LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) - Zosia Mamet could have spent her hiatus from "Girls," shooting a movie, racking up guest spots on TV or doing commercials. Something lucrative that would have helped push her rising star farther into the stratosphere.
But Mamet, whose father David Mamet lobbed lit sticks of dynamite at American theater more than three decades ago with his profane portraits of battered male egos in dramas like "American Buffalo" and "Glengarry Glen Ross," decided that the time was right to make her own mark on stage. Theatergoers will find out next Thursday if another Mamet is ready to take her place in the theatrical firmament next week when 24-year-old Zosia debuts as a member of the cast of "Really Really."
"It's something I grew up loving out of the womb," Mamet told TheWrap. "I think a theater is one of the most magical places on earth."
Mamet was in one of those magical places recently, albeit one that has been made to look like a tattered dorm room replete with empty beer bottles, discussing gluten-free diets with the rest of the play's cast of twenty-somethings. Yes, the press was on hand, so all of the actors were necessarily on good behavior. But Mamet's body language, the way she patted a castmember on the arm or draped herself on a piece of furniture made her appear perfectly at ease with blending into the youthful ensemble.
Hers is the biggest name in the play, which will run at the 200-seat Lucille Lortel Theatre in Greenwich Village until early March and co-stars Matt Lauria of "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood." However, her work as the virginal and bubbly Shoshanna Shapiro on Lena Dunham's much buzzed about HBO show didn't guarantee her a spot in "Really Really." Mamet had to fight for the role of a college student who exploits sexual politics after a boozy party.
David Cromer, who oversaw a critically acclaimed off-Broadway revival of "Our Town" in 2009, confessed that he was not certain Mamet was right for the part until he witnessed her determination to persuade him otherwise.
"She wanted the part, she worked really really hard to get it and she earned it," Cromer said. "I think she's exciting on ?Girls,' but I didn't watch her and immediately think, ?Oh she should play this.'"
Yet after she read for the role, he became convinced that there was a brutal and calculating underside underneath Mamet's wide-eyed exterior on the show.
"She is completely idiosyncratic," Cromer said. "She seems like a lost, beautiful, sad wounded little girl, and she also can turn on a dime into this very steely, very confidant, very fierce, very tough, very together person. We've got to be able to watch her in scenes and think that poor little girl and then watch her in other scenes and go wow, wow, who is that?"
The character may be more duplicitous than the one Mamet is currently playing on television, but the play is also steeped in generational drift and the diminished opportunities that have greeted recent college graduates in the wake of the economic collapse.
Playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo, who is 27, said he was very eager to capture how his contemporaries were promised everything and offered nothing.
"It was very much write what you know," he said. "It was very much the fear that I had for my friends and myself after we were suddenly deemed the lost generation and the idea that some people will not take that lying down. I wanted to examine the lengths they will go to protect their future."
For her part, Mamet welcomes the opportunity to once again dramatize the experience of twenty-somethings, particularly as "Really Really" is hitting many of the same notes as her TV show but in a different key. After all, the stakes for Mamet's character this time are much higher than whether or not Shoshanna will go all the way with a guy.
"I feel lucky to make something about that period of someone's life that is so unabashedly real," Mamet said. "The lighthearted moments of ?Girls' are really not speckled throughout and that to me is just super exciting, to be able to delve into the darkness that you are greeted with in your early 20s and the fear and what that makes you do, the places that you can potentially go with that."
It is also a play written, performed and speaking to a demographic that is different from typical theater audiences, which often skew older. Colaizzo and Mamet, however, argue that could change if there are more plays like "Really Really" that try to capture the often painful transition into full-blown adulthood.
"I think every artistic realm needs to take a look at itself right now and the way that it's doing things," Mamet said, "because I think the times are a changing, and we have to change with them."
NEW triggers for piracy in West Africa suggest that industry should target the whole continent in its drive to tackle the problem, says former commander of the US naval forces in Europe Mark Fitzgerald.Coverage of the problems in the Gulf of Guinea has focused on illegal bunkering but Adm...
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Colorado legislators got hit from two sides Wednesday on one of the Capitol?s toughest and most complicated issues ? school finance.
Volunteers prepare packets for delivery to lawmakers on Jan. 30. Year of the Student photo
First, all 100 lawmakers were targets of a ?meet-and-greet? blitz by volunteers from the Year of the Student Coalition, a grass-roots effort that?s putting pressure on the legislature to deal this year with school funding shortfalls.
