阿隆佐·莫宁的篮球名人堂演讲(2)

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You know, when I got to Georgetown, coach Thompson called me into his office, and I know he remembers this clearly. He showed me this deflated rustic-looking basketball in the corner of his desk.

He said my life needed to be more than just seven to nine pounds of air in a ball. This had to be more than what I could do with a basketball.

I needed to be focused on what basketball could do for me. He challenged my intellect, and he said I was more intelligent than I was showing people.

With the same passion, I competed with on the basketball court. Coach demanded all his players to compete, just try and make sure that this incredible gift of a world-class education wasn't wasted.

I became a good student, coach wasn't satisfied though. It wasn't about just getting a diploma, it was about earning an education on and off the court.

So I went out and I made the dean's list, became the first in my family to earn a college degree and develop a lifelong passion for education. I want to thank Jason Cooper, a second cousin who saved my life.

Back in 2000 fresh off an Olympic gold medal, after a routine physical, I was diagnosed with focal glomerulosclerosis, now I ask y'all to repeat that. Focal glomerulosclerosi is the rare potentially life-threatening kidney disease that threatened my life.

And when eventually doctors told me I would need a transplant, there was Jason offering one of his kidneys, probably the most generous thing one person can do for another, give a piece of themselves to stimulate life.

I want to thank you Jason. I'm probably not standing here at this moment without you.

You know there's a common thread here one that sustained me then and inspires me to this day, Do one of my favorite quotes, "The truest way to live, the one that leaves the greatest footprint on the lives of many, is to do so for others." Like Mrs. Threet, coach Thompson and Jason.

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