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Archives for May 2009

Motivational Speaker Jim Morris Gets Rave Reviews

May 27, 2009 By

Looking to book a speaker who can inspire, motivate and captivate your audience? If so, you should consider Jim Morris as your next speaker.  Considered one of the top motivational speakers on the circuit today, Jim Morris gets rave reviews for his appearances wherever he goes.

Jim’s story was the inspiration for the movie “The Rookie”, a Disney blockbuster released in 2004 that starred Randy Quaid. The movie won an ESPY for Sports Film of the Year. Sports Illustrated also voted it one of the five greatest baseball movies of all-time.

Jim’s childhood dream of becoming a major leaguer was cut short cut short due to injuries and, admittedly, a lack of maturity. Eleven years after his retirement from baseball, Jim bet the high school baseball team he was coaching that if they won the District Championship, he would try out for a major league team. As they say, the rest is history. Jim’s team won the District Championship, he threw 12 consecutive pitches at 98 mph during a tryout and was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Three months later in front of family and his high school team, Jim achieved his dream and struck out All-Star Royce Clayton with a 98 mph fastball.

Jim’s speech resonates with a range of audiences. As a testament to his broad appeal, below are a few examples of recent events where Jim has appeared…

–  As a Christian speaker, he spoke at a church’s Easter weekend services in California, sharing his faith and story.

–  As an inspirational speaker, he spoke at school fundraiser in Tennessee that raised money to build a baseball field

–  As a motivational speaker, he spoke at a sales meeting in Iowa attended by high-level executives of a major corporation.

Jim can tailor his message to the audience. Among Jim’s speaking topics are…

  • Never Giving Up on a Dream
  • Finding a Mentor and Becoming a Leader
  • Taking Advantage of Second Chances
  • Remembering Who You Are
  • Keeping Your Promises
  • Learning How to Laugh at Yourself

Below is a recent email I received from a satisfied client…“He was excellent. There were many compliments!!  The group really enjoyed his message He had them laughing. Thanks so much.  He really delivered!  Just right for my audience.”

Jonathan Wexler is a sports and celebrity  booking agent for PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency.  If you  are interest in booking Jim Morris for a speaking engagement, appearance or endorsement, please contact us at 800.966.1380.

Filed Under: Athlete News, Christian Athletes, Sports Speaker News Tagged With: , ,

Can Chauncey Billups Win The NBA Title For The Denver Nuggets?

May 18, 2009 By

The Denver Nuggets are on a Rocky Mountain high. Can Chauncey Billups lead the Denver Nuggets to an NBA Title ?

The Denver Nuggets are the feel-good story of this NBA postseason. With limited success in recent years, no one gave them much of a chance, instead preferring to focus on an anticipated Kobe Bryant – Lebron James matchup in the NBA Finals. With a 3-1 series victory over the Dallas Mavericks, the Nuggets advanced to the Western Conference Finals for the first time since 1995.

Although the Nuggets have never won a NBA Championship, they do have a history with such NBA greats as Hall of Famers David Thompson and Dan Issel. But it’s been a long time since they been considered a title contender. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle called the Nuggets “a legitimate championship-caliber team”. “The Denver Nuggets are going to win the whole thing,” said Hall of Famer Charles Barkley. “This is the year of the Nuggets.”

The next round against the Los Angeles Lakers should be very exciting. The Nuggets are playing excellent basketball right now and have the ability to score a lot of points in a hurry if the opposition gets complacent. Additionally, their defense could give Lakers big-man Pau Gaisol trouble. As for Kobe Bryant, you know he’s going to score a ton of points – you can only hope to contain him.

In recent years, the Nuggets have had talent with the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Nene and Kenyon Martin and a well-respected head coach in George Karl but have been considered underachievers. Each of the last five years, they’ve been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs. Most importantly, they’ve lacked that one person who can provide leadership and take them to the next level.

