Sports

Who has COPA & “Football” fever?! As an ex-soccer player, I know I have tons of old soccer balls piled up in a storage room at home. Have you too retired from you high school/college soccer playing days? Where to...

Between the underway Eagles season and the Phillies wrapping up their season yesterday afternoon sports are on Philadelphians brains (per standard, this is Philly after all.) A recent NRDC report discussed the National Resources Defense Council's work with national sports organizations and the importance of environmental education for fans. Many teams are actively working towards sustainability within their organizations. So what's happening on Philly fields? Read on for a rundown on the strides Philadelphia teams are making.

Did you know that just 16% of Americans know what is going on in science,while 60% know what's happening in sports news. These statistics aren't exactly shocking, but they do demonstrate what the American population is tuned into... and what's slipping through the cracks. With this knowledge in mind national sports organizations and the NRDC (National Resources Defense Council) have joined forces to shed light on the importance of ecological stewardship.

Dear Mayor Nutter, Yesterday was a great day. I woke up at 6 AM to run with 39,999 of my closest friends down Broad Street. It made up for missing the Supermoon thanks to a bunch of clouds on Saturday evening. Given that this was my fourth time for the Broad Street Run, I was pretty calm awaiting the start gun. But I heard your proclamation that you wanted to make Broad Street the biggest 10 miler in the WORLD. Kudos, Mayor.  I appreciate trying to get Philly on the map. I even high-fived you after I crossed the start line in support of your ambition, Greenworks and more. Yet running yesterday reminded me of how much waste is created from one (average) 1:40 minute run. Especially when 40K people run.  Since you've already proclaimed we want to make Philadelphia America's Greenest City by 2015, why can't we combine the two ideas and make Broad Street Run the Biggest Environmentally-friendly Philly Race?!? Here are a few observations of the Broad Street Run and suggestions on how we can green-i-fy both the expo & race:

This week marks the third annual National Basketball Association’s Green Week. The NBA team is working to promote environmental awareness and funding, and become a more eco-conscious organization. “The environmental work championed by the NBA has influenced all sports leagues in the United States in a meaningful and public way,” said Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) Senior Scientist Allen Hershkowitz. “We all recognize the cultural significance of the NBA, and I applaud the league’s use of its influence to promote clean air, clean water and a healthy climate.” Some of the NBA’s initiatives for green week include:

Apparently, the Eagles are leaving no stone un-turned. After a kick-ass performance by Vick & 59-28 victory on Monday night and as we reported yesterday, PETA naming the Linc as #1 most vegetarian-friendly NFL stadium, the Eagles announced their plans to becoming the greenest stadium in the World. Talk about a few week's accomplishments. By next opening day next September, the Linc will have 2500 solar panels on the roof & facade, 100 spiral sharped wind turbines and a cogenerational power plant to run biodiesel or natural gas to fully power any game, lights, sound & crowd roars. Over the next 2 decades, the Eagles can save $60 million in energy costs. The Linc can compete for the (read more, after the jump)

Citizens Bank Park has topped PETA's Most Vegetarian Friendly MLB Stadium in 2009 & 2010, even calling CBP an "undisputed dynasty" in the rankings. Now, Philadelphia Eagle's own Lincoln Financial Field has been named PETA's #1 Vegetarian-Friendly NFL Stadium. According to the PETA article, "Flying high at number one is the Eagles' Lincoln Financial Field, where protein-packed mock-steak sandwiches, faux-chicken sandwiches, veggie dogs, and veggie burgers are coming off the grill faster than DeSean Jackson in the open field". Opening in August 2003 & seating 68,532, the Linc has quadrupled their number of concession areas compared to the Eagles' former home of Veteran's Stadium. PETA released the news last week, but there is one very ironical part of this: Michael Vick's current position as dominating QB for the Eagles. 47 Pit Bulls were seized from Bad Newz Kennels in 2007, leading to Vick's prison sentence. The LA Times