Meet AnnaLynne McCord, Actress and activist beautiful inside and out.

Although baseball season is over, the Yankees Hat is still traveling and this time it went from one extreme to the other. I started off in sunny Florida where the temperature was 80 degrees, the sun was shining and I spent most of my time on the beach. I was covering a charity event with some Miami Dolphins legends 

and then two days later, I ended up in South Bend Indiana with a massive snowstorm experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature and the polar vortex. 

I hate the snow and cold but it ended up being a great trip because I had the opportunity to meet an amazing actress and activist, AnnaLynne McCord who spoke about a very powerful topic.

I had just arrived in South Bend from Florida. I was back in town for the Notre Dame Football game and also visiting some friends and family. I had a lot on my agenda but as I was reading through my emails, I came across an invitation to a campus event with AnnaLynne McCord. She was talking about her personal experience with sexual assault and forgiveness.

 

You all know her as a beautiful model and actress but I got to know her as a beautiful human being. She was funny, witty, charismatic and full of life. She was an incredible speaker and her words were powerful. She was not only honest, down to earth and real, but she is by far one of the nicest people you will ever meet. She had you laughing one minute and thinking about serious issues and life the next. She stayed afterwards to meet all of her fans and was there for over an hour talking and listening to everyone with a smile the entire time. I was truly impressed. I give her so much credit for being so cordial and generous and for not being afraid to speak about what happened. She is the voice for so many people who don’t have one. 

When I met her I told her what an impact she had on my life and thanked her for sharing her experience so that others could learn, grow and heal from it. She was thoughtful and attentive. A true beauty on the inside and out. She genuinely listened to what everyone had to say and made eye contact throughout each conversation. She gave lots of hugs to every person that came up to her and it was obvious that she truly cares about people. 

I was so glad I had the chance to meet her in person and hear her speak. I will support all of her efforts down the road and encourage you to do the same and learn more about her. If you ever have the chance to hear her speak at an event you will love it. She’s a strong woman who didn’t let what happened to her take over her life. I admire her for being so brave and opening up so that others could learn from her.  

 

As I was trudging through the snow on my way back to my car, I had to ask myself why in the world was I even out in this cold. I knew the answer. I was meant to hear AnnaLynne’s message tonight and now I’m sharing it with you. I passed the Golden Dome which was covered in snow and the campus began to look different to me. I’m not a fan of the outdoors especially in the winter, but this particular night was actually quite breathtaking. 

There was a purity to it...which is the word that entered my mind. The message I got from tonight was about becoming pure again. There is a bible verse about becoming white as snow. We can all become pure again and find our purity through forgiveness, redemption and healing. It was a symbolic night with the snow. One I will never forget.

Thank you AnnaLynne McCord. You inspired me to share this story and to think about my own life and struggles and to remember that no matter what happens in life, we all have the power and ability to free ourselves and learn from adversity instead of letting it take over our life and rob us of true happiness.

That's me in the snow. Life is good. Enjoy it to the fullest! 

What we should learn from the Michael Del Zotto situation

I wasn't sure if I was going to write again in my blog until next season, but after an unfortunate turn of events, I feel compelled to share some thoughts.

I recently filmed an episode for a sports series I’m working on called Beyond The Offseason. I wrote about it in my blog a few months ago. It’s a show about athletes giving back and making a difference. It was created to put athletes in a positive light since there are so many negative things happening in the sports world today. This particular episode featured a 12 year old boy with cerebral palsy and his best buddy, an NHL athlete. It was a beautiful story of friendship and hope. The athlete was Michael Del Zotto. Ironically, Michael was recently involved in a situation that not only hurt his reputation, but it also affected his career and personal life which in return, had an impact on Beyond The Offseason.

The reason I’m writing about this situation is because I have gotten emails, phone calls, tweets and messages from random people about the episode we did with Michael and Liam since the incident happened. Some were kind, but a lot of them were not so kind which is heartbreaking because the show was pure and innocent. There were people involved who were hurt so I felt the need to stand up for the integrity of the show and everyone involved in it. You would think people would have the decency to leave a young boy, his family and a project with heart out of this mess, but unfortunately that is not the case.

I won’t get into to details but all of this drama and pain was caused by a woman in the adult entertainment industry who made claims about the athlete and sent out numerous humiliating tweets about Del Zotto in a twitter blast over something very juvenile. It ended up destroying lives.

