Latest news with #TommySmith
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Tommy Smith – Battling ALS one day at a time
COLUMBUS, Ga (WRBL) – When Tommy Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis back in 2012, his family reacted like any family would. Rallying together around Smith, and that gracious support from his community has benefited Smith in more ways than he can express. ALS robs the body of the ability to walk, talk, eat, work, and in the worst cases the ability to breathe. Relatively, Tommy Smith has been lucky. Where most cases of ALS have a 2-5 year life expectancy, Smith is on year thirteen. For Tommy – ALS has so far robbed him of being a little league umpire, playing with his grandkids without a wheelchair, and speaking normally. That said – it has not been easy. Luckily for Tommy Smith, there's Vickie Smith. The couple met when Tommy was nine years old, and Vickie was seven as next door neighbors. They have been together just short of 46 years. Vickie has been Tommy's caregiver ever since his diagnosis, and has done everything in her power to provide for Tommy. Over the past couple of years, Vickie has had her own health problems. Recently being declared cancer-free, after her second fight with Breast Cancer. Obviously with a disease like ALS, the medical bills pile up quickly. The average cost to care for a person with ALS is $250,000. Major League Baseball has stepped up to the plate in recent years, recognizing those that suffer from the same disease as Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig. Gehrig's name is forever intertwined with the disease, as many refer to it as 'Lou Gehrig's disease'. You can see WRBL's feature of Tommy and Vickie Smith's battle with ALS in the video player above. You can also assist by donating to the Tommy Smith ALS Foundation, on Facebook. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Edinburgh Reporter
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
SNJO piano man brings all-star quartet to Edinburgh Jazzfest5
Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) pianist Peter Johnstone launches his International Organ Quartet's debut album, Resistance Is Futile, at Edinburgh Jazz & Blues Festival on Friday 11 July. Featuring New York-based vibes virtuoso Joe Locke, saxophonist Tommy Smith and Johnstone's SNJO colleague, Alyn Cosker on drums, the quartet will play the opening concert in the EJ&BF's St Bride's Centre series from 6pm. A former Young Scottish Jazz Musician of the Year, Johnstone has toured internationally with vocalist Kurt Elling and Vienna-based American saxophonist Andy Middleton and worked with guitarists Jim Mullen, Rob Luft and Nigel Price as well as appearing extensively as pianist with the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra. He is also Tommy Smith's partner in a duo that plays Meadowbank Church on Wednesday 16th July and is the first graduate of the jazz course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in Glasgow to return in a teaching capacity. The quartet, in which Johnstone plays Hammond organ, features music exclusively written by Johnstone. It recorded Resistance is Futile at Castlesound Studios in Pencaitland during its first set of concerts in October 2023. The St Bride's concert is part of a tour that includes the 606 Club in London. 'It's fantastic to hear such accomplished musicians as Joe, Tommy and Alyn bringing my music off the page,' says Johnstone. 'Our first tour included sell-out concerts in Glasgow and at Ronnie Scott's in London and attracted some great press comments. I can't wait to get everyone back together again for these dates in July.' Pete Johnstone Like this: Like Related
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Middlesbrough: Inconsistency saw Boro fall short in play-off race
Former Middlesbrough defender Tommy Smith says a lack of consistency was to blame for Middlesbrough's disappointing season. Boro sat fifth with six games to go but a run of four points from their final half-dozen games saw them slide to finish 10th, four points short of the play-off places. Smith, who retired in February due to an ankle injury, told the BBC's 72+ EFL podcast: "I think Middlesbrough have been one of the teams who have really struggled for that consistency. "I've seen runs where we've gone unbeaten for a few games and runs where we haven't won for a few games. "To finish 10th is obviously disappointing, it's a tough league but there are some big clubs who have languished in mid-table, you look at Norwich, Sheffield Wednesday, West Brom - it's a really difficult league to get out of and I think Middlesbrough are finding it tough. "They've spent one season in the Premier League in the last 15 which just shows how tough the league is." Smith feels the departure of his former teammate Emmanuel Latte Lath to MLS side Atlanta United in January was the key to Boro's season unravelling. The Ivorian netted 11 in 29 league appearances, 20 of them starts, but Kelechi Iheanacho, brought in on loan from Sevilla, scored once in 15 appearances and Morgan Whittaker failed to scored in 16 games after his arrival from Plymouth, with the pair combining for only three assists. Boro scored 38 goals in their first 23 games but only 23 in the second half of the campaign. "I always find that January is a really tough window to bring people in and bed them in," Smith said. "You need players to come in and hit the ground running. I don't blame them, I understand it's difficult for them to come in and hit the ground running. "With Latte Lath the club received an offer that was too good to turn down. The timing of it was unfortunate, quite late in the window which didn't give the club a lot of time. "The club have missed his goals – second half of the season they have scored nowhere near as many goals as they did in the first half."
