Congratulations to all Olympic Athletes. Our Holy Church has always honored and supported amateur athletics as an expression of the Lord’s blessing to humanity. We see this during our youth events like KURS and CONVO, the annual YMSofR Track and Field Meet, and our annual Bowling Tournament.
In John 3:16 we read that God loved His creation so much He sent His Son to bring redemption and the offer of salvation through his death. In Genesis 1:31 God pronounces His creation “very good.” St. Paul tells us in 1 Timothy 4:4: “everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving.”
Let us give thanks for all who compete honestly and faithfully at every level.
Kamil Stoch of Poland shows off his historic red and white Polish aviation checkerboard roundel on his ski helmet at the 2014 Sochi Olympics in Russia. Stoch has won two gold medals for Poland in ski-jumping.Phil Kessel had a trick for Team USA as they beat Slovenia, 5-1. Slovenia’s Marcel Rodman scored with 17.6 seconds left in the game, denying U.S. goalie Ryan Miller a shutout. Miller, who went to Michigan State and was a Hobey Baker Award winner, made 17 saves in his Sochi debut.
International Songstress, Magda Kaminski, to Showcase at the LCPB
By Raymond Rolak
DETROIT– To include some international flavor among the events at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl (LCPB), Ken Hoffman, the Executive Director of the LCPB is reaching out to Canadians to join the festivities. In celebration of Boxing Day, Windsor, Ontario songstress, Magda Kaminski will sing the Canadian National Anthem at the Holiday football event on December 26, 2013 at Ford Field. Kaminski, who is bilingual, is an award winning recording artist. She recently received another industry accolade from the Indie Music Association in California.
Hoffman was pleased to make the announcement regarding Kaminski at the Biz-X Magazine Holiday Party at the Ambassador Golf Club in Essex County. He said, “American football is so international currently, it is a global game with leagues now in Germany, Poland, Austria and the Czech Republic. It is natural to reach out to our Border City neighbors. We have so much global support with our major marketing sponsors. Detroit is so networked to Europe and around the world.”
This is just another way that the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl is celebrating the rich history between Windsor and Detroit sports. This year’s game will feature the champions from the Mid-American Conference, Bowling Green State, and an at-large team from the A.C.C., the Pitt Panthers (6-6). Pitt had quality wins over Bowl bound Notre Dame and Duke.
Coach Paul Chryst of Pitt and Adam Scheier of Bowling Green State University will take their charges to Ford Field in Detroit for the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl on Boxing Day, December 26, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. EST. Photo by Dan Bachorik, Rolco Sports Network
Edward Gleich, Little Caesar Enterprises Sr. V.P. of Global Marketing, outlined some of the added value events that are going on alongside of the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Besides the enrichment tours, museum walks and bowling events, Gleich recently announced that two new homes will be given to army veterans at half-time of the LCPB game. He also said the Little Caesars Pizza Kitchens will make appearances in Bowling Green, Ohio and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania to provide holiday meals for people of need.
The LCPB events are a celebration of excellence for the teams involved. Host hotels for the participating schools will be the Motor City Casino & Hotel and the Detroit Westin on Washington Blvd. Iconic football coach, George Perles, Chairman Emeritus of the LCPB invited the Detroit Goodfellows to be one of the charity partners with the Bowl. Perles, a native Detroiter and longtime fixture in Southwest Detroit and the Clark Park area is now an elected Trustee at Michigan State University.
Hoffman, who also coordinated the former International Bowl in Toronto added, “We hope Ford Field is the Boxing Day destination after some Detroit shopping and holiday fun. You will also be able to get a sneak peak at the outdoor ice rink going up inside of Comerica Park for the New Year’s Eve game between the Detroit Red Wings Alumni and the Toronto Maple Leafs Alumni. We will have some added value fun events at the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl, including a new collector’s pin. Plan to come early and stay late.”
“We’re excited for the chance to play in another game against such a quality opponent,” said Pitt head coach Paul Chryst. “Bowling Green was impressive not only in their MAC Championship win, but all season long and we have a competitive game of football ahead. We are grateful to the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl and the City of Detroit for offering us this opportunity.”