Second, the 22 members of the House and Senate education committees got yet another briefing on the knotty financial issues they?ll have to help decide, this time from members of the Joint Budget Committee, the six people in the General Assembly who know the most about state spending.
Green T-shirts flood the Capitol
Year of the Student is an effort to persuade lawmakers ?to use this session to address Colorado?s long-time failure to fund its schools, colleges and universities,? in the words of a coalition news release.
Started by Great Education Colorado, a school-funding advocacy group, the coalition now involves more than 150 organizations and has gathered more than 9,000 petition signatures, according to the group.
More than 100 volunteers clad in bright green T-shirts fanned out in the Capitol Wednesday morning to deliver information packets to all 100 lawmakers. The packets included letters asking lawmakers where they stand on adequacy of school funding, their willingness to explore all financing options and whether they agree the issue should be handled this year. Legislator responses will be published on the coalition?s website next month.
?This is just the beginning, but it?s a very good beginning,? said Lisa Weil, Great Education policy director. The coalition plans to follow up with a mid-February briefing for lawmakers.
Big funding issues laid out
Whether they address the adequacy of school funding or not, lawmakers will have to pass a bill this session to provide K-12 funding for the 2013-14 school year.
The House and Senate education committees will play central roles in crafting that bill, and members were briefed Wednesday on the key issues they face, which include:
Source of money: There?s an issue about whether funding increases next year should be paid out of the state?s general fund or from the State Education Fund, a dedicated account that can be used only for educational purposes. Gov. John Hickenlooper wants to rely on the education fund, but some lawmakers don?t want to drain that account.
JBC chair Sen. Pat Steadman, D-Denver, noted the legislature will have the final say regardless of the governor?s proposal. ?That?s a policy decision that will be made by the Joint Budget Committee and the General Assembly.?
Repairing the damage: Budget cuts in recent years have slashed an estimated $1 billion from what schools otherwise would have received. Hickenlooper?s plan makes up only a small amount of loss, and some lawmakers are talking about trying to do more.
Early childhood funding: Hickenlooper wants districts to devote about $30 million of the proposed increase to specific programs, mostly to early childhood spending. Several lawmakers are skeptical about telling districts what to do. ?If we?re going to do this we should give the districts the control to do with the dollars as they want,? said Rep. Cheri Gerou, R-Evergreen and a JBC member.
A recent law called the SMART Government Act requires legislative committees to make recommendations to the JBC about the proposed budgets for various state departments.
The House and Senate education committees have decided not to do that, noting that school funding is a special case and that recommendations can?t be made until later in the session.
?Since there are so many moving targets we decided not to make any recommendations at this point,? said Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Westminster and chair of Senate Education.
The biggest moving targets include setting an inflation rate for 2013-14, a key part of the school finance formula. That forecast won?t be made until next month. Another key shoe to drop will be the next state revenue forecasts, which won?t be issued until March 18.
Don?t forget about the other school finance bill
Dealing with the annual school finance act is hard enough, but this year the legislature likely also will face a proposal to modernize the formula used to distribute school funding. It could be the year of two school finance bills.
Sen. Mike Johnston, D-Denver, is pushing that effort and wants to get a bill passed by mid-March. Given that timeline, there?s been a lot of speculation about when a bill will surface.
Johnston indicated Wednesday it could be another couple of weeks before that happens.
His strategy is to gain as much support for the bill as possible ahead of time in order to minimize extensive arguments over amendments after the bill is introduced.
Johnston has been making his case to groups around the state for months, but he?s got some key meetings on his calendar in the near future.
He was to meet with a group of school district finance officers Wednesday afternoon and is scheduled to speak Friday to a meeting of the Colorado Association of School Executives. He?s also planning to make the case for his ideas to the Feb. 14-15 winter legislative conference of the Colorado Association of School Boards.
CASE and CASB are key constituencies to convince if a funding system overhaul is to be successful.
Whenever the bill is ready, it?s going to be a head-hurter for lawmakers. He estimated it will run to more than 100 pages. Johnston?s Senate Bill 10-191, the landmark and controversial educator effectiveness law, was a mere 33 pages long.
