Pubdate: Wed, 23 Oct 2002 Source: Blue Springs Examiner (MO) Copyright: 2002 Blue Springs Examiner Contact: http://examiner.net/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/844 Author: Kelly Evenson, The Examiner Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/youth.htm (Youth) Red Ribbon Week ATHLETES WARN YOUTH ABOUT DRUGS Two Blue Springs elementary schools had special visitors Tuesday to deliver an important message don't do drugs. Tony Richardson, fullback with the Kansas City Chiefs, visited Voy Spears Elementary and Warren Westcoat, director of fun at Sports City in Blue Springs, attended Chapel Lakes Elementary for Red Ribbon Week activities. Westcoat is also a former goalie for the Kansas City Attack. Both athletes delivered the message of remaining drug free to the students. "For some reason, kids listen to us as athletes," Richardson said. "It is our place to step forth as athletes and promote a positive message, such as don't do drugs." Westcoat said he wanted students to remember three things after he left work hard, be brave and be smart. The hardest, he said, is being brave. "If you want to be a good student and a good person in life, you have to work very hard," he said. "You have to put good things in your body, then your body will do good things for you. But being brave is hard because there are a lot of bad people and bad things out there, and that's not cool." Daniel Philyaw, fifth grader at Chapel Lakes, said he thinks it is important not to do drugs. He said if someone came up to him and asked him to try something, he would say no. "It is our place to step forth as athletes and promote a positive message, such as don't do drugs." "You should always respect your body and say no to someone like that," Daniel said. "I am glad Mr. Westcoat came to school. He talked about something that is really important." Richardson told students it is also important to make smart choices and set goals for yourself. He said he continues to set goals by going back to school and earning his masters in business administration in finance. Richardson said he is planning for the future and believes the best choice anyone can make is education. "When I leave practice, I go to school in the evenings just like you," he said. "You need to listen to your parents and teachers when they tell you things because sometimes they actually know what they are talking about." Westcoat told the story of Len Bias, a basketball player from the University of Mary land in the 1980s. He said he had a lot of promise and could have been the next Michael Jordan. He was also Westcoat's idol growing up. Westcoat said the basketball star graduated from college and signed a $1 million contract with the Boston Celtics. One night, Bias decided to go out and celebrate with some friends and decided to try the crack-cocaine that was handed to him. Westcoat said it was the first time he tried drugs. Shortly after he made the decision to try it, he died from the decision he made. "Somebody asked me once if I was scared to try drugs," Westcoat said. "I said if that stuff could knock out a huge athlete like that, of course I was scared." Richardson said he made the decision not to use drugs or alcohol early on because of his parents and positive choices that he made. He said some of his "friends" in high school made poor choices and started using drugs. Richardson said these same people are still living at home and haven't done anything for themselves. "I was told I was a good football player in high school, but I would never make it in college," he said. "So I worked hard in the classroom and weight room, but the biggest choice I made was not to do drugs. Say no to drugs and alcohol. Every choice you make has a good or bad consequence. Make the decision in your life to do the right thing." - --- MAP posted-by: Jo-D