Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast Honors Basketball Legends for Performance On and Off the Court
In what has become the most popular faith-filled event of the Final Four weekend, sports celebrities joined 1,200 fans in downtown Atlanta for the 11th annual Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast. Hosted by Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the Legends of the Hardwood honors basketball role models who exemplify outstanding leadership, character, and integrity both on and off the court.
Guest speakers this year included Georgia Tech All-American and former NBA All-Star Mark Price, CBS Basketball Analyst Clark Kellogg, Phoenix Suns Chairman and CEO Jerry Colangelo, and Inside the NBA host Ernie Johnson as emcee, as well as interviews with select NCAA Men’s Basketball Division I coaches and players.
A highlight of the event is the prestigious Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award, which AIA this year presented to Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).
“Jim Haney embodies all that the Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award stands for,” said Bill Pugh, the president of Athletes in Action. “I appreciate Jim’s character, leadership and tireless work ethic both as a coach, conference commissioner, and now as the Executive Director of the NABC.”
Established by Athletes in Action and Fellowship of Christian Athletes in 1998, the Keys to Life Award honors members of the college or professional basketball community who model the characteristics of 10-time NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship Coach John Wooden (UCLA, 1948-1975) including his high level of moral character, integrity, and faith—on and off the court. Wooden’s legacy reflects the life-long pursuit of a creed his father gave him at age 12, entitled “Keys to Life.”
Other 2007 Keys to Life Award finalists included Dick Bennett, former coach at Washington State University and the University of Wisconsin; Luke Ridnour, point guard for the Seattle SuperSonics; and Charlie Ward, NBA veteran and Florida State University football and basketball star.
Attendance at the event totaled 989, with 135 indicating decisions to place their faith in Christ after Kellogg presented the gospel.
The Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast is an AIA Sports Legend Series event. The Sports Legend Series is comprised of five premier events designed to honor athletes and coaches who model exemplary character, values, integrity, and faith. For more information on the Sports Legend Series visit www.AIASportsLegendSeries.com.
Coach John Wooden’s “Keys to Life”:
1. Make each day your masterpiece
2. Help others
3. Be true to yourself
4. Drink deeply from good books, especially the Bible
5. Make friendships a fine art
6. Build shelter against a rainy day
7. Pray for guidance and give thanks for your blessings every day
Story adapted from a press release written by The DeMoss Group.