The Bowling Green offensive line will have to contend with Pitt’s Aaron Donald. The standout senior defensive tackle for the Panthers added another award to his resume. Donald was awarded the 2013 Bronko Nagurski Trophy, which is given to the “nation’s most outstanding defensive player.”
A pregame LCPB party will be hosted at Bookies Bar and Grill at 2208 Cass Avenue, Detroit, from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Special guests will include Philadelphia native son and football pioneer, Wally Triplett. Also the BGSU and Pitt spirit-squads will make an appearance. Drink and food specials will be available. Shuttle service to the stadium will be offered.
The game will be syndicated nationally on radio coordinated by the Spartan Sports Network. Will Tieman will handle the play-by-play. The Little Caesars Pizza Bowl will be on Thursday, Dec. 26, at 6:00 p.m. EST at Ford Field.
Polish Hockey Connects to Sports & Entertainment Law Symposium
By Lars Hjelmroth
WESTLAND— Polish ice hockey is currently in the news. The U-20 National Team earned a spot in next year’s top division IIHF Championships with a 3-2 victory over Italy. Top prospect Kasper Guzik scored all three goals in the come from behind win. You could say it was a collaboration victory, as just like the senior National Team, the U-20’s are led by Russian coaches.
Another skater on the scouting radar is Filip Strarzynski, who had a strong tournament. He is also playing Jr. hockey for the Bismarck Bobcats of the North American Junior Hockey League.
Polish-American hockey was celebrated at the ‘Hockey Weekend Across America’ event in Westland, Michigan. Besides the rich hockey history that was showcased, there was a Sports and Entertainment Law component. The Hockey Day in Michigan section was sponsored by the Central Collegiate Hockey Association and the publication MiHockeyNow.
Tom Mustonen was well received as a presenter. He is a primary source. He has lived and become part of the fabric of the hockey history in the State of Michigan and beyond. It was 50 years ago when he and a mostly inexperienced U.S. National Team embarked on Sabena Airlines flight #548 from New York Idlewild Airport to Brussels. They were starting their International Ice Hockey Federation quest towards the World Championship. At the time, Boston hockey legend, Walter Brown, owner of the Boston Bruins and then Vice-President of the American Hockey Association of the United States said in the Christian Science Monitor, “I don’t see any team with the strength of the Russians or Czech Republic. Our boys may have a rough time of it.”
Tom Mustonen played on the first official Big Ten Ice Hockey Champions, the 1959 Michigan State Spartans. He discussed playing hockey in Poland in 1963 as a member of the U.S. National Team during the Hockey Weekend Across America celebration. Photo courtesy of Nick Vista
That was a correct prediction as the U.S. Nationals started their 14 country tour with a group of ex-collegians. USA coach Harry Cleverly of Boston University fame set his first line with Marshall Tschida of Providence College on the right. Cleverly had John Poole who was in the Army, in the center spot and the left-winger Tom Mustonen of Michigan State. The top defensive pair was Frank Silka also of MSU and John Warchol of East Orange, New Jersey.
Throughout the daylong event, the timeline of hockey in Poland was also showcased. Americans of Polish decent and immigrants who used hockey as an advancement platform were highlighted.
Raymond Rolak and Tom Mustonen were featured at the Hockey Day Across America Sports and Entertainment Law presentation which also celebrated the rich history of hockey in the State of Michigan. Here they showcase a jersey of the famed McGraw Avenue hockey teams sponsored by Stan’s “Whip-N-Whirl”. Stan Stankiewicz was a longtime ambassador and supporter for youth hockey in the Detroit area. Photo by Lars Hjelmroth
The multi-media presentation moderated by veteran sports broadcaster, Raymond Rolak, highlighted the robust rivalry of the Michigan State and the University of Michigan programs. The unique storyline of the now resurrected University of Detroit collegiate ice hockey team stood out. The U. of D. Titans played their home games at the Olympia in 1967-71 before sparse crowds. An interesting storyline was that attorney Jimmy Williams concluded his collegiate career as the acting player-coach. This was because the head coach, James Kirwen, walked away in disgust. The U. of D. college administration cancelled the major funding for the program with only two weeks to go before the finish of the season. Longtime 3rd Circuit Court Judge, James R. Chylinski was a teammate along with Jim Schlenski and James Bednarski. Pete Mateja was one of the up-and-coming goalies along with pro prospect Pete Donnelly.
