The secret of concentration is the secret of self-discovery.  You reach inside yourself to discover your personal resources, and what it takes to match them to the challenge.

                                                                                       -Arnold Palmer

Like many, I was saddened to hear of the passing of one of the greatest golfers in the history of the game. He had a goofy, unconventional swing, but it was coupled with an incredible passion for excellence. He also said, "the more I practice, the luckier I get", which I mentioned in a prior post. He just flat out loved playing golf, his fans and everything about the game, and "Arnie's Army" was always there to support him.  

Another quote of his that I love is "I never rooted against an opponent, but I never rooted for him either!" I love that because it goes to show that you can be competitive without going down in the gutter, which we are sadly missing today in so many circles. Play your game, put in the time and always strive for excellence and you don't have to worry about the competition.

Oh and BTW, I just noticed that Boise State now at 3-0 is ranked #24 with AP......just sayin' :)

As you all surely know by now, I'm endlessly (and obnoxiously, some may say) proud to be a Kentucky Wildcat. The pride runs deep - it's as much a part of me as my hair and my skin - but nothing (not even 8 National Championships :D) has ever made me more proud of my Alma Mater than the reason for an historical gathering last Thursday night.

In 1965, Nate Northington and Greg Page became the first African Americans to accept scholarships to play football at an SEC (Southeastern Conference) school. In 1966, Houston Hogg and Wilbur Hackett, Jr. followed in their footsteps and also signed with UK. On September 30, 1967, Nate Northington became the first African American to ever play in an SEC game when he logged 3 minutes against Ole Miss.

As momentous as those 3 minutes would prove to be for the future of college football and color barriers in America, it came as an afterthought to Northington and his teammates. Greg Page, his fellow SEC trailblazer, had tragically died the night before after being paralyzed during a drill in practice weeks prior. 

The death of his friend and roommate was too much for Northington, and he finished out his college career at Western Kentucky. Hackett and Hogg promised that they would finish their careers at UK to carry on the legacy that he and Page started. In 1969, Wilbur Hackett became the SEC's first African-American team captain in any sport, and earned All-SEC honors multiple times throughout his career. 

Thursday night, the University honored these four trailblazers with a 3,500-pound bronze statue in front of the football complex. The four men stand side-by-side as the larger-than-life heroes they are. It goes without saying that breaking barriers is never easy- death threats and verbal abuse became their norm as they traveled across the South for games - but now, decades later, from the field to the stands, Saturdays are the most racially diverse day of the week, because of them.

Here's to the celebration of courage and bravery, smashing barriers, unity through sports...and Wildcats :)

 Happy Friday Crusaders,

Last week I talked about the importance of taking the time to unplug and recharge. One of the ways I like to unplug and recharge is to attend local festivals around Sacramento.

This Saturday The Annual Farm-to-Fork Festival takes place on Capitol Mall between 3rd – 9th Streets. The Festival is a free event from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm featuring locally sourced food, wine, and beer vendors, along with farm displays, kids’ activities, cooking demonstrations, live music. Sacramento's Farm-to-Fork Program serves as a year-round platform to highlight the farms, restaurants, organizations and individuals that contribute to the local culinary and agricultural landscapes. The Sacramento region has been an agricultural powerhouse for centuries, boasting a year-round growing season, ideal climate and a mouth-watering bounty of crops. Chances are if you are enjoying a meal in the Sacramento region, it came from a local farm. Join in on the fun. Come out and support the local Farm-to-Fork movement.

Have a fun weekend!