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Lady Tigers' Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir joins Obama for Ramadan feast

President Barack Obama introduces Springfield's Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, a University of Memphis student, as he makes remarks during a dinner celebrating Ramadan in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington Tuesday.



Springfield's Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir holds the trophy she received after scoring her 3,000th career point last season.

By Bartholomew Sullivan

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

WASHINGTON — University of Memphis women's basketball freshman Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir sat at President Barack Obama's left elbow Tuesday evening, breaking her Ramadan fast after he introduced her as "an inspiration to all of us."

The 18-year-old standout from Massachusetts, wearing a purple headscarf, was asked to stand as Obama told her story to a group of about 70 invited guests in the State Dining Room of The White House. The dinner was the traditional Muslim iftar, the breaking of the daylong fast at sunset.

Speaking from a podium, Obama took note of several elected leaders and members of his Cabinet and the mother of a slain Muslim-American soldier, then began speaking about Abdul-Qaadir.

"She's not even 5-5," he said, scanning the room. "Where is Bilqis?"

"Right here," she said.

"Right here. Stand up Bilqis. I want everybody to know. She's got heels on. She's 5-5. ... She recently told a reporter, 'I'd like to really inspire a lot of young Muslim girls if they want to play basketball. Anything is possible. They can do it too.'

"As an honors student, as an athlete on her way to Memphis, Bilqis is an inspiration not simply to Muslim girls; she's an inspiration to all of us."

Abdul-Qaadir said afterward that she was surprised that he singled her out in his remarks.

"Just for me to be next to him was, like, thrilling," she said. "It was the time of my life, it felt like."

And what did they talk about over dinner? "We kind of talked about me challenging him to a game of H-O-R-S-E. ... He said, 'You look a little bit too quick.' And he was like, 'We should play sometime.'"

The dinner of organic chicken, potato and leek puree, peas and oranges with lemon sorbet was preceded by a reception in the Grand Foyer of the White House where dates and fruit juice were served by liveried waiters.

The Commercial Appeal was part of an expanded pool of reporters permitted to be present for Obama's remarks to the group before the doors to the ornate room, with its portrait of a standing Lincoln, were closed.

Before the dinner, Abdul-Qaadir admitted being "just blown away" by the invitation, received only Friday. She said she hadn't decided exactly what she wanted to say to the president, but planned to give him what she said is the best English translation of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

In his eight-minute remarks, Obama said there is a tradition of holding iftar dinners at the White House.

"Tonight's iftar is a ritual that's also being carried out this Ramadan at kitchen tables and mosques in all 50 states," Obama said. "Islam, as we know, is part of America."

Muslims fast during the daylight hours of the monthlong holiday period of soul-searching and reflection so, for an athlete like Abdul-Qaadir, that means a big breakfast before dawn.

The 5-4 freshman was recruited from the New Leadership Charter School in Springfield, Mass., after she and six siblings were home-schooled by their mother.

Playing in a head scarf and with her arms and legs covered, she was the Western Massachusetts Player of the Year, was part of The Boston Globe's All-Dream Team and scored 3,070 points from eighth grade to graduation this year.

"I'm really liking Memphis," she said.

A pre-med student, she'll wear No. 10 on her jersey.

Features on her have appeared in both Sports Illustrated and SLAM magazines, and she's all over YouTube.

Among the attendees at Tuesday night's dinner were Defense Secretary Robert Gates, Atty. Gen. Eric Holder, Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sibelius, five members of congress, and 23 members of the diplomatic corps including ambassadors from Iraq, Afghanistan, the Palestine Liberation Organization, Indonesia, France, India, Israel, Jordan, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia.

Contact Washington correspondent Bartholomew Sullivan at (202) 408-2726.

BCDS Names New Basketball Coach

7/15/2009
BCDS Athletic Director Sherry Levin has appointed Juan Figueroa as head coach for the school’s varsity boys’ basketball team in 2009-10.

Juan Figueroa will lead our boys’ varsity basketball program. A graduate of Boston Latin and Boston College (’93), Juan also will teach middle school math. He has coached the John D. O’Bryant School’s varsity team for the past nine years, making it one of the most successful programs in Boston. Under Juan’s leadership, the O’Bryant squad captured five Boston City South Division Titles and compiled a league record of 85-5 over seven years. Juan is excited about the opportunity to build on the strong foundation Beaver’s team established last season as NEPSAC Class D division II runner-up.

“Beaver athletics is fortunate to have Steve and Juan join our staff. They both bring a high level of professionalism and coaching expertise to lead our young student-athletes. We look forward to continued success from both programs,” commented Levin.

MIAA 2009-2010 FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FORMAT

August 14th, 2009
2009-2010 FOOTBALL PLAYOFF FORMAT
Posted by Danny Ventura at 7:45 am

Hey folks, getting closer to the start of the high school football season. One thing we’ve received several e-mails on is the actual playoff format for 2009 and 2010, namely who is playing whom. Apparently, some incorrect information has surfaced regarding certainly schools and what division they are actually in.

We’ve checked with as many parties as possible and this looks like the way the format should be for the next two years. I know there were some problems namely with the MVC and which schools are in the Large and Small. Thanks to Central Catholic coach Chuck Adamopoulos, we think we have it figured out.

