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Health & Fitness

Sherwood Brown & Florida Gulf Coast University vs.The Ohio State University: I Hope You Dance!

All eyes on Philadelphia!! Florida Gulf Coast University's Sherwood Brown - A man & 'his' moment does not get better than this!

Stellar young men were alive with pride inside the Wells Fargo Arena in Philly on Friday night!  Wow!

My nephews, Mike and Matt, were sitting in row one behind the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) bench. It was my job to sit in the cheap seats in my Point Pleasant home and text everyone every time I caught them waving for the television audience as I switched back-and-forth between this game on Channel 17 and The Ohio State vs. Iona game on CBS. 

As the nation celebrated "America's new little train that could," that is FGCU's spectacular win over Georgetown, I was in total awe watching something else... 

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Did you catch the first steps taken by FGCU's star player Sherwood Brown after pure adrenalin and excitement moved fans to their feet during this fascinating basketball triumph for the record books? 

Brown stopped celebrating to shake the hands of tournament score keepers and  officials in an effort to thank them for their contributions to the evening's events.  This small gesture stopped me in my tracks and the young man didn't stop there.

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As the San Diego State vs. Oklahoma competition got under way, respect of the highest caliber rocked the entire arena again as Brown emerged from FGCU's winning locker room to spend almost half an hour taking pictures, to the delight of young fans ten rows up in the stands.

Facial expressions usually reserved for Christmas morning lit up Philadelphia! A man and 'his' moment does not get better than this.   

When my husband sent me a cell phone photo of Brown from inside that arena, I thought to myself: This gifted and talented man with his electrifying smile emits such joy and serves as a great role model. I hope fame doesn't change him.    

This weekend, I salute Sherwood Brown, his parents, family, coaches, mentors and all who have motivated this inspiring and humble student-athlete to be goal driven, hard working, action oriented. 

Our thanks to everyone who taught him to operate with respect for others. 

We know Brown can play basketball, but his behavior makes him a champion no matter how this tournament plays out. 

I want to admit that I've been a proud OSU Buckeye Mom since 2007, but nothing would excite me more than a last dance at The 2013 NCAA Final Four Tournatment between FGCU & THE Ohio State University! 

While all eyes - including mine - are fixated on Philly and Brown today, I'll have my other eye on Dayton, Ohio.  

Let the music begin! 

 

 

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