Wolves Left Wing Bill Sweatt Knows There’s More Than One Route to Making it Big in the World.
The week before Bill Sweatt made his National Hockey League debut on Dec. 9 for the Vancouver Canucks in Montreal, the Chicago Wolves forward underwent another serious test in a less-hostile environment: the comfort of his own home.
Sweatt wrapped up the final exam in his 800-level Contemporary Managerial Accounting class – his first step toward earning an MBA in Finance via the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s online program.
If you can’t figure out why a 23-year-old with a bright hockey future feels the need to pursue a master’s degree in his spare time, then you need to understand how the Sweatt family operates.
Long before the Chicago Blackhawks made Sweatt their second-round choice in the 2007 NHL entry draft, Walter and Dottie Sweatt made sure their two sons knew that excellence must be pursued with equal fervor on the ice and in the classroom.
“It’s something our parents instilled in us,” Bill said. “You’ve got to be the best at both. You can’t just slack off in school and just try to be a hockey player – or the other way around. You’ve got to do both.”
Bill and his brother, Lee, learned these lessons while growing up in west suburban Lombard and Elburn. They spent their early years in a townhouse across the street from Yorktown Mall in Lombard, but their burgeoning passion for hockey forced them to find a new address.
“They didn’t have a place to shoot,” Dottie said. “I looked for a house that had a full basement. Basically, that was our criteria. We had to have a full basement where the furnace wasn’t in the middle of the room.”
Dottie’s long search finally led her to Elburn, where the Sweatt boys could have a 10-foot-high ceiling and everything else they needed for training.
Dottie, who grew up in Rhode Island and went to the Boston Garden every Sunday to watch Bobby Orr play for the Bruins, insisted on going to Canada to purchase NHL-regulation nets for the basement. Walter, who was a standout defensive back for Wofford College in the early 1960s, insisted on installing an 80-pound punching bag.
“That’s where our father taught us how to hit,” Lee said. “We practiced our checking on that. And we had 200 or so pucks. We’d be in the basement on roller blades working out and shooting.”
When the Sweatts started to play on travel teams, there weren’t any rinks close to Elburn. Bill starred for the Glen Ellyn Flames, Oak Park Eagles, Highland Park Falcons, Chicago Young Americans and Team Illinois over the course of 10 years.
Kenny McCudden, the Wolves skating and skills coach, tutored the Sweatt boys during their time with the Flames. “You knew at that age (they would be special),” McCudden said. “You could see the drive, the desire. They were the only two guys I had to try to put the reins on because they were hitting guys during the skill sessions. Yeah, they were taking guys out.”
“That sounds like Lee,” Bill said. “That doesn’t sound like me.”
“That is definitely true,” Lee said.
As the boys climbed the hockey ladder, they required increasingly longer trips in order to practice and play. Dottie says the family wore out three minivans on their treks, which makes sense considering it’s a 130-mile roundtrip from Elburn to the north suburbs and there were at least two practices and two games each week.
Because they had to depart immediately after school and didn’t return home until 9 or 10 p.m., the Sweatts had to get their homework done in the van – and they had to do it before they could play video games or watch movies.
“If you’re going to do your best in hockey, do your best in your studies as well,” Dottie said. “If you don’t make it in hockey, what do you fall back on? You can’t put all your eggs in one basket.”
Lee, who graduated from Kaneland High School in 2003, received a scholarship to play at Colorado College, where he graduated with a 3.8 GPA in Mathematical Economics. He’s also expecting to wrap up his work for three master’s degrees (in finance, technology management, and project management) in May.
Bill spent his freshman year at Kaneland before moving to Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2004 to join USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program. In addition to picking up a pair of gold medals for his hockey prowess – he was voted “Top Forward” at the International Ice Hockey Federation’s Under-18 World Championships in 2006 – he finished his final three years of high school in two years so he could play with Lee for a season at Colorado College.
After his freshman year at Colorado College, the Blackhawks made Bill the 38th overall selection in the 2007 draft. He opted not to accept the Blackhawks’ offer and returned to school. He could have reversed his decision after each college season, but never considered leaving.
“My agent asked me every summer,” Bill said. “I never wanted to go. I always wanted to stay and get my (Mathematical Economics) degree because hockey is a short life. It doesn’t last forever.”
If you think that’s lip service, consider Lee’s unlikely choice this summer. A 26-year-old defenseman, Lee played in 3 games for the Vancouver Canucks last season and signed a free-agent deal with the Ottawa Senators in July. But a month later – before training camp began – Lee retired in order to become a financial advisor in Colorado Springs, Colo.