The 1932 Polish Olympic Hockey Team in Lake Placid, New York. Aleksander Kowalski was a member of that fourth place team and scored two goals for Poland in the tournament. He was murdered in 1940 during the Russian Katyn massacre. Photo courtesy of the Lake Placid Olympic Museum
Rolak, who has a long hockey pedigree, just completed work in Hawaii as the associate producer for the full length motion picture comedy, “Get A Job.” He told of how Detroit defense attorney Robert Plumpe along with Dave Bentley revamped youth hockey by instituting a skill level classification for the 1970 State Championships. Rolak said, “The action revolutionized hockey in America, brought forth a classification system and promoted the growth we have today.” He also presented timelines regarding women’s hockey development, noting the efforts of attorney Walter Bush and Minnesota editor Patti Riha. Bush was the longtime administrator of the Amateur Hockey Association of the United States, the governing body of hockey in this country.
Rolak dissected the 1971 Detroit Common Pleas case allowing the Detroit Catholic Central High School freshman team sponsored by the Detroit Safe-Rai Company to play and be eligible for the City of Detroit Recreation Department (Bantam age-group) Championship. As a 19 year old college freshman, playing baseball at Wayne State University, Rolak wrote an Amicus Brief outlining the merits of school location and the amount of time spent in Detroit as a factor for recreation residency eligibility. The brief turned the tide.
From that modest house league hockey squad, three of many outstanding teammates stood out. Mike Brown and Steve Banonis went on to play collegiate hockey in the C.C.H.A. and both had brief pro careers. Bryan Gruley, while playing high school hockey, went on to became an All-State defenseman. Gruley, now of Chicago, won a Pulitzer Prize while writing for the Wall Street Journal.
Current metro Detroit area lawyers Walter Piszczatowski and Charles Clos also worked as part time recreation hockey instructors and were appropriate to the action. Clos, now a specialist in youth sports defense litigation said, “We were all Detroit hockey ambassadors. The programs also developed coaches and coaching protocols still in use today.”
Mustonen went on in his segment talking about being global ambassadors, “We ate a lot of sausages from the street vendors in Germany and got to experience Fasching (German Mardi-Gras). We enjoyed the cultural sights also. Frank (Silka) and I both felt fortunate to be able to experience that enrichment. We went to Red Square and were treated very V.I.P. We got invited to the front of the line to see Lenin’s tomb. It was cold and we had our long wool USA parkas on and presented ourselves with grace and diplomacy. We looked sharp as a group.”
After touring with games in Europe, Team USA struggled at the World Championships losing all but two games, defeating West Germany 8-4 and tying East Germany 3-3. The heavy 17-2 loss to Sweden on March 12, prompted a telephone call to the team from President John Kennedy. He wanted to see what he could do to help improve the U.S. hockey program. Kennedy loved hockey, especially Harvard hockey. Mustonen added, “Jack Kirrane who was the USA captain for the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympic Gold medal winners was a Massachusetts friend of President Kennedy.”
Lufthansa, Aeroflot, LOT, KLM, CSA and Aer Lingus were new airline names to seek out in theses transcontinental airports and even stranger were some of the airplanes. “We became experienced international travelers very quickly,” added Mustonen, now a retired educator. “We were immersed in international law and regulations, along with the Cold War and Iron Curtain bureaucrats.”
In that era, players who tried out for the National and Olympic hockey teams paid their own way to training camp. The amateur rules were very strict and making the team required a four-month commitment. Some of the players were already in the military and were subsidized with a small stipend. Others got just $50 a month for expenses. “There was so much talent in Michigan back in the day, Jimmy Siebert, Paul Coppo, goalie Patrick Rupp and of course Jack Roberts, they and many more were capable of NHL careers. Denny Ribant and Al Moran, who both played Major League Baseball, would have had great hockey futures also,” he said.
