Rec Sports

Max Strus’ second annual Bowl the Land event passed memories forward — just like his uncle once did for him

Published

3 hours ago

December 8, 2025

NORTH OLMSTED — Before the lanes filled and the signatures on glossy Cavs memorabilia began to pile up, Max Strus stepped aside to take a moment for himself before his second annual Bowl the Land event.

He stood in the middle of the RollHouse in North Olmsted on Sunday afternoon, reviewing the long list of sponsors before addressing the crowd, but more importantly, soaking in the realization that he had built something capable of changing someone’s life.

His event has grown in just one year, but the core hasn’t changed.

It’s still about family. It’s still about impact. And it’s still about the memory of an uncle who once took him and his cousins to something very similar, back home in Chicago.

“This event is very special to me, and it’s my second year doing it,” Strus told the gathering. “I lost my uncle about eight years ago … And his two sons are actually here tonight. He worked for Blue Cross Blue Shield, and when we were growing up, he would take us to the ‘Bowling with the Bears’ every year. That’s where this idea has come about.

“It was something I always remembered and something I always thought if I was ever in this position, this is an event that I would like to do because I think it’s a lot of fun and it’s truly a memorable night and things that I enjoyed. So I wanted to bring that here.”

Clark and Stone Brinkman are the cousins he grew up attending those events with. They volunteered all weekend. They watched their cousin take something their father gave them and turn it into a tradition of his own.

Cavs players pose with Max Strus at his second annual Bowl the Land event — From the front office to the players, the Cavs’ organization filled RollHouse of North Olmsted for Max Strus’ second annual Bowl the Land charity event.Cleveland.com

Strus’ second annual Bowl the Land event was led by the Max Strus Family Foundation. It brought together family members, Cavs staffers, sponsors, community partners and “even Moondog,” Strus joked. Nearly the entire roster was in attendance as the space approached capacity. To add to the backing, Donovan Mitchell’s SPIDACARES foundation sponsored a lane.

“Just having that kind of support, phenomenal,” Strus said about his teammates. “Just them alone being here is more than anything I can ask for. It shows you how close-knit we are as a team. And no matter what, they’re always going to support, we’re always going to support each other, no matter what.”

In January, the Max Strus Family Foundation was just launching. By Sunday, it had distributed more than $160,000 in grant funding.

The foundation supports organizations across youth sports, education, cancer outreach and mental health. Groups like Project NICU and Empower Sports have been guests at events with Strus; the 29-year-old has visited them on their own turf too.

“I think the most rewarding part is, yes, giving the money to those organizations that are doing powerful things in their communities,” Strus said. “But I think the most important thing is going to meet those people, going to be a part of those organizations.

“I went to watch Empower Sports play basketball and to see what they do and see how they’re affecting people’s lives is something that is truly special and near and dear to me. To be able to see that and see that the money that we raise and the money that we’ve given can help them in any way is just something that I’m very grateful to be a part of.”

Strus remembers what it felt like to be one of those kids at the Bears’ charity event. The laughter. The moments with his cousins. How the memory stayed.

“We grew up going to those events, and it was something that I’ve remembered since I was a kid,” Strus said. “So to do this and have a bunch of kids here, hopefully they’ll remember this for the rest of their lives as well.”

But Strus isn’t that little kid anymore. He didn’t pick up a ball himself on Sunday. Instead, he moved through the room with intent, making sure everyone else got their turn.

And maybe one day — if he really lets himself imagine it — a kid in attendance could grow up and recreate a similar tradition for someone else. But that’s in the distant future.

For now, Strus is focused on building something steady in Cleveland, one event at a time. The memories and experiences that shaped him are now shaping someone else.

“My dreams, my vision has come to life,” Strus said. “I hope you guys can see that … the goal is to keep continuing to do that with events like this and nights like this, and like I said, just try to create a sense of community for all.”

Link

Rec Sports

Mechanic horrified after finding ‘ridiculous’ item lodged in tire: ‘I was floored’

Published

7 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Disposable vapes are a health hazard in more ways than one.

There’s nothing worse than an unexpected visit to the mechanic, especially if someone else caused the damage to your car. A Reddit post on the r/Justrolledintotheshop subreddit showed the damage that litter can do to your vehicle.

One mechanic revealed how a single discarded disposable vape caused hundreds of dollars in damage to a car tire. — Photo Credit: Reddit

The photo shows a mangled disposable vape that had become wedged in a tire. “Don’t toss your vape out of the window,” the poster remarked.

It’s not just cars and bikes that are the victims of discarded single-use vapes; the smoking devices are made of lithium-ion batteries, which can explode or catch fire if not discarded safely.

With half a million vapes thrown out in America every day, the risk for unsafe disposal is high. The U.S. Public Interest Research Group estimated that fires caused by disposable vapes in waste facilities cost at least $95 million each year.

