The notion occurred to me after watching a video my friend Canaan Kelley put together for one of my favorite nonprofits, Nancy Lieberman Charities. In the piece, Nancy visited the office of one of the organization’s dedicated supporters, Couture Dentistry. Thus you see the connection that occurred to me: dentists & smiles.
In the video, like pretty much everywhere else in the world, we see a lot of people wearing masks. Masks make it harder to tell if someone is grinning at you. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t smile. In fact, conveying that touch of warmth in your expression seems more crucial than ever.
The world already had COVID-19 disrupting human relationships and, in the U.S., we had a contentious election looming. Then this summer social justice upheaval, made us question a lot of our assumptions about people and precipitated more tension. I’ve been fortunate enough to do some diversity, inclusion, and equity work with Sidney and Takisha Moncrief this year, and one thing he wrote about in his new book was how a smile can defuse hostility. I’d like to think I’m inclined to be friendly anyway, but I found myself thinking more than ever about smiling at strangers, especially ones who looked different than me. But unless I was properly socially distanced, the ever-present mask frustratingly muted its impact.
But a smile doesn’t have to just be about lifting your lips. There are other ways to show affection. You might just have to get a little more creative about it.
Nancy has always believed in showing love to the companies who sponsor her charity. And in making this piece, she found a creative way to smile at one. She and Couture’s owner, Dr. Nelson Lo, come from different ethnicities and backgrounds, but she smiles at him big-time in the video - whether she’s showing her teeth off or not.
Nancy’s friend and TV colleague Erin Hartigan appeared with her at the Couture offices. If you’ve ever seen them together, on the air or off, Nancy and Erin share laughs regularly. Constantly, even. That comes through when they appear on camera together, including in this video. Thanks to COVID-19, most of us have had to do a lot more of our communication through cameras and monitors. We’re not all as professional at it as Erin and Nancy. But we can all aim to convey amiability in our interactions.
Please, whether anyone can see you or not, keep smiling.
Rush Olson has spent more than two decades directing creative efforts for sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns, television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities through Rush Olson Creative & Sports, Mint Farm Films, and FourNine Productions.
A shoulder injury has kept Jamie Lovemark off the PGA Tour since January. He has worked his way back to the point where he can play a casual round, and he did so on Monday. Though he wasn’t exactly playing a major championship, the tournament still meant a lot to Lovemark. It benefitted the Lovemark Foundation he and his wife, Tiva, started to help patients suffering from brain tumors.
If you’ve followed this blog, you might have noticed that, thanks to the various sports endeavors in which I get involved, I interview a lot of athletes about charitable causes they support. Some players work through existing nonprofits aligned with their goals and others start their own organizations. The latter efforts work best when they have a defined mission, especially one that addresses an unmet need, and when the athlete has a deep-seated passion for the cause.
The Lovemarks’ embrace of this calling has its roots in Tiva’s cerebellum, and not just because she put a lot of thought into getting the foundation going. She’s had a tumor on that part of her brain since 2002. Luckily it’s benign, but Tiva still has to get it checked every two years. Her family doesn’t lack for financial resources to get to doctor’s appointments or pay for procedures. But the Lovemarks realized not everyone has the same means, and brain surgery can truly devastate a patient’s ability to earn a living.
Jamie and Tiva partner with the Yale New Haven Hospital and, in particular, Dr. Jennifer Moliterno, to help the hospital’s brain tumor patients who find themselves in need afford basic expenses. Those could be medical, like the ambulance ride one patient told me he received, or they might just involve ensuring the patient can pay for groceries or a mortgage payment. Moliterno leads a committee that vets the patients and makes recommendations about where the Lovemark Foundation monies go.
To raise funds, the couple puts on their annual golf tournament. It might not be an official PGA event, but the Lovemark Foundation Charity Golf Pro-Am does boast a stellar field. 15 of Lovemark’s fellow pros played in groups with amateurs who had donated to the nonprofit. In the video interview that is the centerpiece of this blog post, you’ll hear me reference Kevin Tway, who the day before had turned in a top-10 finish at the Travelers Championship and still made it to Croton-On-Hudson, New York. Former world number one Luke Donald came to support his Jupiter, Florida neighbors and other quality pros joined him.
