by Danielle Kinnen | Apr 26, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
Lipscomb University held its Don Meyer Evening of Excellence Saturday night to recognize the journey of coach Jim White, who is the subject of the Disney movie McFarland USA. The Don Meyer Evening of Excellence is named after the legendary former Lipscomb basketball coach who passed away in May of 2014 after a battle to cancer. Meyer coached at Hamline University for three years, Lipscomb for 24 years and Northern State for 11 years and finished with a career record of 923-324 in 38 seasons. Over the last six years, Lipscomb has had speakers that include Coach Meyer, former Heisman Trophy winner Tim Tebow, Duke head basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Phil, Si and Kay Robertson from Duck Dynasty and “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks. The evening in Allen Arena was filled with Lipscomb donors, athletes and family of the soon-to-be graduated seniors. White coached McFarland High School to nine cross country state championships in 14 years. Most of White’s runners were the children of immigrant field workers, as McFarland is one of the poorest cities in California. White shared some advice of his well-rounded programs with Lipscomb’s athletes. “No one can tell you that you won’t achieve something, because I just turned around and did it anyway,” White said. “You must continue to do right the things that you know how, and be patient. It’s a process — it cannot be built over night. “You have to have that drive in all aspects of life and especially for the student athletes who continue to work hard on and off the field.” Lipscomb alum Keith Hayes was impressed by the work put...
by Erin Turner | Jan 24, 2015 | News Slider, Sports
Ernie Banks, known as “Mr. Cub,” died Friday night at 83. The Baseball Hall of Famer spent his 19-year MLB career with the Chicago Cubs, hitting 512 home runs. The legendary baseball player shared some of his wisdom with Lipscomb during the sixth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence. Here is former Lumination Editor-in-Chief Cory Woodroof’s story about Banks’ message last April. Baseball great Ernie Banks advocates learning, friendship at Don Meyer Evening of Excellence Just because someone is king of his craft doesn’t mean he’ll ever stop learning, and for one of sports’ most respected and successful individuals, learning is something that never ceases. At the sixth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence, Baseball Hall of Famer and legendary Chicago Cub Ernie Banks taught all in attendance at Allen Arena the values of the learning process. “I’m just a learning person,” Banks said. As a part of the event, attendees got the chance to learn a little bit about Banks’ past, hear about his interactions with some of baseball’s great players and take to heart some of the wisdom he shared in a conversation with Jonathan Seamon. Banks, 83, is one of baseball’s most admired individuals. An icon in Wrigley Field on Chicago’s north side, the man beloved as “Mr. Cub” has amassed a large number of honors. Not only is he a member of the Baseball Hall of Fame. His Cubs’ jersey number was retired and there’s a statue in his honor at Wrigley Field. He’s also a recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom – an award given him by President Barack Obama, another well-known Chicagoan, in 2013. Banks shared ballfields...
by Cory Woodroof | Mar 13, 2014 | News Slider, Sports
Baseball great Ernie Banks will make his way to campus for the sixth annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence on April 19. Banks is considered to be one of the great baseball players in Chicago Cubs history and one of the most beloved players in the history of the sport. “The Don Meyer Evening of Excellence has had great guests over the years and we are thrilled to add Ernie Banks’ name to the Lipscomb lineup card,” Athletics Director Philip Hutcheson in a press release from Lipscomb Athletics. “Ernie Banks is one of those ‘Mount Rushmore’ kind of figures when it comes to the world of baseball’s greatest ambassadors.” Hutcheson spoke about Banks’ legacy in the sport and beyond. “Not only was he a Hall of Fame player on the field, but the joy that he brought to the game, the way he connected with his community and the work he did to promote what’s good about sports would have gotten him in Cooperstown even if he never played an inning,” Hutcheson said. Past guests include NFL quarterback Tim Tebow, Boston Celtics coach Brad Stevens, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski and Coach Meyer himself. Last year, Duck Dynasty family members Phil, Si and Kay Robertson were the centerpieces of the event. Tickets are on sale now for the Saturday event online or by phone at 615-966-4373. Photo courtesy of Lipscomb...
by Kage Sanderson | Feb 4, 2014 | Opinion, Sports
Super Bowl XLVIII on February 3rd was the best game of the year for Seattle Seahawks fans and possibly the saddest game of the year for Denver Broncos fans. Something most viewers can agree with, I’m sure, is that this year’s Super Bowl commercials were pretty great. The commercial that had me teary was Microsoft’s “Empowering” commercial. The commercial is narrated by former NFL player Steve Gleason. I have been moved by Gleason’s story since I first learned about his diagnosis with ALS. The commercial shows how technology unites us, is a helping tool and as the commercial says, gives hope to the hopeless and voice to the voiceless. If you haven’t seen this commercial, do yourself a favor and check it out. Both of Tim Tebow’s T-Mobile commercials were some of the funniest. They were such a brilliant way to play on the whole “no contract” theme. I love that Tebow talks about not having a contract, but then turns around and shows how he (supposedly) spent the NFL season. Some of the things Tebow does in those commercials are so audaciously funny, like bull riding in one and playing football on the moon in the other. I definitely laughed with each T-Mobile commercial shown. The Hyundai commercial with the dad who has a “sixth sense” was awesome. It made you think about how dads always seem like the superheroes who save the day. By the end of the commercial the Hyundai Genesis saves the day when the young teen driver gets distracted. Hilarious. Alright, the Doritos commercial where the kid rides his mastiff like a horse was...
by Hunter Patterson | Feb 3, 2011 | News Slider, Sports
Just announced on the George Plaster Show on 104.5 The Zone, Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski will be the next speaker at the third annual Don Meyer Evening of Excellence. Krzyzewski is a four-time NCAA champion and has won a Gold medal during the 2008 Summer Olympic Games. Krzyzewski also won a gold medal for the U.S. in 2010 in the FIBA World Championships. Krzyzewski has posted a 888-281 record over his career, second behind his mentor, Bob Knight. He is known as a motivator, mentor and friend to all players that he has coached. On his official site, CoachK.com, one of the quotes listed reads: “When you are passionate, you always have your destination in sight and you are not distracted by obstacles. Because you love what you are pursuing, things like rejection and setbacks will not hinder you in your pursuit. You believe that nothing can stop you!” The event will take place on Saturday, April 16 at Lipscomb’s Allen Arena. Tim Tebow was the speaker at the event in 2010. Check out Lumination Network in the coming weeks for more info about the event and Coach K. Photo Credit:...
