Page 14 - Florida Sentinel 7-26-16 Online Edition

Sports
From Bullying Victim To AAU
Dennis Green, Former Coach Of Vikings And Cardinals, Dead At 67
Olympic Bronze Medalist
Dennis Green, former NFL coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardi- nals, has died at 67.
Green spent 13 seasons coaching the NFL with eight playoff appearances under the Vikings. His best season with the team was in 1998 when the Vikings finished 15– 1, a record at the time.
According to a statement from his family, he died due to complications of cardiac arrest.
The Vikings said they were “saddened” by the news of his passing.
“Denny made his mark in ways far beyond being an out- standing football coach,” the team said in a statement. “He mentored countless players and served as a father figure
BY LEON B. CREWS Sentinel Staff Writer
Nothing can be tougher growing up than to be differ- ent. You get picked on and bullied by everyone, and it’s hard to trust those who call themselves a friend.
Thanks to a strong parent base, and her internal will to make the best of what she had, Ashlyn Fish took the despair of being bullied, and now she’s a world-class roller derby competitor.
A student at Seminole Heights Charter High School, the 17-year-old Ashlyn for the past 7 years has dedicated her life to being the best she can be, competing as a blocker in roller derby.
Ashlyn recently returned from Lincoln, Nebraska where she competed in the AAU championships, leaving with a bronze medal, and a world of international experi- ence.
“Before the trip to Ne- braska, I had been competing in Europe and England. Thank God my training pre- pared me for this.
“The competition was hard, but as a blocker, I no- ticed in Nebraska when you hit the girls, they fell.”
Ashlyn said it was very inspiring playing against the best in her sport and she
ASHLYN FISH
gained even more inspiration from her teammates.
“The team in Nebraska consisted of players from dif- ferent teams who excelled at their positions. I got the chance to reunite with some girls I had competed with when I first started.
“We were all passionate about winning, and we all worked very hard. Our coaches were instrumental in making sure we were pre- pared for whatever competi- tion came our way.”
Ashlyn said she will con- tinue to compete throughout the year as she prepares to join an adult team when she turns 18 in February 2017.
“I think competing for seven years has prepared me for the transition into the adult squads.
“In Nebraska, my expec- tations were exactly what I got. It feels amazing to finally reach the level I’ve been striv- ing for the past 7 years. I con- sider myself mentally strong, and I play very smart.”
Ashlyn loves her sport, but said she’d like to one day organize a women’s football league.
“As you can see, I really love contact sports. The training I get from my dad and my coaches keeps me in great shape, and always ready to go.
“When it comes to being bullied, I’ll never overcome that part of my life because I am physically different. That’s something everyone else will have to come to grips with, because I’ve found my comfort zone.”
Ashlyn’s father, Philip Hill, said getting sponsors has been a tenuous journey, and one he’s more than pre- pared to embark on.
“Since this sport is fairly new to the general public, it’s hard getting sponsors. That’s why we try to invite as many people as we can to come out and see Ashlyn and her teammates competing.
“We have set up a Go- FundMe account, m12.go- fundme, for anyone who wants to help sponsor Ash- lyn.”
Ashlyn is a member of the Tampa Bay Junior Roller Derby Chicks, the Tampa Bay All Stars Travel Team, and she’s participated in a lot of world cup events.
“What I’d like to do is speak to some kids during the summer at some of the area’s Boys and Girls Clubs or playgrounds, and introduce them to my sport. I’m sure they will be amazed, and it will open up other opportuni- ties for them, especially for those who faced bullying like I did.”
DENNIS GREEN
for the men he coached. Denny founded the Vikings Community Tuesday Pro- gram, a critical initiative that is now implemented across the entire NFL.
He took great pride in helping assistant coaches ad- vance their careers. His tenure as one of the first African American head coaches in both college and the NFL was also transforma- tive.”
Michael Bennett: If Seahawks Don't Appreciate Value, 'Get Rid Of Me'
Seattle Seahawks defensive end Michael Bennett has never tried to hide his discon- tent with his current contract situation. But he has always said he wants to continue his career in Seattle.
Bennett's comments in a recent Huffington Post inter- view, however, suggest his frustrations could be boiling over.
"It is never-ending," Ben- nett said. "Especially when people are getting new con- tracts every day. You sit there and you're like, 'Damn, re- ally?' I'm just to the point where it's kind of like, if you don't think I'm valuable, then just get rid of me."
Bennett has two years left on his current deal. According to OverTheCap.com, 37 de- fensive linemen had more guaranteed money than Ben-
MICHAEL BENNETT
nett in their current con- tracts at the time of signing.
The veteran defensive line- man was unhappy last sum- mer, but he showed up to work and had a career season, piling up 10 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Bennett has been a key cog in a defense that has led the NFL in fewest points allowed for four straight seasons.
"We're gonna make an ef- fort. An effort so he remains a Seahawk," Seattle coach Pete Carroll said.
Steelers RB Le'Veon Bell Facing 4-Game Ban For Missed Drug Test
Darnell Dockett Retires From Football
Pittsburgh Steelers running back Le'Veon Bell is facing a four-game suspension for a violation of the NFL's drug policy.
The suspension is the result of missed drug tests, not a failed one, sources said. The appeals process is ongoing, which is why the suspension hasn't been announced.
No date for Bell's appeal has been set, though it's ex- pected that it will be heard be- fore the regular season. If it isn't overturned, Bell would miss the first four games of the season.
According to the NFL's substance-abuse policy, a
LE’VEON BELL
player must miss multiple drug tests before he would be subject to a suspension.
Bell was suspended for the first three games of 2015, which was later reduced to two games, for a violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy after he was arrested on
charges of marijuana posses- sion and DUI in the summer of 2014.
Since Bell entered the league, his 119 yards per game from scrimmage leads all players. He caught 83 passes for 854 yards two years ago to go with his 1,361 rushing yards.
Despite Bell's potential absence, the Steelers remain second favorites to win Super Bowl, along with the Green Bay Packers, behind only the New England Patriots (13/2) at Westgate SuperBook. The Bell news did not cause any changes to Steelers' Super Bowl odds.
One of the most outspoken players in Arizona Cardinals history hung it up Monday.
Defensive tackle Darnell Dockett retired Monday, sources told ESPN.
Dockett was cut by the Cardinals in February 2015, seven months after tearing his ACL during training camp in 2014. He signed with the San Francisco 49ers but was re- leased before the regular sea- son.
The 35-year-old Dockett retired as one of the best pass- rushers in Cardinals history. His 40.5 sacks are seventh all time in the Cardinals' record book. He set a career high for sacks in a season with nine in 2007 and tied a Super Bowl record with three sacks in Super Bowl XLIII.
He was a three-time Pro Bowler and a second-team All-
DARNELL DOCKETT
Pro in 2009.
Drafted in the third round
by the Cardinals in 2004 out of Florida State, Dockett was best known for his brash, out- spoken persona and his ability to get to quarterbacks. His un- censored attitude was relished by fans and made him a social- media sensation. He has live- tweeted traffic stops, proclaimed his love on Twitter for actresses and talk-show hosts, including Oprah Win- frey, and live-streamed him- self taking a shower to win a $1,000 bet in 2010.
PAGE 14 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2016