager of Hockey Development) and Misha Donskov (Coaching Coordinator), has implemented various programs and furthered many philosophies aimed at growing the game of hockey, including:

--Running over 245 clinics per season
--Providing award winning content on atlantathrashers.com
--Hosting the first of its kind Jr. NHL All –Star Tournament in 2008
--Developing its own internal and USA Hockey recognized Instructor Orientation Program
--Running USA Hockey’s Coaching Certification Program in the Atlanta market
--Providing an abundance of supplemental resources to augment the coaches’ efforts.

Atlanta Thrashers Season Tickets for the 2009-10 regular season start as low as $10 per game and are available by visiting atlantathrashers.com or calling (866) 715-1500.
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Braves Acquire Outfielder Nate McLouth from Pittsburgh

The Atlanta Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates announced today that the two clubs have completed a four-player trade. The Braves acquired outfielder Nate McLouth from the Pirates in exchange for pitcher Charlie Morton, minor-league outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, and minor-league pitcher Jeff Locke.

McLouth, 27, was a National League All-Star and Rawlings Gold Glove winner during the 2008 season when he set career highs with a .276 batting average, 26 home runs, 94 runs batted in, 23 stolen bases and a NL-leading 46 doubles. His 113 runs scored ranked fifth in the NL and his 76 extra-base hits ranked eighth.

He has a .261 career batting average with 60 home runs and 194 runs batted in during five major-league seasons with Pittsburgh.

McLouth led all NL center fielders with a .997 fielding percentage last season and he has yet to make an error in 45 games in the outfield this season. On the basepaths, he has the best stolen base percentage (64-of-69, 92.8%) among all major leaguers since the start of the 2005 season. He was 23-for-26 in stolen-base attempts in 2008 and he has 28 consecutive successful attempts dating back to April 22, 2008.

McLouth was originally selected by Pittsburgh in the 25th round of the 2000 draft.

Morton, 25, was selected by Atlanta in the third round of the 2002 June free agent draft. He went 4-8 with a 6.15 ERA in 16 games for the Braves in 2008 and he was 7-2 with a 2.51 ERA in 10 games with Gwinnett (AAA) in 2009. Hernandez, 21, was acquired by the Braves along with pitcher Jair Jurrjens in October of 2007 in exchange for infielder Edgar Renteria. He was hitting .316 with 19 runs batted in with Mississippi in 2009. Locke, 21, was the Braves second round selection in the 2006 June free agent draft and he was 1-4 with a 5.52 ERA in 10 games with Myrtle Beach (A) this season.

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Braves release Tom Glavine

The Atlanta Braves announced June 3 that pitcher Tom Glavine has been released. Glavine, 43, underwent left elbow surgery on August 15, 2008 and signed a one-year contract with the Braves on February 20th for the 2009 season.

Following surgery late in the 2008 season, Glavine attempted to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left elbow during the offseason and followed that with four rehabilitation starts in 2009.

"We appreciate and respect everything Tom has done for and brought to the Atlanta Braves organization and our fans," said Executive Vice President and General Manager Frank Wren. "His accomplishments for our club during his hall of fame career is a measure of his dedication that we will always respect and admire. We wish him nothing but the very best."

A two-time National League Cy Young Award winner (1991 & 1998) and a 10-time N.L. All-Star, Glavine returned to the Braves in 2008 after pitching five seasons (2003-07) for the New York Mets. He went 2-4 with a 5.54 ERA and started just 13 games in an injury-shortened campaign in 2008. Glavine owns a 305-203 career record and a 3.54 ERA in 682 games (all starts). He has compiled 244 of his wins in a Braves uniform. Glavine helped Atlanta to five World Series appearances in the 1990s and was named the Most Valuable Player of the 1995 World Series, when the Braves defeated the Cleveland Indians.

A five-time 20-game winner, the 42-year-old Glavine joined an elite fraternity of pitchers when he posted the 300th victory of his career on August 5, 2007, at Chicago. Only 22 other pitchers in the history of Major League Baseball have reached that plateau, and all but two (Roger Clemens and Greg Maddux) are enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame. Glavine ranks as the fourth-winningest left-handed pitcher in history, behind Warren Spahn (363), Steve Carlton (329) and Eddie Plank (326).

Selected by the Braves in the second round of the 1984 draft, Glavine made his Major League debut in 1987. He won his first Cy Young Award in 1991, when he went 20-11 and helped the Braves win the first of five N.L. pennants in a nine-year period. Glavine earned his second Cy Young Award in 1998, leading the league with a 20-6 record, ranking third with a 2.47 ERA and again helping the Braves to an N.L. pennant.

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Churchill Downs Set to Race under the Stars as Night Racing Debuts on Friday, June 19

(BUSINESS WIRE)--Churchill Downs will conduct the first of three historic “Downs After Dark” night racing sessions on Friday, June 19, as the home of the Kentucky Derby turns up the lights for the first time in its 135-year history. After the spectacular premier of the “Downs After Dark” racing experience, two additional sessions will follow on Friday, June 26, and Thursday, July 2, with the latter serving as a first-of-its-kind kickoff for Independence Day festivities and the closing weekend of the 2009 Spring Meet.

