Inspiration Knows No Gender Bounds: My Top 6 Inspirational Stories of Female Athletes

It was after one of my inspirational speaking presentations (to a high school girl's volleyball program) where I solicited feedback from the coaches attending about what they felt I might change or add to the presentation. All were very complimentary of the message given and thought it exceptionally motivating for their athletes.

However, I persisted, digging a little deeper by asking if there was anything at all, no matter how slight, that would bring even more meaning to the inspiration I provided.

After a moment or two one coach spoke up, asking if I had any stories of female athletes who had inspired. She even brought up my own 5'4" daughter playing volleyball for a top Division I volleyball program (and the adversity she faced in doing so) as an example of someone who their girls would certainly relate to, being that they are, well, all volleyball athletes.

Jaylin Fleming: The Nation's Finest 10-Year-Old Basketball Player - WOW!!!

(Photo from
Chicago Tribume)

In today's Chicago Tribune, Anne Stein highlights the exceptional talents of a very young and rising basketball star (can you be a rising star at 10?) in her article The Best 10-Year-Old Basketball Player in America. On the current online version of this story, they have a video demonstrating Jaylin's basketball prowess, along with comments from his father regarding how he is being raised and where Jaylin's and his family's priorities are.

What I find most interesting as I watched the video clip, and read through the commentary in the article, is how much of what Jaylin is doing and dedicating himself to resembles what I went through as an athlete my last year of high school, only, for me, at a much older age. His passion for mastering the skills of his sport, at least at this point, is very evident, and the solid foundational upbringing of placing family, school, and religion as important pieces in his life is also obvious.

Inspirational Sports Speaking Presentation: Achieving the Impossible

Ever wonder how certain athletes, certain people, are able to accomplish objectives (goals) through adverse conditions or circumstances that look, from the outside, to be insurmountable?

I mean, how is it that people like Jim Abbott (former one-handed pitcher), Wilma Rudolph (polio survivor who was never expected to walk again, yet won 3 gold medals in track), or the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team (who went on to win gold after defeating the best hockey team on the planet, the Russians, in the semis) are able to "beat the odds." Examples like this exist at all levels of competition, and in all types of sports. Even though few in number, they are there representing a pinnacle of performance not many seem to be able to reach - or that is what most believe.

A Tribute to John Wooden: A Role Model For Us All

The first time I ever heard the name John Wooden was during a master's course I was taking for a post-graduate degree in administration. One of my assignments was to write a synopsis on a video of Coach Wooden's principles, relating his beliefs to information being taught in the course. Before then, I really had no idea who John Wooden was - let alone his coaching accomplishments. He was not someone I had ever come across. Boy, what a small world I lived in, right?

Pushing the video into my VCR, I sat back on my couch, with a pad of paper and pencil to jot down some notes, and proceeded to watch what I thought would be a mundane lecture on success, leadership, or something else along those lines. However, what I got was so much more.

A Time For Change?

In the wake of Tiger Woods’ indiscretions, the airing of his apology, Mark McGuire’s recent coming clean about his steroid use, as well as a host of other poor character behavior, I can’t help but reflect on how this past decade has inevitably changed the view of many regarding the values taught through competitive sports participation.

Inspirational Quote for 2010

Remember the past for it represents one's previous successes and/or failures giving confidence, solace, and room to grow;

live in the present for it is here that one establishes the foundation for what is to come;

plan for the near and distant future for this gives one direction – a point of reference where one wants to be.

                                                                                     Kirk Mango 2010

A Definition of True Success

The willingness, perseverance, and commitment to go through a process that allows one to achieve personal, family, and/or group goals; the kind of goals that many view as impossible to accomplish.

And to do so with solid character and integrity, the kind of character and integrity that beseeches one to do the right thing just because it is the right thing to do. This is regardless of the outside pressure to do otherwise.

Finally, the willingness and resolution to reach out to others in order to teach them how to do the same.

It is this kind of success, true success, which brings with it

Kirk Mango on 90.9 WDCB FM Radio “The Sports Doctor”

Please join me and host Dr. Weil on his radio show The Sports Doctor for our discussion on the inspirational speaking presentations I have been giving in order to help make a difference for athletes. Other topics may include: my forthcoming book Becoming a True Champion, success in sports, raising college athletes, and generally anything related to sports and athletes. I am excited about appearing on his show again and would appreciate any time you might give to listen. Below I have included the date and time of the show and an on-line link for those unable to tune into 90.9 WDCB FM in the Chicagoland area.

