Girl With a Purpose (GWAP)

Congrats Sanya Richards, Usain Bolt - 2009 IAAF World Athletes of the Year!

You know, it does my heart proud to see two Jamaican-based athletes cop the 2009 IAAF World Athlete of the Year Awards:

Usain Bolt (100m, 200m, 4 x 100m) won the World Male Athlete of the Year (2009) Award, whilst Sanya Richards (400m, 4 x 400m), won the Female Athlete of the Year (2009) Award.

[The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) is the world governing body for athletics].

Usain Bolt is born and grown Jamaica, whilst Sanya Richards was born in Jamaica, but migrated to the USA, as a child.

The awards were given, yesterday, at the 2009 World Athletics Gala in Monaco.

Usain got the award for his stunning year-round performances  and f or breaking both the 100m and 200m world records in 9.58 and 19.19 seconds, respectively, at the Berlin World Championships.

(But one just couldn't miss the camera shot to Asafa Powell, when Bolt's name was called. From the look on his face, you couldn't quite tell what what going on in his mind, as he didn't look sad nor glad - he just stared at the stage).

Sanya also got her award for her stunning year-round performances at all the 2009 IAAF meets.

(Sanya last won World Female Athlete of the Year, in 2006, but until the Berlin World Championship in 2009, could not get gold at the big events - the Olympics nor the World Championships.

Well, she overcame this hurdle and copped 1st place and hence the gold medal, in the 400m and 4x400m at the 2009 Berlin World Championships - just as she had been doing all season - hence her selection).

She beat out fellow athletes:

• Yelena Isinbayeva (pole vault), Russia
• Valerie Vili (shot put), New Zealand
• Blanka Vlasic (high jump), Croatia
• Anita Wlodarczyk (hammer throw),  Poland.

While Usain Bolt beat out fellow athletes:

• Kenenisa Bekele (3,000m, 5,000m, 10,000m), Ethiopia
• Tyson Gay, (100m, 200m, 4 x 100m) USA
• Steven Hooker (pole vault), Australia
• Andreas Thorkildsen (javelin), Norway.

(I'm dreaming of the day when either Stephen Francis (Jamaica), or Glen Mills (Jamaica) will win the IAAF Coach of the Year Award...and I'm not taking anything away from Clyde Hart (USA) - Sanya Richard's coach, who won it this year, but I think that these two men deserve to have been nominated, given the outstanding performances of their athletes-Asafa Powell, Melanie Walker, Shelly-Ann Fraser, Shericka Williams, Brigitte Foster-Hylton and Usain Bolt).

Congratulations go out Usain and Sanya, who have proven that persistence and dedication to one's craft will eventually reap great rewards!

Big up Sanya, Usain and big up Jamaica!

(I would like to thank az1172 for the use of his Flickr photo above of Sanya Richards, doing her 400m lap of honour at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin and José Goulão for the use of his Flickr Photo of Usain Bolt running  the 200m during the 2009 World Championships).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Article, "Bolt and Richards familiar faces extraordinary deeds -2009 World Athletes of the Year", IAAF.org, November 23,2009

2) Article,"2009 Athletes of the Year - and the Female Finalists are...",IAAF.org, November 10,2009

3) Article, "2009 Athletes of the Year - and the Finalists are...",IAAF.org, November 9,2009

Why Andre Agassi Won't Shut Up

Andre Agassi
Originally uploaded by Mulde®

Over the past three (3) weeks, Andre Agassi - one of the former greats in men's tennis, has been uttering some things that would convince you that he's dropped off a coconut tree and knocked his brains out.

(Andre has won 8 grand slam titles over his 20-year career. He retired in 2006).

The first statement that gained the sporting world's attention, was his revelation that he was on crystal meth, in 1997, during his tennis career and that he lied to ATP Tour officials, when questioned about taking drugs.

[The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) was formed in 1972 to protect the interests of male tennis professionals. Its  principal duty is to organize the worldwide tour for men's tennis (ATP World Tour) throughout the year].

But look at the timing of this revelation - the year 2009, and hence 12 years after the incident took place.. So the statute of limitations (10 years) has run out, so he can not be penalized for taking this drug.

...Unlike Marion Jones, who performance-enhancing habit was discovered whilst she was active in her career and thus she was stripped of their medals, accordingly, Agassi won't be stripped of his trophies, prize and endorsement monies...

Why? Because the International Tennis Federation (ITF) has decided not to pursue it.

They know that good old Andre, like any good sales person, is just trying to create waves, in order to sell his book.

Three (3) days ago, we heard of another stunning revelation - that he actually hated tennis...and you don't have to be genius to figure out where this was "first" revealed - in his book of course! :)

(Andre's autobiography, "Open", was released on November 9,2009).

But I agree with noted Jamaican Sports Journalist - Oral Tracey, Andre is not only disingenuous, but ungrateful to the sport of tennis - A sport that has not only given him fame, but allowed him to meet his present wife - Steffi Graf and given him millions in prize and endorsement monies - over US $32 million, to be exact.

