Great thoughts from the 2009 ESPYS!!

A couple of weeks ago, I had the great opportunity to accompany one of my sons and a group he was performing with to the ESPYS VIP Afterparty in LA.  What an experience!!  Of course, it was the week after the Michael Jackson memorial had been at the Staples Center…which is in the same complex with the Nokia Theater where the ESPYS are held.

I was there to “manage” the group of 16 Pikes from Va. Tech who had gotten the attention of ESPN after their “glow-in-the-dark” perfomance became an internet sensation!  I was thrilled to be able to  help them out any way I could.

Highlights for me included introducing myself to Bob and Nick Valvano right before the guys’ performance at the Nokia Live VIP Afterparty.  They were standing right in front of the lighting/sound table…where I wanted to be…just in case!!  I have worked on the Jimmy V Celebrity Golf Tournament and Gala many times and felt that I could not pass up the chance to make the connection.

Since I had been getting ready for the performance while the ESPYS were actually going on…I wasn’t aware of the recipients until the news and I was able to watch the ESPYS on tv the following weekend.  What has stuck with me the most was the acceptance speech of Don Meyer who received the Jimmy V Award…about as much as Jimmy V’s speech when he received the Arthur Ashe Award for Courage at the inaugural ESPYS.  How could we forget… “Don’t give up…Don’t ever give up.”

During Don Meyer’s speech, two things mentioned will stay with me forever.  Don Meyer’s “F words”… “Faith. Family. Friends.”  And a statement that was passed on to him “Don’t whine.  Don’t complain.  Don’t make excuses.”  How can you go wrong with these thoughts guiding you through life…good times and bad.

Filed under News, Thought for the Day!