Champion Athletes

Hailed as the greatest team player on the greatest team of all time, Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics in the longest championship streak in U.S. sports history. With a flair for defense never before seen on a basketball court, allied with an uncanny ability to excel under pressure and an indomitable will to win, Russell dominated the game of basketball from his earliest days as a student athlete to his triumphant career in the pros. As captain of the Boston Celtics, he led the team to nine championships, including the unsurpassed streak of eight consecutive wins. In 1967, he succeeded the legendary Red Auerbach as the team's head coach, becoming the first African American to coach a major league sports team in the United States. Serving as a player-coach, without an assistant, he guided the Celtics to two additional championships. Bill Russell achieved this unprecedented record while facing down the incessant harassment and prejudice that hounded African Americans in the 1950s and '60s. His courage and dignity in overcoming these obstacles have been an inspiration to all Americans. In this podcast, recorded at the 2008 International Achievement Summit in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the Hall of Famer speaks less of his accomplishments on the basketball court than of his achievements as a father.

Hailed as the greatest team player on the greatest team of all time, Bill Russell led the Boston Celtics in the longest championship streak in U.S. sports history. With a flair for defense never before seen on a basketball court, allied with an uncanny ability to excel under pressure and an indomitable will to win, Russell dominated the game of basketball from his earliest days as a student athlete to his triumphant career in the pros. As captain of the Boston Celtics, he led the team to nine championships, including the unsurpassed streak of eight consecutive wins. In 1967, he succeeded the legendary Red Auerbach as the team's head coach, becoming the first African American to coach a major league sports team in the United States. Serving as a player-coach, without an assistant, he guided the Celtics to two additional championships. Bill Russell achieved this unprecedented record while facing down the incessant harassment and prejudice that hounded African Americans in the 1950s and '60s. His courage and dignity in overcoming these obstacles have been an inspiration to all Americans. In this podcast, recorded at the 2008 International Achievement Summit in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the Hall of Famer speaks less of his accomplishments on the basketball court than of his achievements as a father.

Andre Agassi was prepared, literally from the cradle, to be a tennis champion. His father, an Iranian immigrant and former Olympic boxer, had him hit thousands of balls a day. By age five, Andre was practicing with pros; at 16, he was a pro himself. Freed from his rigorous upbringing, he rebelled, deliberately outraging tennis traditionalists with his unconventional hairstyles and fashions. At the same time, he was overwhelming the competition with his inexhaustible endurance, exceptional timing and uncanny hand-eye coordination. He won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1992, and more titles followed quickly, but after finishing 1995 as the game's top-rated player, and triumphing at the 1996 Olympics, his career faltered. A recurring wrist injury and the beginnings of a serious back condition began to affect his game, while the tabloid press harried him relentlessly. Rigorous conditioning and iron discipline led to a breathtaking comeback at the end of the decade, and Agassi showed a deepened maturity in his conduct on and off the court. By 1999, he was once again the top-rated player in the world. Over the years, he played on three Davis Cup-winning U.S. teams, won all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Tennis Masters Cup, in addition to his Olympic Gold Medal. Other tennis players have won some combinations of these honors, but in the history of the sport, Andre Agassi is the only champion to have won all of them.He has also earned a reputation as the most socially engaged player in professional tennis. In 1994 he founded the Andre Agassi Charitable Association in his home town of Las Vegas, where he continues to live with his wife, fellow tennis star Steffi Graf, and their two children. His charitable projects there have included a tuition-free K-12 college preparatory school for at-risk youth, a special residence for the developmentally disabled, and the county's only residential facility for abused and neglected children. When Andre Agassi retired from professional tennis last year, he received an eight-minute standing ovation after his final match, and made a memorable speech to his fans. "You have given me your shoulders to stand upon to reach for my dreams, dreams I could never have reached without you."

Andre Agassi was prepared, literally from the cradle, to be a tennis champion. His father, an Iranian immigrant and former Olympic boxer, had him hit thousands of balls a day. By age five, Andre was practicing with pros; at 16, he was a pro himself. Freed from his rigorous upbringing, he rebelled, deliberately outraging tennis traditionalists with his unconventional hairstyles and fashions. At the same time, he was overwhelming the competition with his inexhaustible endurance, exceptional timing and uncanny hand-eye coordination. He won his first Grand Slam title at Wimbledon in 1992, and more titles followed quickly, but after finishing 1995 as the game's top-rated player, and triumphing at the 1996 Olympics, his career faltered. A recurring wrist injury and the beginnings of a serious back condition began to affect his game, while the tabloid press harried him relentlessly. Rigorous conditioning and iron discipline led to a breathtaking comeback at the end of the decade, and Agassi showed a deepened maturity in his conduct on and off the court. By 1999, he was once again the top-rated player in the world. Over the years, he played on three Davis Cup-winning U.S. teams, won all four Grand Slam singles titles and the Tennis Masters Cup, in addition to his Olympic Gold Medal. Other tennis players have won some combinations of these honors, but in the history of the sport, Andre Agassi is the only champion to have won all of them.He has also earned a reputation as the most socially engaged player in professional tennis. In 1994 he founded the Andre Agassi Charitable Association in his home town of Las Vegas, where he continues to live with his wife, fellow tennis star Steffi Graf, and their two children. His charitable projects there have included a tuition-free K-12 college preparatory school for at-risk youth, a special residence for the developmentally disabled, and the county's only residential facility for abused and neglected children. When Andre Agassi retired from professional tennis last year, he received an eight-minute standing ovation after his final match, and made a memorable speech to his fans. "You have given me your shoulders to stand upon to reach for my dreams, dreams I could never have reached without you."

