Program representatives estimate that each physical would cost about $1,000 if administered by private physicians.  This is the 44^th year for the program and this year there were about 250 medical students and a similar number of physicians participating.  All volunteered their time, as did the cardiologists from the Arizona Heart Institute who read the ECGs. 

    What’s important to note is that roughly 25%of all those tested showed abnormal electrical activity in the heart!  More than 100 athletes tested had high blood pressure… and almost 600 had abnormal electrical heart activity.  The program is even credited with saving at least one athlete’s life when, several years ago, the physicals uncovered a life-threatening genetic disorder in one participant!

    Each year the TOPS program gains in popularity and attendance.  This year, many students stood in lines for five hours to receive the free physicals.

    For more information about the program: www.aztops.org or 602-336-7840.

Prior to Super Bowl III, New York Jets quarterback Joe Namath made one of the boldest statements in the history of sports when he guaranteed victory against the powerful and heavily-favored Baltimore Colts. Namath and the Jets made good on his claim, however, and defeated the Colts in what many consider to be one of the greatest upsets of all time. Broadway Joe (as Namath was called) certainly wasn’t short on believing in his ability to achieve his goals – and neither should you.

Former NBA great Michael Jordan once said that you have to expect things of yourself before you can do them. What MJ is really talking about is confidence, or your overall belief in your ability to be successful in your sport. Keep in mind that ultimately your performance will be determined by how you think, feel, and act during a competition. You need to realize that your confidence plays a very important role in how you think, feel, and act. More specifically, research in sport psychology suggests that confident athletes:

·        think more productively,

·        feel more positive emotions and less negative emotions,

·        and act in ways that lead to greater achievement.

To get a better idea of how your confidence level might affect the way you think, feel, and act while you play, let’s look at William, a very confident pitcher for his high school baseball team.  (Continued)