OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Unbeaten four-division world champion Terence “Bud” Crawford encouraged graduating University of Nebraska at Omaha students Friday to devote themselves to hard work, never give in to negativity and never stop setting goals.

Crawford, the keynote speaker at the school’s commencement ceremony at Baxter Arena, told of his journey from a difficult childhood in north Omaha to international boxing fame and how the graduates can use the approach he took to find success in their professional and personal lives.

“Being from Omaha means you’re a fighter,” he said. “That’s two things we have in common. I was a fighter before I became a boxer. I was a competitor before I put on the gloves. I accepted this invitation to speak with you today because I love being around other fighters. I love people who embrace who they are.”

As a teen, Crawford was kicked out of five schools for fighting before he graduated from high school. He ran with a bad crowd and was shot multiple times, once in the head. He said he was fortunate to find mentors who gave him hope he could have a better life, but he also had to do his part to make it happen.

“You control your own destiny,” he said. “You get to determine your greatness. You have everything you need to be a champion.”

Crawford told the graduates to not let obstacles stand in their way of achieving success and quoted Mike Tyson, who famously said everybody has a plan until they get punched in the face.

“It’s just as true in life as it is in boxing,” Crawford said. “You can set all the goals and make all the plans you want but sometimes you’re going to get punched in the face. You get the job interview, but you don’t get the job. You get the match online, but you don’t get the date. You make an investment, and then the market takes bad turn.”

The way to respond, he said, is to keep working and not waste time.

“All I heard growing up is no boxers come out of Omaha,” he said. “Where would I be if I listened to them? Do you think your basketball team listened to people who said they would finish second to last in their league? They believed in each other, won a conference and gave UNO its first-ever March Madness appearance.”

Crawford said he never let himself become satisfied once he began collecting championship belts. He will bid to become a five-division champion when he moves up two weights to fight undisputed super middleweight champ Canelo Alvarez in Las Vegas on Sept. 13.

“When I was coming up, I watched fighters who came before me and I saw how they got the money, the fame. They blew it all on jewelry and cars,” he said. “Once I became champion, I wanted more, so I had to keep being the same person and not letting success get to my head.

“There always is going to be someone with a faster car, a bigger house, more expensive clothes. Real fulfillment comes from somewhere else. This is important. Don’t be satisfied, ever. The moment I became a world champ, I didn’t celebrate it and call it quits. I said what’s next?”

Crawford, 37, said he will continue to be a fighter long after he hangs up his boxing gloves. He said he plans to continue growing his B&B Sports Academy, his north Omaha youth center where confidence, discipline and healthy habits are taught through sports.

“There are a lot of kids growing up just like me — rough neighborhoods, no guidance, nobody to look up to,” he said. “I want to be a light for them and show them what’s possible. That’s what I want. I’m challenging you all today to do the same. Remember where you come from. Remember you are a fighter.”

AP boxing: https://apnews.com/hub/boxing

Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Jim Wolf captained the 2000 Staples High School boys soccer team. He now serves as president of the Westport Soccer Association, and is a member of the Staples Boys Soccer Foundation.

As discussions continue about athletic fields and artificial turf, he writes:

My wife Lizzie and I both graduated from Staples in 2001. We quickly and enthusiastically moved back to our hometown from New York City after our third child was born. We have 3 children at Greens Farms Elementary School.

After moving back, I immediately became involved in the local youth soccer programs that had such a meaningful impact on my life. Our Westport Soccer Association is a non-profit that organizes travel and rec programs for more than 1,600 kids each fall and spring.

Similar to other youth organizations in town, participation levels for the WSA have increased significantly in the post-COVID years. Our enrollment has grown more than 30% compared to 2020.

This spring we are fielding 33 travel teams. We anticipate that number to increase as the current pre-K and rec players filter up into the travel program.

Each additional travel team requires an incremental 4 to 5 hours of field time per week. There was not capacity for this growth even before the Long Lots fields were taken offline.

Other town youth sports and high school programs are seeing similar enrollment increases. The existing grass fields have become over-utilized and unrested, and significantly deteriorated in quality.

Put plainly, and as many are aware, the current field inventory in Westport is inadequate. Player safety, given field conditions, is increasingly concerning.

