A swift glance over the headlines of recent sports pages can give even the most innocent fan of athletics a healthy dose of cynicism. The National Football League's image has taken haymaker after haymaker following a slew of domestic and child abuse charges at the hands of some its most prominent stars.

Even NASCAR is in the throes of a public relations mess after a driver was struck and killed by a fellow competitor. The family of the deceased is crying foul play while the spokespeople of the aggressor are dispensing timely statements copied and pasted straight out of PR textbooks. 

Sports are supposed to provide people a temporary departure from the mundane motions and rituals of everyday life. Indeed, there are instances when sports can provide a platform for positive societal change.

So when Valpo men's soccer's #oneVALPO initiative was created, it lent assurance that, at least on one level of athletics, brighter days are ahead. In fact, it's one of the more feel-good movements to grace the Valparaiso campus. Knowing how it came to be is half the inspiration.

Last season, Mike Avery's squad was in the midst of its early, non-conference portion of the schedule when a couple African-American players were on the receiving end of racial slurs. Avery's team makeup is a world tour in and of itself. Jamaica, Guinea, France, El Salvador, and Canada are all represented on the 32-man roster. Retaliation was the knee-jerk reaction, but Avery and his staff ultimately decided the pen was mightier than the sword.

From there, the #oneVALPO promise was crafted. With such a diverse group, a movement of this sort seemed appropriate.

It states that individuals will promise to show respect for all others regardless of beliefs, backgrounds, etc. It also calls for the elimination of disrespectful and derogatory remarks, the education of other cultures, and to celebrate the differences of others. After all, the promise reads, together we are more than we are alone.

For the head soccer coach in his eighth year at Valpo, this initiative hits home.

Coaching can be a difficult profession in which to raise children. The never-ending process of recruiting, long practices, and the travel that accompanies a season schedule can make a proper work-life balance a mirage. That challenge became slightly easier once Mike and his wife, Carin (head volleyball coach), both got head coaching jobs at Valparaiso.

Through the help of an agency three years ago, they adopted Kasongo, a young boy from Africa. "K.J." has been a source of both joy and goodwill for the Avery's as well as their biological son, Alex.

"He (K.J.) fits right into our crazy lifestyle. He's a rock star, running around the ARC and campus. People come up to us all the time and say 'What a wonderful thing you've done.' We weren't trying to save the world through adopting him. We were trying to grow our family. We wanted to give Alex a brother. It's enriched our family's life much more. We're the winners in this thing," Avery said.

Perhaps the best aspect of the #oneVALPO campaign is that it isn't part of a fundraising pitch, or some self-serving endeavor. Avery asks for no money, just a signature and a promise to respect other cultures and backgrounds.

The men's soccer team has been met with overwhelming support, both within the Valpo community and afar. All 19 varsity sports have signed the #oneVALPO pledge. Each opponent they've faced has signed it as well. The campaign has gained significant traction and raised eyebrows along the way. Avery estimates well over 100 groups and/or individuals have signed on the dotted line.

When asked about the end goal for the #oneVALPO campaign, Avery admits there is no pre-determined number of signatures sought. He does envision Alex and K.J. signing the pledge here as students when the time comes.

He concedes this project is bigger than soccer, or even Valparaiso University. But through his actions as well as his words, Avery has fostered a culture of acceptance and tolerance. That culture has enabled Avery and his coaching staff to enjoy a great deal of success on the field and on the recruiting trail.

"This goes right along with what the University is trying to achieve with extending our reach to international students. This is a wonderful institution for an international student. You get the personal touch of a smaller school, but you also get big-time athletics," Avery concluded.

The #oneVALPO campaign comes at a time when we could all use a reminder of the good sports can accomplish.