hello hello hello you written you’re here he responding that’s good as I
here he responding that’s good as I
here he responding that’s good as I thank you I say that I said one of the
thank you I say that I said one of the
thank you I say that I said one of the most interesting names that he’s that
most interesting names that he’s that
most interesting names that he’s that he’s come to know and thank you
he’s come to know and thank you
he’s come to know and thank you hopefully now I have an interesting
hopefully now I have an interesting
hopefully now I have an interesting story to begin there have been very very
story to begin there have been very very
story to begin there have been very very many interesting interpretations of my
many interesting interpretations of my
many interesting interpretations of my name over time so fo x let’s just spell
name over time so fo x let’s just spell
name over time so fo x let’s just spell it fox5 three letters very simple well
it fox5 three letters very simple well
it fox5 three letters very simple well 17 years ago I coached a baseball team
17 years ago I coached a baseball team
17 years ago I coached a baseball team in the coastal plains leading down and
in the coastal plains leading down and
in the coastal plains leading down and are over in Edenton North Carolina with
are over in Edenton North Carolina with
are over in Edenton North Carolina with my friends Stewart’s and we stayed that
my friends Stewart’s and we stayed that
my friends Stewart’s and we stayed that summer with a house mother named Ruth
summer with a house mother named Ruth
summer with a house mother named Ruth and during game days I myself alone
and during game days I myself alone
and during game days I myself alone would walk to a local Inlet or beach to
would walk to a local Inlet or beach to
would walk to a local Inlet or beach to read so I did this one morning Ruth was
read so I did this one morning Ruth was
read so I did this one morning Ruth was there it was just me and Ruth in the
there it was just me and Ruth in the
there it was just me and Ruth in the house Stewart had gone out to run some
house Stewart had gone out to run some
house Stewart had gone out to run some errands and she said hey you where are
errands and she said hey you where are
errands and she said hey you where are you going I said you I’m the only person
you going I said you I’m the only person
you going I said you I’m the only person here why would you call me you but I’m
here why would you call me you but I’m
here why would you call me you but I’m going to the beach so I did and I guess
going to the beach so I did and I guess
going to the beach so I did and I guess I was at the beach and Stewart came back
I was at the beach and Stewart came back
I was at the beach and Stewart came back and obviously I was not there he asked
and obviously I was not there he asked
and obviously I was not there he asked Ruth where is he and Ruth said frog is
Ruth where is he and Ruth said frog is
Ruth where is he and Ruth said frog is at the beach she called me frog so with
at the beach she called me frog so with
at the beach she called me frog so with that I am Fox I am a poet and I’ll begin
that I am Fox I am a poet and I’ll begin
that I am Fox I am a poet and I’ll begin this way even if tough times last tough
this way even if tough times last tough
this way even if tough times last tough people they last longer and as you go
people they last longer and as you go
people they last longer and as you go down that Mogul written path let your
down that Mogul written path let your
down that Mogul written path let your faith grow stronger if you fall off the
faith grow stronger if you fall off the
faith grow stronger if you fall off the horse get up and get back on a saddle
horse get up and get back on a saddle
horse get up and get back on a saddle victory highway is not smooth sailing
victory highway is not smooth sailing
victory highway is not smooth sailing for that road is a constant uphill
for that road is a constant uphill
for that road is a constant uphill battle even if positive thoughts don’t
battle even if positive thoughts don’t
battle even if positive thoughts don’t work negative thoughts nope
work negative thoughts nope
work negative thoughts nope you so keep your mind your body and your
you so keep your mind your body and your
you so keep your mind your body and your soul on high alert you will never know
soul on high alert you will never know
soul on high alert you will never know the height you’ll take yourself to and
the height you’ll take yourself to and
the height you’ll take yourself to and keep one hand on the wheel and one foot
keep one hand on the wheel and one foot
keep one hand on the wheel and one foot on the gas these struggles you will face
on the gas these struggles you will face
on the gas these struggles you will face they are real and you can tell them to
they are real and you can tell them to
they are real and you can tell them to kiss your right pinky toe let the path
kiss your right pinky toe let the path
kiss your right pinky toe let the path to victory not drive you insane because
to victory not drive you insane because
to victory not drive you insane because we know this road to success is not
we know this road to success is not
we know this road to success is not paved I am always reminded that my road
paved I am always reminded that my road
paved I am always reminded that my road to success has not been paved for
to success has not been paved for
to success has not been paved for example it’s June of 2002 and to my
example it’s June of 2002 and to my
example it’s June of 2002 and to my utter delight the University of South
utter delight the University of South
utter delight the University of South Carolina baseball team has made it back
Carolina baseball team has made it back
Carolina baseball team has made it back to the College World Series after a
to the College World Series after a
to the College World Series after a 17-year hiatus I’m a student coach on
17-year hiatus I’m a student coach on
17-year hiatus I’m a student coach on that team and I could picture myself
that team and I could picture myself