The track on which they played was top-tier, too. Hudson National Golf Club, as you will see in the background of the interview, sits on the Hudson River north of New York City and its hills provide the players with stunning overlooks. The Lovemarks hope their tournament and their foundation help brain tumor patients have more appealing views of their futures.
Rush Olson has spent more than two decades directing creative efforts for sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns, television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities through Rush Olson Creative & Sports, Mint Farm Films, and FourNine Productions.
Toby Keith loves sports. As we chatted after the video interview that is the centerpiece of this blog post, a replay of a college football game appeared on his bus’s TV screen. The country music legend said he couldn’t wait for the season to get underway. Keith buys a suite for University of Oklahoma’s home football games, but said he often spends much of the game on the sidelines, where Sooner players might actually hear his booming voice shouting words of encouragement (with visiting players hearing the opposite).
Keith will also attend the game against the Longhorns at the Cotton Bowl in October, but he’s going to come in a couple of days early, in part out of passion for the Sooners. Keith has recruited a number of former Oklahoma athletes to play softball against a group of former Longhorns on Thursday, October 4th at Frisco’s Dr Pepper Ballpark.
In addition to football and, for a day at least, softball, Keith loves professional baseball (he’s a lifelong Dodgers fan) and college basketball (he gets good seats for Sooners hoops games). He’s also truly passionate about one of the beneficiaries of the Red River Celebrity Softball Game, presented by Sewell: his Toby Keith Foundation. In the interview, he explains about the nonprofit’s mission to fund a facility serving families of hospitalized children in Oklahoma City. He also offers insight on what to look for at the softball game (don’t expect a pitcher’s duel).
Rush Olson has spent more than two decades directing creative efforts for sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns, television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities through Rush Olson Creative & Sports, Mint Farm Films, and FourNine Productions.
Great performers can steal the show without even trying. Billy Crystal did it Monday night. His opportunity came at the Nancy Lieberman Charities Dream Ball. The
event teemed with celebrities from the worlds of sport and
entertainment. Hall of Famers like Deion Sanders and Ralph Sampson came.
Local media did interviews on the red carpet. ESPN’s Jay Harris hosted. The show wasn’t about Billy Crystal per se. And the renowned
entertainer didn’t make it about him. He made the night in a different
way. It wasn’t because of the way he showed his talent. It was because
of how he showed his perspective.
We
interviewed him before the event began. When I asked him why it was
meaningful for him to be there that night, he didn’t talk about being
recognized for the work he’s done (Crystal received the Lifetime
Achievement Award). He talked about the cause and about how Nancy
Lieberman Charities had helped him rebuild a small part of the area
where he grew up.
“When I was in a situation where my hometown had been wiped out by
Hurricane Sandy, a little town on Long Island called Long Beach, I was
looking for a way to raise money” Crystal said. “In a place that had
been ripped apart by seawater, they built these two magnificent
basketball courts. “ Crystal did another thing that showed his perspective. He fell. This
wasn’t a comedy pratfall. He actually tumbled from his chair as he sat
at his table. I don’t think he was injured, but nobody would have blamed
him if he had left the venue after that. He didn’t. He stayed until the
end of the show and entertained the crowd, in part with a running
series of jokes about his mishap. A bruised tailbone didn’t result in a
bruised ego. He was going to stay and help the nonprofit show the guests
an enjoyable evening. Crystal took photos of the crowd from the stage. He told Jay Harris
fantastic stories of his one-man show and his (and Nancy Lieberman’s)
friend Muhammad Ali. And he did receive his award from Bo Derek. Though
he had the audience riveted, we probably can’t say he stole the show on
the stage. That’s because Trailblazer Award winner Sam Moore (a Rock and
Roll Hall of Famer from his work with Sam and Dave) gave a superb
musical performance and after Bebe Winans introduced Jan Miller for the
Inspirational Award, the noted literary agent gave a stirring speech. But it was off the stage that Crystal’s work stood out the most. When
Derek spoke before presenting him his award, she told of a program he
sponsored that brings together Israeli and Palestinian actors and
directors to peacefully co-produce creative works. It showed the
perspective he has on the world – one that he contributed to an event
that grossed $1.2 million for charity. For a man who has hosted award
programs and walked away from them with hardware, it showed why he was
truly a worthy recipient. Rush Olson has spent more than two decades directing creative
efforts for sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad
campaigns, television programs, and related creative projects for sports
entities through Rush Olson Creative & Sports, Mint Farm Films, and
FourNine Productions. RushOlson.com Linkedin.com/company/rush-olson-creative-&-sports Facebook.com/RushOlsonCreativeandSports
At charity events this year, I saw folks throw footballs or
hit tennis balls to people. I heard wild stories about ballgames and
boxing matches. And I witnessed some moments of generosity and respect
worthy of the holiday season.
