Even though I was arguably the worst player in the country in Division One college football during my sophomore year season at the University of Pennsylvania, I still think of myself as an athlete.
I’m not making this up. In the early 90s, the New York Times ranked every team in D-1 college football by computer. Midway through the season, Florida State I think was ranked #1 and Penn I’m sure was ranked #216. Dead last. The only thing our head coach ever asked of me was to cut down signs before games that were hung by the fans of opposing teams. Yes, it was humiliating – I mean character-building – to jog in uniform with scissors in hand up to the bleachers only minutes before kick-off to cut down a “Go Bears” sign hung by college kids from Brown.
I was the third string wide receiver on a ridiculously terrible team that was 0-6 at the time of the Brown sign incident. Worst player on worst team equals worst player in D-1. A small claim to fame.
However, as an athlete, I enjoy pushing myself to accomplish new feats. Doing so in the name of protecting the planet is even more rewarding. Doing that with 150 other amazing people and a group of truly inspiring organizers is a life-changing experience and precisely what makes the Brita Climate Ride so unique and rewarding.
As spokesperson for Brita’s FilterForGood campaign, I participated in the first two years of the 5-Day, 300 mile Brita Climate Ride which went from New York City to Washington DC. Last year, I got to bunk one night with No Impact Man, Colin Beavan, who also participated in the ride. Neither one of us came close to being fastest cyclist in the group. I’m pretty sure that honor went to Denmark’s Ambassador to the U.S., Friis Arne Petersen.
Now the Brita Climate Ride is headed to the West Coast. On September 21st, 150 riders will depart San Francisco on a five-day adventure to raise both awareness and funds for protecting the planet. You could be one of them. Visit ClimateRide.org to learn how.