Enter Chauncey Billups … Billups, a Denver native who played collegiately at the University of Colorado, was acquired from the Detroit Pistons prior to the start of this season in a trade for Allen Iverson. Billups enjoyed great success in Detroit, leading the Pistons to the 2004 NBA Championship and being named Finals MVP. Incredibly, this will be Billups’ seventh consecutive conference finals.

But even with his success in Detroit, no one expected what his presence would do for the Nuggets. You can use whatever analogy you want, but the bottom line is that Billups’ presence has made everyone less selfish and taught them to play as a team. If you talk with athletes who’ve one a championship in any sport, one of the recurring themes is unselfishness and teamwork. In this day of egos and skyrocketing salaries, it can be difficult to get a bunch of superstars to be on the same page. When that occurs, teams have a chance to accomplish something special, which is what we’re seeing with the Nuggets.

I don’t know whether the Nuggets can beat the Lakers and advance to the NBA Finals, but I think they stand a very good chance given their play thus far in the playoffs. The Nuggets need to win each of their home games – they’ve won 16 in a row at the Pepsi Center – and can only hope to steal one in Los Angeles – they’re 2-19 overall at the Staples Center.

Regardless of the outcome, it’s been a very entertaining season for Nuggets fans and (hopefully) a reawakening of a franchise that had gone dormant.

Contact Chauncey Billups booking agent here for a speaker appearance or endorsement.

Filed Under: Athlete News, Christian Athletes, Sports Speaker News Tagged With:

Gale Sayers Speaker Appearance Delivers Positive Message Says Booking Agency

May 17, 2009 By

Football fans young and old are inspired and motivated by legendary football great Gales Sayers. As a popular motivational speaker for corporations and worthy causes, Sayers always delivers a positive message and image as well as giving solid advice. NFL Hall of Famer, Gale Sayers exhibits pride, poise, leadership, dedication and loyalty all traits one can aspire to. Businesses and organizations looking for a speaker with leadership, team building, sales and motivational skills will find all of these qualities in Gale Sayers. 

PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency, has access to Gale Sayers speaker and appearance schedule.

Known as the original “magic” man of professional sports, Gale Sayers made football history and touched the lives of millions of Americans. As the Chicago Bears’ legendary number 40, Sayers was NFL Rookie of the Year in 1965 and scored a record six touchdowns in one game. After only three years in the NFL, he was voted the best halfback of the first 50 years of professional football. He was also the youngest player ever to be inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. He went on to write the popular book, I Am Third, which was made into the movie Brian’s Song, depicting the relationship between Gale and Brian Piccolo, who died of cancer. The title of the book is Gale Sayers’ philosophy of life: “The Lord is first; my family and friends are second; and I am third.”

Following an incredible football career with the Chicago Bears, Sayers began another successful career in business following the same principals he used on the field. Gale Sayers is President/CEO of Sayers Computer Source, a company he and his wife Ardythe founded in 1984. The business was launched after a successful career in athletic administration and sports marketing. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physical Education and a Masters of Science degree in Education Administration from the University of Kansas. Although his technology business is his first priority, Sayers finds time to do motivational speaking engagements and appearances for many worthwhile causes.

In 1999, Sayers was inducted into the Chicago Area Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame, and was named an Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year. In addition, Kansas University School of Education recently unveiled the Gale Sayers Microcomputer Center in Pearson Hall – an inspiration to generations of students and visitors of his dedication to education.

Gale Sayers also serves on the Board of Directors of Triad Hospitals, which manages healthcare facilities in the south and southwestern United States, and American Century Mutual Funds, located in Kansas City.

If you are interested in booking Gale Sayers for an event, contact Gale Sayers agent for speaker and appearance information. PFP Sports and Celebrity Booking Agent can make that happen. We have the expertise to handle all the Gale Sayers speaker and appearance scheduling for you.

Filed Under: Athlete News, Christian Athletes, Sports Speaker News Tagged With: , ,

Will Steriod Scandal Affect Baseball Hall of Fame Chances?

