Rec Sports
The Basketball Player Who Gave up His US Passport for a Life in Korea
This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Lee Seung-jun, a 47-year-old retired professional basketball player who represented South Korea internationally. His words have been edited for length and clarity.
A mix of my American dad’s height and my Korean mom’s identity took me places — literally.
I was born in the US and grew up as Eric Lee Sandrin, but after moving to Korea and giving up my US passport, I became Lee Seung-jun.
I went on to play professional basketball and on the Korean national team. Both sides of my family shaped me in different ways.
Settling down in Seattle
My dad is 6-foot-7 and played basketball through college, then later for the Army team. He met my mom while stationed in Korea. After completing his service, they moved to Washington state to settle down. My dad loved the mountains, and my mom liked being closer to Korea.
My younger brother and I were raised in the suburbs of Seattle, although we often spent summers in Korea.
Over the years, we started bringing other members of the family to the US, my grandmother, uncles, and aunts. Little by little, almost all of them ended up moving to the Seattle area, opening up small businesses like grocery stores and karaoke bars, similar to other Korean immigrants in the area.
Provided by Lee Seung-jun
In between cultures
At school, we were usually the only Asian kids in class. At home, everyone looked like us. It created a constant push-pull: Korean at home, American outside.
At school, kids would say, “Are you guys Chinese?” And we’d say, “No, it’s a different country.” And they would say, “Oh, Japanese?”
When we visited my dad’s family in Michigan, our cousins didn’t know what we were; they hadn’t seen people like us in the Midwest.
My mom worried about prejudice, so we didn’t grow up speaking Korean. She wanted us to be American first, even as she struggled to learn English herself.
Court vs. classroom
I started shooting hoops when I was around six. In our early teens, we’d just head to the park and play. It wasn’t until high school, when coaches started sending letters and offering scholarships, that I thought, “Wow, I might actually get to play basketball in school.”
I ended up enrolling at the University of Portland, and later, after a knee injury, transferring to Seattle Pacific University — I played for both of the schools’ teams.
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After graduating, I got a teaching certificate and lined up a job teaching at a high school.
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Change of plans
Then I chose basketball instead.
My mom thought I was throwing it all away. My brother was planning to be a lawyer, and she had dreams of bragging about us to her coffee group.
But by then, basketball had become my life, my brother’s too.
When I didn’t make it to the NBA, I started building an international career, including a brief stint with the Harlem Globetrotters. I was still chasing the NBA dream when a Korean agent suggested I try out for teams in Korea.
I suggested that my brother go first. He loved it and told me, “You have to come.” So I did.
To play for the South Korean team, I had to give up my US citizenship. My dad, a military vet, wasn’t happy. He reminded me that family members had died fighting for the US. He thought it was rash.
But after we talked it through, he understood. For me, it was about finding a better opportunity, just like his grandparents had done when they came from Italy.
Restarting in Korea
When I arrived in Seoul, I had just turned 30. At first, Korea felt familiar. The faces and food reminded me of my mom. But once I got deeper into the culture, I realized how different I was. I didn’t speak the language and hadn’t done military service.
Basketball practice in Korea felt like military training. We practiced four times a day: 6 a.m., 10 a.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m.
That’s also when I started realizing just how many unspoken rules there are in the Korean language and culture.
I remember one of my first practices, I walked in, sat down, and started lacing up my shoes. I was sitting in the head coach’s chair, but I had no idea that was a big faux pas.
So I was sitting there when the coach walked in. I went, “Oh, what’s up?” I didn’t even greet him properly. I didn’t know any of this stuff. The whole team was like: “How can he be so rude? How does he not know this?”
Provided by Lee Seung-jun
That moment really pushed me to start learning the unspoken rules and study the language.
I eventually changed my name to Seung-jun, a name crafted with my mom’s help. It means “beautiful victory,” and links to my brother’s name Dong‑jun — he grew up as Daniel.