I had to ask myself “why”? Why would anyone do something like this? What kind of person is this woman? She accused the athlete of something so trivial. Did he really deserve public humiliation over this? Does anyone really deserve this? There were better ways to handle this situation.

My question to this woman who started everything is…Did you ever think for one second how many lives this would effect and how many people this would hurt?

Did you think for one second that it might damage his career? His family life? His friends? And most importantly, his friendship with a 12 year old boy living with cerebral palsy?

I decided to watch the video again of the episode we did with Michael and Liam to make sure that everything I saw and experienced that day was true. I found myself in tears. I saw a young NHL hockey player who truly cared about a little boy who had many struggles in his life. There was nothing phony about it. I was there. I saw the friendship between the two and also between the entire family with Michael, which is why it’s so heartbreaking to watch everything unfold and to watch this misunderstood athlete be on public display for humiliation and ridicule. He has been mocked, scorned, laughed at, made fun of and has been treated so unkind it makes my heart ache. I know a lot of athletes who have done much worse – they just chose to do it with people who weren't vindictive.

I was in tears because this beautiful story had been tarnished by a woman who did not care about anyone but herself the day she decided to get revenge. There is no doubt in my mind that Michael Del Zotto is a great person. The little boy with cerebral palsy agrees and so do his parents. It was a very special day and as I got to know Michael and Liam better, I saw their friendship blossom and it touched my life and soul because this athlete meant every word he said and was one hundred percent genuine in everything he did.

But people don’t care. They just like to see the bad things in life. What a disappointing world we live in.

Del Zotto might have made a careless mistake, but it doesn't change his heart which is full of kindness and compassion. I think the biggest mistake he made was trusting a porn star to be his friend. I think we can all admit we've done some stupid things in our life, and we've all made bad choices, but if we learn and grow from them it makes us better people. No one is perfect. We have all done something we’re ashamed of or wish we could take back. Michael Del Zotto is a 24 year old NHL hockey player who started his career at a young age in New York City. I’m sure the spotlight and lifestyle got the best of him…it does to a lot of athletes. The difference is that he got involved with someone who chose to hurt him instead of help him. 

A lot of young athletes today need help and guidance. It’s a big adjustment to play sports professionally. Many careers have been ruined from not being able to handle the fame, money and power. You know what would have been a better solution from this woman… to simply care about this young athlete and have some empathy instead of being the woman scorned. Maybe say to him “I think you need some help. Let me be a friend and help you figure out why you're doing this”. Not “I’m annoyed and I’m gonna throw you to the wolves”. But it sounds like she may have some problems of her own. We all do. I just don’t understand why people have to be so hateful. I think it all stems from loneliness and pain. I feel sorry for this woman and I feel sorry for what she did to Del Zotto. This incident should have never happened.

I hope we can all learn something from this. To all the men out there…please stop looking at women as objects. I know it’s tough to avoid when people in the adult entertainment industry like this woman prey on the lonely and make a living at being an object, and every add, TV show and magazine focuses on beauty, sex and scandal, but you have to know that there are some decent women out there who are more than just a pretty face or hot body. And girls, don’t lose your class and dignity. Don’t be so desperate for love and attention that you sacrifice your integrity or beliefs. It’s hard to keep up with the fantasy world that has been created in society, but just be yourself and love who you are and in return, the right person will love you back.

There’s more to life than just a pretty face, fame or money. We need to stop hurting each other and start loving and respecting each other more. Let this be a lesson to all of us. 

Men…you need to have more respect for women. And women…you need to have more respect for yourselves.

And to anyone making negative comments to me about the episode, the little boy and his family or Michael, please stop. The goal at Beyond The Offseason was to tell an inspirational story with heart and that was accomplished. 

No matter what is being said, Michael Del Zotto is still a good guy and Liam is a brave young boy who has many hopes and dreams and this is his friend. Lets not be hateful or hurtful to anyone involved. Here’s the video. It speaks for itself...

Derek Jeter's final at bat

There are moments in sports history that we will never forget. Derek Jeter stepped up to the plate for his last time at Fenway park and leaves his legacy behind with a base hit RBI...and I missed it all.

As a die hard Yankees fan and an even more die hard Derek Jeter fan, you would think that I wouldn't miss this game for anything. But I did. I'll tell you why in a minute. I now understand more than ever why it was time for Derek Jeter to retire. He has sacrificed so much and given everything he has to baseball and I can only imagine the things he missed out on. It's time for him to enjoy life and make up for all of those moments that have passed him by. After giving us two decades of excellence and dedication, Derek Jeter will finally get the opportunity to live his life outside of baseball. And I'm sure it will be just as epic as his career with the Yankees. 

