Sneak Peak

Here is an early look at this year's participant tshirts.










The registration deadline is creeping up...don't miss out on this year's BAM Jam, August 7-8!

Media partners helping the cause

Be sure to check out the following media groups as they have been very helpful in the promotion and development of BAM Jam 2009.

Vote for the 2009 Gatorade High School Athletes of the Year

As a member of the Gatorade Athlete of the Year Selection Committee, we get the opportunity to help select the Male and Female athletes of the year. This year, we wanted to extend the opportunity to you to help us choose whom these athletes will be!

Gatorade Athletes of the Year are selected based on three elements: athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character. Former winners include Kevin Love, Dwight Howard, Candace Parker and LeBron James.

Female candidates

On the female side the candidates include Jordan Hasay (Cross Country, California), Anna Jelmini (Track and Field, California), Gina Mancuso (Volleyball, Nebraska), Kenzie Fowler (Softball, Arizona), Skylar Diggins (Basketball, Indiana) and Rachel Quon (Soccer, Illinois). To learn more about each of these athletes, click on their name to look at their resumes.

Male candidates

On the male side the candidates include Dillon Powers (Soccer, Texas), Reed Connor (Cross Country, Texas), Curtis Beach (Track and Field, New Mexico), Brandon Knight (Basketball, Florida), Matt Hobgood (Baseball, California) and Garrett Gilbert (Football, Texas). To learn more about each of these athletes, click on their name to look at their resumes.

The Gold Standard

As we continue to prepare for BAM Jam 2009, the staff took our traditional trip to Spokane, Washington this past weekend for Hoopfest.

Hoopfest once again did something that they have been doing over the last several years, breaking their own attendance record. This year, according to their event guide, Hoopfest had 6,700 participating teams, breaking last year's record and continuing to prove what community support for a great event can do.

With nearly 600 courts on 40 square blocks, Spokane proved that it is the current home court for 3 on 3 basketball.

There were a few things that stood out that are worth noting:

1. The Nike Center Court was again the spot to be for not only great hoops but also great entertainment. In addition to the games there were dance performances from the Sea Gals (the Seahawks dance team) and men's and women's dunk competitions. The crowds seemed bigger this year than last year.
2. Their staff continues to incredibly welcoming to our staff. Kathlene Sulivan (in charge of their registration, check in, player changes, etc.) may be one of the coolest people we've met. And Lori and Chad Smith were awesome with the Court Monitor trainings.
3. The food and booths continue to get better and better. In addition to all the food options, participants also got a chance to get autographs from current Gonzaga players.
4. The Court Monitors and Court Marshalls continue to be some of the nicest and hardest working volunteers around. They give their weekend and stand in the heat so that the tournament can go on and be successful. You really have to respect that.

So, as we return back to Boise to finish planing for this year's BAM Jam, we do so energized by what we just saw and with a goal of where we someday could be.

Alive After Five

Wednesday night on the Grove in Boise was great. The weather was beautiful and it was fun to get to meet so many of you and give away some prizes.

All in all, Alive After Five is one of the neat downtown Boise events. With live bands, food & drink and a fountain to accompany the hot weather, it provides a nice escape for downtown employees and fun for families from all over the Treasure Valley. The DBA has done a fantastic job with this event!

We are excited to announce that we will be back downtown on July 15, thanks to the Idaho Business Review. If you didn't get a chance to come down last night, we would love to meet you in July. And if you did come by and say hello, you are more than welcome to come back to the booth, shoot some hoops and win some more prizes!