MLK Chess Players Learn Keys To Human Teamwork

Kevin Barlow

The Pantagraph

Students playing at the Martin Luther King Scholastic Chess Tournament spoke about having fun and learning winning strategies, but the lessons from the event are far deeper for founder Garrett Scott.

“I love chess. I think it’s very enjoyable and a good way for young people to train their mind,” said Scott as about 350 students from across the state played Monday in the Brown Ballroom at Illinois State University’s Bone Student Center.

“But, secondly, Dr. Martin Luther King had a special place in my heart. He let us all know that the world is a family. We’re human beings and all of us deserve the respect of one another,” said the retired speech pathologist for Bloomington District 87 schools.

On Aug. 28, 1963, Scott was in the crowd in Washington, D.C., when King made his “I Have A Dream” speech. Scott said he remembers vowing to live his life to mirror King's call for peaceful change and mutual respect.

“But six hours later, I was in Maryland with a group of people,” he added. “We walked into a restaurant and were told we couldn’t eat there because we had black people with us.

"I was crushed. I was angry. I wanted to fight. But Dr. King’s message was clear: He said that you don’t change people by fighting. You change by working together."

Scott, who served 18 years on the Normal City Council, noted that in today's political and social climate, "That’s going to be something that we are going to have to remember over the next few years.”

Scott advised players at the MLK Scholastic Chess Tournament, which he founded about 30 years ago, to judge each other by their character, not the color of their skin. Chess, he said, can play a big part in helping to develop lifelong friendships.

Among the players in kindergarten through eighth grade was Haley Seiders, a 9-year-old from Northpoint Elementary School, Bloomington.

“I love chess and all of the different moves you can make,” she said. “It’s fun. It’s hard, but it’s fun.”

Haley won her first match, against Payton Harmon, 7, a student at Prairieland Elementary School in Normal.

“I still had fun, even though I lost,” Payton said.

Daniel Espinosa, 8, a student at Cedar Ridge Elementary School, Bloomington, said he has been playing chess for about three years and loves the competition and the strategy.

“I like trying to think of different moves and different ways to win,” he said. “Chess makes you think and it’s a fun way to learn something.”

Dash Against Discrimination Fundraiser June 26

On June 26, from 2to 4 p.m., YWCA McLean County will hold the inaugural Dash against Discrimination, a 5k and 1-mile walk/run and awareness fair. 

The event will be held at the Corn Crib, 1000 W Raab Road, starting and ending on home plate.  As walkers/runners proceed along their designated routes, they will be doused in color dust!

The event will end with a color blast party, which lots of dust, music, and fun!!  We are seeking people of all ability levels, as this will be a fun event and an opportunity to make a difference in our community!!

All funds raised through this event will support Mission Impact programming to end all forms for discrimination in McLean County, such as Reading to Racism and the Equal Pay Coalition.

Basketball Matchup to Benefit Mental Health Organizations

Normal Community West High School's Not In Our Schools program is helping strengthen the lives of McLean Countians with mental health issues through a Friday hoops matchup.

One of two T-shirt designs available at Friday's game.

A Student vs. Staff Basketball Game is scheduled at 6 p.m. in the North Gym at NCWHS in order to raise funds for mental illness services in the area.

"We are splitting the proceeds 50/50 between NCWHS Guidance and the McLean County Crisis Center," NCWHS NIOS member Micaela Harris said. "It costs $2 to get in, and we will be selling t-shirts for $12."

Deaf Community Rallies Behind CornBelters Coach

Randy Reinhardt

The Pantagraph

The conversation moves quickly down the right-field line 10 minutes after the Saturday evening baseball game is completed.

Yet other than the occasional sound of hearty laughter, there is silence.

The center of attention is the man in uniform standing on the playing surface. The others huddle around him in the first few rows of the Corn Crib's section 101.

The man is Tommy Barksdale, former CornBelters' player-turned-coach and ambassador. The group of seven has adopted No. 8 as their own.

The hard-of-hearing Barksdale has embraced and become a unifying force in Bloomington-Normal's deaf community.

"It's just a bunch of friends," Barksdale said. "Two of them work at the (Lincoln) community college we stayed at. I saw them signing. They came over to talk to me and introduced me to a bunch of their friends from around town."

Barksdale considers himself "hard of hearing" because he is able to hear when wearing his Cochlear implant. He communicates with his deaf friends through sign language.

"It's nice to know there is a deaf community that supports me and watches my games and afterwards has a conversation with me," said Barksdale. "It's nice to be part of both worlds. I love it. They love it.

"They do mock me sometimes. We all have our jokes. Sometimes I mock them back. It's a family. That's why we can do that."

Barksdale landed in Normal after Belters' manager Brooks Carey received a call from an old friend, former Toronto Blue Jays manager Tim Johnson.

"TJ called me from the California Winter League and said 'Will you sign this kid I have out here?' " recalled Carey, whose team continues its pursuit of the Frontier League's West Division championship Tuesday against Evansville in a 6:35 p.m. game at the Corn Crib.

"About a week later I was talking to TJ and he said 'I forgot to tell you he played for (deaf ex-major leaguer) Curtis Pride at Gallaudet (College) and he's deaf.' I said OK, this is even better."

Barksdale made Normal's season-opening roster but saw little playing time. Hitless in seven at-bats, Barksdale was nearly released several times when other personnel needs arose, according to Carey.

On one occasion he planned to release Barksdale, he had several Belters' veterans accompany Barksdale into his office to provide emotional support.