The ‘63 Worlds were coming off with the awkwardness of the 1962 IIHF Championships held in Colorado Springs. The U.S. got bronze, but neither the Soviet Union nor Czechoslovakia was present in Colorado Springs/Denver in ’62. The two Eastern Bloc countries boycotted the event due to the United States’ refusal to give entry visas to communist-ally East Germany (in protest of the erection of the Berlin Wall just seven months earlier).
Mustonen went on, “Coach Cleverly was an anxious flyer and so on the long flight home from Dublin we sent our two complimentary scotch whiskeys to him. Needless to say, he was very glowing when it was time to deplane. There was a team parade before the tournament and we were presented a small but beautiful crystal drinking vessel with the three Swedish gold crowns on it. Sweden, the spectators and the supporters were gracious hosts.”
“When we played in Poland, it was at an outdoor stadium rink and we had a fierce snowstorm. There was a giant crowd and everyone stayed until the end. The match continued after short intermissions to shovel the ice. We became very popular, as we gave ball point pens to the Polish National Team members. It was a scarce item at the time in the Soviet bloc countries. Needless to say, we ran out of them. You could see that the people were not happy with the Russian interference intruding on their lives. It permeated everywhere, it was very noticeable,” Mustonen added.
Of great interest was the documentation of the 1959 Michigan State ice hockey team which was officially declared as the first Big Ten Conference Hockey Champions. This allowed them to go to the NCAA finals in Troy, New York, hosted by RPI. This history will be vital to the pedigree of the new Big Ten Hockey Conference which is to have six schools next year. The branding and scheduling will be a valuable property for the Big Ten Network (television).
This May, USA Hockey will send N.H.L. players to represent America in the top group of countries participating in the IIHF Worlds. USA will play its first game versus Austria on Saturday May 4. There will be 16 countries competing in the top division. Team Russia is the defending World Champions.
Rolak concluded with humorous reminiscing regarding Red Berenson and Mel Wakabayashi and the special relationships among the college coaches, John Mariucci, Al Renfrew, Len Ceglarski and Amo Bessone. He also highlighted the many National Championship teams from the metro Detroit area. Mustonen smiled and added, “Berenson was fast-tracked for the U. of M. Law School after his All-America season with the Wolverines. Pro hockey got in the way. He has been a compliment and the benchmark as the University of Michigan head coach.”
Afterward, description and clips were shown regarding the making of the 1987 award-winning docu-drama, “The Hobey Baker Story” which had been narrated by Rolak and produced in Minneapolis.
EDITORS NOTE: Hockey inductees into the National Polish American Sports Hall of Fame include Len Ceglarski, Turk Broda, Tom Lysiak, Ed Olczyk and Pete Stemkowski.
Graphic courtesy of the Rolco Sports NetworkThe Republic of Poland sponsored an Olympic Art Contest celebrating the 2012 London Olympics that was open to students of Polish Saturday Schools that operate abroad. The outstanding entries were displayed at a recent reception at the Polish Cultural and Social Center in London. The display area was renamed the Polish Olympic Center and a multi-media showcase was presented and titled, “A History of 124 years of the Polish Sports Movement.” The Center hosted a different cultural and business events everyday throughout the 2012 London Olympic Games.
Maria Michta. Photo courtesy of the USA Track & FieldMaria Mitchta is living her dream. With help, determination and the support of a whole community she is going to London for the 2012 Olympics. Her sport is 20,000 meter Race Walking and she won the U.S. Trials held in Eugene, Oregon.
Maria talks confidently about her support, especially from her high school sweetheart Joey Coffey. She gushes with pride about her Polish-American roots. Her family is paramount to her, especially her mom and dad, Sue and Rich Michta. She brags about her siblings, Ricky, Kristie and Katie and growing up on Long Island, New York. They are all going to London to cheer her on, to help support her excellence.
She is inspired by the stories from her grandfather, Chester, who came from a rural village in Poland.