May 15, 2009 By

Manny Ramirez’s recent failed drug test was just another black-eye for baseball, a sport that can’t seem to distance itself from the performance-enhancing drug scandal.

The interesting thing about Manny Ramirez is that he has a reputation for being among the hardest workers in baseball. Teammates tell stories about how Manny is among the first in the weight room. If he’s indeed the greatest right-handed hitter of our generation, why did Manny need to take a banned substance? I’m told the substance he took helps players recover faster, which no doubt is a big advantage to players in the their mid to late 30’s. But is it worth losing more than $7 million in salary and having your legacy tarnished forever?

One of the main attributes that makes baseball so special is its ties to the past. In no other sport do people compare the present and past like they do with baseball. So how can this era  of the power hitter and unprecedented home runs ever be compared to the past? It can’t. It will be interesting to see how people look at this era 50 years from now. I have a feeling they won’t look at it very favorably.

My guess is that many of this era’s “greats” like Alex Rodriguez, Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Manny Ramirez and Roger Clemens won’t get elected to the Hall of Fame, at least not on the first ballot and likely not for a number of years after if at all. If you had an isolated incident with one or two players, that would be one thing. But when you have many of the elite players either testing positive or being linked to performance enhancing drugs, there’s no way to look past it. Also, because the most hallowed record in sports – the all-time home run record – has fallen to a person suspected of taking a banned substance (Barry Bonds) and may very well fall to another person who’s already admitted taking steroids (A-Rod), many baseball fans believe the game has been tarnished forever.

Can you really mention Hank Aaron and Barry Bonds in the same sentence? I know it doesn’t sound right to me. I expect that history will view this era almost as a separate part of baseball history. There’s just no way you can compare the great players of today with those of the past. It’s not an even playing field.

I used to love to discuss the most intimidating pitchers of all-time – Roger Clemens, Nolan Ryan, Bob Gibson and Don Drysdale among them.  I was a huge fan of Clemens. He was one of the few baseball players I would pay to watch. I loved his intensity, fiery demeanor and how he instilled fear in batters. But ever since his steroids controversy, he no longer belongs in the same discussion.

I know many people talk about putting an asterisk next to the records that have been broken during this era. That’s not going to happen. But by denying those who cheated access to the hallowed grounds of Coopertown, that will in some small way show even more respect to the greats  of the past who played the game the right way.

Jonathan Wexler is the booking agent for PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

Filed Under: Baseball News Tagged With: , , ,

Booking Ronnie Lott As A Speaker Pays Off Says Agency

May 13, 2009 By

When it comes to motivating and inspiring a crowd, businesses alike agree that Ronnie Lott is the perfect celebrity sports speaker to do just that. Ronnie Lott has been speaking to organizations, inspiring and motivating groups just as he did when he joined the San Francisco 49ers in 1981. Ronnie’s tenacity, leadership and team building skills are just what businesses today are looking for. Booking a Ronnie Lott speaker appearance will not only generate excitement but can reap tremendous benefits as well. 

Lott is known for his hard hitting style using both left and right cornerback positions and as a free and strong safety during his 14-year career. Lott earned 10 Pro Bowl invitations at three different positions – cornerback, free safety, and strong safety. It was, however, at free safety, where he had the freedom to cover the whole field, that he may have been most effective. In 1986, he played 14 games at the free safety position before an injury sidelined him for the final two games of the season. Still, he led the league with a career-most 10 interceptions, recorded 77 tackles, three forced fumbles and two quarterback sacks. It was perhaps his finest season.

It has been said that Lott had the uncanny ability of being able to sense the direction a play was about to take and then somehow disrupt it. “He’s like a middle linebacker playing safety,” Hall of Fame coach Tom Landry once remarked. “He’s devastating. He may dominate the secondary better than anyone I’ve seen.” Named All-Pro eight times, All-NFC six times, and All-AFC once, Lott was also selected to play in 10 Pro Bowls and was named to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team. He was enshrined in the Pro Football Hal of Fame in 2000.