Cayce Tennis and Fitness Center?s Director of Tennis Operations Named to SC Tennis Hall of Fame
Jan 30, 2013
Jorge Andrew honored for contributions to his sport and community.
COLUMBIA, SC - January 30, 013 - It?s official?Cayce not only boasts one of the state?s top tennis facilities, it also is home to one of the state?s top professionals. Jorge Andrew, director of Tennis Operations at Cayce?s Tennis and Fitness Center at Otarre Point, recently was inducted into the South Carolina Tennis Hall of Fame.
Andrew was chosen for the honor by the SC Tennis Patrons Foundation and US Tennis Association?s South Carolina chapter. According to the organizations, Andrew was selected because he has been a powerful force both on and off the court for decades. As part the induction, his portrait has been placed in the SC Tennis Hall of Fame in Belton, SC.
?I heartily congratulate Jorge on this wonderful accomplishment,? said Cayce Mayor Elise Partin. ?He has been an inspiration to many players in our community?both young and old. We are extremely proud and fortunate that someone of Jorge?s caliber is helping build our tennis program in Cayce.?
Originally from Venezuela, Andrew was a former Davis Cup player and captain, who played on the professional tour for more than a decade, making appearances at all four Grand Slam events. In his professional career, he celebrated victories over several top players such as Rod Laver, Guillermo Villas, Dick Stockton and others.?
As a teaching professional, Andrew has been named a Master Professional
by the Professional Tennis Registry (PTR) and the US Professional Tennis
Association (USPTA) for his contributions to the game, his ethical
behavior, and his high standards of excellence. He is the president of
the PTR, the most global tennis teaching association in the world with
over 15,000 members in 117 countries, Andrew is a Master Trainer for the
United States Tennis Association (USTA) for 10 and under tennis and
recreation coach workshops, He chairs the National Cardio Tennis
Speakers Team and is on the National Advisory Staff and Speakers Team
for Head Penn Racquet Sports. During his teaching career, he has coached
many outstanding junior players, including a former number one junior
in the world from Venezuela.
As a volunteer, Andrew is a member of the USTA National Junior Team
Tennis Committee and has served on multiple USTA national, sectional and
state Committees throughout the years. He has helped organize numerous
tournaments of national and international importance, several of which
have been held in Cayce.
Cayce?s Tennis and Fitness Center, where Andrew serves as director of
tennis operations, includes 30 courts. Seven of the courts are
specifically built for children ages eight and under. The facility also
includes a championship-sized court with stadium seating to accommodate
2,000 spectators, and an 11,000 square-foot clubhouse with a 2,400
square-foot fitness area. The facility, which opened in October 2011, is
a joint effort by the City of Cayce and Lexington County Recreation and
Aging Commission.?
Study finds little progress in participation of early-career RNs in hospital QIPublic release date: 30-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Christopher James christopher.james@nyu.edu 212-998-6876 New York University
"Nurses Are an Important Resource in Efforts to Improve Care and Patient Outcomes, and That Resource Needs to be Optimized"
Nurses are the largest group of health care providers in the U.S., and health care leaders and experts agree that engaging registered nurses (RNs) in quality improvement (QI) efforts is essential to improving our health care system, patient care and our nation's health. Unfortunately, despite studies demonstrating the value of nurse-led quality improvement efforts, far too few nurses are involved in these efforts, and the number is not growing, according to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality.
The studypart of the RN Work Project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)compared the participation levels for RNs who were first licensed between 2004 and 2005, and RNs first licensed between 2007 and 2008 in hospital QI activities. The research team found little difference in participation levels between the two cohorts for a variety of activities, including performance measurement, working to improve processes or systems of care, monitoring sustainability of improved practices, and efforts at performance improvement. The only exception was "use of appropriate strategies to improve hand washing compliance to reduce nosocomial infection rates." (Hospital acquired infections.)
The research team included Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the College of Nursing, New York University; Christine Kovner, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor at the College of Nursing, New York University; Carol Brewer, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor at the School of Nursing, University at Buffalo; and Ilya Bernstein, BS, RN, Langone Medical Center, New York University. Kovner and Brewer direct the RN Work Project.
"We expected to find a greater variation in QI participation between the two groups," said Djukic. "These findings underscore the need for hospitals to collaborate with nursing schools to develop effective strategies to ensure that RNs expect and are prepared to engage in QI activities. Nurses are an important resource in efforts to improve care and patient outcomes, and right now, that resource is too often being underutilized."