At the 20-K Race Walk trials at the University of Oregon, her mother went hoarse with the constant yells of encouragement. The former Long Island University-Post cross country and track standout had a finish line time of 1 hour, 34 minutes, 53 seconds at the Olympic Trials.
All the support helps. The real satisfaction comes from her individual perseverance. It has been a long road. The New York State Public High School Athletic Association is one of the few states that have Race Walk in the state Track and Field championships. Mitchta was a three time state champion at Sachem High School in Long Island.
“I played soccer and really enjoyed that,” she said. “My mom and dad really gave us all great opportunities.”
Maria is a constant ambassador for her sport and she has become a world traveler. She has already competed in 11 different countries. She is the first Long Island University-Post student-athlete to ever qualify for an Olympic team.
Most impressive is her focus toward academics. She graduated as Valedictorian in 2008 from Long Island University-Post with a 4.0 GPA. The determined doctoral candidate is working in microbiology, analyzing the Hepatitis-C virus at Manhattan’s Mount Sinai College of Medicine.
Race walking differs from running in that it requires the competitor to maintain contact with the ground and straighten their front knee when the foot makes contact with the ground, keeping it straightened until the knee passes under the body. Judges evaluate the technique of race walkers and report fouls which may lead to disqualification. All decisions are done by the eye of the judge and no outside technology is used in making judging resolutions.
The U.S. Olympic Trials in Track and Field were at the historic Hayward Field at the University of Oregon in Eugene. The Olympic Trials had more than 1,000 qualifiers competing for Olympic berths in their respective events.
Maria said it best in her diary, “The logo of the trials was: Amazing Awaits! And that’s exactly how I came away from that race, amazing awaits, I had 4 years to turn an 8th place non-Olympic Standard performance into a first place victory complete with an Olympic Games Standard. Every day brings me one more step closer to achieving my dream. It’s what motivates me every day to get up on frigid cold or sweltering hot mornings and get out there training, often alone, all in the pursuit of making the 2012 Olympic Team. My motto has always been Dream, Believe, and Become. I’ve had the Dream since 1996, I truly began to believe in myself in 2010, and I am currently training to my fullest until I Become an Olympian!”
Michta has become an Olympian. Maria, along with her USA teammates, is now headed for the Olympic Village in London.
The Race Walk is dominated by Russia’s Olga Kaniskina. Kaniskina won gold in Beijing and since then she also won the 2011 world championship. Other top rivals figure to be Russian teammates Yelena Lashmanova and Anisya Kirdyapkina. China’s Liu Hong and Shenjie Qieyang, along with Italy’s Elisa Rigaudo will be medal contenders. Michta will be the lone American competitor.
Ron Jaworski, currently an ESPN football analyst was center stage for the Polish League of American Football championship game and all the festivities surrounding Super-Finals VII. The game was played in the National Stadium in Warsaw and was televised throughout Poland for the second time.
According to Commissioner Jędrzej Stęszewski, the area around the National Stadium became a ‘football city’. There were activities, contests, bands and of course tailgating. The American pregame tradition has become part of the football experience in Poland. Showcasing American football as a destination event was the goal. The nearby banks of the Vistula River and adjacent stadium grounds transformed to a fan friendly festival.
Jaworski, who was inducted into the National Polish-American Hall of Fame in 1991, added sizzle to the event. Besides being a regular on Monday Night Football telecasts he was the NFL Player of the Year in 1980 for the Philadelphia Eagles.
“Playing the Super-Final at the National Stadium is our breakthrough for the League,” said Stęszewski. “The success of this event will bring football in Poland to the next level.”
Overall, the 2012 PLFA season had 27 teams from 21 cities compete in three senior divisions.
The Gdynia Seahawks and the Warsaw Eagles will squared off in the title game the weekend of July 14th. Seahawk quarterback Kyle McMahon, played at both Eastern Michigan and Grand Valley State. Over 20,000 were expected and LOT Polish Airlines conducted a contest for the inaugural DreamLiner flight.