If any coach or school administrators sees something amiss down below, please don’t hesitate to e-mail me at dventura@boston herald.com. Also, we have a twitter account (www.twitter.com/BostonHeraldHS), so feel free to browse on in.

DIVISION 1 (MVC Large vs. GBL/Big Three vs. Catholic Conference)

MVC Large: Andover, Billerica, Central Catholic, Chelmsford, Lowell
GBL: Cambridge, Everett, Malden, Medford, Somerville
BIG THREE: Brockton, Durfee, New Bedford
CATHOLIC CONFERENCE: BC High, Catholic Memorial, Malden Catholic, St. John’s Prep, Xaverian

DIVISION 1A (DCL Large vs. NEC Large/OCL vs. Bay State Carey)

DCL LARGE: Acton-Boxboro, Boston Latin, Lincoln-Sudbury, Newton South, Waltham, Westford
NEC LARGE: Gloucester, Lynn Classical, Lynn English, Peabody, Revere, Salem
OCL: Attleboro, Barnstable, Bridgewater-Raynham, Dartmouth, Taunton
BSC CAREY: Braintree, Brookline, Framingham, Needham, Newton North, Weymouth

DIVISION 2 (MVC Small vs. Middlesex League/Hockomock vs. BSC Herget)

MVC SMALL: Dracut, Haverhill, Lawrence, Methuen, Tewksbury
MIDDLESEX LARGE: Belmont, Lexington, Reading, Winchester, Woburn
MIDDLESEX SMALL: Burlington, Melrose, Stoneham, Wakefield, Watertown
HOCKOMOCK LEAGUE: Canton, Foxboro, Franklin, King Philip, Mansfield, North Attleboro, Oliver Ames, Sharon, Stoughton
BSC HERGET: Dedham, Milton, Natick, Norwood, Walpole, Wellesley
NOTE: While the Middlesex League has split into large and small, it will only get one postseason berth and that will be awarded to the school with the best record in league play (all schools are playing a complete crossover schedule with the exception of Watertown). Since Watertown is playing as an independent for the time being, its games against ML opponents will be considered nonleague. Hope I did you proud with this explanation, Reading AD Phil Vaccaro. Fortunately, this computer comes equipped with an eraser if this isn’t 100 percent correct.

DIVISION 2A (Patriot Keenan vs. ACL/CAL Large vs. DCL Small)

DCL SMALL: Arlington, Bedford, Concord-Carlisle, Tyngsboro, Wayland, Weston
CAL LARGE: Masconomet, North Andover, Pentucket, Triton, Wilmington
PATRIOT KEENAN: Duxbury, Hingham, Quincy, Scituate, Silver Lake, Whitman-Hanson
ACL: Dennis-Yarmouth, Falmouth, Marshfield, Nauset, Plymouth North, Playmouth South, Sandwich
NOTE: While Newburyport is still in the CAL Small, it is playing all five of the CAL Large schools and those games will count as league games for the CAL Large. Those games against the CAL Large schools will be considered nonleague for Newburyport, who is playing the other six CAL Small schools.

DIVISION 3 (NEC Small vs. Patriot Fisher/EAC vs. South Coast Conference)

SCC: Apponequet, Bourne/UCT, Case, Dighton-Rehoboth, Fairhaven, GNB Voke, Old Rochester, Seekonk, Wareham
EAC: Bishop Feehan, Bishop Stang, Coyle-Cassidy, Martha’s Vineyard, Somerset
NEC SMALL: Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Saugus, Swampscott, Winthrop
PATRIOT FISHER: Hanover, Middleboro, North Quincy, Pembroke, Randolph, Rockland

DIVISION 3A (TVL vs. South Shore League/CAL Small vs. Catholic Central Large)

TVL: Ashland, Bellingham, Dover-Sherborn, Holliston, Hopkinton, Medfield, Medway, Millis, Norton, Westwood
SSL: Abington, Carver, Cohasset, East Bridgewater, Hull, Mashpee, Norwell
CAL Small: Amesbury, Georgetown, Hamilton-Wenham, Ipswich, Lynnfield, Newburyport, North Reading
CCL Large: Archbishop Williams, Arlington Catholic, Austin Prep, Bishop Fenwick, Cardinal Spellman, St. Mary’s

DIVISION 4 (Boston North, CAC Large, Mayflower Large)

MAYFLOWER LARGE: Bishop Connolly, Blue Hills, Bristol-Plymouth, Cape Cod/Harwich, South Shore Voke, Southeastern
BOSTON NORTH: Boston English, Charlestown, East Boston, Maidson Park, South Boston, West Roxbury
CAC LARGE: Greater Lawrence, Greater Lowell, Lynn Tech, Manchester Essex, Shawsheen, Whittier
NOTE: This is not a misprint, there are only three leagues in Division 4, therefore one league will get a bye into the Super Bowl. As soon as we find out, we’ll put it in.

DIVISION 4A (Boston South vs. Mayflower Small/CAC Small vs. CCL Small)

BOSTON SOUTH: Brighton, Burke, Dorchester, Hyde Park, Latin Academy, O’Bryant
MAYFLOWER SMALL: Diman, Holbrook/Avon, Nantucket, Old Colony, Tri-County, West Bridgewater
CCL SMALL: Cathedral, Lowell Catholic, Marian, Matignon, Pope John, St. Clement, Trinity Catholic
CAC SMALL: Chelsea, Minuteman, Mystic Valley, North Shore, Northeast