The reason I missed the game is because I was working. For those of you who don't know, I'm an actress. I have the starring role in a pilot for a TV series called Alexis Ronan, so it's not like I could have called in sick. The series revolves around my character so I had to be there. It was so hard knowing that I was missing my favorite player's last game, but just like Jeter, I knew I had a job to do and I did it well. It was probably one of the most powerful scenes I have ever shot in my career and I had the director and producer in tears after they watched the edit that the director surprised us with the next day. It was such a great feeling to do your job so well that others take notice and your confidence and ability begins to soar. 

But I took notes from Jeter and I have to remember to stay humble and focused because you don't know how long your career will last and not everything in life is about your job. 

I've been in this business for the same amount of time that Jeter has been with the Yankees so I can relate to the years of commitment he has given and the events he has missed while focusing on his career. I have the starring role in this project and like Jeter, I am the "Captain". My cast and crew depend on me to carry the show and give my best at all times. Missing a day on set is not an option. It's my responsibility to show up every day and give the best performance I can when I'm on set. The hours are long, the days are many, and I have given up everything to be a part of this show. But also like Jeter, I love what I do so the sacrifices are just part of the job.  

I'm not retiring by any means. As a matter of fact my career is just taking off. But I'm happy for The Captain that he gets to enjoy his life now in a different way and experience the things that you and I could only dream of. For as many years that Derek Jeter has put in and given to his fans and his team, he deserves this time to just simply be Derek Jeter. 

I could talk about how Jeter's final time at bat was a base hit RBI at Fenway. The fact that the last game he played was against the Red Sox. Or how much he has given to all of us over the years and to the game of baseball. But you know what, I just wanted to talk about Derek Jeter the man. I wanted to say thank you to him for all he has done not only on the field but off the field. The joy he gave my brother Shane as he was battling cancer giving us quality time together watching him play, taking our mind off our troubles. The smiles that Jeter put on so many faces throughout his career and through his charity organization called the Turn 2 foundation is endless. Derek Jeter is not just a baseball player, he's a man with heart, integrity and passion. And I can't wait to see what he does next! So Farewell Captain, we all love you and will miss you. If I ever run into you in my travels, I'd love to buy you a drink or a meal and just say hi to Derek Jeter. Welcome to your new life my friend. Enjoy it! You've earned it. 

The quote of the day... "Farewell Captain" 

Oh, and yes, I recorded the game so I'll be watching it on my next day off. And thanks to social media, I was able to watch the video of Derek Jeter's last time at bat so thank you to everyone who posted.

The most inspirational story

It's been a while since I have written in my blog and here's why... the most recent feature in my new series Beyond The Offseason. This episode changed my life and I hope it will change yours too. 

When looking for stories to feature on Beyond The Offseason I do my homework and make sure that every athlete I choose has integrity, and is genuine about giving back. The story of friendship between Michael Del Zotto and Liam Traynor is both heartwarming and inspirational and there is no doubt that they are best buddies. 

From the moment when Michael walked in to surprise Liam in the episode, I saw the bond that they shared. It was evident that they genuinely cared about each other and it was uplifting to see their interaction as they were reunited. 

While we were filming a segment for the feature, Michael and Liam had a really funny xbox hockey rematch going on that they picked up from their last visit. The cool thing is that Michael treats Liam like one of the guys. He doesn't see the physical challenges Liam has and Liam plays with the intensity and skills of any 12 year old boy his age. They would banter back and forth at times and Michael didn't go easy on Liam. But Liam was a good sport and reminded Michael that he gets to play with two hands where Liam was only able to use one. I had to laugh at their exchange of words and accusations of cheating and cheap shots that were taken on the xbox ice. Liam ended up scoring a goal which brought a smile to his face and Michael was happy for his friend too. I won't tell you who won the game, all I will say is that it was fun watching these two friends battle it out on the xbox ice and then afterward went outside to play a little street hockey to top off the fun afternoon.

I haven't seen a friendship like this in a while. And although we see Michael as the good guy, he reminds us in my interview with him that it is Liam who has a greater impact on Michael's life. 

You can see the full version of my interview with Liam and Michael after October 1st. 

I am giving the big networks the opportunity right now to jump on board and air the story before anyone else sees the extended version. If that doesn't happen, I will release it to the public on October 1st which happens to be World Cerebral Palsy Day. For those of you who don't know, Liam has cerebral palsy which is why this day is the perfect day to release the full story. 

