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Ian Hellberg: Springfield, PA, United States; ian_hellberg@yahoo.com

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Journalism Final Portfolio Blog

I've created this Blog for my Journalism class at Delaware County Community College. The beat I chose to cover is sports. Not only because I'm big sports fan but also because I wanted to get a feel of what being a sports journalist is like. Although I didn't want to limit myself to just covering sporting events. Instead, I wanted interview coaches and cover some deeper stories that are revolving around today's sports world.

Addict Athlete's

Ian Hellberg
29 March 2012
Kabob Article (Athletes and Painkillers)

When Anthony Sullivan [not his real name] began the 2004 season playing football at Williamson Trade School he hadn’t the slightest idea that one play would change his life forever.

He tore the ACL in his right knee, an injury that would require surgery and intense physical therapy.

After his surgery, he received a prescription for the painkiller, Oxycodone. “I never used any drugs before,” Sullivan said. “But I thought this was different because a doctor prescribed it, and at first I took it just like he told me to.”

But as Sullivan’s body got use to the opiate he began to require more and more. Soon he went from taking three 10 mg pills a day to 12 pills a day, every day.

“It was like it took control over me. My whole life revolved around it. When my prescription refills would run out, I would just call the doctor and he would give me more, just like that.”

Eventually, Sullivan’s doctor wised up and stopped writing the refills, but it was too little too late. Sullivan soon began to experience the torture of opiate withdrawal. With Oxycodone and Oxycontin all over the campus, he soon fell prey to its relentless calls and started buying pills from a dealer.

His addiction and life quickly spiraled out of control.

Sullivan’s story has become a common one throughout the sports world. Although painkillers help a lot of people, experts believe they are destroying just as many lives as they are helping.

According to the National Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pain medication is the fastest growing segment of all drug abuse and addiction. Recent studies indicate that amateur and professional athletes are at the greatest risk.

A study conducted by the Washington University School of Medicine reported that painkiller dependency is 10 times greater than that of steroids or other performance enhancing drugs, and athletes are four times more likely to use prescription painkillers.

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, athletes who were prescribed these drugs during their career are three times more likely to abuse painkillers after their retirement.

The same study also reported that of 667 former NFL players, 50 percent said they used prescription narcotics while playing and approximately 70 percent of former NFL players said they’ve used or abused painkillers since their retirement.

“It’s the dark side of sports,” said University of Utah psychologist Keith Henschen. “The NCAA does periodic surveys on college athletes and drug abuse. The questionnaire asks players about anabolic steroids, alcohol, ecstasy, marijuana, cocaine but not prescription narcotics.”

The problem has reached near epidemic levels throughout the country. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration reported a 400 percent increase on people being treated for opiate painkiller addiction from 1998-2008.

The same report found that in 2010, one in 20 adults over the age of 12 reported using prescription painkillers for non-medical reason, and that enough prescriptions were prescribed to medicate every American adult around the clock for a month.

In fact, the painkiller Vicodin made the 2010 Forbes list for the most popular prescription. Statistics by the Food and Drug Administration showed that were more than 128 million prescriptions for Vicodin alone in 2010.

A shocking study on class 2 opiates-which include Oxycodone, Percocet, and Oxycontin- by the California Workers Compensation Department, found that roughly 20 percent of all prescribers prescribe 80 percent of all painkillers, which is a 300 percent increase since 1999.

Further more, a 2010 national survey conducted by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services reported that nearly 78 percent of people abusing prescription narcotics obtained drugs that were prescribed to someone else. Federal legislation would dramatically cut down the number of people receiving and selling their prescriptions, experts believe.

After years of abusing oxycontin, Sullivan said he made the deadly mistake that so many painkiller addicts make: moving on to the more potent and much cheaper form of opiate, heroin.

After hitting rock bottom, Sullivan finally decided enough was enough. “It took everything from me,” he said. “I dropped out of school. I stole from my family, but they never gave up on me.”