Regular readers of this blog may know that when I’m not lounging in
the palatial Fort Worth Weekly office suite, I do other creative work. A
good chunk of it involves adding to the presentation of events, and
especially sports-related charitable ones. Read on for some detail on
some event-related moments that left an impression.
Nancy Lieberman Charities Dream Ball
February, 2017
photo by Thomas GarzaFrom a sports content standpoint, it might not get better than this,
especially if you’re a boxing fan. At the end of the evening, a
roundtable discussion moderated by ESPN SportsCenter anchor Jay Harris
featured Sugar Ray Leonard, George Foreman, and Lonnie Ali (Muhammad’s
widow) talking about Muhammad Ali’s legacy. We streamed it via Facebook
Live and you can watch the panel, plus Lonnie Ali receiving an award, here.
Taste of the Cowboys May, 2017 photo by Lori Gunter FrenchThis event raises funds for the North Texas Food Bank, and the Dallas
Cowboys serve as the face of the event (especially the bearded face of
Travis Frederick and his fellow offensive linemen). They held this
year’s event at the team’s new practice facility, The Star. It features
prominent local chefs serving samples of signature dishes, so the food
is a highlight, but the most fun part might involve football. After the
live auction concludes, a bunch of current and former Cowboys players
take the stage. The auctioneer requests additional donations to the food
bank, and when an audience member raises his or her hand to contribute,
a player throws him or her a football. The completion percentage isn’t
terribly high, but you do see a few good catches interspersed. It’s a
cool spectacle and no doubt drives donations.
Behind the Masque Gala May, 2017
Former Stars goaltender Marty Turco runs a charity called C5 Youth Foundation of Texas, and they do amazing work
helping kids from challenging backgrounds navigate their teenage years
and get into college. They annually hold a masquerade ball as a
fundraiser, and this year the featured entertainment involved an
improvisational comedy troupe from the Hideout Theatre.
The comedians managed to lure the easygoing Turco on stage, where
they quizzed him about his day, which included hot yoga, picking up
spirits for the event, and playing nine holes of golf. They then made up
a song about his activities. In the middle of the routine, Turco
laughed so hard his chair broke. It couldn’t have been scripted any
better.
Talk of the Town July, 2017 photo by Carrie AdamsMaybe the most poignant moment of my year came at the Talk of the Town event. I’ve written in detail
about why, but the quick holiday summary involves a Skype appearance by
Dallas Stars announcer Dave Strader. Strader’s fight against cancer had
prevented him from being physically present at the event, but he wanted
to participate. So he joined his counterparts from the Mavericks,
Rangers, and Cowboys electronically and it lit up the room, especially
the table full of his Stars co-workers.
Nancy Lieberman Charities Celebrity Golf Classic September, 2017 image by Dave FrenchOne reason golfers play this tournament is the opportunity to rub
elbows and trade foot wedges with notables from the worlds of sports and
entertainment. It was nice seeing the likes of Seth Curry, Tony
Casillas, Jose Guzman, and others show up to the support the charity,
but one of the highlights was talking to comic actor Burton Gilliam near
the 10th tee. My work that day involved shooting video, and we got to
talking about camera technology. When he first got into the business,
there was no digital technology allowing you to see what you had just
shot as soon as you’ve done it. One shot movies on actual film, and you
didn’t know what you had until it had been developed. Burton told me
they once had to completely reshoot a scene when he was making Paper
Moon because of something they hadn’t seen the previous day. It gives
one an appreciation for all the scenes moviemakers did get right back in
the day. The main reason this one made the list though, is the scene at the end of this video. You’ll note Mr. Gilliam still has his acting chops.