It would be difficult to name another athlete who dominated his sport as long or as completely as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The greatest all-around player in the history of professional basketball, he ruled the sport through speed, agility and a devastating ambidextrous "sky hook" shot that sportswriters dubbed "the ultimate weapon." In the three seasons he played for the UCLA Bruins, he led the team to three NCAA championships and was named Most Outstanding Player in all three years, the only player in the history of the college game to hold this distinction. As a professional, his career was even more remarkable. In his 20 seasons in the NBA, he played in 19 All-Star Games, won six championship titles and six Most Valuable Player awards. Over the course of his career, he blocked more than 3,100 shots, made 17,400 rebounds and scored 38,837 points, making him the highest-scoring player in NBA history, a record that may never be broken. Adored by his fans and revered by his teammates, he retired to the most heartfelt tributes in sports history. Since retirement, he has chosen to pursue a second career as an author, enjoying success with books on African American history, World War II, the Harlem Renaissance and his own experiences coaching basketball on an Apache Indian reservation. One of the most durable athletes in the history of any sport, he has gone on to earn the world's enduring respect for his accomplishments as a human being.

It would be difficult to name another athlete who dominated his sport as long or as completely as Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The greatest all-around player in the history of professional basketball, he ruled the sport through speed, agility and a devastating ambidextrous "sky hook" shot that sportswriters dubbed "the ultimate weapon." In the three seasons he played for the UCLA Bruins, he led the team to three NCAA championships and was named Most Outstanding Player in all three years, the only player in the history of the college game to hold this distinction. As a professional, his career was even more remarkable. In his 20 seasons in the NBA, he played in 19 All-Star Games, won six championship titles and six Most Valuable Player awards. Over the course of his career, he blocked more than 3,100 shots, made 17,400 rebounds and scored 38,837 points, making him the highest-scoring player in NBA history, a record that may never be broken. Adored by his fans and revered by his teammates, he retired to the most heartfelt tributes in sports history. Since retirement, he has chosen to pursue a second career as an author, enjoying success with books on African American history, World War II, the Harlem Renaissance and his own experiences coaching basketball on an Apache Indian reservation. One of the most durable athletes in the history of any sport, he has gone on to earn the world's enduring respect for his accomplishments as a human being.

At the end of his junior year at the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning found himself in an enviable position. The star quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers had already acquired enough credits to graduate with honors and was certain to be the first pick in the 1997 NFL draft. He stunned the football world by passing up the chance to go pro at age 21, choosing instead to remain in school another year and continue his studies. When he graduated in 1998, he received Phi Beta Kappa honors and the coveted Sullivan Award as the nation's premier student athlete, a prize based on character and leadership as well as athletic performance. After joining the Indianapolis Colts as the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft, he shattered the league's records for passing and scoring. In his first nine seasons, Manning completed more passes, and threw for more yards and more touchdowns than any other player in a comparable span of time. In his 14 seasons with the Colts, he was named Most Valuable Player in the league four times, an NFL record, and has made 11 Pro Bowl appearances. He has also recorded four perfect games, another NFL record. In 2007, he led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, winning Most Valuable Player honors in the championship contest. And yet, Peyton Manning considers his most important accomplishments to be those he has achieved off the field. In 1999, he established the PeyBack Foundation to open avenues of success to disadvantaged youth, providing leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. As President of the Foundation, he is active in all major decisions concerning its initiatives. The Foundation supports programs in his hometown of New Orleans, in Tennessee where he went to college, and in Indianapolis, where he makes his home today. They include support for inner city sports programs, academic coaching, field trips for at-risk children, distributions of books, clothing and food for needy families, and individual grants to classroom teachers for special projects. This work has enabled Manning to touch the lives of thousands of young people. Now the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning has proven himself a leader both on and off the field.

