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SATURDAY ENQUIRER AUGUST 23, 2014 CINCINNATI.COM A GANNETT COMPANY Things To Do: Music by Over the Rhine AA1

FitzGerald campaign Reigniting a baseball funds redistributed A8 New shelling is love affair through kids reported in Ukraine 1B MLB Urban Youth Academy facility in Roselawn aimed to make game less ‘elitist’

Will killing Common Core allow creationism? Wording in Ohio bill whipping up an outrage

JESSICA BROWN @jbrowncincy

I cover the stories and issues that matter in the Cincinnati Public School district and in Southwest Ohio’s charter schools. Email me at [email protected].

A bill to repeal the Common Core education standards in Ohio has ignit- ed a new debate about an old issue: The RBI Dragons – Josh McNulty, from left, Max Lawson, assistant coach Jon Dicks, Jack Henson and head coach Randy Henson – whether schools should be allowed to get a look at Reds players at the opening of the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy in Roselawn. THE ENQUIRER/CARA OWSLEY teach creationism. The debate stems from a few sen- cried. est share since 1958, according to the tences about science standards con- To understand how big a deal the JOHN Society for American Baseball Re- tained in House Bill 597. The language new P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban FAHERTY search. is vague and, sponsors thought, fairly Youth Academy in Roselawn is, just @fahertyjohn The older players in attendance innocuous. remember that Morgan, one of the Friday said the opportunities to play “The standards in science shall be greatest second basemen who ever are vanishing for kids in cities. Not based in core existing disciplines of lived and an inarguable tough guy, I will write about absolutely anything as many fields, not as many coaches, biology, chemistry, and physics; in- cried at the opening ceremony. … so long as it is interesting, with not as much interest. corporate grade-level mathematics The new facility is an attempt to special attention to new urban life. After all, children who cannot and be referenced to the mathematics bring the kids who have stopped Reach me at [email protected]. afford to join club teams or kids with- standards; focus on academic and playing baseball back to it. Or, per- out access to good fields and instruc- scientific knowledge rather than sci- haps more accurately, to bring base- to look at . On tion are being left behind regardless entific processes; and prohibit politi- ball back to those kids, often poor opening day this year, only 8.3 per- of the color of their skin. cal or religious interpretation of sci- kids and black kids. cent of major league players were The easiest way to measure this is African-American That’s the small- See ACADEMY, Page A6 See CREATIONISM, Page A7

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Academy is stunning ... and free Continued from Page A1

The Urban Youth Academy ad- dresses that. It is a stunning facility that will offer baseball and softball training for free to kids ages 5 to 18. There will also be educational and vocational programs at the complex. Each person at the opening cere- mony – from Hall of Famers Morgan and Frank Robinson to politicians Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley and City Council members Yvette Simp- son and Chris Seelbach – all agreed, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig, from left, talks with Reds President and CEO Bob however, that the $7 million facility is Reds player Brandon Phillips waves to Castellini; former Red Frank Robinson, who is also MLB executive vice president of not about getting players to the big the crowd at the grand opening. Baseball Development; and Cincinnati Mayor John Cranley. leagues. It is about getting kids to play and dream, and to learn to win and lose. “I played a lot of baseball as a kid. We would play on the streets, in fields, anywhere,” said Morgan, who grew up in Oakland, California. “There were a lot of good players around there. I lost a lot of games. The game taught me to lose and to win and to be a teammate. Those are valuable les- sons.” The fields at this complex, both indoor and out, are so good that said the academy reminded him of the Reds’ spring training facility. Simpson couldn’t believe the qual- ity as she walked around the indoor field. “This is amazing. This is a big deal,” Simpson said. “Kids can come here and learn sportsmanship and teamwork and they can dream big.” It doesn’t even matter, Simpson said, if big league dreams don’t come true because somebody can’t a curve ball. “If they don’t make it, they still have bigger dreams. They can have their next dream.” And it will all be free. There will be no charge for kids to play or learn or practice. There are four outdoor fields, a batting cage and the indoor field. There will also be character development, academic tutoring and college preparation. “I’m blown away. It’s incredible,” Seelbach said. “Top-of-the-line every- P&G CINCINNATI thing right in the middle of Roselawn MLB URBAN A grand opening for the P&G Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy was Friday. It and Bond Hill. Kids who would never gives free, year-round instruction, along with educational and vocational training. have an opportunity to play now do, YOUTH ACADEMY right in their own backyard.” » Where: 2026 E. Seymour Ave., And that’s the whole idea, Morgan Roselawn said. Baseball has become expensive. » Contact: Email: redsurbanyouthaca- Too many of the good fields are in the [email protected], phone: 513-765- suburbs. Much of the best coaching is 5000or : @redscommunity on club teams or travel teams which come with a high price tag. “Baseball has become an elitist sport,” Morgan said. “And I hate that.” Academy in the United States, joining Not anymore. Now the best facil- others in Compton, California, Hous- ities in the region are right in the city, ton and New Orleans. Two more will and they are free because of the gen- open soon in Washington, D.C., and erosity of Major League Baseball, Philadelphia. But Cincinnati has the Procter & Gamble, the city of Cincin- only one in the Midwest. nati, the Cincinnati Recreation Com- Morgan has been a driving force in mission, and Reds owners and play- the Urban Youth Academy movement. ers. Robinson went so far as to call him a This is the fourth Urban Youth pest. Commissioner Bud Selig spoke of how hard Morgan worked. And then on a rainy day in August, IN THEIR WORDS the facility opened. And that’s what Hear Reds officials, players and made Joe Morgan cry. MLB reps talk about the new “I can’t express how proud I am facility. Video at Cincinnati.com. today,” Morgan said, his voice crack- Joe Morgan, former Red and Hall of Famer, speaks at the grand opening. Cincinnati’s ing. “This one is in my town.” ■ MLB academy is the fourth in the U.S. PHOTOS BY CARA OWSLEY/THE ENQUIRER