Dirk Nowitzki Foundation Pro Celebrity Tennis Classic September, 2017 image by Dave FrenchDirk and Jessica Nowitzki have put on a celebrity tennis event
the last two falls at the SMU tennis center. The tennis was a lot of
fun, with a mix of world-class players like Donald Young and celebs from
other professions like Owen Wilson and J.J. Barea. The evening before,
they hold an exclusive VIP dinner
and a silent auction. My personal favorite moment came when a video we
had edited elicited tears from some audience members, but the best
overall moment came during the silent auction that followed. As bids
rose for various package, celebrities started stepping up. Former Dallas
Star Mike Modano offered to fly in for a dinner package that already
included Dirk, and other celebs joined. There were a number of cool
gestures made and a lot of generous bids made it a six-figure night for
the children’s causes helped by the Dirk Nowitzki Foundation.
Those are just a few highlights of the year in sports charity events, and I could name many more
great moments and events (and I do feel guilty for not mentioning every
single event I worked or attended in 2017 – they were all fantastic).
Sport can be a force in doing good things, and a lot of people
contributed a lot of time, energy, and money to improving people’s lives
this year. Here’s to more of that in 2018.
Rush Olson has spent two decades directing creative efforts for
sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns,
television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities
through Rush Olson Creative & Sports, Mint Farm Films, and FourNine
Productions.
High-profile athletes can help deserving causes in more ways than
one. They can use their celebrity status and the platform sports
provides to bring attention to a need or to generate revenue for
charities. They can also get involved on a personal level contributing
time, personal funds, or expertise.
Since his playing days ended, Emmitt Smith and his wife, Pat, have
used their Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities organization to assist
children in all the above ways. Tuesday night at Dallas’ House of Blues,
the Heart of Dallas Fast Pitch event, presented by Lagardère Plus,
recognized the Smiths for their work with a Community Excellence Award.
In this video interview, conducted red-carpet style at the event, Pat
explains a bit about what their family’s charity does, and Emmitt
provides a football player’s perspective. The latter seemed especially
relevant since the $15,000 Pat and Emmitt Smith Charities received, as
well as monies distributed to half dozen other nonprofits, come in large
part from the Zaxby’s Heart of Dallas Bowl. That college football game,
to be contested December 26 at the Cotton Bowl stadium between
representatives of the Big 12 and Big Ten conferences, designates money
for local causes and the Heart of Dallas Young Professionals
organization disburses it annually at this event.
You
notice Emmitt at the beginning and end of the interview pantomiming
his own “pitch,” and the event got its name because six North Texas
child-focused nonprofits must make a sales pitch about their missions. A
panel of judges divides up available money among the groups, with the
best presentations receiving the largest percentages. Tuesday’s
finalists, culled from dozens of submissions, were Bryan’s House, Dallas
CASA, Jubilee Park and Community Center, Rainbow Days, Rise Adaptive
Sports, and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. All received at
some funds, and no one took home less than $5,000.
During the event, the Smiths had an on-stage discussion with emcee
Corby Davidson. The Hardline co-host asked them a little about football
and a lot about charities. The subject of Emmitt’s fashion sense came
up, too, with Pat labelling his formerly subpar selections as “BP”
(“Before Pat”) and Emmitt designating them “BM” (“Before Money”).
Mostly, the audience found out about how the couple uses both celebrity
status and their laid-back but focused personalities to direct attention
and funds toward endeavors they feel improve children’s lives.
