Developed with the Natural Resources Defense Council, Major League Baseball has announced a “Team Greening Program” to support and coordinate the many environmentally sensitive practices now pursued by virtually every Major League club“.
“Baseball is a social institution with social responsibilities, and caring for the environment is inextricably linked to all aspects of our game. Sound environmental practices make sense in every way and protect our natural resources for future generations of baseball fans.” — Commissioner Bud Selig
For soccer nuts, especially those who have followed the English Premier League, it’s hard to find someone as cool as Alan Shearer. Gentleman off the field, just the right bit of nasty on it. All-time leading goal scorer. An entire career played in England (despite the lure of big money in Italy or Spain). National team glory. Fnishes his career with a drama-filled ten-year run with the club of his boyhood dreams (Newcastle).
And at a time when so many former stars are sitting on their blingly laurels, Sir Alan’s butt is on a road bike raising money for Sport Relief, the UK’s “Comic Relief” spin-off that fights poverty. In less than two weeks, Shearer and his cycling mate Adrian Chiles will be trying to ride from Newcastle to London, 335 miles, in two days. (It’s a little bit more than a Tour de France pace.) Millions of Brits are expected to watch. Maybe millions of pounds will be raised. Why something so, well, crazy?
My trip to Uganda was one of the most humbling experiences of my life. I met people who are struggling to feed and take care of their children because of the devastating effects of HIV/AIDS, but saw that a little help goes a long way too.
In no particular order, here is a selection of the new, cool, ordinary things we’ve seen this year:
- NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: Super Bowl XLI. 2007 was the first year the league officially bought renewable energy certificates (RECs) to offset carbon associated with energy used by the game. For 14 years previous, the NFL has been planting trees, donating food, collecting souvenirs as toys — all different shades of what is now called greening.
- SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: Going, Going, Green. Alexander Wolff’s cover story on the impacts of global warming on the sports world. (Story)
- NOTRE DAME FOOTBALL: Fighting Irish Fighting Disease. The University’s institutional spot during the nationally televised Penn State game featured the tag line “we’re fighting global warming because we’re the Fighting Irish“. A slightly different version is available at YouTube
- PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Go Green. Christina Lurie’s campaign to incorporate “green initiatives, sustainable business practices and educational programs as (the organization’s) core operating principals.” (Overview)
- NBC/UNIVERSAL’s SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL. The Cowboy’s v Eagles pre-game show is used to announce 150 hours of environmental “Green is Universal” programming. (Website)
- FLORIDA STATE at FLORIDA: “First Carbon Neutral College Football Game“. Florida Governor Crist attends calling attention to his state’s commitment to energy and climate solutions. (Read our coverage.)
- NHL PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: NHL Players Offset Travel. Led by Boston Bruin defenseman Andrew Ference and union leaders Paul Kelly and Eric Lindros, 300 players offset their GHG emissions.
- NEW JERSEY NETS: Green Nights. During six home games this season, the New Jersey Nets are educating fans about recycling, using green power, using carbon offsets, being energy efficient, green cleaning at home, and lowering one’s carbon footprint. (See our coverage.)
- AUTO RACING: Racing Series Commit to Biofuels. NASCAR, IndyCars, and A1GranPrix are switching to biofuels and recycling tires.
- ENGLISH SOCCER: Football Association Challenge Cup. The world’s oldest tournament competition will offset the anticipated 45,000 tons of CO2 produced by the competing clubs. (Our coverage here.)
Today The David Suzuki Foundation and the National Hockey League Players’ Association will unveil a partnership to help offset the greenhouse gas emissions produced by NHL players. The environmental challenge is now a core part of union business and is being promoted in a fall tour to NHL teams by NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly and ombudsman Eric Lindros. So far 300 players and the entire Dallas Stars team have signed up. Boston Bruin defenseman Andrew Ference is playing point on the effort.
“Hockey players are educated enough and smart enough to do the right thing. There is a lot of good character in the league. What I like about the initiative is that it is positive. It’s actually taking action.”
Story from the Toronto Globe and Mail
England’s FA Cup, building on the success of Ipswich Town’s efforts to induce 14,000 fan pledges to reduce carbon, hopes to offset the estimate 45,000 tonnes produced by the annual tournament.
Emissions will be calculated from the operational emissions of all participating clubs, the television emissions from viewers watching matches at home, and the travel emissions produced by home and away fans.
The project is being developed by E.ON, “one of the UK’s leading energy suppliers and Sponsor of The FA Cup“. The story from the BBC looks at firms in Europe and the UK that are driving “the green sports agenda“.
Yeah baby. Smashing!
In 2006 pre-season and regular season games, NFL teams traveled 570,630 miles mostly by air. The Oakland Raiders logged the most (30,702), the Carolina Panthers the least (8,966). The league average is 17,832.
Source: Pro Football Hall of Fame Educational Programs “Mathematics How Far Do Teams Travel” (.pdf)
“This is another way for the Nets to beat the Knicks this year.”
The New Jersey Nets have announced six “green” nights to publicize their environmental efforts and show fans what they can do, exploring themes such as energy efficiency, waste reduction and water use.
“Every day you read in the paper about global warming and environmental problems,” said Nets spokesman Barry Baum. “We just felt that we had a responsibility as a franchise to take action as soon as possible.”
Story from NorthJersey.com