After several failed attempts at rehabilitation programs, Sullivan enrolled at a local Methadone clinic and was eventually able to get clean and get his life back together.
He is now working with a contractor and hoping to join the electricians union in the near future.

“When I look back at things, I still can’t believe how screwed up I got,” Sullivan said. “It’s so nice to know that now when I wake up I don’t have to spend all day hunting down a handful of stupid little pills just to get through the day.”

OxyContin Prescription Bottles(Photo From www.gulfcoastdrugrehab.com)

Ice Works Skating Rink(Photo By Ian Hellberg)

Springfield Crusies Past Ridley in Central Leauge Battle

Ian Hellberg
28 February 2012
Inverted Pyramid (Hockey Game)

The Springfield Cougars dominated their arch-rival, the Ridley Raiders, 8-0 in the Feb 23rd Central League Ice Hockey season finale at the Ice Works Skating Rink in Aston, Pa.

The Cougars came out flying scoring early and often, led by senior center Nick Brehl, who netted three goals, and goaltender Mike Rice who repelled all 13 Ridley shots on goal.

“I’m very happy with the way we played tonight,” Springfield head coach Phil Easton said. “This might’ve been one of our best games playing as a team.”

Springfield put the game out of reach after scoring two goals in 17 seconds late in the second period to make it 5-0, after which the Cougars stifling defense shut down any scoring chances from Raider forwards.

Defensive captains Ryan Brawley and Kyle Laughlin left several Ridley players black and blue by delivering some bone jarring hits.

Ridley goaltender Justin Dougherty did his best to keep his team in the game by making 27 saves on 35 shots by the unyielding Springfield offense. Seniors Nick Palmer and Ryan McGoldrick played hard in their last game as Ridley Raiders.

Left-winger Nate Bennet got the Springfield scoring frenzy started as he found the back of the net early in the first period. There was no let up from there as the relentless Cougars poured it on with goals from Bill Swahl, Jim Eden, Billy Mcgugan, and a beautifully placed rocket by Dave Madonna that beat Dougherty high in the right corner.

The lopsided victory wrapped up Springfield’s regular season with an impressive 10-1-3 record. The Cougars will now look to defend their 2011 crown as Flyers Cup Champions as the playoffs begin.

“It looks like we’re gonna play the winner of the Penncrest versus Haverford game on Wednesday night,” Easton said.

Springton Reservoir (Photo By Ian Hellberg)

Felony Fishing??

Ian Hellberg
1 May 2016
Commentary/Opinion piece (Springton Reservoir)

“Closed to Fishing” reads a rusted sign hanging on a fence blocking access to Springton Reservoir in Marple, Pa. How can a once public reservoir open to fishing for more then 40 years suddenly change virtually overnight?

According to an Aqua employee who vigilantly patrols the lake with his trusty megaphone for the water company, the reason is terrorism.

After catching a friend and me blatantly ignoring the sign and slipping through a convenient hole in the fence, I asked him why people couldn’t fish here.

He explained that after 9-11 the company decided to close the reservoir to protect the county’s water supply.

I’m all for doing whatever it takes to stop Al Qaeda operatives from apparently reaching martyrdom, and of course, their 72 virgins.

But not allowing people to fish is just going way too far. In fact, I don’t believe Al Qaeda is the reason for one second.

The real reason has to do with the dozens of new-gated communities and their multi-million dollar mansions now lining the lake’s banks. God forbid they have to look out of their huge bay windows and see a few harmless fishermen diminishing their property value.

I understand that they don’t want people littering their beer bottles and worm boxes in the area. But why should everybody pay for the ignorance of a few. I don’t leave my trash behind.

However, I know this is an unwinnable war. What chance do a few middle class fishermen have against the wealthy and the politicians whose campaigns they eagerly donate to?

All the same their fences and signs won’t stop others or myself one bit. The sad truth is that when fishing was permitted on the reservoir we couldn’t catch a thing.