Thursday night, someone asked a group of noted play-by-play
men about the most difficult venues in which to call a game. New York
City native Chuck Cooperstein of the Mavericks, the subject of this
post’s video interview, reluctantly cited his beloved Madison Square
Garden’s subpar sightlines. The Rangers’ Eric Nadel noted that he loved
Chicago’s venerable Wrigley Field in general, but not its lilliputian
broadcast booth. (He observed that early broadcasters “apparently were
very small people.”) Brad Sham from the Cowboys placed Washington, D.C.
first. He also named them second, third, and on up through number 32.
Sham explained that the visiting radio booth is low and in the corner
and he has to call certain distant plays using the monitors in the
instant replay booth next door. photo by Carrie AdamsAt the Talk of the Town event, radio announcers for North Texas’s top
four pro sports teams assembled to swap inside stories about their
profession. The audience could submit queries on note cards and the
venues question was one of the first moderator John Rhadigan read. Dave
Strader wasn’t on stage at that point and we didn’t find out his answer
to it. The Stars’ announcer had planned to attend, but a recent
complication in his cancer treatment prevented him from being physically
onsite. It didn’t stop him from participating, however. A few minutes
after the broadcast booth discussion, Rhadigan introduced a classic call
of a Steve Yzerman playoff overtime goal, one Strader had made as the
voice of the Detroit Red Wings. As it ended, the skinny but energetic
hockey broadcaster appeared on the video screen via Skype and described
how they had just watched his final call as a Red Wings team
broadcaster. photo by Carrie AdamsStrader then stuck around virtually, contributing his viewpoint to
every question and clearly enjoying the night. After the event, he
tweeted “Thank you for having me! It meant a lot.” I’m sure the
experience raised his spirits, and it lifted the room up a lot, too.
Perhaps my most enduring memory of a fully enjoyable evening will be of
the occupants of the Dallas Stars’ table, including former Stars forward
Vern Fiddler, watching their colleague on the screen and clearly being
moved by the sight.
In
addition to serving as a pick-me-up for Strader and his Stars
colleagues, the event also benefited five charities dedicated to serving
less-fortunate children. Earlier in the evening, after Sham had
described the challenges of having no depth perception when calling a
Cowboys-Redskins game, he had added a caveat.
“The one thing you won’t hear us do is complain about it. Because one
of the things I think we all understand,” explained the longtime
announcer, “Is there’s a line of people three times around the stadium
who would do it for free.”
Sham and the rest clearly appreciate what they have. In a night filled with great stories, that message was truly a lasting one.
Rush Olson has spent two decades directing creative efforts for
sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns,
television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities
through Rush Olson Creative & Sports and FourNine Productions.
For nearly 40 years, Eric Nadel has described Rangers games for fans listening in their homes and cars (and now on their phones). He’s won numerous sportscasting honors, including the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford Frick Award. His zeal for helping charities matches his enthusiasm for broadcasting, and he’ll combine the two callings July 13. Nadel, along with Cowboys voice Brad Sham, Mavericks play-by-play man Chuck Cooperstein, and, health permitting, Stars announcer Dave Strader, will conduct a roundtable discussion at their Talk of the Town event. In the video interview at the top of this post, I discussed with Eric the event, his bond with his co-hosts, and his take on certain aspects of sportscasting.
As I prepared for the interview, I looked at a list of some of the auction items Nadel had procured for the event, and spotted some interesting names associated with them. I figured there might be some stories behind the donations, so we conducted a second short interview to discuss them (and have a bit of fun).
The Talk of the Town event happens at 3015 at Trinity Groves in Dallas on July 13. Visit thetalkofthetown.org for details and tickets. #DFWTOTT2017
After retiring from playing hockey, former Dallas Stars goaltender
Marty Turco has maintained the affinity for nonprofit work he had as a
player. Turco serves as president of C5 Youth Foundation of Texas, an
organization that works with at-risk youth to shepherd them from eighth
grade through high school graduation. Their track record includes nearly
all of their graduates advancing to college.
Part of Turco’s job
includes fundraising, and he has an event coming up May 11th that draws
inspiration from his hockey equipment. The Behind The Masque Gala,
presented by Aimbridge Hospitality, is a masquerade ball. In this video
interview, Turco explains a few details about the event and delves into
his own experience of wearing custom-made masks when he played. He also
talks about why he feels C5 Texas to be such a worthwhile organization.