When I was growing up in the States, my grandma used to talk to us for hours, but we could hardly understand her.
After learning to speak Korean, it was like meeting my grandma for the first time. I could actually talk to her and understand what she was saying.
Provided by Lee Seung-jun
Off the court, still in the game
In 2017, I retired, although I knew I wanted to stay in Korea. It felt like home.
The healthcare system is amazing. My wife, who’s half-Korean, half-Romanian, is also a basketball player and is still playing.
A year after retiring from basketball, before my brother eventually got a green card and moved back to the States, we started Prism Hoops Academy. The youth sports company is focused on making sports fun for kids. In Korea, education is intense and regimented. Our goal was to create a space where kids could just play.
Provided by Scholar Basketball; Photographer Desmond Pang
I’m now running the school with Im Won‑jun, another Korean American who, funnily enough, also grew up in Seattle.
We offer basketball, soccer, and chess. It’s not about drills or perfection; our goal is just helping kids build positive memories.
Coaching young kids has become a real passion of mine, and my plan is to go back to school for a higher degree in education or administration.
So it looks like my mom will get her teacher after all.
Got a personal essay about moving abroad that you want to share? Get in touch with the reporter: akarplus@businessinsider.com.
Rec Sports
Virginia Tech Helmet Lab Releases First Independent Safety Ratings for Youth Hockey Helmets
Key Takeaways
- Virginia Tech Helmet Lab tested 33 youth hockey helmets, awarding 10 helmets a five-star rating and six a four-star rating
- The ratings address a market of approximately 800,000 youth players in the United States and Canada combined
- Parents of youth hockey players drove demand after showing strong interest in the lab’s 2015 adult hockey helmet ratings
- The Hockey Equipment Certification Council remains the only widely used benchmark, certifying helmets meet ASTM standards without performance-based ratings
- Youth hockey helmets represent the 13th sport or industry-specific headgear rated by the lab since its launch 15 years ago
Independent Performance Data Enters Youth Hockey Market
The Virginia Tech Helmet Lab released its first ratings for youth hockey helmets on December 16, providing parents and program operators with performance-based safety data for 33 helmets currently on the market. The lab applied its STAR (Summation of Tests for Analysis of Risk) framework to award ratings from zero to five stars based on impact protection.
“It includes every helmet we could get our hands on, including some that are no longer being manufactured but that players might still be wearing,” said Steve Rowson, the lab’s director and a professor of biomedical engineering. “The goal is simply to provide moms and dads and other stakeholders in the youth hockey community an independent resource so they can make an informed decision and purchase a helmet in the context of impact protection.”
The complete list of rated helmets, including advertised retail prices, is available at the Helmet Lab’s webpage.
Market Demand and Player Population Drive Research
The lab’s decision to test youth hockey helmets came directly from market response to its 2015 adult hockey helmet ratings. Rowson noted that parents of youth players showed the strongest interest in those varsity ratings, signaling clear demand for youth-specific data.
The youth hockey market substantially exceeds the adult player population. According to USA Hockey and Hockey Canada, approximately 800,000 youth players participate in the United States and Canada. The International Ice Hockey Federation reports an additional 275,000 players throughout Europe.
Testing Methodology Adapted for Youth Players
Virginia Tech researchers leveraged existing literature on impact exposures in youth hockey and utilized equipment from previous youth football helmet testing, including a youth-sized test dummy. The testing protocol accounts for lower impact energies associated with youth play compared to adult hockey.
Currently, the Hockey Equipment Certification Council provides the only widely used benchmark for hockey helmets. The council certifies that helmets meet American Society for Testing and Materials safety standards but does not produce performance-based ratings that compare helmet protection levels.
Broader Context for Safety Equipment Standards
The youth hockey helmet ratings continue the lab’s 15-year track record of developing independent consumer guides that double as development roadmaps for manufacturers. This summer, the lab updated ratings for bicycle, varsity football, and youth football helmets in response to measurable safety performance improvements in those categories.
