The late George Foreman's ties to upstate New York
The late George Foreman, famously known for his skills inside the boxing ring, still has his fists on Central New York. “George was beloved by everybody. He was a great fighter in the ring and a great human out of the ring. He did so much for the sport, heavyweight champion, he fought around the […]
The late George Foreman, famously known for his skills inside the boxing ring, still has his fists on Central New York.
“George was beloved by everybody. He was a great fighter in the ring and a great human out of the ring. He did so much for the sport, heavyweight champion, he fought around the world, everybody loved his style, he was dedicated,” said Ed Brophy, executive director of the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota. He says outside of the boxing ring, Foreman was devoted to young people.
“Helping them out because he had help when he was young and he was directed in the right way. He would always do that to the young ones of today,” Brophy said.
Foreman was inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame in 2003.
“We try to teach the young ones his great career that he had, so the young ones growing up know about George Foreman. And of course, those who lived during his time recall the memories of George,” Brophy said.
The most historic boxing ring now resides in Canastota.
“Every fighter’s dream was to fight in the United States, fight at Madison Square Garden. This ring was there since the early 20s all the way to 2007,” Brophy said.
Brophy says George Foreman’s first professional fight was in this ring but this isn’t the only boxing ring that holds sacred ground.
Just a short trip down the New York State Thruway is the Wilson’s Cops and Kids Boxing Gym in Utica.
“This ring was the boxing ring used in the Scott Le Doux v. George Foreman boxing event here in Utica, N.Y. in 1976,” said Bill Rossi, the former president of the Utica Boxing Association, which ran from 1996 to 2012.
He says they found the boxing ring buried in the basement of the Utica Auditorium.
“We ran about 5,000 kids through that boxing program in inner city Utica,” Rossi said.
“Then this ring went into storage really until 2023 when we did our first event. It was like pulling out a piece of history, dusting everything off, making sure we had all the right pieces, nothing was missing and to our knowledge, everything was there,” said Chris Evans, president of Wilson’s Cops and Kids, a non-profit organization that provides free boxing for at risks youth.
“A boxing ring really is a sacred place. You learn a lot about yourself and what you’re able to do and what you’re able to endure. Having such a historic thing be the center of our program, you can’t replicate this,” Evans said.
“A unique, great gift for the kids of the community and the community in general. It’s a fantastic thing,” said Rossi.
Class of ’25 College of Law Graduate to Be Inducted Into the U.S. Olympic Hall Of Fame — Syracuse University News
College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98 and Marla Runyan L’25 A runner for most of her life, Marla Runyan L’25 crossed yet another finish line when she walked the stage in May to accept her diploma from the College of Law. While this was quite an achievement, she is no stranger to hard work […]
College of Law Dean Terence Lau L’98 and Marla Runyan L’25
A runner for most of her life, Marla Runyan L’25 crossed yet another finish line when she walked the stage in May to accept her diploma from the College of Law. While this was quite an achievement, she is no stranger to hard work and success. Legally blind, Runyan has literally crossed hundreds of finish lines while competing in the Olympic and Paralympic Games in track and field. This month, she will be inducted into the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC) Hall of Fame alongside such other greats as tennis phenom Serena Williams, gymnast Gabby Douglas, skier Bode Miller and basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski.
At age 9, Runyan lost much of her vision to Stargardt’s disease, but this never stopped her from participating in athletics, eventually competing in track and field at San Diego State University, where she received an undergraduate degree in education of the deaf and a master’s degree in education of deaf/blind children. (She also earned a second master’s degree from the University of Northern Colorado in special education, vision impairment.) Runyan competed in the 1992 Barcelona and the 1996 Atlanta Paralympic Games, winning five gold medals and one silver. After setting world records in the T13 classification in every event from the 100-meters to the marathon, Runyan stepped away from para athletics and set her sights on making the U.S. Olympic Team.
