Sports Law Handbook

Teams, players join in efforts to support recovery of quake-stricken nation

By Bridget Hunter
Staff Writer

Washington — In the United States, most professional sporting events start with a salute to the American flag, and the January 24 American Football Conference (AFC) championship game was no exception. But it closed with a salute to a different banner when one of the game’s star athletes unfurled the flag of Haiti as his team received the victor’s trophy.

Pierre Garcon, wide receiver for the Indianapolis Colts, had 11 catches — including one for a touchdown — in what was likely the most important game thus far in his professional sports career, but the recent devastation in Haiti, where his family originates, never was far from his mind.

In a shower of confetti at game’s end, Garcon waved Haiti’s flag in front of thousands of fans in the stadium and millions more in the television audience.

“It’s just bringing awareness,” he said. “What is going on over there is very tough and no one should have to go through that, especially with people who are already less fortunate. I’m just trying to bring awareness and support.”

Garcon and the Colts will play February 7 in Super Bowl XLIV — the National Football League (NFL) annual championship game — against the New Orleans Saints and Jonathan Vilma, another player with a very personal connection to Haiti.

Vilma, a linebacker, was born in the United States, but both his parents immigrated to the United States from Haiti in the 1970s and many members of his extended family still reside in Haiti.

Vilma has created a T-shirt to celebrate his team’s success and raise money for earthquake victims in Haiti. The black shirt bears the phrase “Department of Domeland Defense” over a design of crossed axes and a sharply pointed gold fleur-de-lis holding a pair of skulls.

“I want to make sure [money] goes to where the help really needs to be,” Vilma said in advance of the AFC championship game. “So after this game I’m really going to take some time to understand where I can help and do whatever I can.”

The NFL and the NFL Players Association (NFLPA) have pledged $2.5 million for relief and recovery efforts in Haiti. The groups promised to contribute $1 million through their Disaster Relief Fund to the American Red Cross and Partners In Health. In addition, the NFL and its television network partners aired pregame and in-game messages (valued at $1.5 million) during the conference championship games to promote donations.

PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL

The National Basketball Association (NBA) and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) announced January 15 that they will contribute $1 million to support relief efforts in Haiti. They said they plan to partner with UNICEF and other relief agencies to provide emergency aid to the estimated 3 million people affected by the earthquake.

Retired Miami Heat star Alonzo Mourning and current player Dwyane Wade organized the “Athletes Relief Fund for Haiti” to encourage athletes to help Haiti earthquake victims. The funds that Mourning and Wade raise will go to Project Medishare.

On January 15, Mourning flew to Haiti, where he assisted medical personnel in a makeshift hospital.

“It’s been a humbling experience. I walk through here with extreme concern and a heavy heart because you’ve got all these people around you who are suffering,” Mourning said. “It’s extreme devastation here.”

Mourning announced January 18 the response to the fund was already “overwhelming,” with total pledges surpassing $800,000. Wade pledged his one-game salary, about $175,000, while Mourning, and NBA stars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Chris Paul each pledged $100,000, according to fund officials.

BASEBALL AND HOCKEY

Major League Baseball (MLB), its clubs, its players and its fans also are supporting relief efforts in Haiti in the wake of the January 12 earthquake, which took an estimated 150,000 lives and left more than a million homeless.

Noting that “more than half of Haiti’s population is under the age of 21,” MLB Commissioner Bud Selig announced January 14 that MLB has pledged $1 million to UNICEF to help it provide clean water, sanitation, medical supplies and temporary shelter.

The contribution, an extension of MLB’s “Going Beyond” efforts, was made on behalf of the MLB and its 30 clubs. Individual teams and players are supplementing the league’s action with efforts of their own:

• The San Francisco Giants raised $19,650 in an online auction for the opportunity to participate in three team-related events.

• The San Diego Padres donated $25,000 to UNICEF and announced its Dominican Republic Baseball Park’s staff is collecting bottled water, canned food and medicine for Haiti.

• Detroit Tigers player Magglio Ordonez donated $100,000 to the American Red Cross, while teammate Miguel Cabrera donated $90,000 to Project Medishare for Haiti Inc.

In addition, the National Hockey League (NHL), despite a dearth of direct connections to Haiti, is supporting that devastated nation with a $100,000 donation to UNICEF.

“The catastrophe in Haiti requires an urgent response from the National Hockey League family,” NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said January 14. “The victims need food, water, temporary housing and basic medical supplies, and the emergency effort by UNICEF is helping to provide those critical commodities to communities in desperate need.”

The players unions of the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL have joined together to  create the “One Team 4 Haiti” campaign to support the Clinton Bush Haiti Fund’s focus on the country’s earthquake relief and recovery efforts.

The campaign launched with a text-message fundraising effort that asks U.S. supporters to text the word “TEAM” to 20222 to donate $10. Canadian supporters can text the word “TEAM” to 20222 to donate $5. The amount will be charged to the donor’s cell phone bill and go directly to relief efforts.

“We are looking forward to joining forces with our peers … to help raise awareness and funds for Haiti, and we encourage others to support the country’s recovery efforts any way they can,” said MLB Players Association representative Mark Loretta. “Please support our One Team 4 Haiti campaign and help us do our part to restore hope in the hearts and minds of all Haitians.”

Help save lives in Haiti: Visit the White House Web site for options. The International Committee of the Red Cross provides a service to help people find loved ones, and the State Department has a Person Finder where people can post information about persons missing in Haiti.