September 21, 2007

Evergreen Sports

Silicon Valley business leaders Steve Luczo, Bill and Denise Watkins buy San Jose Stealth lacrosse team

Silicon Valley business leaders Steve Luczo, and Bill and Denise Watkins have gone from season ticket holders to sports owners by leading an investor group in the recent purchase of the San Jose Stealth indoor professional lacrosse team.

LW Lacrosse LLC bought the Stealth, one of 14 National Lacrosse League teams, from majority owner Lacrosse Owners Group, LLC, including minor investors comprised of a group of Bay Area business executives, business executives from Ontario, Canada, and Silicon Valley Sports and Entertainment (SVS&E), the owners of the National Hockey League’s San Jose Sharks. The new ownership group also includes Stealth President/General Manager Johnny Mouradian. The ownership change keeps the Stealth from leaving the Bay Area.

“Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the United States and we want to help continue that growth here in the Bay Area,” Denise Watkins said. “Lacrosse is such an active sport, it’s a great game for kids. It’s fun, fast family entertainment and is much more accessible from a cost perspective than other professional sports. We want to expose more people to it because it’s a fun game to watch.”

While the team will continue to play its games at HP Pavilion, they have moved their office headquarters to Pleasanton, Ca.

In 2007, the Stealth bounced back from a pair of losing seasons by qualifying for the postseason and advancing to the Western Division finals. Continuing to improve the team’s performance, increasing sponsorship opportunities, as well as helping expand the sport of lacrosse in the Bay Area are initial goals of the new ownership group.

“The National Lacrosse League is pleased to welcome Stephen Luczo and William and Denise Watkins to our dynamic group of team owners,” NLL Commissioner Jim Jennings said. “They are leaders in the local business community with a passion for the sport. We have every confidence that they will build the Stealth into one of the Bay Area's most exciting and fan-friendly experiences in professional sports.”

Aside from their Silicon Valley successes, Luczo and the Watkins family have experience in sports investment. In 2001, they founded Primal Quest, the first environmentally friendly, world class, multi-sport adventure race in North America. In 2002, Luczo launched Balance Vector, a broad-based entertainment company that includes sports ownership and athlete sponsorship as an operating business. He has a minority ownership stake in the Boston Celtics and is a founding partner of Luczo Dragon Racing, an Indy Car race team that finished fifth in the 2007 Indianapolis 500. Among the athletes Balance Vector has sponsored are Kit DesLauriers, two-time women’s free ski world champion (2005, 2006), Nathan Fa’avae, adventure racing team world champion (2006) and Cindy Mosey, the three-time women’s kiteboard riding world champion (2002-2005).

The new Sharks home (above) and road (inset) sweaters

San Jose Sharks unveil new look

The San Jose Sharks unveiled their new home and road sweaters on Sept. 17 as team captain Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Kyle McLaren and Mike Grier modeled the Sharks new home and road uniforms at a special press conference on the ice at HP Pavilion.

The newly designed sweater incorporates the updated Sharks logo and the team’s primary colors of deep pacific teal, burnt orange and black.

“Our goal was to produce a uniform that paid homage to our birth as a franchise while incorporating a few elements that are more ‘now,’” said President and Chief Executive Officer Greg Jamison. “The striping on the jersey is reminiscent to our first sweaters. We increased the size of the numbers and added them to the front of the sweater, which will help our fans in identifying our players more quickly and easily. On top of all that, we are excited by the new technological innovations made by RbK.”

The uniform was designed by Terry Smith, who also created the Sharks original and updated logos, with input from select players, Jamison, Executive Vice President of Business Operations Malcolm Bordelon, Equipment Manager Mike Aldrich and several members of the Business Operations Department.

EVERGREEN SPORTS SCHEDULES 9-25 to 10-5

Evergreen Valley High sports schedule
9/25 – Girls’ volleyball at Leigh, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
9/25 – Girls’ tennis at Silver Creek, 3:15 p.m.

9/26 – Girls’ water polo vs. Silver Creek at Sobrato, 5 p.m. varsity
9/26 – Boys’ water polo vs. Lincoln at Live Oak, 5 p.m. varsity

9/27 – Girls’ tennis vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.
9/27 – Girls’ volleyball vs. Westmont, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
9/27 – Cross country vs. Leland and Santa Teresa at Montgomery Hill, 3:30 p.m.

9/29 – Football at Santa Teresa, 11 a.m. JV and 1:30 p.m. varsity

10/2 – Girls’ volleyball at Leland, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/2 – Boys’ water polo vs. Leland at Willow Glen, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/2 – Girls’ water polo at Willow Glen, 7 p.m. varsity
10/2 – Girls’ tennis vs. Leland, 3:15 p.m.

10/4 – Girls’ volleyball at Lincoln, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/4 – Girls’ tennis at Santa Teresa, 3:15 p.m.
10/4 – JV football at Del Mar, 3:30 p.m.

10/5 – Varsity football at Del Mar, 3:30 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant High sports schedule
9/25 - Girls’ tennis vs. Yerba Buena, 3:15 p.m.
9/25 – Girls’ volleyball at Westmont, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity

9/26 – Girls’ water polo at Sobrato, 4 p.m. varsity
9/26 – Boys’ water polo at Sobrato, 8 p.m. JV and 7 p.m. varsity

9/27 – Girls’ volleyball at Leland, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
9/27 - Girls’ tennis at Branham, 3:15 p.m.

9/28 – Football vs. Westmont, 5 p.m. JV and 7:30 p.m. varsity

10/1 – Cross country vs. Live Oak at Alum Rock, 3:30 p.m.