I am approaching the NHL Network to air the story as well as TSN. So far no response but I am hopeful. I also have a call out to Comcast Sports Network in Philly and I have some interest there too. Michael is currently playing for the Flyers in Philly so I hope they shine some light on one of their local good guys. I'm not opposed to any other networks picking this feature up and airing it either, I just want the world to see this amazing story of friendship, hope and inspiration... Something we desperately need in the sports world after all the negativity that has been surrounding it lately. 

My big picture goal is to have Michael Del Zotto recognized and nominated this year at the NHL Awards for his efforts and dedication. And if that happens, I want Liam beside him on the red carpet. I think these two handsome hockey players would look amazing side by side and Liam would look great in a tuxedo :) 

I will leave you with this...Liam is an incredible 12 year old boy who has touched my heart and inspired me. His smile lights up a room and his laughter warms your heart. You can't help but cheer for him and want the best for him. But I have to mention that his family has been there every step of the way and deserves a lot of credit for never limiting him in anything he does and for loving him so much. They have given him every opportunity to succeed and live a happy, normal life. 

We had a very special gift that was given to Liam in the episode called a Power Plate. It's a fitness modality that will help in Liam's rehabilitation and will hopefully one day help him to walk. Without the generosity and support from the wonderful people at Power Plate this episode of Beyond The Offseason would not be possible. 

And of course to Michael Del Zotto - thank you for being a positive example of what an athlete can do with his success and status. You are making a difference in someone else's life and your love for Liam will touch the world once they see. Because of good guys like you, you give me great stories to tell and make the rest of the world smile for a moment and realize that there are some good things happening in the world of sports and in the world period. The NHL is lucky to have you. 

To the Traynor family and Michael Del Zotto - You have touched my life and I'm honored to have met each and every one of you. I hope this story goes big so the rest of the world can experience what I saw that very special day we filmed Beyond The Offseason. 

Watch the video teaser below from the Beyond the Offseason episode featuring Michael Del Zotto and Liam Traynor. It will touch your heart.

The Dugout

It's been a few days since I've written in my blog. That's because I've been busy finishing post production on my recent episode of Beyond The Offseason and also getting ready to star in a TV pilot for a new original series called Alexis Ronan. AND...I was getting romanced by another team! Yep that's what I said. The Chicago White Sox hat was putting the moves on the Yankees hat. Let me explain...

You all know I'm a die hard Yankees fan. But I was recently invited by a friend to go see a White Sox game in Chicago. Not only that, I got to spend time with the players, coaches, trainers and the security team and I have to admit...I was tempted. I was never treated so well and given so much attention and love by a MLB team. They let me come to batting practice, gave me a tour of the stadium, the players, trainers and coaching staff all joked around with me and made me feel special, they even gave me gifts!!! I got an autographed game ball and a practice ball. And...are you ready for this...a White Sox hat! Before you go off on me, you should know I'm smart enough to not get caught wearing it. Especially after my Kate Upton rant. But I have to say, I was flattered and I will cherish it always. I'll be honest...I tried it on. I felt like I was cheating though so I took it off quickly. It was quite a day and I still play the experience back in my head over and over again.

It was tough to not fall in love. There was something about this team that made me feel good. I was treated so kind by the entire White Sox organization, that I found myself thinking about them constantly. I developed a little crush. It was a one night baseball stand that I will never forget. To my beloved Yankees...I will always love you, but you have some competition. Do you know what they let me do...after batting practice I got to sit inside their dugout! On the bench! Right where all the players sit! It was so cool and made me feel like a kid again. I was kind of sad though that my own team, the Yankees, never invited me to do the same thing. 

So here's a little bit of advice to anyone in love or in a relationship (baseball or real life) protect the ones you love. Take care of them. Make them feel special and don't give them a reason to stray. Be faithful. Sweep them off their feet and love and respect them forever. Because if you don't...someone else will. 

Thank you to the Chicago White Sox, the players, my friend, the coaching staff, trainers and the security team for making my day so exciting and for giving me something to remember for years to come. You all know who you are ;) And to that awesome player who scored me the hat and baseballs, thank you. The hat may not go on my head, but it will forever be in my heart. What a beautiful memory to leave me with. 

The quote of the day..."There's a story behind every person. Don't be too quick to judge"

It's Derek Jeter Day. Farewell Captain.

