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"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader." ~John Quincy Adams 10/15/07 In 7th grade my buddy Steve Sanders’ idol was Randy Bixler. You’ve never heard of Randy Bixler but he was an All-County lineman at my old HS and was a senior when Sanders and I were just a couple of little guys on the Middle School team. Stevie got to meet Bixler one day and it was a seminal event. Bixler’s personal attention and motivational words inspired Steve Sanders to pursue his goal of a college football scholarship. Several years later after a stellar HS football career, Stevie Sanders accepted a scholarship to play football at Brigham Young University, and went on to play in 2 Bowl games against the likes of Indiana and Ohio State. Even at a young age, Randy Bixler was ahead of his years and he seemed to understand that athletes have a platform, and if used properly, could truly add value to the lives of others. I am reminded of this story because there is perhaps no better example of this than that of Jalen Rose. Check out his website at www.jalenrose.com. The Southwestern HS and former Fab-Five star at the University of Michigan was on our radio show the other night and gave one of the more compelling interviews I’ve heard in awhile. He truly understands his 13-year NBA career has given him a platform and he wants to help other people, particularly youngsters by helping to provide scholarships, grants, charity ticket sections, reading groups for kids, and of course his foundation gives money to local Boys and Girls clubs through his ‘community assist’ program. The beauty of the platform is that you don’t have to be an NBA or college star to have an impact on a young person’s life. Many Novi athletes have become household names especially in today’s world of multi-media coverage. If any varsity athletes read this, you’d be surprised how much you’re looked up to by kids playing for the Novi Bobcats, or in other youth basketball, baseball or hockey leagues, just to name a few. If you patted a young kid on the back and told him or her they were doing a great job, you never know how that planted seed might grow. For the record Randy Bixler never played in college, he simply peaked and reached his ceiling as a very good High School football player. But he had major impact on Stevie Sander’s life, and that turned out to be golden. It’s a privilege to be an athlete. It’s an ever bigger one to use the platform to benefit others… (c) 2007 Novi
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