Week In Review: January 9

Week In Review: January 9

1/9/2006

By Rod Williamson
Director of Media Relations

Stars’ Common Denominator: Desire & Inspiration

I just returned from the NCAA Honors Celebration in Indianapolis, where Charles Davis became the fifth Commodore to win the prestigious Silver Anniversary Award.  The NCAA reviews nominations from each Silver Anniversary class, in this case 1981, and selects six alumni who not only shined as a college athlete but went on to a distinguished career.

In addition to the six Silver winners, a crowd of 2,300 was on hand to honor three Inspiration Award recipients, eight on the top current student-athletes (based on athletic, academic and community service achievement) and a single Theodore Roosevelt Award winner.

We watched as the famous — former BYU and Boston Celtic great Danny Ainge and football Hall of Famer Mike Singletary — took center stage with the not so famous.  Coaching legend Johnny Wooden, about 95 years young, was there to introduce New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft as the Theodore Roosevelt Award winner, the organization’s top honor.
 
The Inspiration Award honorees were essentially unknown but their stories are Hollywood worthy.  Take Lois Taurman, for example, a four year letter winner in each of three sports at Bellermine University.  In 1984, just one year removed from this athletic success, she became a quadriplegic after a fall from a ladder.  Lois wheeled herself onstage at Indy and told the captivated crowd of her battle to regain control of her life physically and emotionally.  She earned a nursing degree while in rehabilitation herself, later earning a law degree and master’s degree in education.  She has also won countless Gold Medals in the National Wheelchair Games.  She gave her acceptance speech by memory, one coming from her heart, and it drew a standing ovation.

Ainge and Singletary were asked what motivates them these days.  While they are active in professional athletics, both said they derived the most satisfaction from giving back to their communities.  Former Yale swimmer and President of Gatorade Susan Wellington was asked why she is so motivated to contribute to society and she said “because I can and because that is how I get my greatest joy.”

I was partial, of course, but no recipient had a more inspiring biography than our own Charles Davis.  He told of the promise he made as a youngster in the Nashville projects that if God would help him escape his current surroundings that he would return and dedicate his life to improving others.   He has kept that promise.

Sports fans get caught up in the excitement of today’s wins and losses, as well we should.  But it would do us all well to remember that there are common denominators with these great student-athletes that go far beyond the jump shots, tackles, curve balls and fast times.  The best and the brightest student-athletes have an uncommon desire to use their blessings to  boost others less fortunate.  They refuse to allow personal setbacks to defeat them.  They have a charisma that leads, motivates and inspires us.

The honors program will be aired on ESPNU several times this week and edited down to fit a one-hour time block on ESPN2 later in January.  It is television worth watching.

By the way, Vanderbilt’s previous winners of the Silver Anniversary Award are Billy Jones, VU ’50, football and track; Bucky Curtis, VU ’51, football and basketball; Bill Wade, VU ’52, football; Lamar Alexander, VU ’62, track and field.