Ronnie Lott & Kyleigh - I guess time doesn't stand still.

 1996 - I can remember it as if it were yesterday.  Stacie and I were enjoying a nights stay at Spanish Bay.  Kyleigh had just been born on March 1st ,  so it must have been April .      I was participating in  Ronnie Lotts "All Stars Helping Kids"  Golf Tournament.  Dad and I as well as Stacie and Kyleigh  got to enjoy the night time festivities surrounded by some of the all time sports greats.  Most noticeably Ronnie Lott.  It was only a few years earlier Ronnie had formed  - All Stars Helping Kids.  This organization was formed with the intent of helping disadvantaged children of all sorts. I was happy to be involved with the organization through my association with Adult and Child Guidance center.  Ronnie and his organization were generous benefactors.  My good friend,  Johnny "A" had let me know of the group and from there, ACGC was chosen as a beneficiary for the 1996 event. 

While everybody was mingling around during dinner and awards,  I was holding Kyleigh and walking around with the greatest award I had ever won.  You see,  she was my first born.  Feeling like Mufassa in "Lion King", I wanted everyone to see what I had accomplished!!!!!

Truth be known, Kyleigh had gotten a little bit fussy and I wanted to give Stacie a respit.  Anyway,  Kyleigh took photos with; Charles Haley, Marcus Allen, Vida Blue, Reggie Jackson, and our favorite,  Ronnie Lott.  What a great night.  A tremendous tribute by Ronnies friends to come out and help such a great cause. 

Flash forward Ten and one half years.  Ronnie and his wife  Karen are still involved with All Stars Helping Kids. As a matter of fact,  with the association of Marcus Allen and Emmitt Smith,  they have taken the charity foundation nation wide.

I am involved with the Local Organizing Committee of the Womens Pac 10 Conference.  stacie and I have three lovely daughters and a son.  When I heard that Ronnie Lott , Brandi Chastain , Brent Jones  and Julie Inkster were going to be speaking at the (BAWSI) Bay Area Womens Sports Initiative Sunday reception,  I was certain the older girls and I would attend.  The subject was Dads and Daughters. 

As proud as I felt that one night in 1996,  it could not compare to the feeling I had when I heard Ronnie, Brandi, julie, and Brent talk about their own children.  Not that they were Dr. Spock or anything.  They  actually were quite like me.  Normal parents trying to do the best  for their kids.  As a matter of fact,  Ronnie had to run because he needed to get to his daughters volleyball game.  Sounds familiar. Sport and parental involvement were the overiding themes. 

When the conference was over, the girls went autograph seeking and I prepared the camera.  I wanted to take a picture of  the girls with Ronnie.

All the stars were happy to pause for a picture and sign the girls caps.  I was most happy that they were able to pause and share that doing what they did,  did not make them who they are.  As Ronnie posed for the picture, he also signed a copy of the picture he had taken ten and a half  years ago.  He said " Let's get together in ten more years and take another one."