“After 1996, for me it was the Olympics or nothing,” Runyan says, noting that she did not require a guide runner when racing. “I needed to compete in an environment where the expectation was that I was just like anyone else, competing and training with the best athletes in the world.”
And she did just that. The only legally blind U.S. athlete to qualify and compete in both the Paralympic and Olympic Games, Runyan represented the U.S. in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney in the women’s 1,500 meters and in the 2004 Olympics in Athens in the women’s 5,000 meters.
In addition to her Olympic success, Runyan also was the top American female finisher in the New York City (2002), Boston (2003) and Chicago (2004) marathons finishing fourth, fifth and seventh in the professional women’s field for those events, respectively. She was also the National Champion at 5,000 meters from 2001- 2003.
Marla Runyan at the 2000 USATF Olympic Trials in Sacramento, California. (Photo credit: Victah@Photo Run)
Runyan retired as a professional athlete in 2008, but her passion for equity and access carried through to her next chapter, which included working in digital accessibility at the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston; as a para athlete and accessibility manager for the Boston Athletic Association, where she created a new competitive division for para athletes in the Boston Marathon; as assistant director of digital accessibility at Syracuse University; and in her current role as accessibility policy and procurement strategist in the Executive Office of Technology Services and Security, for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Her impetus to go to law school stemmed from her advocacy work for individuals with disabilities and her passion for sport equity. “Despite what I have accomplished in my lifetime, as a woman and a woman with a disability, I have felt underestimated in the work force, and for me to get things done I knew I had to be over-accomplished just to have the same opportunities, so I decided a law degree would support me in that endeavor,” she says.
While Runyan was accepted at another law school in the Boston area where she lives, it was a full-time residential program that would have forced her to give up her job and sacrifice time with family. Syracuse’s JDinteractive (JDi) program was a much better fit for her, as its year-round hybrid program allowed her to spread out the online coursework and balance her career and time with her daughter.
And while law school came with challenges, this Olympian made it work.
Tackling law school as someone with vision loss meant having a deeper understanding of the materials than her sighted classmates, who could quickly refer to their notes.
“I had to know facts and holdings backwards and forwards and not be dependent on visuals, and that’s a very tall order when you’ve got 15 case briefs to remember for each class,” Runyan says, “but I created my own short hand, key words and prompts to spur memories of the case or the main takeaways. I thought of every case as a story, and I’ve applied what I’ve done throughout my life in terms of persevering and problem solving to make it through.”
Runyan especially enjoyed the JDi program’s residencies, where she was able to meet faculty and members of her cohort in person. When she attended the Foundation Skills residency on the Syracuse Law campus, she got to know Associate Dean for Academic Programs and Teaching Professor Shannon Gardner, whose “style of interaction was really respectful of all students,” Runyan says. “I felt she was a very important part of my law school experience and that she deeply cared for us and wanted us to do well.”
Runyan started using what she learned in law school in her own work right away, drafting policy and contract language to support digital access for users of assistive technology across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
While she’s not currently practicing law, she is “leaving the door wide open.”
“Don’t count me out,” says Runyan, who will be taking the Massachusetts Bar Exam next February. “The J.D. degree has opened up so many opportunities. Anything is possible.”
34-2: Singapore stung by Aussies in World Champs opener
The Aussie Stingers kick started their 2025 World Aquatics Championships campaign with a dominant win against the host nation, Singapore. Alice Williams opened the goal scoring for Australia, with a goal early in the first quarter. Despite holding on to a 7-0 lead at the first quarter break, the Aussies kept the pedal to the […]
The Aussie Stingers kick started their 2025 World Aquatics Championships campaign with a dominant win against the host nation, Singapore.
Alice Williams opened the goal scoring for Australia, with a goal early in the first quarter. Despite holding on to a 7-0 lead at the first quarter break, the Aussies kept the pedal to the metal, and were ruthless in attack and defence for the entirety of the four quarters.
