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E-News Sign UpMitsubishi Jr. Clippers Tip Off Fourth Season
| Posted: January 10th, 2004 |
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| Clippers Guard Quentin Richardson and Phil Hoskins of Mitsubishi Motors help tip off the fourth season of the Mitsubishi Jr. Clippers program. |
The Clippers and Mitsubishi Motors North America tipped off the fourth season of the Mitsubishi Junior Clippers program as part of Clippers Jr. NBA/Jr. WNBA outreach. The event took place on Saturday, January 10, 2004, at Jim Gilliam Recreation Center, in Los Angeles. Clippers players Quentin Richardson, Chris Kaman and Josh Moore joined Phil Hoskins from Mitsubishi Motors North America, Councilman Martin Ludlow and Councilwoman Jan Perry, and representatives from the City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks (LACRP) to host a press conference to begin the 2004 season. Preceding the press conference, Clippers players distributed jersey’s to Junior Clippers players and Jim Gilliam and Robertson Recreation Centers played a short scrimmage.
The Mitsubishi Junior Clippers program works exclusively with inner city children ages 5 to 16 to promote the fundamentals of basketball, sportsmanship and athletics as an alternative to negative influences. Additionally, the program helps to alleviate some of the costs extended to inner city families participating in the LACRP City Wide Basketball League. The program tips-off in January and runs through March, culminating with an early April tournament.
In 2001 the program began with 750 participants from 3 Centers: Normandie, Shatto & Queen Anne. Now in the fourth year the program has grown to include over 1,600 participants from 8 recreation centers. Centers include Shatto, Normandie, Jim Gilliam, Ross Snyder, Slauson, Rosecrans, Lake View Terrace, and Robertson. The Mitsubishi Junior Clippers program also includes a clinic series, sportsmanship program and essay contest. The Clinic Series will include basketball fundamentals, health & nutrition and vehicle safety awareness. Two of the clinics are held at inner city recreation centers and one will be held at STAPLES Center prior to a Clippers home game.
Sportsmanship and vehicle safety are two important messages delivered in the Mitsubishi Junior Clippers program. Nominated by their peers and coaches based on the NBA's sportsmanship criteria, 76 youth will be selected as sportsmanship winners, while 24 children will be selected as winners of the vehicle safety essay contest. The winners of the sportsmanship program and essay contest will participate in a special clinic taught by Clippers players and coaches.
