Tennis Time: Add Environment!

As a New Yorker, tennis fan, and tennis player, it's impossible for me not to love this time of year. It's when the Flushing-bound 7 train becomes my best friend. It's when getting home at 2am is a great thing because it means I caught a great match. Yep, it's finally here...it's US Open time baby!!!

Even though I'm living across the country and going to experience the action for the first time in as long as I can remember entirely on TV, I still have the same tennis fever!

With the rankings set and only three days to go until the Open officially begins, it should come as know surprise that this week's Green Gladiator comes from the tennis world. I actually can't think of a better fit considering she has been instrumental in greening the US Open and the Open's home is even named after her! For those non-tennis fans out there, let me be more specific, this week's Green Gladiator is the tennis legend, Billie Jean King!

Billie Jean King is arguably the best female tennis player to ever play and has a tremendous amount of respect around the world. Although I admire her athletic ability, I'm also a big Billie Jean fan because of her environmental work. She understands the power of sports and uses that platform to "win back our planet!"
In 2007, she, along with Ilana Kloss, Pam Derderian and Nancy Becker, developed the GreenSlam initiative. GreenSlam's mission is to use the power of sports to inspire socially responsible change that has positive environmental impacts.

Through programs like the GreenSlam/GreenTernship program and their partnership with the NRDC, GreenSlam is already making a difference!

Billie Jean King's work doesn't stop there. She is the ambassador for the United States Tennis Association's environmental efforts, and helped launch the US Open's comprehensive "green" initiatives two years ago. The initiatives aim to get all the athletes and fans to reduce, reuse, recycle and to turn the highest-attended annual sporting event in the world in the most environmentally conscious. I like it!!

She has also done a ton of PSA's with the USTA and the NRDC that focus on the environment because what better way to bring about real change than through a professional athlete? Here is one of the videos!



Billie Jean King has proven that she isn't just a tennis champion, she is also a champion for the planet. She without a doubt deserves to be this week's Green Gladiator!

And just because it's Friday and I'm so excited for the US Open, here is a fun video for your enjoyment. Have a great weekend!

Green Gladiator of the Week: Marcos Diaz

Hello and Happy Friday!!

This week's Green Gladiator is actually an athlete that I knew nothing until this week. I've been very interested in the UN's Millennium Development Goal's and how sports are playing a huge role in helping ensure they are achieved. This summer offered an unprecedented opportunity with the World Cup in Africa and many athletes, teams and organizations utilized the powerful, international platform to raise awareness for the MDG's.

Last night I came across one athlete who dove head first into the water (literally!) to bring global attention to the Millennium Development Goals. He is a true gladiator who realizes the power he has as an athlete to help save our planet. This week's Green Gladiator, and one of my new favorite athletes, is Marcos Diaz!

Diaz is a long distance open water swimmer from the Dominican Republic who works with environmental organizations like Reef Check DR to preserve his country's coastal eco-systems. In addition to his environmental work for his country, he is also committed to helping the UN reach all of their MDG's by 2015, especially ensuring environmental sustainability!

To raise awareness and to urge people to act and demand that our leaders deliver their promises by 2015, Marcos has embarked on a truly remarkable journey. Swim Across the Continents is Diaz's way of helping the UN achieve their Millennium Development Goals.

He is currently swimming across 5 continents to unite people from around the world by showing we really aren't that far apart. He hopes his swim will "inspire us all to take a new look at our planet, to stand up and act to make a real difference, and to demand real political change for humanity."

He has definitely inspired me and I hope he has done the same for you.

Here's a great video I found that focuses on the environmental sustainability MDG and Diaz's swim.



Congratulations to our amazing Green Gladiator of the Week, Marcos Diaz!! And just in case you're interested, he has already completed the swim from Australia to Asia and the swim from Asia to Africa. He's currently swimming from Africa to Europe and is due to arrive in Tenerife, Spain any day! Way to go Marcos!!

The Buvera Ball Project!

Before you read any further, please take a minute to read my earlier post, "Green at the end of the tunnel" so we are all on the same page. Come on, just do it!

Assuming you took my advice, welcome back!

So as you can see, Mike Zuckerman accomplished quite a bit while in Uganda. It's hard to believe that he was only there for a month! Even though he's back, his efforts aren't going to waste...no pun intended! The village continues to gather for weekly cleanups and is committed to making their environment cleaner and more sustainable.

I was lucky enough to get him in the studio last week to talk about his experiences and in my opinion his most noteworthy program, The Buvera Ball Project. The Buvera Ball Project is an incredible program that combines sports and sustainability! Check out the video below to hear more from the project's founder, Mike Zuckerman.

Going Green for the Gulf

At the end of a week in which the Gulf Coast oil leak was FINALLY plugged, I wanted to focus on professional athletes that have been vocal throughout the catastrophe.

This week, I've chosen two athletes to share the title of "Green Gladiator of the Week." Considering they are married I decided it's ok. World Class Surfer Laird Hamilton and Volleyball Champion Gabrielle Reece are both fierce athletes who bring their competitive edge to their environmental work. Their motivation and commitment to saving the environment (especially our oceans!) is why they are this week's Green Gladiators!

Earlier this summer the couple toured the Gulf Coast with the NRDC and witnessed the tremendous devastation firsthand.















Here is a video they made with the NRDC after the trip. It's VERY powerful and inspiring!



While Hamilton the Reece aren't the only athletes working to protect the ocean and cleanup the Gulf, they definitely stand out from the crowd. What really impresses me is their awareness and ability to communicate the bigger issue; ensuring a disaster like this never happens again. Reece said it best in her blog, "This isn't just about how we clean up the Gulf, but how we can get policies passed in government to legally protect other places."

I couldn't agree more and hope that Hamilton and Reece continue their passionate work for our planet and help bring about real change in our energy policies. Thank you Laird Hamilton and Gabrielle Reece and congratulations on being named this week's Green Gladiators!