that team and I could picture myself standing in the dugout during the team
standing in the dugout during the team
standing in the dugout during the team introductions before our first game
introductions before our first game
introductions before our first game against Georgia Tech which was
against Georgia Tech which was
against Georgia Tech which was nationally televised on ESPN I looked
nationally televised on ESPN I looked
nationally televised on ESPN I looked down and see that my feet are donned by
down and see that my feet are donned by
down and see that my feet are donned by a brand new pair of turf shoes these
a brand new pair of turf shoes these
a brand new pair of turf shoes these could not have come at a better time
could not have come at a better time
could not have come at a better time because my old ones like these were worn
because my old ones like these were worn
because my old ones like these were worn thin and porous at the front from the
thin and porous at the front from the
thin and porous at the front from the tail heel pattern in which I walk
tail heel pattern in which I walk
tail heel pattern in which I walk waiting for my name to be called
waiting for my name to be called
waiting for my name to be called I tell myself Fox stand up straight
I tell myself Fox stand up straight
I tell myself Fox stand up straight Fox pick up your feet socks when you run
Fox pick up your feet socks when you run
Fox pick up your feet socks when you run please run heel toe and for goodness
please run heel toe and for goodness
please run heel toe and for goodness sakes Fox and at the hip finally arrived
sakes Fox and at the hip finally arrived
sakes Fox and at the hip finally arrived the climactic moment student coach
the climactic moment student coach
the climactic moment student coach number two
number two
number two Fox buyer and I took off
[Applause]
[Applause] that’s right on national TV I took three
that’s right on national TV I took three
that’s right on national TV I took three steps tripped fell forward caught myself
steps tripped fell forward caught myself
steps tripped fell forward caught myself with my hands and began doing a few
with my hands and began doing a few
with my hands and began doing a few push-ups here is us before game two I’m
push-ups here is us before game two I’m
push-ups here is us before game two I’m not in the picture because they’re all
not in the picture because they’re all
not in the picture because they’re all looking at me on the foul line doing
looking at me on the foul line doing
looking at me on the foul line doing push-ups from game one my hands have
push-ups from game one my hands have
push-ups from game one my hands have been there for me in June of 2002 as you
been there for me in June of 2002 as you
been there for me in June of 2002 as you just heard and in July of 1997 when I
just heard and in July of 1997 when I
just heard and in July of 1997 when I throw out the ceremonial first pitch to
throw out the ceremonial first pitch to
throw out the ceremonial first pitch to a New York Yankees game yes that day
a New York Yankees game yes that day
a New York Yankees game yes that day before the game on the field
before the game on the field
before the game on the field I tripped fell forward and caught myself
I tripped fell forward and caught myself
I tripped fell forward and caught myself in my hands I look at my hands I think
in my hands I look at my hands I think
in my hands I look at my hands I think of my parents I think of my therapists
of my parents I think of my therapists
of my parents I think of my therapists mom and dad Kathy Debbie Jose Teddy and
mom and dad Kathy Debbie Jose Teddy and
mom and dad Kathy Debbie Jose Teddy and mrs. Schindler you see they were
mrs. Schindler you see they were
mrs. Schindler you see they were geniuses they knew me a kid growing up
geniuses they knew me a kid growing up
geniuses they knew me a kid growing up with cerebral palsy I was going to fall
with cerebral palsy I was going to fall
with cerebral palsy I was going to fall every day of my life it was inevitable
every day of my life it was inevitable
every day of my life it was inevitable but 99.9% of my Falls were forward so in
but 99.9% of my Falls were forward so in
but 99.9% of my Falls were forward so in therapy they had me practice falling
therapy they had me practice falling
therapy they had me practice falling forward so I could get my hands out in
forward so I could get my hands out in
forward so I could get my hands out in front of my body as quickly as I could
front of my body as quickly as I could
front of my body as quickly as I could to catch myself and prevent myself from
to catch myself and prevent myself from
to catch myself and prevent myself from any further harm I look at my hands and
any further harm I look at my hands and
any further harm I look at my hands and I realized that my life and all of our
I realized that my life and all of our
I realized that my life and all of our lives are not about trying not to fall
lives are not about trying not to fall
lives are not about trying not to fall every day they’re about always trying to
every day they’re about always trying to
every day they’re about always trying to get back up according to the center of
get back up according to the center of
get back up according to the center of Disease Control prevention 58.2%
Disease Control prevention 58.2%
Disease Control prevention 58.2% of all of us with CP walk independently
of all of us with CP walk independently
of all of us with CP walk independently but I know in my heart all of us with CP
but I know in my heart all of us with CP
but I know in my heart all of us with CP or not we all fall every day there’s to
or not we all fall every day there’s to
or not we all fall every day there’s to say we all have setbacks
say we all have setbacks
say we all have setbacks the key is not staying down too long
the key is not staying down too long
the key is not staying down too long authors Susan Gammage of many books
authors Susan Gammage of many books
authors Susan Gammage of many books including violence and abuse writes that
including violence and abuse writes that
including violence and abuse writes that self-pity can paralyze a person into
