Support Louisiana in the 2012 Paralympic Games

This is Shirts by Guy’s first fundraiser, so help support a fellow Louisiana boy, Mark LeBlanc! This is truly a unique and worthy cause, and I’m excited to be a part of it. Since all my shirts are sports-related, I thought it was only right that my first fundraiser be geared toward the greatest sporting event in the world.....the Olympics.

First, a little background on who and what you will be supporting: Mark was born and raised in New Orleans, attended St. Dominic's, Jesuit, and LSU. He learned to sail at the age of 9, and learned to race in the Optimist fleet, which was pretty much where all the young studs honed their racing skills all over the Gulf Coast. In high school, Mark began sailing Lasers and Club 420's, which is sailor-speak for “badass”. Mark helped Jesuit qualify for and compete in 4 High School Fleet Racing National Championships and 4 High School Team Racing National Championships; bringing home 2 bronzes. At LSU, Mark organized the LSU Sailing Club and was elected the Club President two years in a row.

In March 2006, after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated coastal Louisiana and New Orleans, Mark found the 2.4mR class in St. Petersburg, FL. After his first event, Mark was asked to practice with the US Disabled Sailing Team in Miami that May. Oh, did I not mention Mark was born as a below-elbow congenital amputee, and been dominating the regional sailing circuit with only 1.5 arms? Well, this is a fact, and now it was time for him to show his talents to the world. Mark purchased a new 2.4mR (which is a boat) and began a campaign towards the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing.

Mark's 2008 Paralympic Campaign saw him traveling from Finland to Miami and Newport, RI to train and compete in preparation for the US Paralympic Trials. Unfortunately, Mark fell short, barely missing the #1 spot on the team and qualified as an alternate for the 2008 Games. As an alternate, Mark attended a test event in China and was truly amazed at how great an experience it would be to represent the United States at the Paralympics. This is when Mark decided to pursue another Paralympic Campaign for the London Games in 2012.

Despite the challenges that he has faced and the cost of his training and travel, Mark is dedicated to representing, not only the USA, but the great state of Louisiana, at the 2012 Paralympic Games. Team LeBlanc is a non-profit organization, and I can’t tell you how much of his own money he has put up to do something he loves. So, it’s time to support the local boy on the international stage by buying some t-shirts and koozies to raise money to support his training and travel! 100% of net proceeds will go to Mark donated through  through the Delta Olympic Sailing Association, a non profit with 501(c)(3) status.

Go to http://www.team-leblanc.com/ for more information.

PS: If you order multiple shirts, I'll ship them out immediately (minus the Team LeBlanc shirt) for one shipping cost.

Ordering will be open for the next 3 weeks, and customized shirts and koozies will be ordered then. Expect to receive items 2-3 weeks after that. Thanks everyone.

Thanks Landon; Thanks Isner; Thanks Italy....Wait, No

Way to show up, Italy.  Defending freaking champs.  Well played, well played.  We've got two no-name tennis players playing 47 straight hours of competitive tennis, and y'all can't muster 90 minutes of solid team play?  These guys have absolutely nothing left, truly leaving it all on the court.  One dude is a 7 ft behemoth.  I mean, imagine just living a normal life at that freakish size, it would be exhausting.  But he somehow manages to use adrenaline and put his heart on the line and play tennis for 11 hours till he somehow won the match.  Did anyone care who won at that point?  No.  The effort and guts displayed will be remembered forever.  I wish I could say the same for Italy.

You may ask.....You're American Guy, why do you care so much?  Well, you know, when I was creating World Cup shirts, I kinda focused on the teams I positively knew were going through to the Round of 16, and the highly seeded defending champions looked to be a sound investment.  The longer the team is playing, the more momentum they pick up, more and more fans are going to go crazy, therefore buying more of their shirts.  It's T-Shirt Sales 101 people.  But, I should have listened to my friends.  Like my buddy always says, "Never lie down with an Italian because they'll crap the bed."  Or something like that.  Well, I'm at her place right now lying in a big freaking mess.

Big discount people, get these Italy shirts out of my sight.  I'm pretty sure American Apparel sells these blanks for like $20, and you can get them with a cool "Italy" graphic on them for half that.  Yep, $10.  Don't be embarrassed to wear it.  Just tell people it's a 2006 World Cup Champion commemorative t-shirt!

http://www.shirtsbyguy.com/product/italy-world-cup-flag-shirt

Don't let this overshadow the reedonkulous Landon Donovan stoppage time goal to send us from packing our bags to winning our Group.  In my lifetime, only 3 or 4 truly American moments in sports really stick out in my memory.  In random order, Michael Phelps 8 Gold Medals in Beijing (the relay comeback to be more specific), President W throwing out the 1st pitch after 9/11 in the World Series at Yankee Stadium (from the rubber mind you), Donovan's goal on Wednesday, and the 2002 LSU Football Spring Game.

And, Wednesday was just another typical American day.  First, Landon Donovan waits till the last possible minute to accomplish something that could have been done way earlier.  Very American.  Then a seven foot tennis freak, with lungs of infinite capacity, and tireless legs plays for 3 straight days.  Of course, he's American.

Now, GEAUX USA!!!  We play Ghana on Saturday at 230PM EST, so be sure to start drinking well before noon.   Oh, and buy a shirt.

Pretty cool video of the world's reaction to Donovan's goal below.