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ASSISTED LIVING I MEMORY CARE

NFL Gives Boot
To His ‘Baby’

STEVE STEIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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28

October 26 • 2017

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2207660

he NFL isn’t only in hot water
letter.
because of the national anthem
PP&K has a long history.
controversy.
The first incarnation, sponsored
It has also disappointed thousands
and conducted nationally by Ford,
of youngsters ages 6-15, along with
was launched in 1961 but dropped in
parks and recreation depart-
the mid-1970s for financial
ments, schools and not-for-
reasons.
profit organizations across
Alderman, then ath-
the country by discontinuing
letic supervisor for the Oak
its support of the national
Park Parks and Recreation
Punt, Pass & Kick competi-
Department, held a PP&K
tion after 25 years of involve-
competition in Oak Park
ment.
in 1981. Rochester Avon
Because of the NFL’s deci-
Recreation Authority and the
Stu Alderman
sion, there is no PP&K at the
Farmington Hills Parks and
local, state or national levels
Recreation Department also
this season.
held competitions that year.
Michigan had a statewide PP&K
PP&K grew in the state from there.
competition for 30 years. The Great
In 1987, the Michigan Recreation and
Lakes State was the place where
Park Association and Detroit Lions
PP&K was reborn.
launched a statewide competition
Stu Alderman is the main reason
with 32 participating communities.
why Michigan had a statewide PP&K
Two years later, Illinois and Indiana
competition and why PP&K eventu-
began state competitions. Ohio start-
ally grew nationwide. He was the
ed a state competition in 1990.
Michigan PP&K state chairman for 30
By this time, PP&K had gotten the
years.
NFL’s attention.
“I’m extremely disappointed about
With test markets in five NFL cities
the NFL’s decision because PP&K
— Detroit, Washington, D.C., Houston,
was my ‘baby,’” he said. “Many people
San Francisco and Indianapolis — a
across the state also are shocked and
national championship was held in
disgruntled.
1991 during a playoff game between
“Everyone involved with PP&K at
the Dallas Cowboys and Lions at the
the local and state levels volunteered
Pontiac Silverdome.
their time. We did it for the kids.
The inaugural national champion-
They’re the ones who are losing out. I
ship involving all the NFL markets
was hoping my grandson could com-
was in 1992 at the Pro Bowl in Hawaii.
pete this year.”
Over the next 24 years, the national
The timing of the NFL’s decision
championship was held mainly during
wasn’t great.
playoff games and the Pro Bowl.
“We found out so late that it
Because of his efforts to restart
wasn’t logistically possible to hold a
PP&K in the state, Alderman was pre-
statewide competition this season,”
sented the Michigan Recreation and
Alderman said. “Maybe we can have
Park Association’s Presidential Award
one next year.”
in 1989.
Alderman received a letter dated
A 1975 Ferndale High School and
April 18 from Roman Oben, senior
1979 Oakland University graduate,
director of NFL Youth & High School
Alderman, 60, has spent his entire pro-
Football, informing him about the
fessional career in the recreation field.
NFL’s decision regarding PP&K.
The Sterling Heights resident has
In the letter, Oben says the NFL
been the executive director of the
decided to invest resources from
not-for-profit Neighborhood Club in
PP&K “into other youth football pri-
Grosse Pointe since 2011.
orities,” specifically the NFL FLAG-In-
He previously was recreation direc-
Schools program, in an effort to sup-
tor, superintendent of recreation and
port team instead of individual youth
recreation supervisor for the city of
programs.
Troy from 1985-2011 after being in
Alderman wrote a letter to Oben
Oak Park from 1977-1985. •
and NFL Commissioner Roger
Send sports news to stevestein502004@
Goddell and sent it May 3. He said
yahoo.com.
he hasn’t received a response or even
an acknowledgement of receiving his