Today we honor Derek Jeter, who has given us twenty seasons of joy and entertainment watching him play the game. He is one of the most loved and respected athletes to ever play for the New York Yankees and is a class act both on and off the field. To our beloved Captain, I tip my hat to you.

We all respect The Captain for being one of the greatest short stops to ever play in Major League Baseball. We admire him for his kind heart and humble attitude. Paul O'neil said "He never put himself above anyone else" and maybe that's why we love Jeter so much. Because we can relate to him. We can connect with him. He was just a kid who grew up playing baseball and his dream finally came true when he got the chance to play the greatest game on earth for the greatest team on earth. Don't we all have a dream like Derek Jeter did? Can you imagine the hard work, dedication and sacrifices he made to get where he is today? He's an example to everyone to never give up, pursue your dreams, work hard, and once you arrive, don't forget where you came from. 

We've watched him grow up over the last 20 years and it has been an honor. Baseball will never be the same without him. But as Derek Jeter closes this chapter, he has the opportunity to open a new one. I can't wait to see what he does next. 

Since 2003, Jeter has served as the Yankees team captain and has accomplished many things throughout his career including: Five World Series Championships, fourteen All-Star selections, five Gold Glove Awards, five Silver Slugger Awards, two Hank Aaron Awards, and a Roberto Clemente Award. He has had quite an impressive career to say the least. But what I find even more impressive is his work off the field. 

Derek Jeter started a charitable organization called the Turn 2 Foundation in 1996 to help children and teens avoid drug and alcohol addiction. He is very hands on with his organization and he truly cares about the kids in the program. The foundation also rewards those who show high academic achievement. You should check out the site and support the cause www.turn2foundation.org I admire any athlete who gives back and knows the importance of making a difference. Jeter also serves as an ambassador for Weplay, a website designed to encourage children to get involved in sports. Thank you once again Derek Jeter for taking the time to care. Maybe one day I will get the opportunity to feature Derek Jeter and the Turn 2 Foundation on Beyond The Offseason. I like to dream big too. 

The quote of the day - which was taken from Derek Jeter's farewell speech today ... "In my opinion I've had the greatest job in the world, I got a chance to be the short stop for the New York Yankees, and there's only one of those"

Beyond The Offseason

New York has been amazing. I got to see the Yankees win at home against the Red Sox and the very next day, I experienced one of the most touching production days of my career. I'm still on cloud nine and in awe of how blessed my life is. 

I created a sports show called Beyond The Offseason, it's about athletes, teams and coaches giving back in the off-season and getting involved with charity. I host the show as well as produce it and write it. The concept started 5 years ago when I found out my brother Shane had cancer. Throughout his battle, there were athletes, teams and a very special coach who offered friendship, love and support which truly helped his recovery. They lifted his spirits and gave him the will to keep fighting. I'm happy to say my brother is healthy and cancer free today and we have a lot of people to thank for that. I was so touched by watching these athletes step up and make a difference, that it inspired me to start finding more stories about athletes doing good and telling the rest of the world about it. My passions in life are sports, entertainment and charity and this show has been my dream project. 

I was honored to shoot the most recent episode which took pace in Blauvelt, New York. It's about a little boy with a big heart. His name is Liam Traynor. He's 12 years old and has cerebral palsy. He was born with CP and although he is in a wheel chair, you would never know he was any different from any of the other kids his age because his spirit was so strong and his outlook on life is incredible. It comes from being raised in a loving family and also from having faith in God. I spent the entire day with the Traynor family and got to know Liam very well. He is by far the most amazing 12 year old boy I've ever met and a true inspiration. When you watch the episode it will melt your heart. I admire his family and connected with them because I know how it feels to have a loved one struggle. They reminded me of how important family is and that we have to always be there for each other and have faith. So thank you to the Traynor's for being so amazing. 

There's more to the story though. Liam met a very special #NHL hockey player who at the time was playing for the New York Rangers. His name is Michael Del Zotto. I have never met a more kind and compassionate person and you will see that Michael truly loves and cares about his best buddy Liam. When you watch the two of them interact, it's so heartwarming and is exactly what Beyond The Offseason is all about. Michael is amazing and after you see his bond with Liam you will be a fan for life. 

We begin editing next week so hopefully by the end of the month you will get to see what I experienced with this amazing family and a very special athlete who took the time to care. 

Quote of the day..."The greatest joy is giving, the most satisfying work is helping others, the most powerful force in life is Love and the greatest asset is Faith."