The team noted that there has been an increase in the number of hospitals who participate in formal programs aimed at increasing nurses' engagement in quality and safety initiatives since 2008. They expected that trend would increase the likelihood of participation in QI activities for the later cohort. Among those initiatives are Transforming Care at the Bedside, National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators Program, the hospital Magnet Recognition Program, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative (QSEN), funded by RWJF.
The research team cited several promising programs for engaging staff RNs in QI activities, including the Integrated Nurse Leadership Program in California, and the Bi-State Nursing Workforce Innovation Center's Clinical Scene Investigator Academy in Kansas and Missouri. They also recommended better data systems for monitoring quality outcomes specific to nursing care, so that RNs receive timely feedback on their performance. Other recommendations for hospital leadership include:
Subscribing to programs that allow RNs to complete self-directed online modules to learn about QI, such as the Institute for Health Care Improvement Open School for Health Professions and QSEN;
Having more experienced colleagues guide early-career RNs in translating newly-acquired QI knowledge into action;
Ensuring that staffing levels are high enough and that RNs have sufficient release time to participate in QI activities; and
Ensuring RNs have access to an information technology infrastructure that provides meaningful, timely and actionable QI data.
The study was based on surveys of 539 RNs who work in hospitals in 15 states: Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Center for Regulatory Excellence provided funding for the study, in addition to the RWJF support.
The RN Work Project is a 10-year study of newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) that began in 2006. It is the only multi-state, longitudinal study of new nurses' turnover rates, intentions and attitudesincluding intent, satisfaction, organizational commitment and preferences about work. The study draws on data from nurses in 34 states and the District of Columbia, covering 51 metropolitan areas and nine rural areas.
###
About New York University College of Nursing
NYU College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Arts and Post-Master's Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Theory and Development, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. For more information, visit www.nyu.edu/nursing.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable, and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter www.rwjf.org/twitter or Facebook www.rwjf.org/facebook.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Study finds little progress in participation of early-career RNs in hospital QIPublic release date: 30-Jan-2013 [ | E-mail | Share ]
Contact: Christopher James christopher.james@nyu.edu 212-998-6876 New York University
"Nurses Are an Important Resource in Efforts to Improve Care and Patient Outcomes, and That Resource Needs to be Optimized"
Nurses are the largest group of health care providers in the U.S., and health care leaders and experts agree that engaging registered nurses (RNs) in quality improvement (QI) efforts is essential to improving our health care system, patient care and our nation's health. Unfortunately, despite studies demonstrating the value of nurse-led quality improvement efforts, far too few nurses are involved in these efforts, and the number is not growing, according to a study published in the Journal of Nursing Care Quality.
The studypart of the RN Work Project funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)compared the participation levels for RNs who were first licensed between 2004 and 2005, and RNs first licensed between 2007 and 2008 in hospital QI activities. The research team found little difference in participation levels between the two cohorts for a variety of activities, including performance measurement, working to improve processes or systems of care, monitoring sustainability of improved practices, and efforts at performance improvement. The only exception was "use of appropriate strategies to improve hand washing compliance to reduce nosocomial infection rates." (Hospital acquired infections.)
The research team included Maja Djukic, PhD, RN, assistant professor at the College of Nursing, New York University; Christine Kovner, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor at the College of Nursing, New York University; Carol Brewer, PhD, RN, FAAN, professor at the School of Nursing, University at Buffalo; and Ilya Bernstein, BS, RN, Langone Medical Center, New York University. Kovner and Brewer direct the RN Work Project.
"We expected to find a greater variation in QI participation between the two groups," said Djukic. "These findings underscore the need for hospitals to collaborate with nursing schools to develop effective strategies to ensure that RNs expect and are prepared to engage in QI activities. Nurses are an important resource in efforts to improve care and patient outcomes, and right now, that resource is too often being underutilized."
The team noted that there has been an increase in the number of hospitals who participate in formal programs aimed at increasing nurses' engagement in quality and safety initiatives since 2008. They expected that trend would increase the likelihood of participation in QI activities for the later cohort. Among those initiatives are Transforming Care at the Bedside, National Database of Nursing Quality Indicators Program, the hospital Magnet Recognition Program, and the Quality and Safety Education for Nurses initiative (QSEN), funded by RWJF.