“I made a good decision,” said Lee, who wants to help young professional hockey players manage their bonuses. “I’m happy now. I’m really enjoying what I’m doing. I watch guys blow their money all the time. Just the power of saving a portion of that money is incredible. I don’t really miss it at all.”
That having been said, Lee couldn’t get to Montreal quickly enough to witness his brother’s NHL debut on Dec. 9.
“We are exceptionally competitive when it comes to all things,” Lee said the day before the game. “We do very similar things and compete in a lot of areas. It’s a nice compliment that he’s following a little bit in my footsteps – and he’s successful at it.
“I had one remaining bragging right on him: playing in the NHL. That’s going to go by the wayside – and I couldn’t be happier.”
Dottie, on the other hand, could be a little bit happier. The self-described hockey fanatic thinks Bill’s rate of progress on the ice is great, but she’d like to see him pick up the pace on his MBA.
“Now that he’s got his feet wet, I’d like to see him take two courses now,” Dottie said. “That’d be great.”
Blue Jackets’ Sesito Gives Back
Columbus left winger Tom Sestito
drew upon his own family’s experiences while giving a little joy to some of those families that are facing difficult times during the holidays.
Sestito visited the city’s Ronald McDonald House on Saturday, handing out Blue Jackets memorabilia and spending time and taking pictures with families there.
“It was kind of a humbling experience,” Sestito said after his visit. “To see what these families are going through at this time (of year). It really makes you feel how lucky you are to be OK during Christmas.”
Sestito understands that on a deeper level than most because his family dealt with a similar situation when he was young.
“My cousin had leukemia when I was growing up,” Sestito said. “It was a scary time, and I remember my family, it was tough around Christmas time. That’s always kind of stuck with me.”
Kings’ Dustin Brown and Make-A-Wish foundation will help a dream come true
In a world too often dominated by news about athletes behaving badly, here’s an item about an athlete doing a good deed.
Kings captain Dustin Brown, in cooperation with the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Los Angeles, is granting a wish for 6-year-old William McLeod of Valley Village, who is battling acute lymphatic leukemia. Brown, who has two young sons and a third child on the way, will meet William on Friday at the Kings’ practice facility. William, who is in remission, will also attend the Kings’ game Saturday against Minnesota at Staples Center.
According to a Make-A-Wish spokesman, William wanted to meet Brown because “I love to skate and play hockey and always watch the games with my dad, and Dustin Brown is the best player ever.”
Kudos to Brown and other players whose moments of kindness make a huge impact on a child’s life.
More later at www.latimes.com/sports
– Helene Elliott
Photo: Kings right wing Dustin Brown, 23, and Detroit Red Wings defensman Brian Rafalski, 28, fight for control of the puck on Dec. 4. Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea / US Presswire.
Make My Day Mondays
Agent Scott Norton has done some great things recently. One has been getting client after client on Twitter, including Kings forward Dustin Brown. The other has been “Make My Day Mondays”, which is designed to help the needy. To find out more about this, read the following release:
Sports Agent schools athletes by introducing “Make My Day Mondays”
With the economic crisis, charities have been hit hard and now Norton and has his athletes are hitting back even harder. Norton is using his influence to coach athletes on compassion and humanity. Through social media, he along with his clients developed the concept of “Make my Day Mondays”. The idea of “MMDM” is every Monday to make an effort to help someone in need. The difference in their plan is not to focus on a dollar amount or a specific organization, but to behave with a sense of strong morality and support for the community. The heart of the idea is to donate anything to anyone or anyplace that is important to the individual. Whether it’s buying a meal for a homeless person or helping a handicap person with a door, athletes of Norton Sports Management hope to brand themselves as role models for the sport’s community and eventually the world.
Scott explains, “People feel they cannot give enough, so they don’t give at all. Many people get phone calls and letters from various charitable organizations asking for amounts that are out of their range, and because there is a recession they feel its excusable not to give, but its not. We should help, but be allowed to offer what we can, even if its only a dollar or five minutes of our time.”
Norton utilizes the social media to broaden his concept and his athletes as his vessels. Fans can follow Norton Sports clients such as Captain of the LOS ANGELES Kings Dustin Brown (@DustinBrown23) and ST. LOUIS Blues tough guy Cam Janssen (@CamJanssen55) each Monday on twitter exemplifying the meaning of Make My Day Mondays. Norton recognizes the power of social media and the influence of his athletes, and hopes to use the two together to create an awareness of philanthropy and good will. Norton states, “We want people not to merely try to imitate a player’s slap shot, but a player’s good will.”