Rowson emphasized that while the research aims to help individuals select better headgear, the ratings also encourage helmet manufacturers and sports organizations to prioritize safer product development.
via: News VT
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About Youth Sports Business Report
Youth Sports Business Report is the largest and most trusted source for youth sports industry news, insights, and analysis covering the $54 billion youth sports market. Trusted by over 50,000 followers including industry executives, investors, youth sports parents and sports business professionals, we are the premier destination for comprehensive youth sports business intelligence.
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Whether you’re a sports industry executive, institutional investor, youth sports parent, coach, or sports business enthusiast, Youth Sports Business Report is your most reliable source for the actionable sports business insights you need to stay ahead of youth athletics trends and make informed decisions in the rapidly evolving youth sports landscape.
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Are you a brand looking to tap into the world’s most passionate fanbase… youth sports?
Introducing Play Up Partners, a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.
About Play Up Partners
Play Up Partners is a leading youth sports marketing agency connecting brands with the power of youth sports. We specialize in youth sports sponsorships, partnerships, and activations that drive measurable results.
Why Sponsor Youth Sports?
Youth sports represents one of the most engaged and passionate audiences in sports marketing. With over 70 million young athletes and their families participating annually, the youth sports industry offers brands unparalleled access to motivated communities with strong purchasing power and loyalty.
What Does Play Up Partners Do?
We’ve done the heavy lifting to untangle the complex youth sports landscape so our brand partners can engage with clarity, confidence, and impact. Our vetted network of accredited youth sports organizations (from local leagues to national tournaments and operators) allows us to create flexible, scalable programs that evolve with the market.
Our Approach
Every partnership we build is rooted in authenticity and value creation. We don’t just broker deals. We craft youth sports marketing strategies that:
- Deliver measurable ROI for brand partners
- Create meaningful experiences for athletes and families
- Elevate the youth sports ecosystem
Our Vision
We’re positioning youth sports as the most desirable and effective platform in sports marketing. Our mission is simple: MAKE YOUTH SPORTS BETTER for athletes, families, organizations, and brand partners.
Common Questions About Youth Sports Marketing
Where can I sponsor youth sports? How do I activate in youth sports? What is the ROI of youth sports marketing? How much does youth sports sponsorship cost?
We have answers. Reach out to info@playuppartners.com to learn how Play Up Partners can help your brand navigate the youth sports landscape.
Youth sports organizations: Interested in partnership opportunities? Reach out to learn about our accreditation process.
LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Las Vegas police are asking the public if there are any additional victims of a man accused of sexual assault.
Officials with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department have arrested Sergio Reyes Rojas, 44, for sexual assault. He was booked into the Clark County Detention Center on five charges: three counts of sexual assault against a child less than 16 years old, one count of child abuse or neglect and one count of kidnapping a minor.
Detectives say there may be additional victims as Rojas has ties to valley youth sports programs. The Nevada Youth Soccer Association told FOX5 Tuesday that they are aware of Reyes’s charges and he has been suspended indefinitely from all youth soccer activities.
The association says he’s also been reported to US Soccer and to the SafeSport program for further attention.
“We have also been informed by the club that he had headed that he has been replaced in his administrative and coaching capacities,” the association says.
Anyone who may have been a victim of Rojas or has information about this crime is urged by police to contact the Sexual Assault Detail at 702-828-3421. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers by phone at 702-385-5555, or on the internet at www.crimestoppersofnv.com.
Copyright 2025 KVVU. All rights reserved.
(CNN) – A major food company has issued a recall on one of its ice cream flavors.
Danone is voluntarily recalling its So Delicious Dairy Free Salted Caramel Cluster Non-Dairy Frozen Dessert pints.
The problem is that the cashews could contain foreign materials, including small rocks and other hard objects, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
Danone said it has already corrected the issue and that no other flavors are impacted.
But some pints with the problem may already have been sold.