I would be honored by any listener feedback. Thanks!!!

2nd Upcoming Radio Interview on
The Sports Doctor

Who: Author Kirk Mango

Where: 90.9 WDCB FM Radio

When: Thursday December 10th, 2009
6:30 p.m. Central Time

What: Making a Difference for Athletes


If you missed the show here is the mp3 link: Kirk Mango on the Sports Doctor
(Just click on the link above and then and give it some time to start. It does seem to take a little while due to its mp3 origins.)

Forthcoming Book Website Link: Becoming a True Champion

Inspiring Athletes From Within: A personal attempt to make a difference

It is in my continuing efforts to publish Becoming a True Champion (BATC) that it dawned on me how important group and team motivational speaking presentations could be in delivering the principles of athletic success I so desperately want to encourage in athletes.

You see, in addition to BATC, I have gathered and/or written a fair amount of inspirational material for my blog (The Athlete's Sports Experience: Making a Difference), that I felt could truly help athletes achieve higher levels of excellence in sports; maybe even inspire them to reach beyond the “normal” limitations that traditionally hold others back from accepting difficult challenges.

After much introspection, I decided on four important concepts (for my presentation) that I felt were necessary if I ever expected to be successful at reaching inside athletes to help them discover the power they have within. To truly do this, my presentation would have to:

High School Inspirational Speaking Presentation a Success

This past Monday, I had the wonderful opportunity to present my thoughts and ideas to the DGS High School Volleyball Program on how athletes (or anyone for that matter) can achieve success through very adverse conditions. Basically, how people “beat the odds” and become one of those rare groups of individuals able to surmount what others believe to be impossible.

There were approximately 60 athletes present along with the coaching staff and all seemed involved and interested in the activities and stories I used to support my thoughts.

Title Change For BATC

After much deliberation my coauthor and I have decided to make a change in the title of our book. The purpose of this change is to bring more focus and direct more attention to the larger market for which Becoming a True Champion was written. Now the title speaks loudly about its purpose just as the book itself speaks directly to whom it will benefit. Our new title:

Becoming a True Champion: Achieving Athletic Excellence From the Inside Out

Process Over Outcome: Has America Forgotten?

The first half of this post’s title takes direct aim at something I have spent a good deal of time referencing in many of my articles pertaining to youth sports. What I would like to do here is step back from that environment for a moment, taking a look at this idea of process over outcome, and the loss thereof, as it relates to the “big picture” – our society as a whole. Before I go ahead with my rant on this topic, it might be a good idea to define these two terms as they pertain to the relationship I am about to draw between them and what I see as a shift in American ideals.

NEW “BECOMING A TRUE CHAMPION” LIVE CHAT

WHAT: Live Chat
WHO: Kirk Mango
WHEN: Sunday Afternoons: 4:00 – 5:00 pm central time
Tuesday Evenings: 7:00 – 8:00 pm central time
Randomly: Evenings throughout the week & afternoons on weekends
WHERE: Right here at The Athlete's Sports Experience: Making a Difference

I have been working on an interactive way to make immediate and direct contact with those interested in my new forthcoming book Becoming a True Champion, published articles on my blog, sports and youth sports issues, high school and college sports experiences, coaching, and /or anything else pertaining to issues within any of these environments. My search led me to a website called Chatroll. This site gives individuals an option to embed a live chat window within a blog, something I have just updated my blog with and will use to discuss various topics sports and youth sports enthusiasts might be interested in.

So as to keep discussions centered and focused, I would like to present a list of topics that I have practical knowledge of and experience with, and that will help with direction.

Topics of Discussion

The “True Champion” Code

I will

- Consistently, and without reservation, strive to reach my full potential.

- Be committed and disciplined in my approach.

- Take personal responsibility, and any action necessary, to achieve team and individual goals.

- Demonstrate a deep desire to succeed, applying passion and heart to any and every task at hand.

- Show an impeccable and relentless work ethic that only true dedication provides.

- Set priorities, and make the required sacrifices, that enhance the chances for athletic success.

- Persevere through adversity with a positive attitude and concentration that strives toward excellence and mastery.

- Establish a mindset that highly encourages the belief and confidence that one can accomplish anything, if they are so willing.

- Apply a training and competitive focus that creates the opportunity to transform the impossible into the possible.