Every field player for the Ord Minnett Aussie Stingers scored a goal, Williams the top scorer with five of her own, closely followed by New South Wales Institute of Sport (NSWIS) Scholarship holders Tilly Kearns[pictured above] and Olivia Mitchell with four while Tenealle Fasala also scored four.
Kearns was named the Most Valuable Player of the match and said she’s loving being back with the Australian team mates.
“It’s so good being back, I love these girls so much, they’re the funnest team in the world,” Kearns said.
“We just have so much fun together, but we also work really, really hard and we all put our heads down when we need to, but we know how to laugh and have fun at the same time so it’s just the best,” she said.
For World Championships debutant Mitchell, today’s game was a great way to start her first World Championships.
“It was really good, I really enjoyed being around the girls. They’re very uplifting and positive, and it’s just a really, really good environment to play in,” she said.
“For the first half, the Singapore crowd were right above us in the stand…it was really loud.”
Australia will play Italy in their second pool match on Sunday 13 July at 7:35pm AEST. Watch LIVE and FREE on 9Now.
“It’s going to be a really tough battle. It will be a really good hit out against them. Playing them in Perth was fun, and really difficult at the same time,” Mitchell said.
“But it’s going to be a really good game on Sunday and I’m excited.”
U.S. Routs China, Hungary Edges Greece to Open Women’s Water Polo
World Championships: U.S. Routs China, Hungary Edges Greece to Open Women’s Water Polo The U.S. women’s water polo team routed China, 15-7, on Thursday to open the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. Hungary edged Greece, 10-9, in the best game of a slate of mostly blowouts to start proceedings at the OCBC Aquatic Centre. China […]
World Championships: U.S. Routs China, Hungary Edges Greece to Open Women’s Water Polo
The U.S. women’s water polo team routed China, 15-7, on Thursday to open the 2025 World Championships in Singapore. Hungary edged Greece, 10-9, in the best game of a slate of mostly blowouts to start proceedings at the OCBC Aquatic Centre.
China kept it close with the U.S., down just three at halftime, before a 6-1 edge for the U.S. in the third quarter blew the game open. Emma Lineback scored two of her three goals in the third quarter. Emily Ausmus tallied a hat trick, Jenna Flynn had two goals and two assists, and Ryann Neushul and Ava Stryker scored twice apiece. Amanda Longan made 15 saves in goal, limiting China to 7-for-36 shooting (19 percent). The Americans are chasing their eighth world title.
Hungary used a 4-0 edge in the third quarter to top Greece. Three goals by Foteini Tricha, who scored six times overall, tied the game in the fourth quarter. But a power-play tally by Natasa Rybanska with 1:11 left and Boglarka Neszmely’s 12th save of the game gave Hungary the win.
Rybanska scored three times, and Krisztina Garda paired two goals with two assists for Hungary.
Reigning Olympic champion Spain jumped out to a 9-1 lead on South Africa on the way to a 23-4 win. Irene Gonzalez led the way with five goals. Elena Ruiz tallied a hat trick. Adriana Ruiz orchestrated the attack with two goals and six assists, and Bea Ortiz paired two goals with three assists.
The Netherlands needed just 37 shots to register a 25-6 win over Argentina. Hat tricks came from Lieke Rogge, Kitty-Lynn Joustra, Fleurian Bosveld and Simone van de Kraats. Bente Rogge paired two goals with five assists, and Sabrina van der Sloot added two and four.
Olympic silver medalist Australia romped to a 34-2 victory over Singapore behind five goals from Alice Williams. Olivia Mitchell, Tilly Kearns and Tenealle Fasala were each 4-for-4 shooting.
Italy navigated a relatively competitive game, overcoming a two-goal halftime deficit with 10 second-half goals to edge New Zealand, 14-9. Sofia Giustini, Chiara Ranalli and Agnese Cocchiere scored three times each. Aurora Giuseppina Condorelli made 10 saves. Aggie Weston led New Zealand with two goals.
Great Britain bested France, 12-9, with an 8-2 edge in the middle quarters. Katie Brown powered Britain with three goals and four assists, and Lily Turner added three goals. Ema Vernoux’s four goals led France.
