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2/4/2007 San Diego Padre baseball scout Dick Little once told me, “As an athlete, 100% of what you do, is observed 100% of the time… by somebody. This is a powerful tool, and when used properly, it can positively impact the lives of multitudes of people. Perhaps there is no better example of this than former NFL QB and Heisman Trophy winner Doug Flutie. When his son Doug Jr. was born with autism, Flutie turned it into a positive by establishing a foundation for kids with autism and so far it has raised nearly $9 million dollars. This is nothing new. Marshall Faulk has
raised money for New Orleans Katrina victims, Joey Harrington has
sponsored health care programs for those less fortunate, Warrick Dunn
provides single mothers homes in Florida, and other athletes like Boomer
Esiason, Ronnie Lott, and Dan Marino have spread their wealth to those
in need. The best part, is that you don’t have
to be a Hall-of-Famer to have an impact. Even our high school athletes
have become public figures. A while back I chronicled the efforts of Trent Sisson (NHS '04) to establish a community service program that targeted underprivileged youth in Pittsburgh. The fact that he is a varsity football player at Carnegie-Mellon gave him a voice that resonated even deeper. This weekend a group of Novi and Northville high school students chaperoned about 350 middle school students to a retreat in Cadillac. Most of them are student/athletes, and their contributions should be recognized and congratulated. When it comes to the demeanor of an athlete, yes even a high school athlete, especially a Novi athlete, body language never whispers, it screams. And the sound resonates ever so clear when one donates time and energy to help others. It is the ultimate sign of teamwork, and everybody benefits. Athletes are born with a gift to be shared, and using that gift off the field is something every participant should take advantage of. Novi Wildcat competitors are a special breed, and their voice truly resonates. It is waiting to be heard… (c) 2007 Novi
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