The research team cited several promising programs for engaging staff RNs in QI activities, including the Integrated Nurse Leadership Program in California, and the Bi-State Nursing Workforce Innovation Center's Clinical Scene Investigator Academy in Kansas and Missouri. They also recommended better data systems for monitoring quality outcomes specific to nursing care, so that RNs receive timely feedback on their performance. Other recommendations for hospital leadership include:
Subscribing to programs that allow RNs to complete self-directed online modules to learn about QI, such as the Institute for Health Care Improvement Open School for Health Professions and QSEN;
Having more experienced colleagues guide early-career RNs in translating newly-acquired QI knowledge into action;
Ensuring that staffing levels are high enough and that RNs have sufficient release time to participate in QI activities; and
Ensuring RNs have access to an information technology infrastructure that provides meaningful, timely and actionable QI data.
The study was based on surveys of 539 RNs who work in hospitals in 15 states: Alabama, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, New Jersey, Nevada, New York, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and West Virginia. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing Center for Regulatory Excellence provided funding for the study, in addition to the RWJF support.
The RN Work Project is a 10-year study of newly licensed registered nurses (NLRNs) that began in 2006. It is the only multi-state, longitudinal study of new nurses' turnover rates, intentions and attitudesincluding intent, satisfaction, organizational commitment and preferences about work. The study draws on data from nurses in 34 states and the District of Columbia, covering 51 metropolitan areas and nine rural areas.
###
About New York University College of Nursing
NYU College of Nursing is a global leader in nursing education, research, and practice. It offers a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, a Master of Arts and Post-Master's Certificate Programs, a Doctor of Philosophy in Research Theory and Development, and a Doctor of Nursing Practice degree. For more information, visit www.nyu.edu/nursing.
About the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation's largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to health and health care, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, measurable, and timely change. For 40 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime. For more information, visit www.rwjf.org. Follow the Foundation on Twitter www.rwjf.org/twitter or Facebook www.rwjf.org/facebook.
[ | E-mail | Share ]
?
AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert! system.
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis speaks during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. Lewis denied a report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis speaks during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. Lewis denied a report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis speaks during an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. Lewis denied a report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis walks onstage to speak at an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis speaks at an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis speaks at an NFL Super Bowl XLVII football news conference on Wednesday, Jan. 30, 2013, in New Orleans. The Ravens face the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl XLVII on Sunday, Feb. 3. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
NEW ORLEANS (AP) ? Ray Lewis is "agitated."
Not because the Baltimore Ravens linebacker thinks the magazine report linking him to a company that purports to make performance-enhancers will affect his play or that of his teammates against the San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl ? the final game of a 17-year NFL career that most assume will earn him a spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
Rather, Lewis did not want to spend time discussing the subject in private with his head coach or in public with the media, as he did Wednesday, when his forceful denials ? and attacks on the owner of the supplement company ? meant the matter intruded for a second consecutive day on his retirement send-off.
"It's so funny of a story, because I never, ever took what he says or whatever I was supposed to do. And it's just sad, once again, that someone can have this much attention on a stage this big, where the dreams are really real," Lewis said, wearing his white No. 52 Ravens jersey, gray sweat pants and a black hat with the team's purple logo. "I don't need it. My teammates don't need it. The 49ers don't need it. Nobody needs it."
He smiled widely when the first question at his media session was about the topic ? surely, he figured it was coming ? then chuckled later while addressing it. Known for his frequent references to God and faith, Lewis called the whole episode a "joke" and a "trick of the devil," adding that he told teammates: "Don't let people from the outside ever come and try to disturb what's inside."
Sports Illustrated reported Tuesday that Lewis sought help from a company called Sports With Alternatives To Steroids (SWATS), which says its deer-antler spray and pills contain a naturally occurring banned product connected to human growth hormone. The 37-year-old Lewis, the MVP of the 2001 Super Bowl, is the leading tackler in the NFL postseason after returning from a torn right triceps that sidelined him for 10 games.
SI reported that company owner Mitch Ross recorded a call with Lewis hours after the player hurt his arm in an October game against Dallas. According to the report, Lewis asked Ross to send him deer-antler spray and pills, along with other items made by the company.
On Wednesday, Lewis called Ross a coward and said he "has no credibility."