Japan rode an 11-goal third-quarter to a 25-12 win over Croatia. Yumi Arima scored seven times, and Eruna Ura and Fuka Nishiyama tallied four goals and two assists each.
With Dino guiding their way, Brady and Trey Ebel inch closer to a professional baseball future
With more than 30 years as a coach in both the minor and major leagues, Dino Ebel has played a role in the development of hundreds of professional baseball players. He managed players such as Paul Konerko and Shane Victorino as minor leaguers, and coached Mike Trout and Howie Kendrick as young big leaguers. Last […]
With more than 30 years as a coach in both the minor and major leagues, Dino Ebel has played a role in the development of hundreds of professional baseball players.
He managed players such as Paul Konerko and Shane Victorino as minor leaguers, and coached Mike Trout and Howie Kendrick as young big leaguers. Last season, he won his second World Series title as the third base coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Yet, no role on or off the baseball field has been more important to Ebel than the role of dad to his two baseball-playing sons, Brady and Trey.
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On Sunday, Brady — ranked the No. 84 MLB Draft prospect by The Athletic’s Keith Law — has the opportunity to join his dad in making professional baseball a career. Trey, a rising senior who is a well-regarded draft prospect for 2026, could make it a trio next July. Whenever the two do turn pro, it will seem like old hat for kids who grew up taking ground balls with the likes of Mookie Betts.
Dino played six seasons professionally, but he was already coaching even before he hung up his playing spikes officially. He spent three seasons as a player-coach before moving into full-time coaching in 1995. He’s been teaching the game ever since, first as a minor-league coach and then as a member of the Angels and later Dodgers big-league coaching staffs.
Brady, 17, came along in 2007 when Dino was on Mike Scioscia’s Angels staff, and Trey followed a year later. (They have an older sister, Destiny, as well.) The two have been a regular presence in Dino’s big-league clubhouses ever since. Though Dino has been very involved in developing his boys’ games away from the field, he lets the current big leaguers do the teaching when Brady and Trey come to his workplace.
“I don’t coach them when they’re on the field with the players because the players coach them,” Dino Ebel said at Oracle Park before the Dodgers took on the Giants on Friday night. “In my mind, that’s the best way to do it, to let the players teach my sons.
“Coming up with the Angels with Trout and (Albert) Pujols and all the other guys, Torii Hunter, and then (Corey) Seager and Mookie and Freddie (Freeman) and Shohei (Ohtani). They’ve been around the elite players and learned the process, and now they’re putting it together.”
Both brothers played the last two seasons at Corona High School in Southern California, which has quickly turned into a powerhouse program. Brady is one of four legitimate draft prospects who suited up for the Panthers this year. Trey and others will have scouts continuing to flock to Corona games next year.
“I love being around them guys. I’m going to miss them,” Brady said of his Corona teammates. “But a lot of us got bigger and better things about to happen.”
Brady Ebel at the plate for Corona. (Gia Cunningham / Courtesy of Corona High School)
A strong senior season has put Brady in position to hear his name called on Day 1 of the MLB Draft, which begins Sunday night. A left-handed hitter, Brady hit .341 this season with a .504 OBP. A natural shortstop who played a lot of third base this season with fellow top draft prospect Billy Carlson next to him in the infield, Brady impressed scouts with his arm strength and athleticism, as well as his contact skills at the plate. If he doesn’t turn pro, Brady has a scholarship offer to play for the defending NCAA champion LSU Tigers.
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For high school players, there is always a tough decision about whether to turn pro or go to college. Unlike most players in that position, Brady knows exactly what to expect from professional baseball life. What he doesn’t know, he can learn from his dad.
“He’s seen a lot of kids my age trying to work their way up,” Brady said at the MLB Draft Combine last month.
Dino believes the time Brady and Trey have spent hanging out with big leaguers has prepared them well for the next step in their careers. He says they are always asking questions and trying to get better.