At the end of his junior year at the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning found himself in an enviable position. The star quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers had already acquired enough credits to graduate with honors and was certain to be the first pick in the 1997 NFL draft. He stunned the football world by passing up the chance to go pro at age 21, choosing instead to remain in school another year and continue his studies. When he graduated in 1998, he received Phi Beta Kappa honors and the coveted Sullivan Award as the nation's premier student athlete, a prize based on character and leadership as well as athletic performance. After joining the Indianapolis Colts as the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft, he shattered the league's records for passing and scoring. In his first nine seasons, Manning completed more passes, and threw for more yards and more touchdowns than any other player in a comparable span of time. In his 14 seasons with the Colts, he was named Most Valuable Player in the league four times, an NFL record, and has made 11 Pro Bowl appearances. He has also recorded four perfect games, another NFL record. In 2007, he led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, winning Most Valuable Player honors in the championship contest. And yet, Peyton Manning considers his most important accomplishments to be those he has achieved off the field. In 1999, he established the PeyBack Foundation to open avenues of success to disadvantaged youth, providing leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. As President of the Foundation, he is active in all major decisions concerning its initiatives. The Foundation supports programs in his hometown of New Orleans, in Tennessee where he went to college, and in Indianapolis, where he makes his home today. They include support for inner city sports programs, academic coaching, field trips for at-risk children, distributions of books, clothing and food for needy families, and individual grants to classroom teachers for special projects. This work has enabled Manning to touch the lives of thousands of young people. Now the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning has proven himself a leader both on and off the field.

At the end of his junior year at the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning found himself in an enviable position. The star quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers had already acquired enough credits to graduate with honors and was certain to be the first pick in the 1997 NFL draft. He stunned the football world by passing up the chance to go pro at age 21, choosing instead to remain in school another year and continue his studies. When he graduated in 1998, he received Phi Beta Kappa honors and the coveted Sullivan Award as the nation's premier student athlete, a prize based on character and leadership as well as athletic performance. After joining the Indianapolis Colts as the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft, he shattered the league's records for passing and scoring. In his first nine seasons, Manning completed more passes, and threw for more yards and more touchdowns than any other player in a comparable span of time. In his 14 seasons with the Colts, he was named Most Valuable Player in the league four times, an NFL record, and has made 11 Pro Bowl appearances. He has also recorded four perfect games, another NFL record. In 2007, he led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, winning Most Valuable Player honors in the championship contest. And yet, Peyton Manning considers his most important accomplishments to be those he has achieved off the field. In 1999, he established the PeyBack Foundation to open avenues of success to disadvantaged youth, providing leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. As President of the Foundation, he is active in all major decisions concerning its initiatives. The Foundation supports programs in his hometown of New Orleans, in Tennessee where he went to college, and in Indianapolis, where he makes his home today. They include support for inner city sports programs, academic coaching, field trips for at-risk children, distributions of books, clothing and food for needy families, and individual grants to classroom teachers for special projects. This work has enabled Manning to touch the lives of thousands of young people. Now the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning has proven himself a leader both on and off the field.

At the end of his junior year at the University of Tennessee, Peyton Manning found himself in an enviable position. The star quarterback of the Tennessee Volunteers had already acquired enough credits to graduate with honors and was certain to be the first pick in the 1997 NFL draft. He stunned the football world by passing up the chance to go pro at age 21, choosing instead to remain in school another year and continue his studies. When he graduated in 1998, he received Phi Beta Kappa honors and the coveted Sullivan Award as the nation's premier student athlete, a prize based on character and leadership as well as athletic performance. After joining the Indianapolis Colts as the first pick in the 1998 NFL draft, he shattered the league's records for passing and scoring. In his first nine seasons, Manning completed more passes, and threw for more yards and more touchdowns than any other player in a comparable span of time. In his 14 seasons with the Colts, he was named Most Valuable Player in the league four times, an NFL record, and has made 11 Pro Bowl appearances. He has also recorded four perfect games, another NFL record. In 2007, he led the Colts to victory in Super Bowl XLI, winning Most Valuable Player honors in the championship contest. And yet, Peyton Manning considers his most important accomplishments to be those he has achieved off the field. In 1999, he established the PeyBack Foundation to open avenues of success to disadvantaged youth, providing leadership and growth opportunities for children at risk. As President of the Foundation, he is active in all major decisions concerning its initiatives. The Foundation supports programs in his hometown of New Orleans, in Tennessee where he went to college, and in Indianapolis, where he makes his home today. They include support for inner city sports programs, academic coaching, field trips for at-risk children, distributions of books, clothing and food for needy families, and individual grants to classroom teachers for special projects. This work has enabled Manning to touch the lives of thousands of young people. Now the starting quarterback for the Denver Broncos, Peyton Manning has proven himself a leader both on and off the field.