The National Stadium recently hosted five soccer matches during Euro-2012, including the semifinal between Germany and Italy. Super-Final VII was the first non-soccer sporting event to be held in the stadium. United States Ambassador to Poland, Lee A. Feinstein, presented post-game awards.
American football is also played in Germany and in the Czech Republic.
Polish Curriculum Added at EMU
Yankees versus Tigers at Polish-American Baseball in Detroit on June 1st
by Jacek Adamski
YPSILANTI– The campus of Eastern Michigan University was abuzz with action as the school’s intercollegiate basketball teams hosted Polish-American Heritage Day at the Convocation Center. Besides the variety of attractions there were some special Polish-American news announcements that highlighted the event. There was history, music trivia and prizes to draw in the students. The biggest draw was the Polish food presentations.
The event was loaded with sports information and Polish history, here sports broadcaster Raymond Rolak talks to EMU assistant football coach Mike Hart about opportunities to play American football in Poland. Photo by Lars Hjemlroth
Polish Rock-pop singing sensation, Magda Kaminski, performed at breaks during the games. She was a big hit doing routines and songs from her new CD at both halftimes. She handled the many photo requests with grace and mingled freely with the post concert crowd. The Wawel Folk Ensemble and the PNA Centennial Dancers performed during the TV timeouts. The Wawel troupe wowed the audience with their colorful costume changes.
The event provided a platform for dialogue and creative connections. Groups and people affiliated with Polish culture and those in attendance had an opportunity to make connections and build relationships. Also, awareness was generated throughout the community and beyond.
EMU’s marketing and graduate studies program used the event as a skills development assignment and blitzed awareness with the addition of social media for the occasion. Other EMU activities were highlighted such as the faculty art exhibition and the upcoming graduate student art exhibition through March 8, at the Ford Gallery on campus.
A variety of historic and art displays were showcased in the atrium lobby along with an academic presentation by the EMU World Language Department. Considering the global economy shifts, the EMU World Language Department showed how communication has become essential in more than one language. The handouts introduced why it is so important to have a good understanding of other cultures. Dr. Rosemary Weston-Gil was on hand for questions. Additionally, resource materials were provided for study abroad.
It was also announced that EMU would be starting a Polish curriculum next September.
The EMU E-Club Athletic Hall of Fame Class of 2012 was introduced and a presentation about the Polish-American Football League, Polska Liga Futbolu Amerykańskiego, with EMU assistant football coach Mike Hart and sports broadcaster Raymond Rolak was popular.
Carol Surma, president of Friends of Polish Art said, “I had nice discussions with folks who were interested in our upcoming 75th anniversary celebration and new audiences to network our scholarship programs.”
Chris Ozog said, ”This was a great opportunity for everyone to come together and highlight the activities of other organizations. Who knew so many Americans were playing professional basketball in Poland? This event also shows why an introduction to languages can be so relevant for global bussiness.” Ozog also presented information about the upcoming Polish-American Night at Comerica Park with the home town Detroit Tigers.
It was announced that Friday, June 1, 2012 will be the date and the New York Yankees are the added draw. Ted Klamerus, a board member of the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame helped ambassador the baseball announcement.
The 2012 NPASHF induction will be Thursday, June 21, at the American-Polish Cultural Center in Troy, Michigan. A lively question and answer period held the attrention of many. Rolak, a past chairman of the NPASHF was in demand with questions and trivia regarding Polish-American sports history.
Also a display on basketball, koszykowka, opportunities in Poland was a highlight. It explained the exchange of players between Europe and America. This year, there are 68 American men and 44 American women playing professional basketball in Poland, including Lauren Prochoska formerly of Bowling Green. She was the Mid-American Conference Women’s Tournament MVP last year in Cleveland. Anna Kowalska, a Polish National and also an assistant coach for the visiting Kent State women talked about her NCAA basketball experiences in America.
The Polish Times had a popular display about the Polish aviators of World War II and the Battle of Britain. A local art club presented awards to the most outstanding educational displays including those presented by the PRCUA, Michigan Polish American Congress, and the Polish National Alliance.
