Sport often has a unique capacity to provide a positive focus for youth.
Manny Hendrix Jnr a high-rated US basketball player, Dunk Contest Champion, Coach, Mentor and Inspiration was guest speaker at a joint Auburn High School-Hawthorn Rotary occasion- in effect the clubs regular Tuesday lunch meeting this time chaired by Simon O'Donoghue. A sandwich lunch which followed for HR members, Manny, a friend and a mentor provided for further but informal discussion.
Manny's basketball credits are numerous with scholarships to several colleges in Arizona, and universities in Texas, Indiana and Utah and playing experiences against NBA names. A few years back he came to Australia and has played for Southern Peninsula Basketball Association, the Western Port Basketball Association and is now with the Collingwood Basketball Association.
His Bachelors degree in Communication hints at but clearly is only a secondary driver to his inherent and wonderful capacity to relate to people, especially youth.
Manny is not just a top basketballer, he also puts back into the community.
Although humbly undersold in his address one learnt that he has :
·Run coaching clinics and mentored coaches,
·Designed, recorded and edited an online TV series called “Manny’s Aussie Adventures”
· Organised and ran Aussie Hoops programs
· Implemented marketing and sponsorship programs for local businesses
· Started a reading/mentoring program at local schools to encourage students to read books.
· Organised sponsorship and prizes, that have been recognised/ publicised by Big V League
. Runs a homework club for kids from Collingwood
Manny's address was singularly aimed at demonstrating to the year 9 and 10 students (HRC members present were most happily swept along) how commitment and a positive approach can overcome roadblocks in life. He told of some issues in the course of his own experiences at school, primary and secondary, and college.
There were some memorable but simple messages. "Work hard" indeed out-work your opposition to gain an advantage, and so be prepared for any opportunity in life. ( Manny's presence in Australia arose from a call at a time when an NBA basketball career was remote). Try something, in fact dedicate ones self to an undertaking for one year and "see what happens" is a message which he himself got from a mentor some years back and now advocates to others.
A responsive audience asked many questions, touching on Manny's personal training habits and even aspects of racism ( ignore ...learn to deal with distractions).
Thanks for a fine address, that's Manny in the middle with a couple of long past students.
