The
Snoop Youth Football League (SYFL) honored one of its own Saturday (Dec. 16) at
its All-Conference game at Citrus College in Glendora, CA.Cenyon
Usher, a Lawndale, CA seventh grader, received the first It’s In Your Hands achievement
award from league sponsor Cutter Gloves. The award, given to a player each year,
is based on academic progress, sportsmanship and character. Usher,
a tight-end for the Woodcrest Giants Pee-Wee Division, was awarded with a $1,500
scholarship fund and an all-expenses-paid trip to the Snooper Bowl, which is set
to take place Feb. 3, 2007 in Miami.The
Rogers Middle School student, who has never received anything lower than a B in
school, cited his mother Imani Westbrooks as his motivation for aiming high. His
future plans include attending college and studying sports medicine or becoming
a pro football player, while setting "a good example" for his younger
brother."My
mom is my hero … I know my mom is proud of me, but I want to make her even prouder,"
said Usher, who said he aspires to "become first a good and honest man” when he gets older.Finalists
for the 2006 award included Thomas Laster, Gregory Earl Adams, Jr., Caylin L.
Moore, and Darrell Hunter II.Founded
in 2004 by Snoop Dogg as a way of making football and cheer more accessible to
kids, the SYFL is comprised of 50 football teams for boys and girls ages 7-13.The
SYFL’s alliance with Cutters, a leader in high performance sports gloves for football,
baseball and golf, reinforces Snoop Dogg’s goal of providing an alternative for
youth."We
couldn’t do this without people like [Cutters] who believe in the Snoop Youth
Football League," Snoop said. "It’s easy for a kid to join a gang —
we need to make it easier to play football. The SYFL is on to something so fresh
and productive for our youth, and we are also all about helping the boys and girls
off the field. We thank Cutters for being a part of it."