Ross declined an interview request from The Associated Press but emailed a statement reading: "It is the view of SWATS and Mitch Ross that the timing of information was unfortunate and misleading and was in no way intended to harm any athlete. We have always been about aiding athletes to heal faster and participate at an optimum level of play in a lawful and healthy manner. We never encourage the use of harmful supplements and/or dangerous drugs."
Told by a reporter that he seemed angry, Lewis replied: "Me? Never angry. I'm too blessed to be stressed. Nah. You're not angry. You can use a different word. You can use the word 'agitated,' because I'm here to win the Super Bowl. I'm not here to entertain somebody that does not affect that one way or another."
Christopher Key, a co-owner of SWATS, said in a telephone interview that the company removed NFL players' endorsements from its website because "all the players were given letters by the NFL two years ago saying they had to cease and desist and could not continue to do business with us anymore."
NFL spokesman Greg Aiello confirmed that but did not respond to other requests for comment about SWATS or Lewis' involvement.
Teammates uniformly pushed the same message as Lewis and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh ? "Everybody heard about it, but we're not worried about it," is the way rookie running back Bernard Pierce put it ? and several said NFL players often are offered products to aid in muscle-building or recovery.
"You've got to be real careful. You've got to think there's a reason they're giving you this product," Pierce said. "If someone has success, another person wants to be mentioned in that ? like, 'Oh, I'm the reason for that.' If anybody tries to give me anything or tries to sell me on their stuff, I say, 'Go right to my agent.'"
Wary of using something that has no real benefit ? or, worse, that would result in a positive drug test administered by the league ? players seek approval first from the NFL, the union, or a team trainer or doctor.
"I've been approached," Baltimore nose tackle Ma'ake Kemoeatu said. "They'll come to me and they tell me, 'This will help you with recovery and all that.' I say, 'OK. I appreciate it.' And then I will call the NFL."
Another athlete mentioned in the SI story, three-time golf major champion Vijay Singh, released a statement Wednesday at the Phoenix Open, acknowledging he used deer-antler spray and saying he wasn't aware that it may contain a substance banned by the PGA Tour.
Sports Illustrated reported that when it spoke to Lewis for its story, he acknowledged asking Ross for "some more of the regular stuff" on the night of the injury and that he has been associated with the company "for a couple years."
Lewis' stance was different Wednesday.
"He told me there's nothing to it. ... He's told us in the past, he's told us now, that he's never taken any of that stuff, ever," Harbaugh said. "And I believe Ray. I trust Ray completely. We have a relationship. I know this man. And I know what he's all about. It's just too bad it has to be something that gets so much play."
While Lewis did face a handful of questions about SWATS, plus some on-field topics, he never had to deal Wednesday with a single reference to a dark chapter in his life: He pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice in connection with the stabbing deaths of two men after a Super Bowl party at an Atlanta nightclub in 2000.
"We all in here have a past. You know? But how many people actually dwell into it? You know? Nah, it ain't about your past. It's about your future," Lewis said in response to a question about keeping focused on Sunday's game.
"And for me and my teammates, I promise you, we have a strong group of men that we don't bend too much, and we keep pushing forward. So it's not a distraction at all for us," he said, raising a clenched fist.
"The trick of the devil is to kill, steal and destroy. That's what he comes to do. He comes to distract you from everything you're trying to do. There's no man ever trained as hard as our team has trained. There's no man that's went through what we went through," Lewis said. "So to give somebody credit that doesn't deserve credit, that would be a slap in the face for everything we went through."
Asked about deer-antler spray, 49ers tight end Vernon Davis' take was, "I don't think Ray would take any substance."
Carlos Rogers, a San Francisco cornerback, chuckled when asked about it and what effect the headlines could have on the Ravens.
"I don't think they'll get a distraction. I don't know what to make of that. I heard it was something that can't be detected. They can't test (for) it, anyway," Rogers said. "Him saying that he's never failed a test, he probably hasn't failed a test for what they test for."
Boasting that "you will never fail a drug test from taking our product," SWATS co-owner Key said the company has sold its products to more than 20 college football players each at Southeastern Conference schools Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi, LSU and Georgia.
Alabama has sent two cease-and-desist letters to SWATS, university spokeswoman Debbie Lane said, adding: "UA has been aware of this situation for some time, and we have monitored this company for several years." Auburn and LSU representatives also said they have asked the company to stay away from students.
