In 2007, the group creating the mission statement for what they would call the Saint Sebastian Sports Project had some very basic questions to deal with: How can we help level the playing field for all inner-city Catholic elementary schools in LA’s archdiocese? Who needs uniforms and equipment? Playing facilities? Improved coaching?
Four schools were identified to start the process. A few thousand dollars were raised and distributed.
A decade later, many of the same organizers for the Manhattan Beach-based nonprofit have seen nearly 50 schools benefit from nearly a half-million dollars donated for ongoing sports tournaments, outreach programs and coaching clinics.
And they continue to ask: If there are 100 schools out there who could use help, what is needed next to keep playing this forward?
Here is our story as published in mid-August by Angelus News.
Here are some other quotes we had about SSSP from the original story that was edited for space:
From Clare Gurbach: “We’re a very ambitious group and we have done this collectively with various skill sets from each board member. And as a result, we’ve been able to grow this very quickly with a great group of volunteers.”
From Marc Maye: “This is teaching me as much as it’s teaching the kids. They’ve helped me become the best version of myself, shaping and defining my true purpose. I’m extremely grateful for them.”
From Jamal Adams: “At the Catholic Youth Organization level, we talk about developing the mind, body and soul. The mind is the academics, and the soul is the church, but the body is connected to sports, which also makes us great citizens of the world. Saint Sebastian’s has gone from humble beginnings of trying to get uniforms for kids and stipends for coaches, to all they’ve done to this point. It’s a great story.”
Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket still has not responded to reports that surfaced Monday in that its NBA broadcast partner, so unhappy with Bruce Bowen as the team’s game analyst after just one season, “withheld approval” of a contract extension based on critical things he said in a late-June Siriux XM radio interview about former San Antonio teammate Kawhi Leonard. The Clippers contended that Bowen’s comments could compromise the team’s possible signing of him as a free agent next summer.
There’s a reason why the Manhattan Beach Open is referred to as the Wimbledon of Beach Volleyball. Ironically, it all has to do with the fact the event is played on grass. And there’s a concoction of strawberries and cream served at the local pizza place.
The Dodgers’ 9-8 record in the 17 games post-All Star Game might be something that looks slightly above average. But considering the quality of opponent, it’s better than falling below .500, and they’ve held onto a tie for first with Arizona in NL West to this point at 62-51. Two more nasty-type opponents make up the upcoming week. A two-game trip to Oakland against the 67-46 Athletics, who are in as the AL second wild-card at this point, and then four more against the 59-52 Rockies in Denver, who could come out of this series trading places in the standings, get the Dodgers attention again. Rich Hill has two scheduled starts this week – the first game in Oakland and the last game in Colorado, where his spinball may not be up to the altitude challenge. He has yet to get on the hill this year at Coors Field, but the 38-year-old Hill has a career 0-2 record in three starts there with an 8.80 ERA – 15 earned runs, 18 hits, three homer and 11 walks in 15 1/3 innings.
What happens to L.A. traffic when LAFC and the Galaxy go head-to-head at home on the same night at the same time? We’ll find out. At the same the when the Galaxy is at StubHub Center in Carson facing Minnesota United FC, the LAFC has its Banc of California Stadium filled for an appearance by Sporting K.C. – both on Saturday at 7:30 p.m. The Galaxy just had their 10-game unbeaten streak end with a 2-1 loss against Colorado, but perhaps Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s work on the phones to get season seat sales will manifest itself in some other way. The LAFC comes off a 2-1 loss at New York Red Bull. Before Saturday, LAFC also has a U.S. Open Cup semifinal contest in Houston against the Dynamo (Wednesday, 6 p.m.)
Can you name the guys who’ve won the previous three majors in golf this season? Patrick Reed took the Masters, Brooks Koepka captured the U.S. Open and Francesco Molinari somehow was victorious at the recent British Open. Justin Thomas is the defending PGA Championship’s Wanamaker Trophy winner, and he’s given 16-to-1 odds 
When NBC covered the Baltimore-Chicago participation in the Pro Football Hall of Fame game last Thursday in Canton, Ohio, the ratings average of 4.1 and 6.77 million estimated viewers was actually more than what Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final did (3.9 rating, 6.59 million viewers). Therefore, we predict the NFL exhibition openers for the Rams (at Baltimore, Thursday at 4:30 p.m., Channel 2), Raiders (home vs. Detroit, Friday at 7:30 p.m., Channel 5) and Chargers (at Arizona, Saturday at 7 p.m., Channel 7) have a heck of a good chance to be the most-watched things in L.A. TV on those nights.
*The return of the Premiere League Soccer season happens Friday with Manchester United-Leicester City (noon), continues Saturday at 4:30 a.m. on NBCSN with Newcastle United vs. Tottenham Hotspur, followed by Chelsea taking on Huddersfield Town at 7 a.m., and bleed over to Sunday on NBCSN with Liverpool vs. West Ham United (5:30 a.m.) and Arsenal vs. Manchester City (8 a.m.). More info: 
Tom Hoffarth's The Drill: More Farther Off the Wall 