Customers with the affected product can call the So Delicious toll-free number at 1-833-367-8975 to speak with a representative.
Copyright 2025 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.
Rec Sports
‘Beloved’ sports reporter among two found dead as police investigate apparent murder-suicide
HOOVER, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – A former sports reporter in Alabama was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide, according to authorities.
Around 9 a.m. Tuesday, two people were found unresponsive by a family member in their home in the 700 block of Highland Manor Court in Hoover, a suburb of Birmingham.
Both people suffered gunshot wounds and were found dead at the scene, Hoover police said.
Birmingham Gray affiliate WBRC confirmed that one of the two people was former reporter Christina Chambers.
Chambers joined WBRC in 2015 and quickly became a key part of the station’s sports team.
She was a mother to a 3-year-old boy, who was found unharmed inside the home.
WBRC said Chambers was known for her quick wit, smile, warmth, care and love for the UAB Blazers and high school sports.
“She was one of the sweetest, most loving people that I know. She was relentless with running, loving her son, and loving life,” said longtime WBRC reporter and sports anchor Jeh Jeh Pruitt. “I am glad I got a chance to hug and tell her I love her a week ago at the Super 7. I am so sorry for her family, the Chambers and Thompson Families, and her WBRC Family.”
She appeared on the station’s high school football program Sideline every Friday night and frequently stepped in to help anchor coverage of the Mercedes Marathon in Birmingham, even while she was running the race herself.
After leaving her full-time role in July 2021, she continued to freelance for WBRC’s Sideline during the 2025 football season.
Before joining the WBRC 6 News sports team, Christina served as a sports reporter/anchor at WAKA in Montgomery, Alabama. She began her broadcast career as a sports and news reporter at WLTZ NBC38 in Columbus, Georgia, before joining the regional sports network Comcast Sports Southeast in Atlanta.
Copyright 2025 WBRC via Gray Local Media, Inc. All rights reserved.
“Ankored gives everyone in youth sports a single source of truth for real-time safety and compliance — so organizations can protect kids, reduce risk, and operate with total confidence.” said Seth Lieberman, CEO at Ankored. “This partnership with Players Health is a unique opportunity to help organizations close safety gaps with a 360 degree approach. We’re enabling safety-first environments for young athletes, creating trust and driving long-term participation so sport-focused organizations can scale safely and efficiently.”
Youth sports organizations traditionally rely on multiple disconnected systems to manage compliance, creating confusion, delays, and risk exposure when requirements fall through the cracks. Ankored and Players Health equip leaders so they can see exactly who is cleared, what tasks are incomplete, and where action is needed before athletes step onto the field.
“As leaders in athlete safety, our priority is making compliance easier, clearer, and more actionable for every organization we support,” said Lisa McCoy, AVP of Athlete Safety at Players Health. “Partnering with Ankored allows us to support organizations with solutions that remove administrative barriers and strengthen real-time compliance. This is a meaningful step forward in creating safer environments where athletes can thrive.”
About Ankored
At Ankored, we simplify how youth sports organizations keep players safe and manage risk—so they can focus more on the game. Guardians, coaches, and program administrators benefit from an intuitive workflow that collects and organizes all state- and sport-specific compliance requirements. With a connected ecosystem for registration, background checks, training, and more, sports organizations gain a unified view of their safety-related information. The result? Fewer safety blind spots, less volunteer drop-off, zero system circumvention. Less Paper. More Play. www.ankored.com
About Players Health
Players Health is a sport and fitness safety and risk management company providing risk management services, and insurance products to sport and fitness organizations to empower them to stay ahead of their ever-changing safety, insurance and compliance responsibilities. Working towards establishing the safest environment for all athletes to play the sports they love, Players Health views the health and safety of athletes as a priority in today’s sports landscape. For more information, visit www.playershealth.com.
Media Contact
Amber Stevens, Ankored, Inc, 1 7816906655, [email protected], www.ankored.com
SOURCE Ankored, Inc
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