Now after several years of peace and quiet away from man’s environmental destruction, the reservoir is full of fish more than willing to greedily strike at my offering.

If you feel that closing Springton Reservoir to fishing is unjust. I urge you take action by any peaceful means. You can voice your complaints to Delaware County politicians, or sign your name to an online petition created by local fisherman.

Springfield Hockey Coach Dan Lucey (Photo By Ian Hellberg)

Crandley Continues Coaching Legacy

Ian Hellberg
21 April 2012
Feature/Profile (Ed Crandley)

As practice gets underway, the junior varsity Springfield High School softball team sprints onto a freshly raked diamond of dirt leaving behind footprints with each stride.

Head coach Ed Crandley begins warming up his infielders, by hitting ground balls and having his players throw out an imaginary runner at first base.

“Charge the ball, set your feet and throw” Crandley tells his players.

While the infielders work on routine groundballs, the outfielders chase down fly balls hit by Crandley’s friend and long-time assistant coach Steve Crowe.

“All right, find the ball and run to a spot,” Crowe says. “I wanna hear you call it nice and loud, let’s communicate out there!” Crowe shouts.

Although today is the first day of spring break for most Springfield students, these mostly freshman and sophomore girls aren’t able to sleep in and relax on this unseasonably warm April mourning.

Instead, they’ll be fine tuning their skills and competing for the starting positions before the regular season gets started later this week.

Crandley has been coaching softball for almost 22 years in several different leagues around the Delco area. He’s coached in annual summer tournaments in Virginia Beach, VA and St. Petersburg, Fla. Having passed down his knowledge of the game to hundreds of girls, Crandley has helped them prove once and for all that America’s pastime isn’t just for boys and young men.

Crandley was a three year varsity third baseman for Monsignor Bonner High School before graduating in 1970. Baseball has been a constant passion in Crandley’s life for more then 50 years now.

After attending the University of Clemson, Crandley worked for Federal Express for nearly 25 years until the latest recession forced him to retire from the shipping company. Crandley now works as a warehouse manager for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

After starting his career at Fed Ex, Crandley still found the time to play a few years in a local semi-pro league and eventually got his first coaching experience in that same league. In 1978 baseball was put on the back burner for a while, after Crandley married his wife of now 34 years, Sue Crandley.

“I started coaching again when my oldest daughter Michelle started playing,” Crandley said. “I always figured I would stop coaching again after my youngest daughter Lauren went away to school at the University of Bloomsburg but that was close to 10 years ago.”

With both daughters now married and the probability of grandchildren on the rise it doesn’t look like he’ll be hanging up his leather baseball glove anytime soon.

“It’s hard to picture myself not coaching anymore I’ve met so many great people by coaching softball,” Crandley said. “Just last week my wife and I attended the wedding of a girl I coached some 15 years ago.”

When Crandley isn’t busy coaching or scouting his team’s upcoming opponents, he enjoys spending time with his family and walking the newest members of the family, two mixed-bred Spaniel puppies named Madison and Simon.

Baseball isn’t the only sport Crandley loves though.

“All three of my kids played soccer, basketball, baseball,” Crandley said. He also enjoys cheering on his favorite teams at the games or while sitting in his favorite recliner.

“My wife is a huge Flyers fan so I try and take her to as many games as I can, which I’m sure our neighbor’s ears are thankful for, because she can get pretty loud during playoff time,” Crandley said.

Crandley loves almost all sports but his true favorite is College Football.

“Every year my son Mark and I travel to South Bend, Ind. to see a Notre Dame Football game,” Crandley said, adding that fighting Irish football has been a top priority of his since he was young child and Notre Dame Football was in its glory days.

While watching Crandley and his team practice that day it was easy to see that Crandley really enjoys coaching softball. “The best part about coaching is watching the kids have fun, seeing them improve, and hopefully making the varsity team next season,” Crandley said.

