Rice headlines Sports Heroes luncheon
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley celebrated 50 years in the desert with their first-ever Sports Heroes luncheon. Cars lined the Hyatt Regency in Indian Wells with over 500 people attending the event. The Master of Ceremonies was legendary television sportscaster Al Michaels, known for some of the most iconic calls in broadcast history.
Famous sports figures like head coach Tom Flores, Olympic figure skater Dorothy Hamill, two-time Super Bowl champ Jim Plunkett, and former world champion boxer Timothy Bradley were honored, to name a few, but the woman who stole the show was former Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice.
The Stanford professor received a standing ovation before uttering a syllable. When she delivered the keynote address to the crowd, her message was clear, concise, and full of meaning. “You give children a chance to prove that they can take that opportunity, make it theirs, shape their futures, and collectively help to shape our future as a strong and thriving democracy,” said Rice.
The Boys and Girls Clubs of Coachella Valley President Doug Miller couldn’t have been more pleased. “You could’ve heard a pin drop, she was perfect. She kind of epitomizes what we’re all about,” he said.
Rumors are swirling the former Secretary of State is being looked at as a potential replacement for Senator Barbara Boxer, who is retiring in 2016. But Rice didn’t mention dipping her toes back into political waters just yet. Al Michaels said he’d like to see her back in the political realm, but isn’t sure what she’s going to do. “You know, I don’t know if she would want to do that. I do know that she actually did say a few years ago that she wanted to be the commissioner of the National Football League, and I think she was fairly serious too,” said Michaels.
As for the rest of the luncheon event, it was a great way for the Boys and Girls Clubs to raise money to keep their operations flowing. An actual dollar amount raised wasn’t available, but one auctioned iteam, a football signed by more than 20 Heisman trophy winners, sold for $20,000. Bids like that will go a long way to keeping the doors open and kids out of trouble and off the street.