To learn more about C5 or to support them by purchasing Behind the Masque tickets, visit c5texas.org.
Rush Olson has spent two decades directing creative efforts for
sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns,
television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities
through Rush Olson Creative & Sports and FourNine Productions.
Before the night began, media members did interviews. The program
officially started with the national anthem, as many sporting events do.
The lights illuminated a pair of basketball goals, and Hall of Famers
paraded past them as the crowd applauded.
photo by Thomas Garza
Those
assembled had not come to see a game, however. Monday night’s happening
was a charity gala. Six years ago, a steakhouse could accommodate it.
These days, they hold it at a concert venue and it is attended by nearly
800 well-coifed people. The attendees included, by my count, nine
members of various Halls of Fame (assuming you include Pudge Rodriguez,
who was elected to Cooperstown this year and will be formally inducted
this summer – any Rangers fan would concede that). One of those Hall of
Famers directs her name, effort, passion, connections, and just about
everything else you could think of toward making the affair a success. I
was fortunate enough to try to help her make her Nancy Lieberman
Charities Dream Ball a memorable one. This article offers a few
highlights that you as a fan of sports or philanthropy or Deion Sanders
in a jaunty hat may enjoy.
The Red Carpet
photo by Thomas Garza
Pretty
much everybody who comes in gets to greet Ms. Lieberman. Ben and Skin
broadcast their radio show live and local TV stations cover it as well.
Some inside scoop – we let a number of student photographers infiltrate
the working press to make it feel even more big-time for the regular
guests.
The Emcee
photo by Thomas Garza
Jay
Harris from ESPN used to work with Nancy at the network. He has
attended a number of these events, but had never drawn emcee duties
before. He was fantastic to work with behind the scenes and just as good
on stage. He improvised with aplomb whether things went right or wrong
and when he read the script, he made it his own. His most impressive
performance might have come during the live auction. Harris interacted
with auctioneer Tim Willett as if they had hosted SportCenter together
for years. The banter back and forth was flawless, and hopefully helped
make the charity a few more dollars.
Michael Irvin and Roger Clemens
photo by Thomas Garza
Neither
the Hall of Famer nor the seven-time Cy Young winner were scheduled to
speak at the event. Both did to spur the crowd to contribute funds to
the cause. Irvin took over the podium during the Heads and Tails game
(where people buy a chance to win airline tickets) to announce he was
buying some chances and to encourage others to do the same and also have
a good time while doing it.
photo by Thomas Garza
Clemens
had already contributed a day of batting practice at his house to the
silent auction. He addressed the crowd to announce he would also add a
suite at an Astros game and a jersey autographed by a favorite Rangers
or Astros player.
Stomp Wars Nancy
Lieberman Charities partnered with Rock-T from the Rickey Smiley morning
show to create a mentoring program, and Rock-T also was able to bring
some adept step dancers to the program. Their performance was tight, but
they had already impressed me before the show even started. As I went
over the show with our DJ Poizon Ivy (who also does the Mavericks and
Wings and is a tremendous collaborator and spinner of tunes), two boys
who would be performing came up to us unchaperoned. They went over cues
and music like they were industry veterans. There is hope for the youth.
David O. Brown
photo by Thomas Garza
The night’s first award went to the former Dallas police chief. We had pre-produced a video
in which his colleagues praised him for his emphasis on enabling
officers to engage with the community (and one of those initiatives
involved building basketball courts with Nancy Lieberman Charities).
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings introduced him and quickly quieted the room
when he soberly reminded everyone of the tragic events of last summer
and how Brown had handled them. When Chief Brown took the podium, he
delivered powerful messages about coming together. Keep an eye on that
guy.