BBC News
07-05-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Watford: 'Cleverley worked miracle in first half of season'
Former Watford winger Jobi McAnuff says the club's decision to sack head coach Tom Cleverley is "ridiculous". The Hornets were sixth and in play-off contention after a 2-1 win over Portsmouth on Boxing Day but fell away to finish 14th. "When you've got a squad as thin as theirs - there has been no investment, same as in the summer - he pulls out a miracle really in that first half of the season," McAnuff told Football Daily 72+: The EFL Podcast. "I think it's a classic case of a club believing they should be where they were in the league and he was overachieving, there's no two ways about it. Then they don't help him out in January. "The fans clearly are with him. If you'd said to Watford fans in terms of where they'd finish, everyone at that football club would have taken it at the start of the season given the lack of funds and resources. "It seems as though it's a club the owners have almost forgotten about a little bit and they're more interested in putting their money in some of the other businesses they run." But former Huddersfield Town defender Tommy Smith says just five wins in 24 games (D5 L14) and only 20 points after Boxing Day is what cost Cleverley his job. "I think he definitely did [a good job] pre-Christmas," Smith said. "They were in and around the play-offs, they looked like a team - certainly at home - that were in good shape. "But I think if you look at the drop-off they've had post-Christmas, it's not really surprising that he's lost his job - and I mean that from a Watford perspective. "I certainly don't think he's done a bad job but, as I say, the post-Christmas form has been ultimately the downfall."
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Vicarage Road to host major charity tournament this weekend
The charity football tournament will be held at Watford FC's Vicarage Road Stadium, on Saturday, May 10, 2025. (Image: Watford FC Trust) Watford will be hosting a major event with heart—the Mental Health World Cup is coming to town this weekend. The charity football tournament will be held at Watford FC's Vicarage Road Stadium on Saturday. The event was launched in 2012 by Giancarlo Gaglione in memory of his brother Lanfranco. It will be hosted at Vicarage Road for the first time, after being held at QPR's Matrade Loftus Road for many years. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The tournament will feature 32 teams, each representing an international country, and will include appearances from former Hornets such as Luther Blissett OBE DL, Tommy Smith and Marvin Sordell. It will be hosted at Vicarage Road for the first time, after being held at QPR's Matrade Loftus Road for many years. (Image: Watford FC Trust) The teams will compete in a group stage format, with groups drawn at Watford FC's training ground in March by players Mattie Pollock and Jonathan Bond. Each team will represent a different country, with the likes of Watford FC U18s, Watford FC Media Team, and Watford Thursday FC among the participants. The event is a collaborative effort, involving businesses, charities, and groups. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Mental Health World Cup has partnered with Watford Football Club's Community Sports and Education Trust and WD18 – the Watford Fan Channel. Go Cardless and Total Security are headline sponsors, with Celtic, The Grove, Overbury, MCS, and Sale Group also supporting the event. The tournament will feature 32 teams, each representing an international country, and will include appearances from former Hornets such as Luther Blissett OBE DL, Tommy Smith, and Marvin Sordell. (Image: Watford FC Trust) Watford FC kit manufacturer Kelme is supplying all 32 teams with unique shirts and shorts. Local brewery Mad Squirrel has released a limited edition 'Kick-Off' beer, with £1 of proceeds going to the charities involved. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The benefitting charities are Common Goal, Mind, OLLIE, and Rennie Grove Peace Hospice, with all proceeds split evenly between these organisations. The event promises more than just football, with an auction, food and drink, and a dedicated kids zone. Each team will represent a different country, with the likes of Watford FC U18s, Watford FC Media Team, and Watford Thursday FC among the participants. (Image: Watford FC Trust) The charity auction, featuring various items, is now live and can be accessed at Spectator tickets for the event are priced at £10 and can be purchased at the Watford FC website or on the day at the venue. ADVERTISEMENT Advertisement The Mental Health World Cup aims to raise money and awareness for mental health issues, while providing an enjoyable day for all involved. The event is expected to be a significant fundraising and awareness event for mental health, bringing together people from all walks of life.