___
AP Sports Writer John Zenor in Tuscaloosa, Ala., contributed to this report.
___
Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
___
Online: http://pro32.ap.org/poll and http://twitter.com/AP_NFL
General Relationship DiscussionAlthough anyone can post anywhere on Talk About Marriage, this section is for people interested in general relationship and marriage advice.
Today, 08:15 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2013
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Hey .. I'm super new here. But been having an avid reader and just having an argument with my girlfriend. I decide to post here regarding the problems and feelings I have so far.
Please respond kindly to my post and give a mature and objective opinion. So here it is..
I am 29 years old, single male and she's 35, a working mom, divorced with 2 kids. We've dated for about 6 months so far. I can feel she likes me too, and so do I. We feel fit to each other, we talk about lots of things and we do feel comfortable about our relationship.
But sometimes we just have this argument about her ex. It feels like she's still in doubt to be more open about our relationship, and whenever I push her to be open about us, she's upset.
I asked her the reason she seems reluctant to be open about it. She said she want to "protect" me from her (a bit psycho) ex and "stay out of it" until we have a fully matured relation and prepared to be married. Well does it even make sense or am I the only idiot here?
She's not wearing her ring anymore, in fact she always wear the necklace I gave her AND she also has introduced me to her kids. Well that's a good sign of acceptance, isn't it?
Now the problems, and main questions are:
1. Why she still seems reluctant to be honest about our relationship? Yep she's legally divorced, I checked.
2. It also feels her ex still not fully let her go. She tells me that some time the ex still try to call/text her, asking about the kids. He even still calls her [honey] .. WTF? What should I do about him? I'm cool with her ex calling about kids, but honey? hmm ..
As a side note she's always been trying to push her ex back. He still call her honey but she always waving him away and end the conversation. I can see she try hard to keep her kids closer to me and further from him.
3. Do you think it's okay if I make contact her ex? I really want to know both sides of their (failed) marriage tale? And I really want him to let her go. Is that wrong?
4. Give me general tips about dating, or even maybe marrying a divorced woman with kids? I'm trying at first, but it's really hard to not get attached to her. She's just adorable woman, and mother.
5. How would a remarried woman treat a replacement daddy such as me (assuming I marry her?) People say her kids will always be number 1, and I'm number 2. How bad is it really? Can she still respect me as a husband? Or merely a new guy on the block?
That will be all, let the discussion begin, and thank you so much for your time.
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Today, 08:28 AM
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#2 (permalink)
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Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Canada
Posts: 3,339
She may have been abused and have reason for trying to her ex "happy". Or she might still be keeping him as plan B. hard to say. How long have they been separated/divorced? How dependent is she on him financially or any other way?
I would definitely advise NOT contacting him. I think she would take that as going behind her back.
And yes, you will likely be prioritized below the kids in a number of ways. After all, you can take care of yourself and make your own decisions, while the children cannot. Having said that, your needs and concerns need to be taken into account too. It's a balancing act, and compromises will sometimes need to be made.
The only other thing I'd say is that you may be getting too serious too fast. You've only been dating for six months. Give it time, enjoy your time with her, and see where things go. Maybe she's just looking for fun, not a life partner?
C
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Today, 08:33 AM
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#4 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
Quote:
She may have been abused and have reason for trying to her ex "happy". Or she might still be keeping him as plan B. hard to say. How long have they been separated/divorced? How dependent is she on him financially or any other way?
I would definitely advise NOT contacting him. I think she would take that as going behind her back.
And yes, you will likely be prioritized below the kids in a number of ways. After all, you can take care of yourself and make your own decisions, while the children cannot. Having said that, your needs and concerns need to be taken into account too. It's a balancing act, and compromises will sometimes need to be made.
The only other thing I'd say is that you may be getting too serious too fast. You've only been dating for six months. Give it time, enjoy your time with her, and see where things go. Maybe she's just looking for fun, not a life partner?
C
Well I can safely say she can take care of herself pretty well. She's not dependent financially to her ex. Rather the other way around. They've been separated about 2 or 3 years so far.
Yep, I might give impression about getting serious too soon. However, I'm still enjoying her companion and try talk less about that.
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Today, 09:22 AM
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#8 (permalink)
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kansas City Metro area
Posts: 1,804
I personally don't think 6 months is "moving too quickly" to be thinking about a future together. I also think a couple years is plenty of time for her to have put her ex firmly in the past where he belongs.