10/2 – Girls’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Sobrato, 4 p.m. varsity
10/2 - Girls’ tennis vs. Lincoln, 3:15 p.m.
10/2 – Girls’ volleyball vs. Lincoln, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/2 – Boys’ water polo vs. Piedmont Hills at Independence, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity

10/4 – Girls’ water polo vs. Evergreen at Sobrato, 5 p.m. varsity
10/4 – Girls’ volleyball at Branham, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/4 – Boys’ water polo vs. Santa Teresa at Independence, 4 p.m. JV and 5 p.m. varsity
10/4 - Girls’ tennis at Prospect, 3:15 p.m.

Silver Creek High sports schedule
9/25 - Girls’ tennis vs. Evergreen, 3:15 p.m.

9/26 – Girls’ water polo vs. Evergreen at Sobrato, 5 p.m. varsity
9/26 – Boys’ water polo vs. Santa Teresa at Sobrato, 6 p.m. varsity
9/26 – Girls’ volleyball at Prospect, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity

9/27 – Cross country vs. Willow Glen and Sobrato at Montgomery Hill, 3:30 p.m.
9/27 - Girls’ tennis at Oak Grove, 3:15 p.m.

9/28 – Football at Leland, 5 p.m. JV and 7:30 p.m. varsity
9/28 – Girls’ volleyball vs. Piedmont Hills, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity

10/2 – Girls’ water polo at Sobrato, 5 p.m. varsity
10/2 - Girls’ tennis vs. Piedmont Hills, 3:15 p.m.
10/2 – Girls’ volleyball at Santa Teresa, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/2 – Boys’ water polo at Sobrato, 3 p.m. varsity

10/4 – Girls’ water polo vs. Willow Glen at Independence, 3 p.m. varsity
10/4 – Girls’ volleyball at Sobrato, 5 p.m. JV and 6 p.m. varsity
10/4 – Boys’ water polo at Independence, 6 p.m. varsity
10/4 - Girls’ tennis vs. Leigh, 3:15 p.m.

For more information on local games, log on to the BVAL Web site at http://www.bval.org/.

SPORTS BRIEFS

Sign up now for San Jose Evergreen National Junior Basketball
San Jose Evergreen National Junior Basketball Season is here again.  This is for all 3rd to 8th grade children living in the San Jose Evergreen Area Boundary.  On-line registration is now open.  Please visit our website at www.sanjosenjb.org and click on "register" on top of home page.  We are asking everyone to please register on-line.  We are conducting three skills evaluations at Chaboya Middle School, 3276 Cortona Dr. on Saturdays, 9/8, 9/15, or 9/22 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 

Please make sure your child attends one of these mandatory evaluations.  The purpose of these evaluations is to assess each player for placement on balanced teams.  Please remember that teams are filled on a "First come first Serve" basis.  San Jose Evergreen NJB teaches sportsmanship, fundamental skills development and is great family fun.  Please visit our website, www.sanjosenjb.org  for up-to-date information or come on by to one of the skills evaluations if you have any questions or just want to check us out.

E.A.S.Y Hoops Friday Night Teen Basketball League
E.A.S.Y. Hoops (Evergreen Area Sports for Youth) is now accepting registration for boys and girls in 6th thru 9th grade. Game dates are Fridays from Sept. 7th through Nov. 30. Although the approximate times will vary from team to team, the first game will begin at 3:30 p.m. with a new game played every hour until 8:30 p.m. All players should plan to attend the draft clinic on Sept. 7 at Chaboya Middle School to determine team placement. Space is limited to 120 players. All games are played at Chaboya MS, 3276 Cortona Drive, San Jose.

The cost is $120 per player. This includes a game jersey, equipment use, participation medals, personal basketball, and trophies for 1st and 2nd place teams for the end of season tournament and officials.

Volunteer Coaches Needed: Coaches are needed and greatly appreciated. Please indicate your interest when registering.

To Register: Contact John Franza at franzahoops@yahoo.com or Allen Ventura at fourvees@pacbell.net for registration information.

Bay Area Boot Camp 5K Fitness Training Program
Boot Camp dates are from September 10 - November 4 at South Bay locations. The cost is $125 - All proceeds benefit the Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative. The 5K Fitness Training program, developed by Bay Area Boot Camp’s expert coaching staff, is a comprehensive workout series designed to prepare you for the Silicon Valley 5K Run/Walk on November 4, 2007.

Designed for runners of all levels, this 8-week program includes:

8 weekly training sessions led by Bay Area Boot Camp coaches

A detailed schedule of running, speed, and cross-training drills

A Training log to help you track your progress and keep your focus

An 8-week nutrition plan designed to support your training and optimize your energy level

Unlimited phone and email support from our coaching staff of veteran 5K, 10K, and marathon runners

15% off September and October Boot Camp sessions - an ideal way to enhance your race preparations and cross train in a supportive group environment

A pre-race party – get to know your fellow 5K racers and learn more about BAWSI!

For more information, contact Mary Beth Gonzales at marybeth@bayareabootcamp.com or phone 408-425-9475. Visit our website at www.bayareabootcamp.com

Sports Briefs: Sports Briefs listings are subject to the following fee structure: $25 per month, per publication for the Evergreen and Almaden Times; $10 per month, per publication for the monthly newspapers. Indicate publication placement at the time the listing/payment is submitted. Sports Briefs accepts checks – payable to Times Media, Inc – VISA or MC. To charge your payments call Sonia Pineda at 494-7000 x205. Be sure to reference your team/organization with your payment. Listings appear once payments are received. TMI sponsored events and full-proceed charity fundraisers exempted. Email, fax or mail listing text to: candy@timesmediainc.com 1310 Tully Road, Suite 107, San Jose, CA 95122. 408-494-7078 (fax) Limit 200 words. Questions? Call 494-7000 x225.