On Saturday mornin’ I was blessed to be asked to say a few words to both the Warren Central Girls and Boys Class 4A State Championship teams at their Parade of Champions and Community Celebration. Mayor Joe Hogsett was even there representin’ the WC and spoke to the kids.
It was such an honor for me because I’m just a sports writer that covered high school hoops this year. I didn’t go to Warren Central or grow up on the FAR EAST SIDE. I just love seein’ kids from our inner cities do well and these kids have done an exceptional job. Don’t get it twisted, I’m from G.I. so my ghetto pass has never expired.
What do I say to some kids that have already cracked the code on what it takes to become successful? I had five minutes to make a difference in their lives so what do I say? Well playas…I told them not to allow THIS moment to become their GREATEST moment. This moment should be the launchin’ pad for all of the other successes in their lives.
At this point they’ve got to be selfish with THIS moment, bottle it up and keep it to themselves. However, pull out all of the lessons that they’ve learned in route to winnin’ these championships everyday. Use the skill of bein’ humble enough to listen to folks that know more than you. Take a bit out of bein’ disciplined enough to be on time and to never give up in the face of adversity. Be a leader and not a follower. Be great because your DNA says that you have the right to be. Be great because God has blessed you to still be here. Be the miracle that God’s word talks about.
I told them that Big Momma always says, “The way you do ANYTHING is the way you do EVERYTHING!” So let this be the ANYTHING that takes you to your EVERYTHING.
I know that because you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth duns want to look down their noses at you but use that as your motivation to become great at everything that you do for the rest of your life. I GUARANTEE that you’ll surpass all of the expectations that people have of you. Be GREAT and always be INSPIRED to carry those classmates and friends that didn’t get to see you win these state titles with you forever. God has chosen you to keep winnin’ in life. It’s Ya Man JayGravesReport and Holla At Ya Boy!
Playas Thesaurus:
1) Dun: noun – the person in question, dude, guy, etc. It’s whoever I’m talkin’ about and its non-gender specific.
The G is excluded from the endings of all words because the G is near and dear to my heart because I’m from “The G” which is Gary, Indiana. So I only use the G when I’m talkin’ about “The G!”
The caption under the photo isn’t real but its real talk!