Malgosia Myc was available to extend information on how to access research archives of the Polish Detroit history collection at the Bentley Library at the University of Michigan along with information regarding the Polish Ann Arbor Film Festival.
Telewizja-Detroit a video service in the Detroit area and a continuous podcaster of Polish information had a display and TV message board available for those in attendance. Another popular attraction was the Polish food offerings presented from Srodek’s of Hamtramck, Michigan. There were video highlights of the Srodek television episode that aired on the popular Bizarre Foods TV show on the Travel Channel hosted by Andrew Zimmern.
Four year EMU basketball letter winner Kamil Janton, also a Polish National, had an outstanding role in the men’s 68-55 win over Ohio University. His ten minutes of defensive play at center contributed greatly to the win.
Another highlight was in the EMU women’s victory over Kent State, 83-47. EMU’s Tavelyn James lit up the scorboard with 40 points. She was mobbed after the game by the CYO girls youth teams in attendance. Her performance earned her MAC Player of the Week honors.
Stella Szczesny, a Michigan director for the Polish National Alliance said, “This is a great location for the Polish community of Wayne County and Washtenaw County to meet. I have met people here from Lucas County and Toledo, Ohio. We have a PNA Polanie Ball tonight or I would stay to the very end.”
PolVision of Chicago carried a feature from the game and there were broadcast highlights of the event telecast to Poland.
U.S. State Department Names Lysacek as Sports Diplomat
By Raymond Rolak
The 2010 Olympic gold medalist in men’s figure skating, Evan Lysacek, has left for Europe to be a sports ambassador in association with the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. He will visit Stockholm, Sweden, and Minsk, Belarus.
File photoLysacek won the gold medal in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympic Games and was named the U.S. Olympic Committee’s Sportsman of the Year in 2010. That year he was also named the Amateur Athletic Union’s Sullivan Award winner, given to the most outstanding U.S. amateur athlete of the year. The prestigious honor is given for accomplishments, leadership skills, character and sportsmanship. Lysacek did not compete in the U.S. Nationals this year.
While in Sweden, Lysacek will hold ice skating clinics, organized in cooperation with the non-governmental organization, Sports Without Borders. He will conduct clinics with the Skating Union of Belarus in Minsk and speak with students at the University of Physical Culture about the importance of sports in society.
The trip to Sweden will give him a chance to visit old friend Natalia Lopatniuk-Brzezinski. They used to skate together in Chicago. Lopatniuk-Brezinski is the wife of new U.S. ambassador to Sweden, Mark Brzezinski. Mark Brzezinski wrote the 2000 book “The Struggle for Constitutionalism in Poland.”
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Earlier this month, while in Boston, Lysacek spoke about his upcoming trip before the Skating Club of Boston’s Ice Chips show. Lysacek was the headliner at Harvard’s Bright Arena during the 100th Anniversary of the famed skating club’s showcase and extravaganza. Fittingly, the theme of this year’s production was ‘100 Years of Excellence’. “I’ve been checking the weather in Sweden and Belarus every day,” he said. One of the choreographers for the giant ice extravaganza was Tom Lescinski. Lysacek used New York based fashion designer Vera Wang for his costumes.
“As a figure skater, I have always been proud to represent the United States at competitions around the world,” Lysacek said. “I am honored to be named a Sports Envoy and look forward to supporting the goals set by Secretary (Hillary) Clinton through sports diplomacy.”
Spokesperson Shep Goldberg of Northville, Michigan said Lysacek had recently given clinics in Saudi Arabia to overwhelming crowds.
Lysacek has said in skating circles that the 2014 Olympics were his next big goal. The U.S. Figure Skating Association and Lysacek were recently at odds over endorsement contracts regarding product category sponsorships. He is scheduled to perform at Kim Yu-Na’s ice show in South Korea this May. Yu-Na was the women’s 2010 Olympic gold medalist and is a pivotal spokesperson for South Korea’s efforts in hosting the 2018 Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang.
Michele Kwan was the most recent figure skater who served as a public diplomacy ambassador for the State Department. Since 2005, the U.S. has sent more than 200 U.S. athletes to over 50 countries to participate as Sports Envoy’s in their Sports United programs.