The reality is that, as long as there are more copies of Andre's book to be sold, we'll unfortunately be hearing more from Andre Agassi that will continue to diminish his image in the sporting arena.

I used to hold this man up in high regard as a player who was good, but who became great, due to hard work, persistence and dedication. [He won three (3) of his eight (8) major titles in his 30's - I thought then, due to the strenuous training regiment that he was on...which both he and his coaches led us, the public, to believe].

Now that I know that he's a drug cheat, I will definitely not recommend him as a role model for youth, aspiring to be great sports stars...as he's a disappointment to the sporting fraternity.

If he was truly a man of integrity, he would have come out sooner and accepted punishment like other tennis stars, accused of using drugs.

As far as I'm concerned, Andre has a lot to contribute and has contributed immensely to sport of tennis via his Foundations.

But until he's really sorry for his drug use and not just using it as a prop for his book, all that he has done and continues to do, will be blighted.

After-all, no well-thinking mother, father or coach, would hold up a drug cheat as a person to be emulated by their sons, daughters or students...

There are too many "clean" (drug-free) athletes, who'll serve as good role models, before this takes place.

Nuff said (Jamaican, meaning, enough has been said).

(I would like to thank Mulde for the use of his Flickr inset photo above, of Andre Agassi winning the Copa Telefónica Chile, in March 2007).

Gillian

Sources Include

1) Television Programme "Sports Commentary" -hosted by Oral Tracey, on Television Jamaica, November 16,2009

2) Article, "Agassi Admits Using Crystal Meth in '97", ESPN Sports News, October 28,2009

PsPrint Helps Reduce Your Marketing Costs

The following information is essential for any of our GWAP friends who own businesses or who are thinking of becoming business owners.

Let's begin...

Marketing is essential for the survival of any business, as it allows you to ascertain customer needs and produce products and service solutions that meet those needs, profitably.

It also facilities two-way communication between a business and its customers, so that businesses can continually incorporate customer feedback in the upgrade and servicing of present products and/or services, and in the design of new ones.

Although necessary, marketing and advertising are costly endeavors and can represent up to 40% of business's annual expenditures.

For many small and micro business, this cost is prohibitive, so they usually partner with another small business to co-market complementary products.

There is good news however, for small and micro business owners who want to further cut their marketing and advertising expenses:

There is a company that allows you to design, order and print your own marketing materials (e.g. business cards, flyers brochures, postcards and calendars) from the comfort and convenience of your own office, without  having to go to an ad agency or a print shop, to do so.

They also do this printing at a fraction of the cost that the above organizations would charge.

Who are they?

They are PSPrint- your online print shop and a leading printing company that prints business cards, stickers, postcards, and more.

Their Design IT tool and other ready-made templates, make designing a snap -  even a novice can produce professional graphic designs.

Additionally:

1) These tools allow you to complete your print jobs in minutes, versus hours, thus freeing you/your staff up to do other work-related activities. 

2) They will even mail your marketing materials to your customers for you, thus decreasing your distribution costs.

If you're just starting up, or in need of an image makeover and don't want to try their easy-to-use Design IT tool or templates, yourself, then PsPrint has in-house graphic designers who can design your logo, letterheads and newsletters for you.

...Which cuts down on your search and hiring costs for quality graphic designers, whilst giving your business the professional look that it will need to attract and retain loyal customers.

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The other things that I like about PsPrint are:

1)  All their printing is done on eco-friendly paper...thus protecting the environment when they degrade

2) Their website contains a catalog that is easy to use and which makes finding information a breeze

3) They tell you upfront, what their products and services will cost...and give you huge discounts (up to 60% off) on popular marketing materials, e.g. postcards, business cards, greeting cards and posters...thus ensuring that you won't burst your marketing budget in ordering these materials.

[Tip: Become a PsPrint VIP to get special deals and tips via email. (Further details can be found at the bottom, left-hand-side of their website)].

4) They offer you a free Sample Kit containing a variety of printed samples, a paper sample guide and other helpful information...thus allowing you to judge for yourself, the range and quality of printing they offer.

Which brings me to an important point:

When you complete their online form for the free Sample Kit, test to see how long the kit actually gets to you.

For if they get it to you within the slated time, you know you can begin the process of trusting them with your orders.

Then test them with sending materials to a small segment of your customers. If they deliver on time, then you know you can gradually upgrade to larger orders.

I always believe that if a company is great at small things, I can always trust them with larger things.

(E.g. since Christmas is just around the corner...it would be great to test their postcard printing service to order your Christmas postcards now, bearing in mind that if you order before November 30, 2009, you'll get 40% off!)

With all these benefits on offer, I'd highly recommend that you try their service to reduce your marketing and advertising costs. :)

A usual, when we recommend products and services to you, please comment below the relevant post, or email me, to let me know how the product and/or service is working out for you.

Thanks in advance!

I would like to thank PsPrint for sponsoring this post.

[The pictures used in this post are sample pictures of what a postcard (1st picture) and a brochure (2nd picture) from PsPrint, would look like].

Gillian