self-pity can paralyze a person into
self-pity can paralyze a person into inaction and to be that’s the real
inaction and to be that’s the real
inaction and to be that’s the real failure not doing anything and call this
failure not doing anything and call this
failure not doing anything and call this Mark Hill writes that wallowing in
Mark Hill writes that wallowing in
Mark Hill writes that wallowing in self-pity is like wrestling with a shark
self-pity is like wrestling with a shark
self-pity is like wrestling with a shark wrestling with a shark no human being is
wrestling with a shark no human being is
wrestling with a shark no human being is ever going to win that battle so I
ever going to win that battle so I
ever going to win that battle so I propose today that we learn from sharks
propose today that we learn from sharks
propose today that we learn from sharks not to pity ourselves instead of
not to pity ourselves instead of
not to pity ourselves instead of wrestling with them and continuing to
wrestling with them and continuing to
wrestling with them and continuing to pity ourselves for example if you go on
pity ourselves for example if you go on
pity ourselves for example if you go on to amazon.com where it seems you can buy
to amazon.com where it seems you can buy
to amazon.com where it seems you can buy anything you can also buy shark teeth
anything you can also buy shark teeth
anything you can also buy shark teeth here’s a set IQ from my classes and on
here’s a set IQ from my classes and on
here’s a set IQ from my classes and on the first day of class I show my
the first day of class I show my
the first day of class I show my students a video of a great white just
students a video of a great white just
students a video of a great white just exploring not looking to eat anything
exploring not looking to eat anything
exploring not looking to eat anything take a nip of a camera in front of it
take a nip of a camera in front of it
take a nip of a camera in front of it just to see what it was the question
just to see what it was the question
just to see what it was the question then becomes why are so many shark teeth
then becomes why are so many shark teeth
then becomes why are so many shark teeth available the fact is you can go to
available the fact is you can go to
available the fact is you can go to amazon.com and buy them from $5.99 to
amazon.com and buy them from $5.99 to
amazon.com and buy them from $5.99 to $17.99
$17.99
$17.99 to everywhere in between in many shapes
to everywhere in between in many shapes
to everywhere in between in many shapes sizes and varieties well as many of us
sizes and varieties well as many of us
sizes and varieties well as many of us may know sharks shed and lose thousands
may know sharks shed and lose thousands
may know sharks shed and lose thousands of teeth in a lifetime but to the great
of teeth in a lifetime but to the great
of teeth in a lifetime but to the great white who bit the camera wallow in
white who bit the camera wallow in
white who bit the camera wallow in self-pity when it bit something it
self-pity when it bit something it
self-pity when it bit something it didn’t want and its teeth fell out
didn’t want and its teeth fell out
didn’t want and its teeth fell out no because it knows and we know shark’s
no because it knows and we know shark’s
no because it knows and we know shark’s teeth are typically replaced within 24
teeth are typically replaced within 24
teeth are typically replaced within 24 hours of losing them the shark in this
hours of losing them the shark in this
hours of losing them the shark in this situation is telling us as humans simply
situation is telling us as humans simply
situation is telling us as humans simply this when you fail it doesn’t make you a
this when you fail it doesn’t make you a
this when you fail it doesn’t make you a failure I’d like to end with this poem I
failure I’d like to end with this poem I
failure I’d like to end with this poem I wrote when you fail it doesn’t make you
wrote when you fail it doesn’t make you
wrote when you fail it doesn’t make you a failure so give it your best and what
a failure so give it your best and what
a failure so give it your best and what you want to be because it would be a
you want to be because it would be a
you want to be because it would be a total shame if you failed at what you
total shame if you failed at what you
total shame if you failed at what you didn’t want to be in the end you might
didn’t want to be in the end you might
didn’t want to be in the end you might not have it all but remember
not have it all but remember
not have it all but remember it’s not naive to try so prayer eyes
it’s not naive to try so prayer eyes
it’s not naive to try so prayer eyes picks your eyes and actualize and in the
picks your eyes and actualize and in the
picks your eyes and actualize and in the end fly high yes as it stands right now
end fly high yes as it stands right now
end fly high yes as it stands right now all you have is your current reality and
all you have is your current reality and
all you have is your current reality and every day in your head
every day in your head
every day in your head fear disguises as practicality Chaka
fear disguises as practicality Chaka
fear disguises as practicality Chaka County says play it safe says this year
County says play it safe says this year
County says play it safe says this year after year but if you would dare lift
after year but if you would dare lift
after year but if you would dare lift its mask all you would see is fear so
its mask all you would see is fear so
its mask all you would see is fear so lift the mask up stare right through
lift the mask up stare right through
lift the mask up stare right through fear and throw it to the past be the
fear and throw it to the past be the
fear and throw it to the past be the person you are destined to be turn
person you are destined to be turn
person you are destined to be turn around and what self pity kiss your
around and what self pity kiss your
around and what self pity kiss your right pinky toe thank you
right pinky toe thank you
right pinky toe thank you [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment