Clayton State Announces “Take a Kid to the Game” Date

Come support the Lakers at their men’s & women’s basketball games

The Clayton State men’s and women’s basketball teams are inviting local youth for its annual NCAA® Basketball “Take A Kid to the Game®” on Saturday, Jan. 22. The Laker women and men will be playing host to Peach Belt Conference rival North Georgia College & State University. The women’s game tips off at 5:30 p.m., followed with the men’s game at approximately 7:30 p.m. All Laker home basketball games are played at the Athletics & Fitness Center on the campus of Clayton State University in Morrow.

Area youth (13 & under) are invited to attend this special date and receive a free ticket and free popcorn with the purchase of a full-priced ($5) adult ticket. Youth will have the opportunity to experience the college game-day atmosphere and some exciting action as they watch the Lakers compete for a win.

Clayton State is hosting one of more than 700 games that will be played across the nation as part of the Take A Kid to the Game (TAKG) program in its 16th season. The project is a grass roots initiative that attracts the nation’s youth and encourages adults to take kids to area college basketball games.

“We are thrilled to invite area youth to our campus and have them help as we cheer on the Lakers to victory. It is our hope that adults in the community will bring their children out to experience a collegiate athletic event at Clayton State,” says Mason Barfield, director of Athletics at Clayton State. “We’re expecting a crowd to take part in the intense basketball action at our games!” Tickets for these special games can be purchased at the door, beginning one hour before the scheduled tipoff time. For more information, contact Clayton State at (678) 466-4679 or visit http://athletics.clayton.edu/ on the web. NCAA Basketball® is a national sponsor of the Take A Kid to the Game program.

Atlanta Motor Speedway Ignites Enthusiasm with Changes to 2011 Friday Night Drags Season

Atlanta Motor Speedway officials are infusing new energy into their popular Friday Night Drags series by updating the championship structure and amending the series rules for the upcoming 2011 season.

Friday Night Drags, the Speedway’s summer drag racing series, will feature five new drag racing classes and a unique championship points structure in order to create more-competitive racing in 2011. The changes include:

Five new Friday Night Drags racing classes, including four new motorcycle divisions: Diesel Truck; Super Sport Bike; Street Motorcycle; Cruiser Motorcycle; and Dirt Bike.
Two new Show-N-Shine car show classes: Street Rod (1949 and prior stock or custom vehicles) and Motorcycle.
A mid-season champion will be crowned in each racing division after six points races and points will be reset entering the second half of the overall 2011 season. The mid-season and second-half champions will match race at the end of the season to determine the 2011 Friday Night Drags season champion in each division.
The Three-Win Rule will require competitors who accumulate three wins in entry-level divisions to graduate to advanced classes.
Friday Night Drags and Show-N-Shine champions will be honored during Atlanta Motor Speedway’s 2011 NASCAR Labor Day weekend of night racing.

“Friday Night Drags continues to grow each year, but for 2011 we are adding several new elements to make this year’s drag racing program even better,” said Ed Clark, Atlanta Motor Speedway president and general manager. “The enhancements made for the 2011 season – new classes for racing and show cars, an updated method for crowning champions and the Three-Win Rule – should result in the most-competitive season in the five-year history of Friday Night Drags.”

In addition to the announced rules changes for the 2011 season, Atlanta Motor Speedway officials also released the upcoming schedule for Friday Night Drags. The Speedway will play host to 16 Friday Night Drags events in 2011, including 12 points races running from June 3 through Aug. 19, preceded by four non-points events for testing beginning on April 29.

2011 Friday Night Drags Schedule

April 29 Friday Night Drags Non-Points Opener & Show-N-Shine

May 6 Friday Night Drags Non-Points Event & Show-N-Shine

May 13 Friday Night Drags Non-Points Event & Show-N-Shine

May 20 Friday Night Drags Non-Points Event & Show-N-Shine

June 3 Friday Night Drags Season Points Opener & Show-N-Shine

June 10 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine

June 17 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine

June 24 Friday Night Drags Double Points Night & Show-N-Shine

July 1 Friday Night Drags, Show-N-Shine and Fireworks

July 8 Friday Night Drags Mid-Season Championship & Show-N-Shine

July 15 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine

July 22 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine

July 29 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine

Aug. 5 Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine

Aug. 12 Friday Night Drags Double Points Night & Show-N-Shine

Aug. 19 Friday Night Drags Championship Night & Show-N-Shine

For more information about Friday Night Drags & Show-N-Shine, visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com or call 770-946-4211. You can also download this year’s rulebook and procedures by following this link http://www.atlantamotorspeedway.com/documents/2011_rulebook.pdf.

Atlanta Braves Announce 2011 Braves Country Caravan, Presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors

Coming to a Town Near You, January 24 – February 5, 2011

Braves players, coaches, alumni, broadcasters, and executives prepare to hit the road, visiting fans in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast in the second annual Braves Country Caravan

The Atlanta Braves are taking their show on the road and coming to a town near you, January 24 – February 5, during the second annual Braves Country Caravan, presented by Academy Sports + Outdoors. With more than 25 stops in Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, the Braves will travel more than 3,000 miles and meet thousands of fans during a two week stretch before the team heads to Orlando for Spring Training.