Muhammad Ali The late champion’s
presence permeated the night. Nancy Lieberman considers him one of her
greatest influences and friends, and the gala’s second award went to his
wife Lonnie. One of the evening’s most poignant moments came when the
evening’s namesake stepped forward to put a hand on Lonnie’s shoulder
and weep with her as they shared the emotion of remembering a friend and
husband.
photo by Thomas Garza
The
night culminated with a roundtable discussion featuring SportsCenter
anchor Harris moderating Lonnie Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard, and George
Foreman in a discussion of the G.O.A.T.’s legacy. Harris navigated it
smoothly, with favorite moments coming via amusing stories from the two
former boxers that led Lonnie Ali to smile at the memory of the man she
loved. We streamed this portion of the program live and it has been archived
at Nancy Lieberman Charities’ Facebook page. The former Cassius Clay
meant a lot to each panelist in his or her own way, and the idea that we
would be able to get them all together at one time to discuss his
impact seemed incredibly compelling. It may never happen again.
The Bottom Line Between
table sales, donations, auction items, sponsors, and other revenue
streams, the event grossed a million dollars, the vast majority of which
will fund programs designed to improve kids’ lives.
photo by Thomas Garza
Disclosure : Nancy Lieberman Charities has sometimes paid me to produce elements of their events
“It’s an amazing event. Every year it gets bigger, it gets better and I really expect nothing less from Nancy Lieberman.”
Former NBA player Stephen Howard, speaking about the Nancy Lieberman Charities Dream Ball.
Expectations create challenges. When people anticipate you’ll deliver
something, you kind of have to do it. Basketball Hall-of-Famer Nancy
Lieberman made a career out of going beyond the norm, from making an
Olympic team as a high schooler to playing in men’s leagues to coaching
in the NBA. When she started a charity, she wanted to make it bigger and
better, too.
“I think all along she was trying to take it to where it is today, in
2017, and that’s where she’s having a huge red-carpet affair and
big-time people coming and donating and just giving back,” said Theresa
Pusateri, who assisted Lieberman in the formative years of what was then
called the Nancy Lieberman Foundation (now Nancy Lieberman Charities).
Helping
the Dream Ball grow has certainly required Lieberman’s legendary energy
and connections. Notables the caliber of Emmitt Smith and Martina
Navratilova attended the 2012’s inaugural Dream Ball, entitled “A Night
of Magic with Lady Magic,” and many more have followed. Maintaining
their participation, and that of sponsors and ticket buyers, has
required making sure they enjoy themselves enough to want to return the
next year. Here then, are a few of the memorable moments from past Dream
Ball galas that might have caused folks to jump up from their chairs
and take notice. 2012 : “Please help send Nancy to the Olympics.”
That’s what Nancy Lieberman said her neighbors wrote on the can they
passed around Far Rockaway, New York to raise money to send her to the
Olympic trials when Lieberman’s single mom couldn’t afford to send her.
The evening’s host told how that episode inspired her to charitable
pursuits and helped propel her to basketball success. photo by Carmine LiDestri 2013 : As in 2012, one can always expect to hear
some Lieberman’s compelling stories at her events. But in 2013, the
Dream Ball created its own amazing story. As the evening’s host, John
Rhadigan of Fox Sports Southwest put it, “Larry Fitzgerald went and he
did the most generous thing I’ve ever seen at one of these (charity
events).”
That evening at Ruth’s Chris Steak House the theme was “Together We
Can.” Starpower donated a big-screen TV as a raffle item, and the winner
turned out to be not one of the well-heeled guests or celebs, but a
girl named Katelyn Gordon whose family had benefitted from the
foundation’s outreach efforts.
“The little girl is so sweet. She tells me to tell Nancy ‘please
auction this off. We’re going to give this back so that we can auction
it off.’ So we’re like, ‘no, no, no, you keep it,’” noted Rhadigan. photo by Carmine LiDestri
The young lady insisted the TV become an auction item to benefit the
charity’s programs. The auctioneer started soliciting the bids, which
trickled in as auctions will do, getting over $1000 fairly quickly. Then
the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver made an exceptional offer.
Fitzgerald would pay $5,000 for the TV if, and only if, the little
girl’s family would keep it. That’s exactly what happened.