Ronnie is also active in the community service arena, having co-founded Champion Charities in with Harris Barton in 2004. He currently serves on the boards of Champion Charities and Tipping Point, and is Chairman of the Advisory Board for Play It Smart, which promotes amateur football with the goal of developing the qualities of leadership, sportsmanship, and academic excellence in young people.

Ronnie Lott also created the Lott Trophy, which is awarded each year to the college football player who makes the biggest IMPACT (integrity, maturity, performance, academics, community and tenacity) This Ronnie Lott endorsement is one of his many proud accomplishments.

PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency has years of experience arranging Ronnie Lott appearance, endorsement and speaking engagements. PFP is ready to work for you today. If you are looking to find Ronnie Lott agent, appearance and scheduling information, contact our booking agency.

Filed Under: Athlete News, Sports Speaker News Tagged With:

How To Find Mike Ditka Speaker, Booking Agent and Appearance Information

May 11, 2009 By

Mike Ditka is popular motivational speaker who is always in high demand when it comes to helping individuals achieve their personal and professional goals. Drawing from his experience as a former NFL player and Hall of Famer and winning coach for the Chicago Bears, Mike Ditka motivates and inspires audiences wherever he goes.

PFP Sports and celebrity Talent Agency is the leading sports booking agent when it comes to booking professional athletes and celebrities such as Mike Ditka for speaking engagements, product endorsement deals and personal appearances. ... Read More

Filed Under: Sports Speaker News

Who Is The Greatest Living Quarterback – Joe Montana, John Elway or Dan Marino?

May 7, 2009 By

Ask 20 sports fan who’s the greatest player in a particular sport and you’re likely get 20 different answers. One of my favorite discussions revolves around the greatest living quarterback. There are a number of worthy candidates like Troy Aikman, Steve Young, Brett Favre and Tom Brady, but in my opinion, the argument boils down to three – John Elway, Dan Marino and Joe Montana.

I believe the first criteria is to look at the number of Super Bowls each have won – Montana won four, Elway two and Marino none (Marino lost his only Super Bowl appearance to Montana’s 49ers in Super Bowl XIX).

Secondly, I look at their statistics. Joe Montana was an 8-time All-Pro and is the only quarterback to have been named Super Bowl MVP three times. He holds the record for most consecutive games with 300 or more passing yards and led the NFC in passing five times. He also holds the second highest career pass completion record, the third lowest interception record and the third highest number of seasons with 3,000 or more passes.

John Elway was a 9-time All-Pro and is the only quarterback to have started five Super Bowls. He ranks third all-time in passing attempts, yards and completions. His 148 wins rank second for a quarterback and he holds the record for most game-winning or game-tying drives in the fourth quarter with 47.

Dan Marino was a 9-time All-Pro. He’s holds the NFL record for most yards passing in a season with 5,084 and most seasons with 3,000 or more yards passing with 13. He’s ranked second in career yards passing with 61,361 and most career touchdown passes with 420.

Lastly, I like to look at their supporting cast. Montana had one of the most potent offenses in NFL history, including Jerry Rice,  Roger Craig, Tom Rathman, Brent Jones and Dwight Clark.

Similarly, Elway had future Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe and NFL MVP Terrell Davis along with an offensive line anchored by Hall of Famer Gary Zimmerman.

Dan Marino had two powerful offensive weapons in wide receivers Mark Clayton and Mark Duper but he never had a powerful running game to balance his offense like Montana and Elway.

So who’s the greatest among those three? That’s like asking whether you prefer filet mignon or lobster. But for my money, I’ll take Elway. If the game was on the line and you needed a clutch performance, he’d be my choice.

Filed Under: Sports Speaker News Tagged With: , ,

Welcome!

May 4, 2009 By

Welcome to PFP Sports & Celebrity Newswire , a speakers bureau, sports and celebrity booking agency where you will find the latest news and information about professional athletes,  sports speakers, sports personalities,  marketing and promotions.

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