To the Player, Cheerleaders, Coaches, Parents, Family, Friends and Distinguished Guest:
I would like to say “Greetings and Welcome to the VYSO/Big City Vikings 1st Annual Banquet and Awards Ceremony”. Tonight we are here to give recognition to our most precious treasures our Children. Not only are we going to give recognitions but we are here to have a good time.
To the Players and Cheerleaders:
Everything started with you because you all are the 1st of many teams and cheer squads to come. You are the base foundation of the Viking’s Youth Sports Organization.
2010 was a historic year for the Viking’s Youth Sports Organization because it was our 1st year as a team. Together we produced two champion teams (Instructional & Freshman) and two playoff contenders (JV and Varsity). I’m glad to have had the pleasure of sharing this experience with you.
I congratulate you Players and Cheerleaders. (Applause)
Let me tell you a little about the name and origins. The VYSO/BCV was born out of the inspiration of a love one; my late Brother Sgt. Torin T. Thornhill of the Detroit Fire Dept.
My brother use to call my family Vikings. He would host family dinner and every time I would show up with my family he would yell out “Oh No the Vikings are here.”
Torin or Thorn as we called him had a passion for working with the youths and wanted to give back by starting a youth basketball program. He and I would often sit down and discuss different ways of getting it started. Because of his illness and passing his dream or passion went unfulfilled.
It wasn’t until late February 2010 when the BCFL called and invited me to a sit down meeting to discuss the possibility of organizing and starting a football team. Accompanied by Shynika Lawson, at the meeting I seen a vision in which we could start not only a football team but a youth program that would include basketball and other sports as well. Through this opportunity and Vision, it allowed me to bring my brothers dream and passion to fruition. It was fittingly to adopt the name VYSO/Big City Vikings.
Now a little bit about our program.
The BCV program was designed to promote physical fitness, embrace discipline, encourage academic achievement and reinforce positive mentoring for both boys and girls.
Our program was also designed for all kids of all sizes and ages but with a little more emphasize on the bigger kids. The kids that have the desire to play football but are often denied the opportunity to do so because of their weight or size.
VYSO/BCV say “No more telling a kid, No you can’t play football because of your size, No to liquid diets so that players can make weight, No to embarrassing weigh ins where some kids have to strip down to their shorts just to make weight, No to having a kid play up with the older kids because of his size, No to waiting to get to middle school or high school before that kid can play football for the 1st time and have a disadvantage over the other kids that’s been playing football for years”.
It has been said several times to me “Your program is Real Football like a mini pro team huh?”
I really like that statement because it is true. VYSO/BCV is Real Football with Real Little Big Players…
2011, is going to be even bigger and better than last year. We plan on reaching out to various organizations that will help champion our cause for helping with keeping healthy and raise awareness of childhood obesity. Plans for offering other Sports. Organizing and running our own football camps starting in May.
We plan on growing our cheer program and taking it to a competitive level.
We plan on growing our cheer program and taking it to a competitive level.
So, 2011 will be an exciting year for the Organization and we would like to share the experience with you.
-VIKINGS PRIDE - www,vikingsyso.com
-VIKINGS PRIDE - www,vikingsyso.com