Sadly, finding brightly colored disposable vapes scattered around beauty spots is becoming incredibly common. They are a massive eyesore and can also present a choking hazard to pets and local wildlife.

This litter is particularly damaging because it contains plastic, nicotine, and lithium-ion batteries. Harmful chemicals and microplastics that have shed from these devices leach into water supplies and find their way into our food and beverages.

That’s not even to mention the damage that vapes can do to your health. Though touted as a healthier option to smoking, vapes still contain nicotine, which is highly addictive, carcinogenic, and can harm brain development in young people.

If you are a vaper, try to opt for reusable options to cut down on plastic waste, and make sure to recycle any vapes properly.

“I saw one of these in the bucket at my mechanic shop just a couple weeks ago,” another Reddit user commented on the post. “I was floored that one could do that.”

“The vapes that can’t be refilled should be banned, it’s ridiculous,” someone else added.

One person retorted: “Anything ‘disposable’ should be banned.”

Get TCD’s free newsletters for easy tips to save more, waste less, and make smarter choices — and earn up to $5,000 toward clean upgrades in TCD’s exclusive Rewards Club.

Link

Rec Sports

Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier to be arraigned in New York court over sports betting scheme

Published

15 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

NEW YORK (AP) — Miami Heat player Terry Rozier is set to appear in a New York court on charges he helped gamblers placing bets on his performance in NBA games.

The 31-year-old point guard will be formally arraigned in Brooklyn federal court late Monday on federal wire fraud and money laundering conspiracy charges. He’ll also join five other co-defendants and their lawyers for a pre-trial hearing later in the day on the case.

Rozier previously appeared before a federal judge in Orlando on Oct. 23, when prosecutors first announced the indictment.

At the time, he was released with conditions. One of his lawyers, Jim Trusty, denied the charges, saying the Ohio native was “not a gambler” and “looks forward to winning this fight.”

Prosecutors say Rozier conspired with friends to help them win bets on his performance in a March 2023 game when he played for the Charlotte Hornets.

They say he informed the bettors that he intended to leave the game against the New Orleans Pelicans early with a supposed injury, allowing gamblers to place wagers earning them tens of thousands of dollars.

Rozier played the first nine minutes and 36 seconds of the game before leaving, citing a foot issue. He did not play again that season.

More than 30 people have been arrested in connection with the sprawling federal takedown of illegal gambling operations linked to professional sports, including several Mafia figures.

Rozier was one of three current or former NBA players ensnared in the investigation.

Portland Trail Blazers coach and NBA Hall of Famer Chauncey Billups was among a number charged with participating in a scheme to fix high-stakes, Mafia-backed illegal poker games.

Former NBA player and assistant coach Damon Jones has also been charged in that poker scheme, as well as the separate scheme to help gamblers win bets on NBA games that also implicated Rozier.

Billups and Jones pleaded not guilty during their separate arraignments last month. Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on unpaid leave from their team as their court cases play out.

Rozier has earned about $160 million over a 10-year NBA career.

He had been a first round pick for the Boston Celtics in 2015 after starring at the University of Louisville. Charlotte traded him to the Heat last year.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo

Link

Rec Sports

Freshmen getting it done for Central Bucks South | Sports

Published

23 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

State

Zip Code

Country

Link

Rec Sports

Honor surprises coach, Santa, veteran, mentor

Published

32 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Bill Tyler thought he’d been invited to a dinner honoring Jimmy Bogue for Bogue’s contributions to youth sports.

However, Tyler was surprised to learn the honor was really for one of Bogue’s mentors: Tyler himself.

The December surprise was extra appropriate for the Cambridge City resident who portrayed Santa Claus for 40 years at community and private events and at stores that included Richmond’s mall.

The recognition took place during the annual Citizen of the Year dinner on Tuesday, Dec. 9, at Golay Community Center in Cambridge City.

New Day Kiwanis President Nathan Ulerick, a 2019 winner, and 2024 winner Brad Bowman presented a plaque and gift basket to Tyler. The last seven Citizen of the Year recipients currently living in the community select the honoree.

Cambridge City Evening Kiwanis started the award in 1961 to recognize a western Wayne County resident who makes a long-range impact on the community.

Trina Fultz congratulates Bill Tyler after he received Cambridge City’s Citizen of the Year award during a Dec. 9 dinner at Golay Community Center. Photo by Millicent Martin Emery

Tyler’s influence can be felt locally, statewide and nationally. His military service was followed by 31 years as a disabled veterans specialist with Indiana Department of Workforce Development. He served hundreds, possibly thousands, of veterans across the state at offices in communities including Richmond, Connersville, Winchester, Muncie and Portland.

