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About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 8, 2023)
February 8, 2023 Page 7 S portS Keeping Girls in the Game AP Photo/ Brynn Anderson/ Matt Rourke Kansas city chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts Women compete in track and field event. Photo courtesy of Sports Oregon Sport Oregon Offers $125,000 in Grants Sport Oregon today announced that the organization is opening its 2023 SHE FLIES Communi- ty Grant cycle Thursday, Feb. 2, with $125,000 available this year through the Sport Oregon Founda- tion. Grant-seeking organizations aligning with the SHE FLIES mis- sion and corresponding focus areas are encouraged to apply for 2023 grants at SHEFLIES.org. SHE FLIES is the flagship ini- tiative of the Sport Oregon Foun- dation, with a mission to connect girls and women across Oregon to sports, and to create inclu- sive communities through its programs, partnerships and net- works. It aims to do so through three focus areas: keeping girls in the game, empowering women in coaching and promoting fitness for life. For Sport Oregon COO Mai- ka Janat-Vennemann, “Last year was really about building a network and constructing what SHE FLIES is, and can be. As a connector and trusted voice in sports, Sport Oregon is unique- ly qualified to uplift girls and women in sport. When girls are in, we all win.” In 2022, SHE FLIES award- ed grants to six deserving groups, including Active Chil- dren Portland, The Children’s Course, Hood River Outrigger Canoe Club, Ophelia’s Place, the Rose City Rollers and Skate Like a Girl. Thanks to a substantial finan- cial commitment from Alaska Airlines, Sport Oregon has in- creased the amount awarded through the SHE FLIES Com- munity Grants program, from $25,000 in the program’s first year to $125,000 in 2023. Alaska Airlines has committed $200,000 in support of the SHE FLIES Community Grants program over the next two years ($100,000 per year for 2023 and 2024). “At Alaska Airlines, we be- lieve everyone deserves the opportunity to play, grow and thrive in athletics,” said Harry Cheema, public affairs manag- er at Alaska Airlines. “We are proud to support Sport Oregon through the She Flies Commu- nity Grant program to level the playing field for girls and wom- en in sports. Alaska is commit- ted to improving access to sports and contributing to the growth and development of athletes, and this partnership allows us to reach communities all across the great state of Oregon.” The application period for this year’s SHE FLIES grants will end Friday, April 7 at 5 p.m. and applicants will be notified in ear- ly May. Sport Oregon will recog- nize the 2023 SHE FLIES grant recipients during its second-an- nual SHE FLIES Festival later in May, and funds will be distribut- ed to grantees in June. In addition to the community grants program, Sport Oregon annually produces a number of special events and relevant pro- gramming in support of the SHE FLIES initiative. Find Progressive News at EDDIE LINCOLN SRES, GRI, & ABR REAL ESTATE AGENT 200704345 CENTURY 21 North Homes Realty Mobile: 503.789.0861 Office: 503.252.2121 Fax: 503.252.2621 www.portlandobserver.com erlinvoln69@hotmail.com First Black Quaterbacks to Meet in Super Bowl Philadelphia Eagles and The Kansas City Chiefs face off (AP) — Black quarterbacks have come a long way in the NFL since Fritz Pollard became the first to play in the league in 1923 and Doug Williams was the first to start and win a Super Bowl following the 1987 season. Now, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts will be the first Black QBs to face off in a Super Bowl. It’s fitting that a season which began with 11 Black QBs starting in Week 1 will end with a historic matchup. Mahomes can become the first two-time winner if he leads the Kansas City Chiefs to victory over the Philadelphia Eagles on Feb. 12. Hurts aims to become the fourth Black QB to win the Su- per Bowl, joining Williams, Ma- homes and Russell Wilson. Steve McNair, Colin Kaepernick, Cam Newton and Wilson also started in the Super Bowl and lost. Michael Vick was the first Black QB selected No. 1 overall in the draft in 2001. McNair became the first Black QB to win MVP in 2003. Mahomes and Lamar Jack- son won it back-to-back years. They all had to overcome stereotypes to get to this point. Hurts began his NFL career in 2020 as an all-purpose QB after the Eagles took him in the sec- ond round. Playing behind Car- son Wentz, Hurts had 12 rushing attempts, one catch and threw just three passes in his first nine games before taking over as Philadelphia’s QB. He clearly has not forgotten that the decision to draft him in the second round of the 2020 draft was widely criticized by reporters and fans. “My first year here, (people) probably didn’t even want to draft me here,” Hurts said Sunday. “It was probably one of those things. But it always handles itself.” Neither Hurts nor Mahomes celebrated their conference cham- pionship wins too much. The main goal remains ahead. They each want one more win. “I know I’ve been through a lot personally, but I don’t want to steer away from the direction of how good this team has been at playing together, being togeth- er, and challenging one another,” Hurts said. “When we experience some painful times and some tough times, we always found a way to overcome. You want to be going into a situation like this, and we have a chance to go out there and win it all, so we want to pre- pare to go do that.” Mahomes battled through an ankle injury to help the Chiefs beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23- 20 to advance to their third Su- per Bowl appearance in four years. He had no intention of lighting up a victory cigar after a hard-fought win. “I don’t think we have any cigars, but we’ll be ready to go at the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said, poking fun at Joe Burrow’s penchant for puffing those after big wins. Only one QB can win the Super Bowl. Whether it’s Hurts or Ma- homes, it’s another victory for the Black QBs who were overlooked throughout the years.
