This weekend I got an incredible opportunity to report at the 49th annual National Athletic Directors Conference, which was held in downtown San Antonio at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center.
Starting on Friday, I conducted “man-on-the-street” interviews on the convention floors, talking to athletic directors as they registered and traveled from course to course. On Monday I interviewed three inductees to the National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association Hall of Fame, which was a great honor. Along the way I met amazing people in two fields I am deeply passionate about, and it all came together when I heard Basketball Superstar Tamika Catchings speak at the closing session.
Catchings, a former WNBA MVP and a four time Olympic-Gold Medalist, grabbed my attention from the start, as she mimicked how her father would call her name at a young age before even introducing herself. From then on, Catchings had me captivated with her simply incredible life story, explaining how she has battled with hearing loss throughout her life and how she adjusted at school to ensure she learned the necessary material.
One particularly striking moment was the recollection of the day Catchings wrote that she wanted to be an NBA player at a young age and at a time when the WNBA didn’t exist. Her parents, understanding her dreams, said if any woman could be in the NBA, it would be Tamika. Catchings continued on, highlighting her time playing for the Legendary Tennessee Volunteers Head Women’s Basketball Coach Pat Summitt and describing some more of the many obstacles she faced on her path to 15 outstanding years with the Indiana Fever.
When she finished speaking, Catchings received a resounding standing ovation from the large crowd of athletic directors. To my surprise, Catchings stayed behind and met people, taking pictures and signing her book Catch a Star: Shining Through Adversity To Become a Champion. Luckily, I was able to speak to Tamika, and I was amazed. She was so friendly and outgoing, and I still can’t believe I met such a legend. Catchings is a true inspiration in so many ways, and I will not soon forget her thoughtful words.