“I look at it and go, ‘That’s pretty cool. Those are my two boys.’ And they fit right in. They look like they’re in the major leagues,” Dino said. “It’s a process. They’re young. But it’s special when I can kick back and, if I’m doing some outfield drills, and then I’ll peek in and the other day just watching them field the ball and throw the ball, hitting with the major-league stars. It’s pretty cool as a dad.”
Although his career took him away from home a lot, Dino was very involved in his sons’ baseball development. His wife, Shannon, would film their at-bats, and they were constantly on FaceTime, talking over their games.
“They know it’s part of what their dad has to do, and any time I can get out there and watch them, I never miss,” Dino said. “Even in the wintertime, practicing, fall ball games, I never miss. I’m always there.”
Brady says his dad has had a huge role in making him the player he is today. He also credits his mom for selflessly taking him and his brother to every baseball event and keeping them grounded.
On Sunday night, Brady will be with his family at home watching the draft. Dino hopes to be back from the Dodgers’ game in San Francisco in time to join them. If not, he will likely be watching on an airplane with some of the big leaguers who helped hone Brady’s game during those infield drills and trips to the cage. Then on Monday, the whole family will fly to Atlanta for the All-Star Game. Just a typical family weekend for the Ebels.
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Whether Brady turns pro this year or after three years at LSU remains to be seen. Trey will face a similar choice with Texas A&M next year. Regardless of timing, though, it seems inevitable that the Ebel boys will be joining their dad in pro ball. It will truly be a family affair.
(Top photo of the Ebels during the Dodgers’ World Series celebration parade: Kirby Lee / Imagn Images)
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke track and field featured 47 student-athletes – 29 men and 18 women – tapped to the 2024-25 All-ACC Academic Team for the outdoor season, the conference office announced Friday afternoon. Will Atkins, Aden Bandukwala, Michael Bennett, Stuart Bladon, Conor Bohrer, Eric Bottern, Scott Campbell, TJ Clayton, Joe DiDario, Max Forte, […]
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Duke track and field featured 47 student-athletes – 29 men and 18 women – tapped to the 2024-25 All-ACC Academic Team for the outdoor season, the conference office announced Friday afternoon.
Will Atkins, Aden Bandukwala, Michael Bennett, Stuart Bladon, Conor Bohrer, Eric Bottern, Scott Campbell, TJ Clayton, Joe DiDario, Max Forte, Simen Guttormsen, Jonathan Horn, Grant Janish, Gage Knight, Andres Langston, Jeremiah Lauzon, Nathan Levine, Phillips Moore, Sean Morello, Riley Newport, Liam O’Hara, Matthew Prebola, Callum Robinson, Alexander Rosenthal, TJ Rowan, Michael Scherk, Jack Stanley, Joseph Taylor and Christian Toro comprised the honorees for the Duke men.
On the women’s side, the Blue Devil contingent included Braelyn Baker, Iris Downes, Mia Edim, Aliya Garozzo, Abby Geiser, Ally Gomm, Elise Heddens, Julia Jackson, Kyla Krawczyk, Julia Magliaro, Megan McGinnis, Allison Neiders, Birgen Nelson, Addie Renner, Hattie Reynolds, Jill Roberts, Meredith Sims and Gemma Tutton.
Academic requirements for selection to the All-ACC Academic Team are a 3.0-grade point average for the previous semester and a 3.0 cumulative average during one’s academic career. In addition, student-athletes must compete in at least 50 percent of their team’s contests.
The Blue Devils enjoyed an incredible outdoor season that saw the Duke men capture its first ACC Outdoor Championship, while the men’s and women’s teams combined for 10 program records and 42 top-five program marks across individual and relay events.
The ACC Honor Roll, which recognizes all conference student-athletes with a grade point average of 3.0 for the current academic year, will be released later in July.
To stay up to date with Blue Devils cross country and track & field, follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook by searching “DukeTFXC.”
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