Brown, a finalist for the NHL’s Foundation Award as most charitable player in each of the last two seasons, states, “Charity and giving back is very important to me. I am very proud to be involved with and represent Norton Sports in efforts with Make My Day Mondays. I hope that one day soon, I can look at Twitter on a Monday night and view hundreds of thousands of MMDM’s, and know that I was at the grass roots of people helping other people.”
Scott C. Norton is the President and Founder of Norton Sports Management. He has been an NHL player agent for seventeen years, and has offices in CHICAGO and Southern California. For further information, please contact Scott at 312-330-0329 or on Twitter @NortonSports.
If there is any way you can help Scott with this great, new idea, it would be great! You’ll be able to catch Scott on our radio show as one of our guests this Tuesday at 8 PM ET.
Blog Credit: http://www.rldhockey.net/2010/09/make-my-day-mondays.ht
Make My Day Mondays
Scott Norton, agent extraordinaire to various hockey players such as Cam Janssen, Dustin Brown, Zack Stortini and Krys Barch, has been trying to push a new hockey initiative through with the help of his clients: doing a good deed every Monday.
While the economy is suffering one of its hardest times in decades, one thing that is getting hit the hardest are charities. But most importantly, people in our communities have lost their homes, their jobs, their normal ways of life.
An ancient mantra on living is the concept that when you do a good deed, good things will come your way. It’s called karma.
The purpose of Norton’s Make My Day Mondays (“MMDM”) is to make an effort to help someone in need every Monday.
The difference in their plan is not to focus on a dollar amount or a specific organization, but to behave with a sense of strong morality and support for the community. The heart of the idea is to donate anything to anyone or anyplace that is important to the individual. Whether it’s buying a meal for a homeless person or helping a handicap person with a door, athletes of Norton Sports Management hope to brand themselves as role models for the sport’s community and eventually the world.
Scott explains, “People feel they cannot give enough, so they don’t give at all. Many people get phone calls and letters from various charitable organizations asking for amounts that are out of their range, and because there is a recession they feel its excusable not to give, but its not. We should help, but be allowed to offer what we can, even if its only a dollar or five minutes of our time.
Norton has a point. What’s wrong with making an effort to do good things for others?
Whether it’s buying a meal for a homeless person or giving up your seat for a pregnant woman or an elderly person, doing a good deed doesn’t demand a lot from us. It just requires an effort to want to do something good for others.
So what exactly does this mean for his clients? Well, he is making sure they do get out there and do something good for their community. But, it doesn’t stop there. He encourages his clients with Twitter accounts to tweet their good deed for the day, so as to inspire fans to follow suit.
Norton utilizes the social media to broaden his concept and his athletes as his vessels. Fans can follow Norton Sports clients such as Captain of the Los Angeles Kings Dustin Brown (@DustinBrown23) and St. Louis Blues tough guy Cam Janssen (@CamJanssen55) each Monday on twitter exemplifying the meaning of Make My Day Mondays. Norton recognizes the power of social media and the influence of his athletes, and hopes to use the two together to create an awareness of philanthropy and good will. Norton states, “We want people not to merely try to imitate a player’s slap shot, but a player’s good will.”
Brown, a finalist for the NHL’s Foundation Award as most charitable player in each of the last two seasons, states, “Charity and giving back is very important to me. I am very proud to be involved with and represent Norton Sports in efforts with Make My Day Mondays. I hope that one day soon, I can look at Twitter on a Monday night and view hundreds of thousands of MMDM’s, and know that I was at the grass roots of people helping other people.”
Norton and his clients hope that this is a trend that will catch on. Who knows, this could be a step to helping change the world, one act at a time. So take a moment this Monday, and every Monday for the rest of your life to do at least one good act. Maybe it will trickle into more good acts. Pay it forward.
Scott C. Norton is the President and Founder of Norton Sports Management. He has been an NHL player agent for seventeen years, and has offices in Chicago and Southern California. For further information, please contact Scott at 312-330-0329 or on Twitter @NortonSports.
SCV Youth Project 10 Years And Going
Roller coasters and fun were all part of a celebration for a good cause. Celebrities and athletes joined kids and teens at Magic Mountain on Thursday, May 20 for the SCV Youth Project’s 10th anniversary celebration and fund raiser.
“We’re a little non-profit out in this area where there are more than 100 charities,” said Executive Director of the SCV Youth Project, Kim Goldman. “We are still here, the need is still here and we have more teens that are depressed and suicidal”
“It’s a great cause, how can you turn down taking your kids to an amusement park for the day for a great cause and helping these kids, it was a pleasure. We are so glad we did it,” added Alex Kapp Horner.