All set on a foundation of strong character and integrity that beseeches one to do the right thing just because it is the right thing to do

And so you may ask – “Why follow a code of such standard?”

Because I believe I can make a difference

And because I believe it

Then it is something I should do

Because it is something I should do

Then it is something I will do

So I toil and sweat both through the good days and the bad

Chipping away at any weakness that following the code may reveal within

Creating inspiration from athletic experiences of days gone by

From future experiences that have yet to occur

And from those who may someday attempt to walk the same path

Never giving up

Never giving in

And never swaying – but for a moment

From the Code of a True Champion

“Why?”, again, one might ask

Simply – Because I can!!!

                                 Kirk Mango 2009

Is a loss always just a loss? Not necessarily

Normally I try to keep my articles and blog posts specific to athletes as a whole and shy away from making them directly personal. However, I recently had the opportunity, and pleasure, of witnessing an example of the true caring discussed in my last blog article Four Attributes That Lead To Athletic Greatness. This vivid example occurred at the culmination of a volleyball match between the University of Louisville, the team my daughter plays for, and highly-ranked Purdue University during the first round of the NCAA tournament. Louisville lost in a hotly-contested 5-game match where lead exchanges occurred throughout. Yet, after watching the match unfold, in addition to seeing the personal and team growth and development the coaching staff promoted and encouraged during the season, I was left with a question, “was this loss really a loss or a beginning?” Oh yes, the scoreboard did read 16 – 14 Purdue at the end of the 5th and deciding game, giving the Boilermakers the go-ahead win into the second round, but the end of the story, hmmm – I am not so sure that will be the case here. From my perspective, I do believe that this particular “loss” may truly represent something much more than an end. That is if I am reading correctly what I saw written on the faces and in the eyes of the Louisville girls after the game as they re-entered the gym from their post-game locker room meeting.

“DON’T TELL ME YOU CAN’T”

My objective, through the writing of my forthcoming book Becoming a True Champion and the articles I publish on my blog, center on giving back to those willing to look at a perspective I believe can help them accomplish any goal they set. It was through an experience I had in high school sports, an epiphany of sorts, that I learned about myself and about what can be accomplished, if the right principles are applied, even though the odds dictate otherwise.

Part II: It’s All In Your Point of View – An athlete’s perspective can make all the difference

In part I of It’s All In Your Point of View, I detailed a discussion my friend Jim and I had on the way home from a tennis match recently. This discussion centered its focus on the differences between our perspectives on our collegiate sports experiences compared to many of today’s youths, and their parents’, perspective. My purpose was to help answer the question, Why are their perspectives so different? Below is a list of several intrinsic-type components that, in my mind, help an athlete develop a better more positive perspective and, in the end, bring more enjoyment and fulfillment back to them. At least if they stay much more focused in these areas as their reasoning behind why they play.

Quote of the Month

"Be an athlete who chooses their own path becoming one who makes a difference, and part of a team’s solution, otherwise your path will be chosen for you and instead of being a solution you become part of a team's problem."

Part I: It’s All In Your Point of View – An athlete’s perspective can make all the difference

I was on my way home from a tennis match with a friend of mine (we both play for our club team here in Naperville Illinois), and we struck up a conversation regarding our own personal experiences and perspectives on college athletic participation. We were both college athletes, he was a ball player at SIU and I a gymnast at NIU. What I found most interesting about our conversation was that both of us had the same viewpoint on how we saw our collegiate athletic experience. Basically, neither of us could even imagine going through college without sports; that we truly enjoyed the experience, felt we gained a tremendous amount from it, and would most certainly do it all over again if given the opportunity. Two athletes, two different times, two different sports, but with the exact same perspective. Interesting, especially since I hear so much of the opposite from other parents who have kids playing sports at that level. This is in addition to the good number of athletes themselves who are currently involved (or were involved) in college athletics and who echo these same opposing sentiments. I, as did my friend Jim, find this to be a little sad and a little disconcerting to say the least.

Inspirational Quote of the Month

“Putting forth the effort to accomplish something others believe to be impossible brings with it intrinsic rewards not usually found on the 'easier path'. Facing this type of adversity with determination and will on your side creates the opportunity for achievement not easily seen by doubters. In the end, however, it will not be the achievement of your goal that will hold the most value but the willingness to travel such an arduous path toward a goal which only you see as within your grasp.”