Atlanta Braves players, coaches, alumni, broadcasters, and team executives will make community appearances at children’s hospitals, schools, and military bases, and will host autograph signings at Academy Sports + Outdoors stores and other locations including Publix Super Markets around Atlanta and in cities throughout the Southeast including: Macon, Augusta, Athens, and Columbus, Georgia; Birmingham, Montgomery, and Auburn, Alabama; Greenville, Spartanburg, and Columbia, South Carolina; Knoxville, Chattanooga, Madison, and Nashville, Tennessee; and Charlotte, North Carolina.

Preliminary 2011 Braves Country Caravan Schedule

A complete schedule of community appearances and autograph signings in each market will be announced prior to each caravan stop.

Monday, January 24: Macon, Georgia
· Community appearance to be announced
· 4:00 – 5:30 p.m - Autograph signing Academy Sports + Outdoors
1689 Eisenhower Parkway
Macon, GA 31206
(478) 785-2300

Tuesday, January 25: Columbia, South Carolina and Augusta, Georgia
· Community appearance to be announced
· 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. - Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Evans
4210 Washington Road
Evans, GA 30809
(706) 210-6100

Wednesday, January 26: Birmingham, Alabama
· Community appearance to be announced
· 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. CST - Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Hoover
2810 John Hawkins Pkwy
Hoover, AL 35244
(205) 403-6145

Thursday, January 27: Atlanta area
· Season Ticket Holder Q & A and Lunch at TBA location
· Braves Autograph Signing
Publix Super Market Location TBA

Friday, January 28: Atlanta and Athens, Georgia
· Season Ticket Holder Q & A and Lunch at TBA Location
· 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. - Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Athens
3505 Atlanta Highway (at Timothy Rd.)
Athens, GA 30606
(706) 354-5620

Saturday, January 29: Columbus, Georgia, and Montgomery and Auburn, Alabama
· Community appearance to be announced
· 12 – 1:30 p.m. CST - Autograph signing Academy Sports + Outdoors in Montgomery
8610 Eastchase Pkwy
Montgomery, AL
(334) 215-2800
· 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. CST Autograph signing Academy Sports + Outdoors in Auburn
2325 Bent Creek Road
Auburn, AL 36830
(334)466-5500

Sunday, January 30: Greenville, South Carolina
· Community appearance to be announced
· 3:00 – 4:30 p.m. – Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Greenville
59 Woodruff Industrial Lane
Greenville, SC 29607
(864) 254-5900

Monday, January 31: Atlanta area
· Community appearances and autograph signings to be announced

Tuesday, February 1: Knoxville and Chattanooga, Tennessee
· Community appearances and autograph signings in Knoxville to be announced
· 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Autograph Signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors in Chattanooga
2220 Hamilton Place Blvd
Suite 150
Chattanooga, TN 37421
(423) 490-2300

Wednesday, February 2 Atlanta area
· Season Ticket Holder Q & A and Lunch at TBA Location
· Braves Autograph Signing
Publix Super Market Location TBA

Thursday, February 3 Charlotte, North Carolina and Spartanburg, South Carolina
· Community appearance and autograph signing in Charlotte to be announced
· 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. – Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors
100 Peachwood Centre Dr
Spartanburg, SC 29301
(864) 216-8960

Friday, February 4: Atlanta area
· Season Ticket Holder Q & A and Lunch at TBA Location
· Braves Autograph Signing
Publix Super Market Location TBA

Saturday, February 5: Madison and Nashville, Tennessee
· 12:00 – 1:30 p.m. CST - Autograph signing at Academy Sports + Outdoors
2350 Gallatin Pike North
Madison, TN 37115
(615) 855-6900
· Community appearance to be announced

Thrashers to Raise Funds for Atlanta Thrashers Foundation with Limited-Edition Holiday Cards Designed by Each Player

The Atlanta Thrashers will be selling limited-edition holiday cards decorated and signed by every Thrashers player to benefit the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation.

Fans can purchase and enjoy a full set of cards, including each player’s personally-designed card with a stamped autograph. The cards went on sale Friday, Dec. 10, on the Philips Arena concourse during the game between the Thrashers and Colorado Avalanche. The sets will be sold at games though Dec. 21, while supplies last.

Who: Atlanta Thrashers Foundation

What: Atlanta Thrashers Holiday Card Fundraiser, benefitting the Atlanta Thrashers Foundation

When: All Thrashers home games through December 21

(Cards will be available while supplies last)

Where: Philips Arena Concourse / 1 Philips Drive / Atlanta, GA 30303

Go to Website Posting of Holiday Cards for more information.

The Atlanta Thrashers Foundation is dedicated to supporting Georgia-based organizations committed to improving the lives of children. The Foundation will work with children’s charities and programs that focus on the areas of health, wellness, education and youth hockey development. Since its inception in 1999, the Thrashers Foundation has granted $4 million in overall donations and charitable contributions to more than 2,000 charities throughout Georgia.