Lower soccer fields at Long Lots Elementary School will soon be closed.

At this point, many Westport kids unfortunately will not be able to participate. Our young athletes are at risk of missing out on the numerous developmental benefits of youth athletics.

Based on the studies presented during the Long Lots construction discussions, it is understood that there are limited opportunities to create new fields in Westport, and maintaining the existing over-utilized grass fields requires more financial resources.

The community desperately needs new investment in the fields. Lighting and artificial surfaces are both reasonable and actionable solutions.

The limited budget allocated to fields to date has resulted in the WSA and other youth programs paying a meaningful per player fee to generate incremental revenue to invest in the existing fields.

Poor condition of Wakeman grass field (lower portion of photo) can be seen from the air.

This was not ideal for our families. But we stressed the importance of the supplemental funding, and the parent community has been willing to do their part for the kids.

Given the availability and quality of the grass fields, turfing in the safest way, using the newest products available must not only be considered, but expedited. The kids and the broader community cannot afford to have an RTM ruling or process that slows down progress.

All opportunities to expand field capacity and improve quality (ranging from lighting to irrigation to resting) should be quickly acted upon. Any ordinance that limits optionality or speed of development would be incredibly unfortunate. We are already years behind other communities on this.

How hard is it to resolve to improve fields for Westport’s kids in the safest way possible?

(“06880” Opinion pages are open to all. Email 06880blog@gmail.com.)

Ohio Governor Mark DeWine has sparked a backlash from other Republicans after proposing to increase a tax on betting in the state.

Newsweek reached out to DeWine’s office via his website for comment.

Why It Matters

DeWine initially proposed doubling Ohio’s tax on sports betting from 20 percent to 40 percent as part of his budget in February. He had already doubled it from 10 percent to 20 percent in a 2023 budget.

According to the Ohio Capital Journal, the money will be used for youth sports initiatives and a new stadium for NFL team the Cleveland Browns.

What To Know

If the tax increases, Ohio will have the second-largest betting tax rate, eclipsed only by New York, which has a 51 percent tax rate.

He is also proposing increasing taxes on cigarettes and vape products.

DeWine has clashed with other Republicans in the past. In September 2024, he criticized Donald Trump and his then-running mate JD Vance’s rhetoric on immigration in Ohio, though he said he supported both politicians.

What People Are Saying

His idea has sparked a backlash from members of his own party.

Donald Trump Jr. on X, formerly Twitter: “While my dad is trying to cut taxes for Americans, why is a REPUBLICAN Governor trying to raise taxes?”

Gabe Guidarini, president of the University of Dayton College Republicans, said in a Dayton Daily News article: “I’m deeply concerned about Governor Mike DeWine’s proposed tax hike on sports gaming — a plan that feels like a targeted attack on young people, particularly those of us working hard to build our futures.”

Republican State Representative Brian Stewart told News 5: “You know we started out with a 10 percent tax on sports gaming, we’ve not even finished two football seasons and now we’re talking about quadrupling that tax. I think that’s going to generate a lot of discussion.”

Conservative commentator Jack Posobiec, on X: “RINO Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s plan to raise taxes on sports betting to force taxpayers to pay for a new sports stadium is nothing more than government cronyism on the back of the working-class. Why can’t billionaire team owners pay for their own stadiums?”

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, in February: “These are the companies that are taking all of this money outside, draining it outside of the State of Ohio on gaming. They ought to pay their fair share and this would make them pay their fair share.”

What Happens Next

The two-year budget is due by July 1.

Online registration or in person registration signups close on June 15th 2025

From the Wellsville Youth Football team,

Wellsville Youth Football is preparing for a great season and it is time to get “with the program.”

Parents: It is time to get them signed up to be part of a team with great coaches. Players who are 6-7 years old are eligible for Flag Football. Players who are 8-9 years old are eligible for PeeWee. Players who are 10-11 years old can play at the Midget level. Any player who is 12 years before Dec 1  is eligible to play at the Midget level.

SIGN UP at the Football shed at Tullar Field on June 5 in person from 5:30 until 630pm or….

Wellsville youth Football is a free to all participants. Sign-ups will close by June 15^th to set rosters. 

Practice starts July 28 at Island Park at 5:30.