Tag: Capitol Hill

President Joe Biden had nothing but praise for Damar Hamlin during his important visit to Capitol Hill

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin is trying to make a difference for young athletes after his January health scare.

Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin visited Capitol Hill this week to advocate for more schools having access to automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

Hamlin earned global attention when he collapsed during a January Bills game against the Cincinnati Bengals after a collision with wide receiver Tee Higgins sent him into cardiac arrest.

The Bills safety’s recovery from that shocking health scare has been one of sports’ true sources of inspiration this year, and Hamlin is now using his experience to advocate for the bipartisan “Access to AEDs Act.”

Bill co-sponsor Rep. Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick, D-Fla. explained that the legislation would “establish a grant program to provide schools with the funds to purchase and maintain AEDs, strengthen CPR training and develop cardiac emergency response plans.”

The bill also has support from the NFL, with commissioner Roger Goodell saying the effort would “no doubt will save countless lives of young athletes in the future,” per CNN.

To Hamlin, the legislation points back to the lifesaving medical treatment that he received in January from NFL medical staff.

“Sudden cardiac arrest happens to more than 7,000 kids under the age of 18 every year in our country – 7,000 kids every year, Hamlin said via CNN. “The majority of the kids impacted are student-athletes, and research shows that 1 in every 300 youth has an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk. For schools that have AEDs, the survival rate for the children from sudden cardiac arrest is seven times higher.”

Part of Hamlin’s advocacy involved meeting with President Joe Biden on Thursday. The president praised Hamlin for his “courage, resilience and spirit.”

Hamlin’s work aims to hopefully give grade school athletes having a medical emergency the same opportunity for the treatment he received during that fateful Monday Night Football game.

“The Access to AEDs Act will help ensure that schools are just as prepared and trained to respond in the time of crisis as those on the sidelines of an NFL game,” Hamlin said, per CNN.

Video: Must-see fun from the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard

Golfweek attended the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard last week and talked to Justin Rose, Max Homa and Cameron Young.

Golfweek had the honor of attending the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard last week. From breathtaking views, an electric pro-am day and activations around the course, we came back with a lot to talk about.

Paying homage to the legacy of Arnold Palmer, every detail is perfected and is an experience that goes beyond the players and fans. Mastercard strives to create tradition and memories that last using sensory activations around the course.

Golfweek’s, Averee Dovsek chatted with Justin Rose, Cameron Young and Max Homa on some priceless moments on the course and their partnership with Mastercard.

 

Greg Norman to visit Capitol Hill to discuss LIV Golf, address Saudi Arabia concerns

The series is on a two-week break before hosting consecutive events in Bangkok, Thailand, and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Greg Norman is heading to Washington, D.C. to talk L-I-V.

LIV Golf’s CEO and commissioner is set to visit with members of Congress this week on Capitol Hill to discuss the upstart circuit that features 54-hole tournaments, no cuts, shotgun starts and massive paydays. The news was first reported by Politico.

“LIV Golf is coming to the Hill this week to meet with lawmakers from both parties,” LIV Golf confirmed to Golfweek. “Given the PGA Tour’s attempts to stifle our progress in reimagining the game, we think it’s imperative to educate members on LIV’s business model and counter the Tour’s anti-competitive efforts.”

Backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, LIV Golf has been criticized as a way for the Kingdom to “sportswash” its human rights record. Saudi Arabia has been accused of wide-ranging human rights abuses, including politically motivated killings, torture, forced disappearances and inhumane treatment of prisoners. And members of the royal family and Saudi government were accused of involvement in the murder of Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist.

The ongoing power struggle between LIV Golf and the PGA Tour for professional golf supremacy has seen both organizations lobby against the other on Capitol Hill, and it’s a fight that won’t end anytime soon.

Eleven golfers sued the PGA Tour for antitrust violations in August, but only seven remain after four players removed their names. When a judge in California denied the temporary restraining order that would have allowed three LIV players to compete in the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup Playoffs, it also was revealed the antitrust case would begin in August of 2023 at the earliest. The United States Department of Justice is investigating the PGA Tour, as well.

Cameron Smith won LIV Golf’s Chicago event Sunday at Rich Harvest Farms in Sugar Grove, Illinois, by three shots over Peter Uihlein and Dustin Johnson. The series is on a two-week break before hosting consecutive events in Bangkok, Thailand, on Oct. 7-9, followed by Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Oct. 14-16.

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Watch: Steve Gleason gets standing ovation at Congressional Gold Medal ceremony

New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason received a Congressional Gold Medal for his advocacy of ALS research, as well as a standing ovation.

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New Orleans Saints legend Steve Gleason made American history on Wednesday, being the first professional football player to receive the Congressional Gold Medal in recognition of his efforts in promoting awareness of ALS, a degenerative neural disease he’s fought since 2011.

Gleason, 42, earned his spot in Saints history with a game-changing blocked punt that was returned for a touchdown against the Atlanta Falcons, in the first game played inside the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina. His continued rise in prominence after publicly advocating for research into ALS and raising funds to help others afflicted with it has only grown with time.

Now, he’s in rare company as the recipient of this Congressional Gold Medal. He received it during a ceremony in Statuary Hall at Capitol Hill surrounded by friends, family, and supporters, including Saints quarterback Drew Brees and his son Baylen as well as NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. Brees shared his remarks on the occasion following opening statements from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and Republican House leader Kevin McCarthy.

And when Gleason received his award, it was followed up by a standing ovation:

Now that’s special. Afterwards, Brees shared his own thoughts on the ceremony and his relationship with Gleason in a video posted from the official Saints Twitter account:

And here’s what the medal, designed custom for Gleason, looks like:

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Steve Gleason to receive Congressional Gold Medal, Drew Brees to attend

New Orleans Saints living legend Steve Gleason will receive the Congressional Gold Medal during a ceremony at Capitol Hill on Wednesday.

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There aren’t many players in New Orleans Saints history more well-known and better-respected than Steve Gleason. The special teams ace earned an enduring spot in fans’ memories with his blocked punt against the Atlanta Falcons, in the first game played in the Superdome after Hurricane Katrina ravaged the city and the surrounding the Gulf Coast. It’s not for nothing that he’s the only Saints player immortalized with a bronze statue standing outside the team’s home stadium.

But Gleason has continued to be a big part of New Orleans lore after his playing days were over. He’s remained a common sight on the Saints sideline, is active in community fund-raisers and benefits, and maintains an active social media presence — all while fighting ALS, the neurodegenerative disease that has confined him to a wheelchair, only able to communicate through a cutting-edge text-to-speech computer program.

Despite those challenges and the fatal diagnosis Gleason received back in 2011, he’s continued to advocate for research into ALS and promote awareness of it, doing everything possible to help others afflicted with the disease. Now, he’ll be recognized at a ceremony on Capitol Hill after nearly a decade of those efforts, as the latest recipient of the Congressional Gold Medal. He offered input on the design of his unique medal, which can be seen here.

And he won’t be alone. Gleason’s former teammate and longtime friend Drew Brees will be in attendance (on his 41st birthday) to support him in the iconic Statuary Hall, surrounded by memorials to other figures in American history. It’s well-deserved recognition for Gleason, his family, and their friends, and we’re looking forward to viewing this latest chapter in his story.

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