Tag: Writing

Monica Seles: Triumph of Love

Written on August 25, 2011.

Monica Seles’ greatest victory wasn’t on the tennis courts. As a teenager, Monica Seles won some historic matches on the tennis court, dominating opponents and filling a room with trophies. Her greatest win, though, came years later. Born in Yugoslavia in 1973, amid Cold War tensions and communist supply shortages, she started playing tennis with her father at the age of 5 “for a little exercise.” She quickly...

Carlos Zambrano

Written on August 1, 2011.

“Ultimate Teammate…” They will assume whatever role is necessary for the team to win. Two weeks ago, I visited Chicago to do a series of speeches for Microsoft at a sales meeting. Chicago is one of my favorite cities, so at week’s end my family flew in to join me so we could enjoy for a little vacation. There was nothing I was looking forward to more than taking my two children on their first...

Upping Her Game

Written on July 3, 2011.

Retired from tennis, Martina Navratilova continues to push herself, and to use her gifts to inspire and help others. With a tennis racket strapped tightly to her hiking pack, Martina Navratilova began her ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. The tennis legend had visions of celebrating at the summit of Africa’s highest peak by hitting a couple balls to see how far they might fly in the thin air at 19,341 feet.

Sam Cunningham

Written on July 1, 2011.

“Hope for the Best, But…” The truly Great prepare for all the possibilities before they step on the field. This weekend, Sam “Bam” Cunningham was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. In honor of that well-deserved honor and his Great career, we want to share a Moment of Greatness that helped define both Sam’s career and change college football. On the evening...

The New 61

Written on May 10, 2011.

Thirty years after a dream eluded her, swimmer Diana Nyad is out to show the world what commitment looks like. More than 90 miles of open ocean lies between Cuba and South Florida. For Diana Nyad, that stretch of shark-infested water equates to about 65 continuous hours of solitude, if all goes well—no rest, no physical contact with another person, no sound or movement except for the rhythmic kick-stroke-breathe, kick-stroke-breathe....

Tony Dungy’s Championship Life

Written on May 2, 2011.

Dungy never lost faith that he could balance work and personal life, even when he wasn’t winning the number of games he wanted. It’s a badge of honor among many sports coaches to tout long hours studying videos, nights slept on office couches and devotion to winning so all-consuming that everything else be damned. Tony Dungy doesn’t wear that badge. Dungy, head coach of the Indianapolis Colts, has...

Shane Battier

Written on May 1, 2011.

Ultimate Teammate They will assume whatever role is necessary to win… Tomorrow night, the Memphis Grizzlies have a chance to become only the second team in NBA history to upset the top-seed in a seven-game first-round playoff series. That incredible journey began two weeks ago when Memphis forward Shane Battier hit a game-winning shot to give the franchise its first ever win in a playoff game. After that first...

Power Of The Team

Written on April 5, 2011.

Jeff Gordon has applied to life much of what he’s learned in racing — and believes the elements required for success in both are not that different. In the final minutes of last year’s Subway Fresh Fit 600 in Phoenix, Jeff Gordon was in the lead and poised to win the race with three laps to go. As he pulled into the pit for his final stop, his crew bounded over the wall, replacing all four tires and refueling...