Tyler then worked a few years as a substitute teacher for Western Wayne Schools before fully retiring, but he has influenced countless youth as a coach.

Several of Tyler’s former athletes attended the dinner, sharing the impact that he made on their lives during his decades of developing young players.

“I appreciate the community and all the support over the years,” Tyler said.

Tyler, a Michigan native, lived in Cambridge City in the 1950s as well as Wayne and Dearborn, Michigan, during his youth. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Army before returning to civilian life in Dearborn, but enlisted in the Navy in 1966 and became a Seabee.

When he and his family moved to Milton in October 1974 after his honorable discharge from the Navy, Tyler brought a great deal of athletics experience. He was a standout four-sport high school athlete and traveled the world as a softball pitcher during his eight years in the Navy.

Tyler’s Navy career included three tours in Vietnam during the war as well as time in Morocco, Maryland, Guam and Rhode Island.

In 1975, Tyler responded to a knock on the door from a Milton group asking him to coach. That led to coaching football, basketball, wrestling and softball for junior high and high school students at Lincoln, Hagerstown, Tri, Richmond and Northeastern.

Tyler helped develop what became Western Wayne Girls Softball League. He served as league president and coached hundreds of young ladies in league play as well as travel ball, teaching life lessons in winning, sportsmanship and grit. Tyler and friends also helped bring fast-pitch softball to Lincoln.

He also served as a pitching coach at Earlham College for several seasons. He’s currently a coaching volunteer at Tri, where he helped the Titans win regional and semi-state championships and a trip to the state finals.

Angie Siggers said she’s known Tyler since childhood, remembering him as Santa as well as a great person who’s always willing to help.

“He’s always been a part of our family,” Siggers said. “He’s a very special part of our lives … You couldn’t find a better man than him.”

Former softball player Trina Fultz said Tyler has remained a supportive friend, and he was one of the first people to visit her and her new baby when they came home from the hospital.

“He always wants to know what’s going on in your life,” Fultz said.

In retirement, Tyler enjoys spending time with his wife, Diane, their children Cheryl and Kevin, granddaughter, Kinsey, and great-grandson, Grayson.

Tyler’s contributions also were recognized in 2023 when he was named grand marshal of Cambridge City’s Canal Days parade. He was Milton’s 2017 Citizen of the Year.

A version of this article
will appear in the December 10 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.

Link

Rec Sports

Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell, WME-IMG/Endeavor

Published

47 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

Influence 125 highlights the most influential sports business figures of the past quarter-century. See the list.

The 2014 acquisition of IMG Worldwide for $2.4 billion enabled Hollywood super agents Ari Emanuel and Patrick Whitesell to form WME-IMG and, ultimately, turn it into the wide-reaching and influential Endeavor empire. Their acquisition of UFC for $4 billion is one of the industry’s greatest success stories, and at its height, Endeavor had tendrils in everything from athlete representation and event management to youth sports and professional bull riding. Today, Emanuel is executive chair of a leaner WME Group, and at TKO he sits atop the $39 billion parent of UFC and WWE. A newly independent Whitesell acquired WME Football to form player representation agency WIN Sports Group, and he’s separately backed the red-hot Omaha Productions through a new Silver Lake-funded venture.

More from the SBJ archives

Link

Rec Sports

New Balance Commits $9.2M to Boost Youth Sports, Nutrition, and Education in Massachusetts

Published

54 minutes ago

December 8, 2025

Your Sports Nation

New Balance’s philanthropic arm has pledged $9.2 million in grants for the 2025-2026 cycle to support youth development through sports, nutrition and food security, and education.

Grants from the global athletic shoe manufacturer, which maintains facilities in Lawrence and Methuen, will benefit local nonprofits.

“In line with our mission, we’re dedicated to supporting the communities our associates call home,” said Anne Davis, managing trustee of the New Balance Foundation (NBF), in a statement shared with The Eagle-Tribune. “The children and families in these communities are in our backyard, and we’re proud to invest in organizations and initiatives that play a critical role in shaping the lives of young people across the state. This is a true testament to the values on which NBF was founded.”

Some of the nonprofits receiving support include the following:

Beyond Soccer
Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence
Change the Game Coalition
Community Rowing
Cradles to Crayons
Essex Art Center
Lazarus House Ministries
Play Ball Foundation
Special Olympics Massachusetts
SquashBusters (Boston and Lawrence)

According to The Eagle-Tribune, since 1981, NBF has invested more than $90 million in nonprofits serving Metro Boston, Lawrence, and Methuen.

NBF has also contributed to community projects through its Enduring Gifts Pillar. Contributions have supported the renovation of Lawrence’s O’Connell South Common Park and the development of Esperanza Academy’s new K–8 school for girls in Lawrence.

Link