FOOTBALL A MAJOR FACTOR IN KEEPING KIDS OFF DRUGS

A government study earlier this month revealed that football is among three main factors that help keep children off drugs. Football along with "music" and "family" are the main reasons youths say they stay drug-free. The responses from 25,000 youngsters were collected in a four-month marketing campaign by the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy for children ages 9 to 17. The director of the program, drug czar BARRY MC CAFFREY, said that a strong adult influence, such as a football coach, plays a key role in positive decision-making by youngsters. "The words and actions of parents, or other adult influencers, are more effective than they may think in keeping children away from drugs," said McCaffrey. Responding to campaign questions through the Internet or by postcard, 4,298 youngsters identified "music" as their main drug-free influence; 3,936 chose family; and 3,690 picked football. Football is the most popular high school sport among boys, with more than one million playing.

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL HELPS ABC TO SWEEPS WIN

According to Nielsen Media Research figures, ABC won the November sweeps period by edging NBC in total viewers, 14.0 million to 13.9, respectively. Newsday comments that ABC benefited from two major hits – NFL Monday Night Football and Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?……In the latest Nielsen weekly ratings report (November 27-December 3), Monday Night Football ranked No. 7 of all primetime programs……And locally, the NFL continued to dominate in most of its markets. NFL games were the top-rated programs in 18 NFL cities for the 11/27-12/3 week.

MC NABB has emerged as one of the stars of the Quarterback Class of ’99 in part because of his game-breaking running skills. But certain people still talk about the time McNabb took perhaps his most impressive run. At the Carrier Dome after his final college home game for Syracuse, McNabb peeled off from his team’s victory lap and climbed into the handicapped section to greet its occupants. McNabb continues to reach out to those in need. He has recently bestowed $100,000 to Syracuse…finances eight scholarships to his high school (Mount Carmel in Illinois)…and gives financial aid to those attempting to start their own businesses through the Valley Kingdom Ministries Church. "If Donovan doesn’t do right," says his mother WILMA, a registered nurse, "he knows he’ll be hearing from me."