It does sound like she's into you if she's waving him off, but I agree with you about the "honey" part. If she's working to get him to cool his jets, is she saying, "I don't want you to call me that any more" to him?
What makes the guy "a bit psycho" and is that your words or hers?
I'm with the others who say not to go behind her back and contact him, but I also think you're smart to want to see the bigger picture. I think it would be wiser to pull back a bit from your relationship for now and see what develops. You can explain that you're concerned about the fact that she isn't being genuine about her relationship with you to everyone and will treat it as the yellow flag that it is.
As far as her treating kids as #1 and you as secondary, this is true of some women but not all. Pay attention to the kinds of things she believes her kids have "rights" on and how much she backs them up (even if they're wrong) to get some idea of whether she'll be logical and balanced about things or not. When they have trouble in school or daycare, does she automatically blame anyone but her kids? Or does she make both parties responsible? How much does she pay attention to her children's side of the story and does she balance it against other information?
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Today, 09:38 AM
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#9 (permalink)
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Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 10
Quote:
I personally don't think 6 months is "moving too quickly" to be thinking about a future together. I also think a couple years is plenty of time for her to have put her ex firmly in the past where he belongs.
It does sound like she's into you if she's waving him off, but I agree with you about the "honey" part. If she's working to get him to cool his jets, is she saying, "I don't want you to call me that any more" to him?
What makes the guy "a bit psycho" and is that your words or hers?
I'm with the others who say not to go behind her back and contact him, but I also think you're smart to want to see the bigger picture. I think it would be wiser to pull back a bit from your relationship for now and see what develops. You can explain that you're concerned about the fact that she isn't being genuine about her relationship with you to everyone and will treat it as the yellow flag that it is.
As far as her treating kids as #1 and you as secondary, this is true of some women but not all. Pay attention to the kinds of things she believes her kids have "rights" on and how much she backs them up (even if they're wrong) to get some idea of whether she'll be logical and balanced about things or not. When they have trouble in school or daycare, does she automatically blame anyone but her kids? Or does she make both parties responsible? How much does she pay attention to her children's side of the story and does she balance it against other information?
Thank you Kathie. Yep I was kinda hoping she asked her ex to stop calling her that. More importantly I want the ex to know that she's with me now, well yeah we're just dating. But how about some space, please? She's definitely not calling him the same way. She keeps his texts and calls mostly for kids business and nothing else.
Point is, I can feel that she's fond of me, so far. But she's kinda shy to be open about us to him. Yep she tells me how bad it might be if we're going full blown in front of him, he might try so hard to get her back. So the psycho word is coming from both of us. And like I said, she wants us to go undercover until we're seriously about to be married. I don't know if it actually makes sense or just full of it? Almost feels like she's having an affair with me, but it's really not either. Her mom and brothers confirm it.
Wish everything could be dead simple just like with a clean single girl coming from lovable families. But hey, you know how it is. It's not just like a matter of choosing iPhone or Android.
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Today, 10:22 AM
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#15 (permalink)
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Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Kansas City Metro area
Posts: 1,804
Quote:
Oh well thank you. I don't know. She still turning her phones off after the argument we had. It's not a green light yet to open a conversation, and I'm not pushing her even further or it'll be the end of it.
If you were her, would you give this "control" to a man whom you date for the past 6 months? Or would you try to hide the new relationship and keep it off from your ex until everything is ready?
The answer to that depends on how into the new guy I am, doesn't it?
And that's the crux of your problem.
Whether you're a guy or a girl, when you're head-over-heels about someone, there's NOTHING that can come between you. You'd move mountains to make sure of it during that irrational logic part of the relationship. Your emotions will do your thinking instead of your head.
After 6 months, yes, I would give my new man more control than a person from my past. I would do that after 6 DAYS, to be honest. I don't owe anyone from my past anything, much less loyalty! There is a reason they're the past.
Her heart's not fully into it with you. Only you can decide what you want to make of that. But while she's thinking with her head, YOU are thinking with your heart. This makes you very vulnerable to getting hurt right now. This is why I said if I was in your shoes, I'd be calling that game. I'd pull back and get back to thinking with my head since it clearly would not be safe to be fully vulnerable in that situation.
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Today, 08:15 AM
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