Crandley doesn’t know how much longer he’ll continue coaching softball. However he does know it will be hard to walk away. “When the day comes that I can’t coach anymore I just hope there’s somebody to take my place that enjoys it as much as I did,” Crandley said. “I hope to retire in a couple years, do some traveling, and just spend time with my family."

Coach Ed Crandley (Photo by Ian Hellberg)

One On One With Springfield Hockey Coach Dan Lucey

Ian Hellberg
8 February 2012
Q&A (Dan Lucey)

As the head defensive coach for the Springfield Ice Hockey team, Dan Lucey refuses to let late night practices, little pay, and a full-time career get in the way of the game he has cherished since childhood.

As a former four-year varsity letterman, First-team All-Central League, Second-team

All-State Defenseman and three-year captain for the Cougar Ice Hockey team, Lucey said he hopes to restore his former glory on the ice.

But now he has traded in his hockey stick for a stainless steel coach’s whistle.

It wasn’t until after Lucey graduated from the University of Delaware and began a promising career, that he felt something was missing, he said, a yearning for the game. So Lucey called his former coach and inquired about coaching positions, anything to lace up the hockey skates now collecting dust in his apartment closet.

At first, Lucey was a little concerned that coaching wouldn’t fully satisfy his cravings the way playing the game would. But he soon found that teaching the game was perhaps even more rewarding, almost a duty he owed to the hockey gods and the people who had introduced the game to him.

This past Monday, Lucey sacrificed an hour out of a rare day off and invited me to his Haverford condominium to answer a few questions about being a high school hockey coach.

Q: How long have you been coaching?

A: I’m currently in the middle of my ninth season at Springfield.

Q: How much time does coaching take up on an average week?

A: It can definitely be a little time consuming. There are only a few ice rinks for all the teams and leagues in the area, so in order to get ice time we’ll sometimes have to have practices and games much later than other sports. An average week during the season we’ll have one two-hour practice, plus a 90-minute coaches meeting, and one or two games that are about three hours each. So, an average week can take up anywhere from seven to 10 hours.

Q: What is the most rewarding part of coaching on and off the ice?

A: On the ice, I would definitely say being part of a team, teaching, and watching the players improve from season to season. Off the ice, I would say just by being a role model. Kids will confide in you and they’ll be honest about things, also, helping mold them into an adult.

Q: Do grades affect a player’s time on the ice?

A: Yes, players are required to maintain a 2.0 grade point average. If they fail to do so then they’ll be ineligible to play or practice until they meet the grade requirements.

Q: Do you use similar methods or styles that were taught to you by your coaches?

A: Yes, I use a little of what was taught to me, but I also enjoy bringing in my own aspect. I really learned a lot about coaching hockey by taking a few classes through an organization called USA Hockey Continuing Education.

Q: Has amateur hockey had the same problem with concussions as the NHL?

A: It’s not nearly as severe, but both coaches and parents are much more aware of it these days. If you got hit in the head when I played, you might sit out for shift or two. Today, the player is done for the game regardless of how they feel, just as a precaution.

Q: Has a parent ever confronted you about they’re kid’s position or playing time?

A: Oh yes, all the time. A lot of parents think their experts on hockey and some aren’t shy about telling you. I coach defense and some parents want they’re kids playing the more offensive minded goal scoring positions. Hockey is a really expensive sport for the parents, so I guess some want to get their money’s worth. I just try to get the players and parents to buy into the team.

Q: How do you feel about being looked at as a role model? And do you have to be extra careful for that reason?

A: Yes and yes. I look at it as a privilege and any decision I make can come back to bite you. I also have to be really careful about what I say, because they are listening.

Q: As a coach, how did you react to the recent Penn State and NHL trainer scandal?

A: Like anyone else, it really hit me, and I hope justice prevails. But as a coach it was extra sickening. These players are kids and they want to impress and make their coaches happy, and to take advantage of that is just beyond wrong.

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