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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 7.2 - 1484 Elatus Sports Quote Selection Page 1 of 3 STAFF REPORT CITY COUNCIL DATE: June 6, 2017 TO: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers FROM: Christopher L. Foss, City Manager SUBJECT: Elatus Sports Quote Selection Prepared by: Tegan McLane, Cultural Arts & Heritage Manager EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The City Council is being asked to approve quotes selected by the public for the public art sculpture Elatus and provide direction regarding the possible inclusion of additional quotes. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approve five quotes selected by the public for inclusion on the pedestal of the Elatus sculpture, a sixth nominated by the public, and, if desired, select two additional quotes from the list provided or provide additional direction. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with this item. DESCRIPTION: The public artwork Elatus is scheduled to be installed at Fallon Sports Park in September 2017 as part of Phase 2 of the Park. The piece, an abstract sculpture that is inspired by the athletic human form in full extension, sits on a classical pedestal that was designed to include bronze plaques bearing up to eight inspirational sports quotes selected by the public. In October 2016, the public was invited to nominate quotes. Outreach was conducted through the City's website and regular communication channels, as well as through the local media, sports groups and schools. In December 2016, the public asked via Open City Hall survey to prioritize voices and ideals that they wanted to see represented on the statue. They invited to review the quotes that had been submitted and select their favorites or add additional quotes. They ranked the quote from “5-perfect fit” to “1-doesn’t fit” for our community. Page 2 of 3 Seventy-two people responded. Diversity in the quotes is very important to the community, with 94.3% saying sports diversity was important or very important; 77.2% saying cultural diversity was important or very important; and 74.3% saying gender diversity was important or very important. The most important ideals the community would like to see represented are: Persistence, with 97.2% saying this is important or very important; Teamwork and Good Sportsmanship, each with 95.7% saying it is important or very important; Good Character, with 92.9% saying it is important or very important; and Lessons of Sports, with 92.8% saying it is important. Based on the responses on Open City Hall, Staff recommends the following quotes that were voted upon by the public: 1. “It can take many years to really understand responsibility, tea mwork, friendship, character, loss, family and grit. Sports provide it all in one season.” ~ John D’Aloisio, head coach, boys’ soccer, Lincoln High School, Lincoln, Rhode Island. (Lessons of sports. This was the top vote-getter in favorite quotes with 17 votes, and 71.1% saying it was a “perfect fit” or close to.) 2. “It’s not whether you get knocked down; it’s whether you get back up.” ~ Vince Lombardi, National Football League Hall of Fame coach, Green Bay Packers. (Persistence. Six favorite votes, 56.5% saying perfect fit or close to.) 3. “I am a member of a team, and I rely on the team. I defer to it and sacrifice for it, because the team, not the individual, is the ultimate champion.” ~Mia Hamm, Hall of Fame soccer player (Teamwork. Three favorite votes, 44.8% perfect fit or close to. Second soccer quote, but highest ranked female quote.) 4. “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” ~ Wayne Gretzky, Hockey Hall of Fame player and coach (Personal effort. Three favorite votes, 47.8% perfect fit or close to.) 5. “Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self- given. Be careful.” ~ John Wooden, College Basketball Hall of Fame coach, UCLA. (Good Character. Three favorite votes, 42.6% perfect fit or close.) Staff also recommends this sixth quote, which was not on the original list, but was a write-in suggestion from one of the respondents. Page 3 of 3 6. “All players and kids need is a little help, a little hope, and somebody who believes in them.” ~ Magic Johnson, Basketball Hall of Fame player (The nominator felt ‘good coaches are rare and should be celebrated.’) Staff also offers up the following as options, for a seventh and eighth quote in response to public comment requesting more diversity in the quotes and quotes celebrating love of the game. 1. “No dream is ever chased alone.” ~ Rahul Dravid, record-holding cricket player and commentator. (Teamwork.) 2. “When you have to work, work with a smile.” ~ Kapil Dev, Hall of Fame cricket player. (Love of the Game) 3. “Luck has nothing to do with it, because I have spent many, many hours, countless hours, on the court working for my one moment in time, not knowing when it would come.” ~ Serena Williams, Grand Slam tennis record holder. (Practice.) 4. “The medals don’t mean anything, and the glory doesn’t last. It’s all about your happiness. The rewards are going to come, but my happiness is just loving the sport and having fun performing.” ~ Jackie Joyner Kersee, Olympic track and field athlete. (Love of the Game.) 5. “A competitor will find a way to win. Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as a reason to give up. It’s all a matter of pride.” ~ Nancy Lopez, LPGA professional golfer. (Persistence.) Staff recommends that the City Council select two of the additional options provided above or provide appropriate direction. NOTICING REQUIREMENTS/PUBLIC OUTREACH: None. ATTACHMENTS: None.