New Archery Range Available at Flat Creek Public Fishing Area

A new archery range is open in middle Georgia at the Flat Creek Public Fishing Area, announces the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Wildlife Resources Division. 

“Public shooting ranges are popular with hunters and recreational shooting sports enthusiasts,” says Division Shooting Sports Coordinator Jennifer Pittman.  “We were eager to add a range to this public fishing area as soon as it opened in 2009 – and thanks to great cooperative efforts, we are now able to make it available to the public.”

Construction for the range began in September of this year, with final completion accomplished later that month.  The range was built using Wildlife Restoration funds, with money coming from sportsmen through their purchases of firearms, archery equipment and ammunition.

The range offers a static area that includes both bullseye and 3-D targets from 10-50 yards.  There are additional 3-D targets, at varying distances, available along a walking trail. The range is open every day during daylight hours. 

For more information on archery or firearms ranges, visit www.georgiawildlife.com and select “Hunting” and then “Archery/Shooting Ranges.”

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Clayton State to Hold “Laker Madness” on October 14

“Laker Madness,” the introduction of the 2010/2011 Clayton State University Laker basketball teams, will be held at the University’s Athletics & Fitness Center on Thursday, Oct. 14, starting at 10 p.m.

The event is free and open to the general public and will feature highlights from last season as people are entering the gym.

The program will start with student three-point and dunk contests, followed by a routine by the Clayton State cheerleaders.

Next, the Clayton State women’s team will be introduced, followed by a 15 minute scrimmage. Coach Dennis Cox will then speak to the crowd about what is coming up for the 2010/2011 season.

The team introductions, scrimmage and a talk by men's coach Gordon Gibbons will follow the women's session.

The entire program should take about 90 minutes.

A unit of the University System of Georgia, Clayton State University is an outstanding comprehensive metropolitan university located 15 miles southeast of downtown Atlanta.
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NFL Players Association Announces Partnership with RisingSeniors.com

NFLPA tailors Training Camp for Life, a character and skills development program for the Inaugural Georgia Junior Bowl Game

The top junior high school football players in Georgia will get treated like the NFL’s best when they attend the first RisingSeniors.com event in Atlanta, January 4 to8, 2011. The unique five-day summit has an unprecedented format which concentrates on the overall education and development of these young athletes rather than just the game. The culminating contest known as The Georgia Junior Bowl will feature the best juniors in the state at Bobby Dodd Stadium on the campus of Georgia Tech. The game is but a fraction of the programming compared to the rest of the action packed week of events slated for the young student athletes. In compliance with the NCAA, the programs will be run just like the NFL’s Rookie Symposium to focus on key issues that deal with character and life skills development. The program was designed to assist the young men with the challenges which lie ahead as they will attend workshops on NCAA compliance, ACT and SAT test prep, drug-free sports, social media training, alternate careers in sports and choices and consequences. There will also be a special session on giving back to the community presented by Danny Wurfel, former Heisman Trophy winner and NFL Legend.

“It is imperative we educate these student-athletes on the life skills required to be prepared for the college transition and life after football,” said Willis Whalen, NFLPA Manager of Player Services and Development and Training Camp for Life creator. “The Georgia Junior Bowl provides Training Camp for Life with the unique platform to reach a key audience. We hope to provide these juniors with the tools that they need to be successful both on and off the field.”

“After attending the Rookie Symposium as an NFL draftee, I see what an impact this program could have on high school student athletes at this critical time in their lives,” said Izell Reese, current Vice President of the NFLPA Atlanta Chapter and former NFL Player (Cowboys, Broncos, Bills). “That is why I partnered with Joe Burns (Buffalo Bills) to create this much needed educational program. We are astounded by the support and participation we have already received from the community and other organizations.”

The NFL Players Association, joins Rawlings who has agreed to become the official football helmet and apparel sponsor of the football event. Other partners include Curing Kids Cancer (Official Community Service partner), Desire Street Ministries, The Atlanta Sports Council and The Atlanta Convention and Visitors Bureau.

About the NFLPA:
The NFL Players Association is the exclusive collective bargaining agent for all players employed by clubs of the National Football League. Founded in 1956, the NFLPA works to ensure that the rights and interests of NFL players are protected. In addition, the NFLPA strives to be a valuable resource and to maximize player opportunities on and off the field through membership programs and community activities. For further information, visit www.nflplayers.com.

About RisingSeniors.com
RisingSeniors.com is an educational program created to better assist high school junior student-athletes with their athletic, academic and social development. With many athletes ill-equipped for the college recruiting process, RisingSeniors.com’s mission is to prepare the student-athlete and their parents for their senior year, college and beyond. Students and their parents are selected to participate in a series of life skills seminars and an all star game at Georgia Tech’s Bobby Dodd Stadium on January 8th, 2011. For more information please visit www.risingseniors.com, RisingSeniors Facebook page, phone at 678-528-4141 or via email at info@risingseniors.com.