Dustin Brown the Captain for the LA Kings attended the event along with celebrities from television including; Alex Kapp Horner from The New Adventures of Old Christine, Eva La Rue from CSI: Miami, Alyson Stoner and Meaghan Jette Martin from Camp Rock, Billy Unger from Desperate Housewives, Allisyn Arm from Sonny With A Chance, Colin Ford from Supernatural, Taylor Dooley and Sascha Pieterse from The Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl 3-D and Ryan Newman from Zeke and Luther.
Erin, a student who was helped by the SCV Youth Project, came forward to give her appreciation and thanks to the organization’s staff.
“I was going through a lot in my life, and I didn’t realize how bad it was until I started talking about it,” she said. “They are very understanding, I love this program and without them I probably wouldn’t be in high school.”
ABOUT THE SCV YOUTH PROJECT
The SCV Youth Project helps kids facing such serious issues as drug/alcohol abuse, anger, divorce, peer pressure, grief/loss, suicide, depression, etc. The Youth Project offers free, bilingual, one-to-one or group counseling, distributes cards that include emergency numbers and leads a variety of specialized youth programs. For more information, about the SCV Youth Project, click here.
Magic Mountain Hosts SCV Youth Project’s 10 Year Celebration
This is the perfect opportunity to have a blast with your family (or run free with your friends), and do a good deed! Join the Santa Clarita Valley Youth Project at Magic Mountain to celebrate 10 years of being of service to the teens of Santa Clarita!
The Youth Project provides FREE, confidential, peer mentoring, crisis intervention, support groups, education and outreach to teens and their familes.
This Thursday, from 6pm to 11pm, Magic Mountain is opening it’s gates for an exclusive party for the guests of the SCV Youth Project.
Enjoy a fully catered dinner, free parking, access to the park all day without lines… all for an itsy bitsy $40 for adults, and $25.00 for youth!
Celebrity guests include Eva La Rue (CSI: Miami), Alex Kapp Horner (The New Adventures of Old Christine), Dustin Brown (LA Kings), and Alyson Stoner (Camp Rock).
How easy and stress free is this? Cheap tickets, free parking, no lines, no stress.
There is only one way to get this amazing deal! Click here to buy tickets for the event, and enter promo code: SCVYOUTH.
Bring all of your friends, this deal won’t happen again!
Charity Softball Game
Cam Janssen poses for a photo before the charity softball game on May 7. Blues players, alumni and members of the media played to raise money for Rock Hill police officer Matt Crosby, who was injured in the line of duty on April 8. (Photos by Mark Buckner / St. Louis Blues).
Dustin Brown assisting Mend and the National Association of Letter Carriers
Dustin Brown assisting Mend and the National Association of Letter Carriers as they kick off the largest one day food drive in the world on Saturday, May 8.
Stortini volunteers at Pets in the Park
Although training for the upcoming hockey season is top priority during the summer, Zack Stortini has also made time to volunteer for the Edmonton Humane Society. For the second time in a month, the Oilers forward participated in an event for the Humane Society to bring awareness to animal care and protection.
The Edmonton Humane Society held their 17th annual signature fundraising event, Pets in the Park, at Hawrelak Park on Sunday, June 28th. The event invited pets of all shapes and sizes to come down to the park with their owners to learn about animal care and raise funds for the Humane Society.
“It’s a great day at Hawrelak Park and I’m here to help raise awareness and support for the Edmonton Humane Society,” said Stortini. “I’m a huge animal lover and wanted to get involved with the Humane Society and the Valley Zoo to bring awareness to their work in support of animals.”
Pets in the Park kicks off with a sponsored walk and run for the pets and their owners. Later in the day a silent auction and other fundraising activities were held all in the hopes of surpassing last year’s event fundraising total of $115,000.
“Zack never ceases to amaze us, he participated in our Open House about a month ago and when asked to participate in this event there was no hesitation,” said Edmonton Humane Society’s spokesperson Shawna Randolph. “He’s so eager to help out with the Edmonton Humane Society, we know he’s an animal lover but he takes it one step further and it’s just a blessing for us.”
Stortini also attended the Humane Society’s Open House on May 31st which gave Edmontonians a glance at their new facility. The new building will serve as a home for nearly 10,000 animals monthly as well as an education centre for pet owners to learn about proper pet care.
To learn more about the Edmonton Humane Society visit www.edmontonhumanesociety.com
