The Official WV Blazers 2008-2009 Season Recap.

The 2008-2009 season was ‘kicked off’ by Congressman Nick J. Rahall, III, who served at the Blazers “13^th Man” for the opening home game on January 4, 2009.  Congressman Rahall spoke to the attendees, encouraging businesses and individuals to support the Blazers in their efforts to provide much needed drug and crime prevention programs for at-risk youth in Southern WV.  The Congressman’s WV Blazers Jersey, worn by the Congressman during the first home game, now hangs above his door in this Washington, DC office.

While Blazers games were filled with fun for kids and entertainment for sports-enthusiasts, they were also used to showcase talented area youth – high school cheerleaders, high school bands, midget league basketball teams, student singers, youth dance teams, RAZE and TATU groups presenting programs on the dangers of tobacco use, and church youth groups are among the many youth that participated in games.  Time outs and halftimes were just as exciting as the games, with hula-hoop races, touchdown dance contests, Frisbee tosses, bat spin races, and other contests and games to encourage youth participation.  Ronald McDonald was one of the favorite game attendees, as was “the Big Dawg” from a local radio station.  The most popular Blazer was “Blaze”, the blue-eyed Dalmatian mascot for the Blazers.  Blaze could be found at any time surrounded by kids or coloring with them in “The Blaze Zone”, an area for young children to play with inflatable basketball hoops and color ‘Blaze’ coloring sheets.  When the games were over, the Blazers stayed until the last fan had received his autograph and had an opportunity to talk to the players. 

The Blazers are coached by Tony Webster, a Housing Authority employee who conductions Section 8 Inspections by day and runs practices and games by night.  Coach Webster has been involved with youth sports in Mercer County for 20 years and is well known in the community for his contributions to youth through youth sports programs.   He is also the coach of the Bluefield Blazers youth team, and coaches at the local middle and high schools.  Players for the Blazers have very diverse backgrounds, with a common love for children and basketball.  Among these Blazers you will find a substance abuse counselor, a medical program student, a communications major, an economics major, a high school teacher, and an aspiring youth minister. 

The Blazers are very active in the southern WV community in many ways, and will continue to be   community-involved.  They serve as role models for local youth; participate in fundraisers for local schools; help to raise money and awareness for local community organizations who service families in southern WV (such as Hospice, United Way, American Cancer Society, high school RAZE and TATU programs, Girl and Boy Scouts, and the Breast Cancer Foundation);  participate in WV “Read to Me Day’ by players reading to students in area schools;  work with the local ESPN Drug Free All Stars to promote drug and tobacco prevention programs in numerous schools in southern WV;  entertain hundreds of children while participating in community events; and  provide kids camps to teach basketball fundamentals.  The Blazers are very popular with local schools – they have been invited to participate in school events, to interact with students, to play games with and for students, and to visit with students during after school activities to support and encourage them. 

The Housing Authority and the WV Blazers have partnered with many great agencies and businesses to help bring entertainment, fun, and drug and crime prevention programs to youth and families in southern WV.   Blazers stay involved in activities sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, which helps to promote the Blazers and their mission.  Businesses and organizations support the Blazers through sponsorships, and the Blazers are able to provide something back to these businesses through advertising at Blazers events. 

It is the mission of the Housing Authority to serve low income families by providing safe, decent, sanitary and affordable housing.  The WV Blazers program is helping to promote drug and crime free communities for these families to live in and helping area youth make positive choices in life.