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NEWS RELEASE

January 25, 2008

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Howard County “GoodSports” Award Winners Announced

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – The Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks has announced that two county residents have been selected as GoodSports Award recipients by the Mid-Atlantic Recreation & Parks Sports Alliance. Molly Fleming, a student at Mount View Middle School, and Jim Long, a volunteer coach, will receive their awards on Monday, February 4 at the Maryland State House in Annapolis at a reception co-hosted by the Alliance and Speaker of the Maryland House of Delegates Michael Busch.

The GoodSports Award recognizes both young athletes and coaches who have displayed a consistent commitment to good sportsmanship throughout their participation in athletics. Molly Fleming, recipient of the youth award, is a standout lacrosse player for the Howard County Lacrosse Program who shows great respect for teammates, coaches and the game of lacrosse. Jim Long, recipient of the adult award, has been a volunteer coach with the Howard County Lacrosse Program for many years. In addition to coaching girls’ lacrosse, Jim has served as Vice President of the girls’ lacrosse program and as a volunteer on various administrative committees.

“We are proud that Molly and Jim have been recognized for being such GoodSports,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “Molly has obviously had some good role models who have shown her that true winners compete with dignity and know how to have fun and behave appropriately whether the end result is a victory or a defeat. Jim is a wonderful coach who leads by example and often works behind-the-scenes to make it possible for kids to have such great experiences as they compete.”

Gary Arthur, Director of Howard County Recreation & Parks said, “In an era when the sport media focuses on the negative aspects of the game, it is refreshing to know that at the fundamental level there are players and coaches who have already learned one of life’s most important lessons – good sportsmanship.”

The Mid-Atlantic Recreation and Parks’ Sports Alliance is a consortium of Recreation and Parks Departments, organizations representing sports officials, and youth sports associations in the region. Each member organization designated one player and one adult for the GoodSports Award.

The mission of the Alliance is to develop and communicate a consistent message that organizations and their players, coaches and spectators will be held accountable to a code of conduct that promotes GoodSports and keeps recreational competitive and non-competitive sporting activities in proper perspective.

The reception will begin at 6:45 p.m. in Room 180 of the House Office Building. Members of the Howard County Delegation will be on hand for the awards presentation in the House Chamber immediately after the reception.