International Exhibits to be Part of New Events at Convocation Center
Magda Kaminski to Sing at Basketball Doubleheader
Courtesy of Polish Times
YPSILANTI– Something new has been added to the Eastern Michigan University basketball doubleheader on Saturday, February 11, 2012 at the Convocation Center. Polish-American Heritage Day will be celebrated along with some new attractions.
Polish singing sensation Magda Kaminski, in the middle of her Midwest tour dates will be featured. She will do some selections from her current CD and will also appear locally Friday, February 24, at a Polish pop showcase at the PNA Hall – Dom Związkowy on Conant Avenue in Hamtramck.
The women’s varsity will take on Kent State at 2:00 p.m. and the men host perennial Mid-American Conference power Ohio University at 4:30 p.m.
The afternoon will also be highlighted with an Art Show in the Convocation Center atrium. There will be art for sale along with educational and historical exhibits and the Wawel Folk Dancing Ensemble showcase. The ever popular EMU mascot, ‘SWOOP’ will entertain and Telewizja-Detroit will video messages for European broadcast. The ‘EMU SPIRIT’ dance team along with the Pep Band will be performing throughout the day.
The two largest Polish fraternal organizations, Polish National Alliance and PRCUA are sponsoring the dance activities. The E-Club, an organization of athletic letter winners will be presenting this year’s Hall of Fame inductees during halftime of the women’s game.
Also, included with a game ticket will be a free chance at a $1,000 MacBook among other prizes. For out-of-town visitors there is a special basketball package available.
Polish-American Heritage Day Part of EMU Basketball Cross-Promotional
By Raymond Rolak
YPSILANTI– On Saturday, February 11, 2012 Eastern Michigan University will be hosting Polish-American Heritage Day along with their scheduled basketball doubleheader. The women will take on Kent State at 2:00 p.m. and the men host perennial Mid-American Conference power Ohio University at 4:30 p.m.
Ethnic Heritage Days are growing area of sports cross-promotion. All the Mid-American Conference teams are finished with non-conference play and looking toward the MAC Championship weekend in Cleveland, March 7-10, 2012.
The EMU women boast high scoring guard Tavelyn James, an All-America candidate, and rebounding whiz Olivia Fouty while the men’s team features Polish national Kamil Janton.
The afternoon will be highlighted with a Polish art show, educational and historical exhibits. Polish dance troupes, folk music and Polish food items will also be featured. Children’s activities will be in abundance and the ever popular EMU mascot, ‘SWOOP’ will entertain. The ‘EMU SPIRIT’ dance team will be conducting a pregame dance tutorial for the attending dance groups.
For out-of-town visitors there is a special basketball package available. Polish fraternal organizations, Polish National Alliance and PRCUA are sponsoring the dance activities. The E-Club, an organization of athletic letter winners will be presenting the Hall of Fame inductees during halftime of the men’s game.
Halftime entertainment will also include a folk dancing spectacular and the song renditions of Polish pop sensation Magda Kaminski.
Included with a game ticket will be a free chance at a $1,000 MacBook among other prizes. This type of cross-promotion has been very successful with Major League Baseball and Minor League Baseball teams that have active ethnic populations in their cities.
Senior 6' 10" center Kamil Janton gets a chance to talk about his NCAA basketball experiences at Eastern Michigan University to broadcaster Tomek Czuprynski of Telewizja-Detroit. Janton, who was born in Tarnow, Poland played high school basketball in suburban Chicago. EMU is hosting the upcoming Polish-American Heritage Day set for Saturday, February 11, 2012. The basketball doubleheader at the Convocation Center will include an art show. Photo by Lars Hjelmroth, Rolco Sports Network
Michta has become an Olympian. Maria, along with her USA teammates, is now headed for the Olympic Village in London. 
Polish singing sensation Magda Kaminski, in the middle of her Midwest tour dates will be featured. She will do some selections from her current CD and will also appear locally Friday, February 24, at a Polish pop showcase at the PNA Hall – Dom Związkowy on Conant Avenue in Hamtramck. 