Admission gates will open at 4 p.m. (all times EDT) for each session of night racing, with first post for each 11-race card scheduled for 6 p.m.

“Racing is at the core of everything we do at Churchill Downs, and it remains as important to us today as when we first opened our gates in 1875,” said Kevin Flanery, senior vice president of Churchill Downs Incorporated. “But one hundred and thirty-five years changes a lot of things, and as we seek to redefine the racetrack experience and keep our sport relevant for today’s customers, we are excited to offer the night racing experience under the Twin Spires for the very first time. We hope our customers will enjoy the upscale evenings we have planned, which will offer our guests the perfect blend of a night on the town and the excitement of Thoroughbred racing.”

As usual, the on-track action at Churchill Downs will match talented horses from top stables ridden by many of America’s greatest jockeys. The racetrack itself, however, will be transformed into Louisville’s ultimate entertainment hotspot for the “Downs After Dark” experience. On June 19, customers will receive a celebrity welcome into Churchill Downs with the chance to walk the red carpet, which will be richly decorated with colorful buntings and seasonal flowers. Journalist Angie Fenton and Kentucky Derby 2009 Chief Party Officer Nick “RiNickulous” Ferrara will be on hand to interview guests as they arrive, adding to the “celebrity arrival” feel. Once inside, the Downs will come alive with color and live music for an extended “Happy Hours” celebration to remember.

The paddock area will offer sleek and comfortable seating areas open to the general public, a beer garden presented by Budweiser Select at Gate 17, and food and beverage specials that include grilled shrimp skewers, grilled vegetable kabobs, grilled beef and chicken skewers, premium a la carte hors d’oeuvres, and classic racetrack favorites. Regional favorite Endless Summer Band and internationally renowned VJ 2ndNature will offer high-energy covers of modern rock, pop and hip-hop music. The “Happy Hours” event will continue from opening until 8 p.m.

Numerous specialty bars will be open throughout the facility during each night racing experience. VIP guests will enjoy access to balcony parties in the clubhouse and specialty bands featuring the jazz sounds of TA2 Latin Sounds and Swing 39, as well as quiet lounge areas throughout the clubhouse illuminated in soothing mood lighting.

Night racing programs at Churchill Downs will offer exciting dining options for the first-ever evening of racing under the Twin Spires. They include the following:

* “Dinner by Design” in the Stakes, Aristides and Directors Rooms offers an upscale option for guests seeking an elegant night on the town. A lavish evening is planned, with a sumptuous five-course dinner designed by Tony Mantuano, the award-winning and critically acclaimed executive chef of Spiaggia in Chicago, the Windy City’s only four-star Italian restaurant. The experience will be completed by celebrity chef appearances, including a visit by Levy Restaurants Executive Chef Jo Jo Doyle, as well as wine pairings and a full bar package until 9 p.m. “Dinner by Design” reservations are available at a cost of $150 per guest.
* “Date Night” in Millionaires Row 4, Millionaires Row 6 and other premium areas will offer a “supper club” feel for couples enjoying a night out. As guests arrive, a selection of appetizers will be brought to their tables, including antipasto platters and an amuse bouche of shrimp tango. A Chef’s Table® featuring the main course of beef sirloin and chicken criolla accompanied by a selection of sides will open at 6:30 p.m., and a flambé action station will offer classic desserts until 10 p.m. Live music and dancing cap off the unforgettable evening. Reservations in Millionaires Row 4 are available at a cost of $59.90 per guest. Reservations in Millionaires Row 6 include a full bar package and are available at a cost of $95 per guest.
* The Matt Winn Dining Room is offering an elegant Chef’s Table® dining experience complete with live music from a jazz trio. Reservations are available for $49.90 per guest.

Churchill Downs will offer reserved clubhouse seating for $15 in advance, which includes admission, a box seat in the third-floor clubhouse and a program. Prices are effective for the June 19 date only. For reservations and availability, please contact Churchill Downs at (502) 636-4400.

Admission to “Downs After Dark” is $10 on June 19 and $6 on both June 26 and July 2. Members of Churchill Downs’ free customer rewards program, the Twin Spires Club, and seniors age 60 and older will be admitted for just $1 each night. Twin Spires Club signups will not be available during “Downs After Dark,” but interested parties are welcome to sign up on any live racing day outside of Gate 10 or at any Twin Spires Club service desk inside the racetrack.

Churchill Downs is offering a special reduced-price $15 package for admission to all three night racing sessions. The “Downs After Dark” package ticket may be purchased by calling (502) 646-4400. It will also be available at the reserved seating booth inside Gate 17 beginning Thursday, June 4, and outside of Gates 1, 10 and 17 on June 19.

Parking for “Downs After Dark” is free in the Longfield Avenue lot, with on-site parking available on a first-come, first-served basis. Valet parking will be available. Churchill Downs will also offer free parking at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium and will run free round-trip shuttle service throughout the evening.