I have always prescribed to great leadership as the antidote for all that ails our great country. It is imperative that we look out, point out and acknowledge the gift of leadership for all to see and study. You may have heard me say on one of the many TV shows I work with that great leadership is not about having dominion over others, but it has always been about giving service to others.
That’s exactly what Jalen Rose is doing with the JRLA, The Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. I simply love their motto, it states; ENTER A LEARNER, EXIT A LEADER. Jalen Rose grew up and had to exit a tough neighborhood in Detroit, Michigan. He used his gift to play basketball to earn a scholarship to University of Michigan and garnered a career in the NBA with a post career, or some may say a new career, in broadcasting. I have always measured men by the distance traveled. And when you travel this kind of distance, I call you a hero.
In my study of the word hero in the Old Testament I gleaned something different than what is considered a hero in contemporary America. Today’s heroes can be someone rich and famous or a person who has done something that we all give credit because we’ve watched it on TV or social media, so we praise him. But in the Old Testament a hero is someone who goes first and breaks down barriers for others to follow. So if you were the first in your family to graduate from high school and go to college, then all your brothers and sisters are following you. When you look in the mirror you are looking at a hero.
If you are a man that comes from a family of men who are physically abusive to their women and you MAKE and KEEP the declaration, “I WILL NEVER PHYSICALLY ABUSE MY WOMAN,” and all the men that come after you follow you, MY GOD CALLS YOU A HERO.
Jalen Rose broke through Goliath-like barriers. Detroit has the worst test scores and graduation rate in the nation. The city can also boast the worst math scores in the national assessment educational process in its 40 year history. Now with the JRLA (which is a charter school in Detroit) history will change. Jalen will pour out his heart, use his name and his fame, and give his time. And, yes, his money to give under-served youth a private school education at no cost. The JRLA states 85% of their kids will pass the assessment test, 85% of their kids will graduate from high school, and 85% of their kids will go to college.
Folks I just want you to know, the next time you are watching Jalen Rose on TV. YOU ARE WATCHING A HERO. HEROES ARE LEADERS, AND LEADERS ARE HEROES.
Michael I made my hardest decision 23 years ago to give my son up for adoption at the age of 21. My mom raised me and told me not to get married just because of pregnancy. My girlfriend at the time and I made the hardest decision to give our child up for adoption. There is a lot to the story but he connected with me November of last year. His adopted father passed away 5 years ago from cancer. His adopted mom gave him my letter last year and he found me. We met for the first time on June 5th. I have and he has six other siblings from my current wife. If it wasn’t for his adoptive parents I would not be where I am now. The reunion completed me as a whole knowing my decision was the right one. He has been lost since his adopted dad has passed and he has made mistakes. I’m so great full for the chance to be back in his to help him in his journey to becoming a man. I thank you for what you do and will update you on our journey to our milestones
Mike you’re my hero since u landed in Texas call Charlie Brown when time permits I want to be apart of your organization 817 -501-1591
I Am thankful to have the opportunity to be living by the grace of God n I encourage all the youth to strive for excellence n be all you can be by focusing first on God n everything else will fall in line I want to leave you with Matthew6:33 seek God first be blessed
LIFE CONSIST OF PERSEVERANCE PRESSING PUSHING N PRAYING THAT EQUAL ENDURANCE KNOWING THAT TOUGH TIMES DONT LAST TOUGH PEOPLE DO AND WE ARE ALL CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYERS IN GOD EYE SIGHT HE EXPECTS US TO MAKE CHAMPIONSHIP PLAYS SO I CALL ON ALL YOUTH TO PUT YOUR GAME FACE TOGETHER AND GET READY FOR THE 2016 PMA
Dear Michael Irvin i meet you last year at your home i told you my really name was Bruce Wayne i was the driver who came with the palm trees, it was nice to meet you i still are picture together ,wanted to tell about my son who server in Iraq a war hero he had 3 kids his wife told off for almost a year as a dad i help him with the kids she went off to New York city we had to give them little one love and hugs over there mother not coming back he is a awesome dad with his kids but she came back and him being nice with her she took them away from him saying he was a bad dad she went to the D.A in Houston said bad things about him as a dad i know he not on nov 19 we are try get them back because they love there dad and she the bad one because she hurt them in there Hearts because i love my grand-kids and my son we will fight until we have them back but the bad thing of this all is the kids you should never hear lie and hurt the very ones you love i am here tell you he a awesome dad not because he my son because i seen him with the kids they were so happy until this happen to them we got to fixed this he can’t see them until then please send prayers this way
Your Friend Bruce Wayne Suza
I’m encourage MIKE daily knowing that you were apart of my life in 1988 when you were drafted I was one of the first people in Dallas to have met you through RICKEY DIXON you have always been role model to me and a father figure I would love to see you again before the coming of our Lord man so I hope n pray by Gods power might n authority we would get that opportunity to sat n have dinner and renew our friendship in holiness n righteousness until than thanks a billion MIKE for everything may God bless u and Sandy for life
Michael, I wanted to leave you a comment. I’m a 44 yr old working mother of 3. I’ve been married to my girls’ father the whole 24 years, so it’s not like I have that set of bad circumstances. Like most families, we’ve had hard times our whole adult life. We’ve been knocked down, kicked on, stomped on, & beat into the ground by life. Still we’ve kept going. All 3 of our daughters are saved Christians, they’ve all been top students in school despite changing schools many times. One has already graduated college with honors, another is a freshman at Univ of Oklahoma on academic scholarship, and the other is doing well in school. I say this to say that I cried through your Hall of Fame speech and I reflect daily on the quote “Look up, get up, and never give up.” Blessings on you & your family and thanks for the inspiration