Rhadigan said, “It gives me chills when I retell the story. It was an unbelievable moment.” 2014 : Fitzgerald featured prominently the next
year, too, as he, Smith, and Deion Sanders participated in a roundtable
discussion with host Gina Miller. Perhaps the most inspiring messages,
however, came from honoree Diana Nyad, who joked that “I’ve been on
Dancing with the Stars. It doesn’t get any bigger than that,” before
delivering some profound wisdom that spoke to why the event bears the
name it does. photo by Carmine LiDestri
“What makes us feel alive is our dreams,” said the athlete who, at
the age of 64, had just completed a 53-hour Cuba-to-Key-West swim on her
fifth try. “All of us – every human being on this planet – suffers
heartache, knows disappointment, and worse. And if you see where you’re
going, you imagine it, you envision it. You bring good people around you
to get there. You run up against obstacles. You get thrown back by
jellyfish, whatever it is. And if you find a way around, if you do not
give up on that vision, eventually you walk up on that shore.” 2015 : The charity honored Dallas Cowboys
quarterback Tony Romo and he proved himself worthy in more ways than
one. Early on in the evening, as the auctioneer sought bidders for
backpacks that would help send kids to basketball camp, Romo and his
wife bought all the remaining stock. When it came time for him to accept
his award, Tony Romo didn’t mail in a perfunctory thank-you speech. photo by Carmine LiDestri
The media latched onto a small portion of the talk wherein he
predicted his team would go to the Super Bowl, apparently considering it
somehow newsworthy that a star player might think his division-winning
team from the year before would advance slightly further in 2015.
Hopefully, however, those who watched Romo’s speech because of the
prediction also paid attention to the rest of the talk, as he provided
powerful insight into why programs like those of Nancy Lieberman
Charities benefit children. He talked of the “10,000 hours” necessary to
acquire expertise in a skill, and how an entity that builds basketball
courts where there are none, or sends kids to camps they would otherwise
not attend, can help a child achieve great things.
“To give these kids that avenue and that chance to start that process earlier?” he said. “That’s a gamechanger.” 2016 : As always, sports played a major role in the
Dream Ball program. Cowboys Executive Vice President and Chief Brand
Officer Charlotte Jones Anderson was introduced by her father, Jerry, as
she received her award. Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle brought up his
boss, team General Manager Donnie Nelson. But music, in some ways,
grabbed the spotlight on this night. From Jerry Jones dancing a bit to
the opening music to dance numbers from the Cowboys Cheerleaders and the
Mavs ManiAACs, the evening featured a lively soundtrack.
Two moments stole the show, however. The first one came before the
auction. Many charities will play a video describing their work before
asking attendees to spend money supporting it. This video featured a
custom musical track, as local artist Big Joe Walker had recorded a
version of one of Lieberman’s favorite songs “With A Little Help From My
Friends” especially for the event. As soon as Walker’s powerful voice
hit the opening lyrics, the room fell completely silent, a reaction
rarely, if ever, seen at an event of this type. It remained that way
throughout his sparse yet arresting rendition. photo by Carmine LiDestri
The evening’s final honoree provided a moment that all who attended
will not forget. Toby Keith accepted his award, and then strolled to the
microphone for an impromptu performance with the Jordan Kahn Orchestra.
They filled the intimate setting with a cover of the Bill Withers song
“Ain’t No Sunshine,” followed by one of the tunes that got Keith into
the Songwriters Hall of Fame, “Should’ve Been a Cowboy.” Keith, gracious
throughout, name checked the house band and gave the saxophone player a
solo.
Nancy Lieberman has earned the trust of a lot of famous friends over
the years, so the expectation will indeed be for future Dream Balls to
continue to provide memorable happenings. To ensure the event’s
continued success, she might have even grown her own star power, as son
T.J. Cline has turned into a legitimate professional prospect hooping at
the University of Richmond. In fact, T.J. has actually exceeded
expectations on that front – apparently that quality runs in the family.
This year’s Nancy Lieberman Charities Dream Ball happens February 20
at the Factory Ballroom in Deep Ellum. Tickets are available at
nancyliebermancharities.org.
Rush Olson has spent two decades directing creative efforts for sports teams and broadcasters. He currently creates ad campaigns, television programs, and related creative projects for sports entities through Rush Olson Creative & Sports and FourNine Productions.