"Three of them got tears in their eyes. I said 'I don't have any choice,' " Carey said. "I walk out the door and Tommy is sitting in center field in the dark, and Pat (McKenna) is down there with his arm around him.

"They told me Tommy just wants to enjoy the field before he has to go home. I said, 'Never mind, get him back up here.' "

When Barksdale actually was cut from the active roster on July 13, Carey and team president Steve Malliet found a way to keep Barksdale in uniform.

"I told Steve I would make him a coach if we can find a little extra money around," said Carey. "Steve was all for it. The reason Tommy is here is Malliet."

Although Barksdale still considers himself a player, he jumped at the opportunity to serve as bench coach and occasionally coach first base.

"I can't leave the team. These guys are like my family," he said. "I want to support them being a bench coach and learn the game as much as I can. But I'm not going to give up. I'm going to come back next year, play somewhere and give it all I got."

Carey does have to remind Barksdale about the changes his new role has brought.

"The kid is an inspiration to everybody here. He can be a little pain in the neck though," said the third-year Normal manager with a big smile. "He still wants to take BP (batting practice) and do everything the rest of the players are doing. But he has a job now down in the batting cage. He's got to throw BP.

"(Assistant coach Dave) Garcia is out there throwing BP, and here comes Tommy into the batter's box. Are you a coach or are you a player?"

Carey has seen Barksdale treated no differently than anyone on the team.

"He's been a great asset to the organization," Carey said. "I don't think it's a disability. I think it's a positive in his life. He's turned it into a positive."

Arlene: Special Olympics Changing Lives and Attitudes for More Than 47 Years

Arlene Hosea

WJBC Forum

What began as a backyard summer camp for people with intellectual disabilities is now a “global movement that has been changing lives and attitudes for more than 47 years.”

 Eunice Kennedy Shiver had a vision and a goal.  The vision was a summer day camp in her back yard for young people with disabilities.  Her goal was to “learn what these children could do in sports and other activities, and not dwell on what they could not do.”

 That vision and goal continue to remain the purpose and the passion within Special Olympics Illinois today.  Our state and community are embedded in the history of Special Olympics.  The first Special Olympics Games where held in 1968 at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. Judge James Knecht and Ron Ross were there in 1968 with a group of boys from the Lincoln Development Center, connecting this community to the history of the first games.  In addition, the Special Olympics Illinois main office is located in Normal. 

 When I joined the Special Olympics Board of Directors several years ago, I began to learn more about Special Olympics.  We have 22,000 athletes in Traditional (children and adults) and 20,000 Young Athletes (ages 2-7), all fostering inclusion and acceptance.  In this community we have very strong programs with SOAR and Unit 5.  Unit 5 is leading the way with Project Unify matching individuals with and without intellectual disabilities, fostering Youth Activation, Unified Sports and Spread the Word to End the Word (R Word Campaign). 

 The athletes are the heart, soul and spirit of Special Olympics Illinois.  Athletes serve on the Board of Directors and in addition, they also serve as Global Messengers and speak to organizations, agencies and get to introduce people like the First Lady Michelle Obama at Special Olympic World Games 2015!  If you have not heard a Global Messenger speak, you are missing a very powerful presentation.  Each messenger has their own personal story and passion, it will move you.  You can learn more about Special Olympics Illinois by looking at their website or contacting them. 

 As a community and as a state, we have a great history in Special Olympics and thousands of athletes statewide to be very proud of.  I hope my community will continue to stand with Special Olympics Illinois today and tomorrow.

 The Special Olympics oath completes the story:

 “Let me win.  But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.”

 I thank the athletes for being brave, being humble and for fostering inclusion and acceptance.  Let us all learn from you. 

Famed Olympian/Civil Rights Advocate Speaks Feb. 17 at Eureka

Carlos at right, offering the gesture of solidarity that sparked Olympic controversy and global awareness of racial issues.

1968, Mexico City. Olympic bronze medalist John Carlos made headlines not only with his feet but also with his fist -- an upraised fist that told the world social change was coming in America.

During the awards ceremony following his loss to fellow American Tommie Smith in the 200-meter run, Carlos grabbed global attention when he bowed his head and raised a Black Power salute as a statement on racial inequality in the U.S. Eureka College welcomes Carlos as a guest speaker at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17, in the college's Cerf Center. The program is free and open to the public -- reserve tickets at www.eureka.edu/events.

Carlos was joined in his gesture of protest by Smith, as well as by Peter Norman, the silver medalist and white athlete from Australia who participated by wearing an Olympic Project for Human Rights badge. Carlos and Smith wore black socks and no shoes on the podium to represent African-American poverty in the United States.

Then-International Olympic Committee President Avery Brundage deemed the statement unfit for the Olympic Games, and ordered Smith and Carlos suspended from the U.S. team and banned from the Olympic Village. As a founding member of the OPHR, Carlos originally advocated a boycott of the 1968 Olympics unless South Africa and Rhodesia withdrew from the games, Muhammad Ali's world heavyweight boxing title was restored, Brundage stepped down, and more African-American assistant coaches were hired.

The boycott failed, but Carlos saw his greatest year in track and field in 1969, leading San Jose State to its first NCAA championship. He continued on to a stint in U.S. and Canadian football and a career as a coach and staffer at Palm Springs High School in California.

In April 2008, Carlos was a torch-bearer for the Human Rights Torch, which ran parallel to the 2008 Summer Olympics torch relay and focusing attention on China's human rights record. On July 16, 2008, John Carlos and Tommie Smith accepted the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage for their salute, at the 2008 ESPY Awards, and Carlos is an honoree of the National Track & Field Hall of Fame.