Support for the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame celebration is provided by Natchitoches, Louisiana has been a travel destination since 1714.

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Information at Natchitoches dot com.

Hi, I miss Louisiana Mackenzie Scruggs with the safety message from the Louisiana propane dealers.

Propane cylinders are safety certified for 12 years and after that you must have it recertified or traded in for a new one.

And if you make any changes to your tank or appliances, you must have it inspected by a certified propane dealer.

And that's the law.

To find out more, visit the Louisiana propane icon.

Hello, everybody.

I'm Lynn Rawlins, a lifelong sports broadcaster and a friend of OPB.

Louisiana has a rich and storied tradition as a state that cultivates some of the greatest sports talents anywhere.

Every summer, that talent is honored during a weekend long celebration in the city of Natchitoches, home of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

Over the next 2 hours, we'll share the celebration of the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class.

You'll hear stories of inspiration, of success, of empowerment and community and athletic accomplishment.

We hope you'll enjoy this presentation of the biggest night in Louisiana sports right here on OPB.

Hey, everyone, it's Karen Lobel with OPB.

And welcome to the opening reception for the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

This kicks off a weekend of big events.

Let's go check it out.

June three.

Well, I tell you, it's a tremendous honor.

I know everybody says that, but it's almost hard to put it into words how much it means to you.

It's a very great honor.

And I feel like it's a very important part of my life.

Okay.

But because of my age, I've made a full circle.

And what we do here is we recognize excellence in all fields, having all the sports, which brings in sports journalists, which brings in administrators, which brings in coaches.

But what we do find every year, the friendships that are formed not only between the inductees but their families are lifelong and very powerful relationships.

It's been neat to see my career and how much the state of Louisiana has meant to me.

I've never been to Natchitoches before, so just being downtown, seeing the river, knowing what a big deal this is certainly a big deal for me.

But just people in this town and around the state, I'm so excited for the weekend.

I'm Raymond Parks, the third listed Ray president.

And I want to sincerely thank you for being here for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction weekend for 2023.

We pride ourselves on being the caretakers of Louisiana storied sports history.

We make it a point when we get in that room and we have those discussions.

It's to put together the best and most diverse class of athletes, coaches, administrators that deserve to be in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

And we feel confident that once again, we did just that.

Once again, congratulations to this year's class from the last year.

We thank you and we congratulate you.

God bless.

All right.

All right.

All right.

Good evening, everybody.

It's time to throw out the first pitch.

Welcome to wonderful Natchitoches, One of the biggest nights of the year.

You are here are you are watching on the Louisiana Public Broadcasting Network, the culmination of a three day celebration, which is the induction of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame class of 2023.

We're thrilled you're here this evening.

The Hall's 12 new members.

That brings us up to 479 in all categories since our first class back in 1959, which I think we introduced them.

I was not around at that point, but I like halftime of a basketball game, so we've really improved since then and how we present these special people to you.

And this year is the 10th anniversary of the opening of the Hall of Fame Museum on historic Front Street.

Okay, let's induct some people.

Tonight, Our first competitive inductee made his athletic mark in the sport of weightlifting.

And his is a story of remembrance of another time in America overcoming a lot of obstacles to be successful in sports and life.

I think you'll be fascinated by his story.

So please meet our friend Walter Imahara.

There is so much more to know about inductee Walter Imahara that is more than NCAA titles, gold medals and numerous weightlifting championships.

When you actually saw him lift and you really knew that he was something special, it's you against gravity, it's you against a bore.

This is also about a time in our history when Japanese Americans like the AMA heroes, including a very young Walter, were placed in internment camps for more than two years after the Pearl Harbor attack, which started this country's involvement in World War Two.

And in Walter's case, what he did afterwards with his life.

I've heard him say that his mother was distressed.

It kept him going.

She kept telling him, it's you against the world and you always trying to do something you've never done before, and that it gives you that self fulfillment and determination to succeed.

After his family was released from the camp, they resettled in Baton Rouge and he attended.

Then Southwestern Louisiana Institute.

He was the very first Asian American to set foot on the campus.

Imahara joined the weightlifting team and helped the school when its first ever NCAA team title in 1957, lifting £645 in 1957, 695 in 1959 and £725 in 1960.

And the most famous lifter in the world was Tommy Kono from Hawaii.

He was Olympic champion.

We gave the nickname to Walter.

We called him Little Kono because of his legs and because we carried himself, his professionalism, how he trained.

So that kind of told us the younger guys.

There was a little professional side to the sport.

After college, he served our country in the military and continued his lifting success, including a Pan Am gold medal, 26 consecutive national gold medals as Masters champion.

And he continued to move on with life in Louisiana.

What's different about, Wolf, is that, you know, not only has these dreams and ideas, he knows how to bring them to reality.

He knows how to do the kind of detailed planning.

He knows how to build the teams necessary.

And so he has all these ideas about all sorts of things, improving the sport of weightlifting, publishing books, creating botanical gardens.

Dr. Meltzer and Imahara combined for four books on weight, lifting his autobiography and the story of others who were detained during the war.

This evening, his weightlifting accomplishments will be honored in our Hall of Fame ceremony.

But in reality, this is much more than weight.

Sitting on a bar.

You know, he just came out and and fought through all of that because he wanted to show everyone that he was a good American.

He's somebody that actually made his dreams come true because he does the work and he's persistent.

We are very proud to say, Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Walter Imahara.

Congratulations, sir.

It's a pleasure to meet you.

Oh, yeah.

Thank you and a pleasure to celebrate tonight.

As we saw in the video, your you and your family, when you were young, you were basically transported from the West Coast to the central part of the country, Arkansas.

Eventually, your family chooses to settle in Louisiana.

And when you and I talked earlier this week, you said one of the most important things for you was that eight of the nine children got college educations and four brothers, as we heard in the video, joined the military after everything the family had been through.

Where did you find the strength and how did you overcome all of that?

To rebel, to join the military for this country?

Well, I remember December 7th, 1941, four years old, in my car.

The Japanese-Americans on the West Coast, 120,000 knew what happened.

So they took it was tried.

But my like my parents, they lost a 60 acre farm.

They lost their livelihood, dignity.

They lost their country.

My parents were born in America and they told the military that the American citizen but didn't do any good.

It was Japanese blood in the nose.

So we spent a total of three and a half years in camp.

But it wasn't terribly bad.

We just incarcerated, but they still had barbed wires and guards, so we really believed in America.

And in 45 years later, 1990, we got an apology.

That's all we want.

An apology.

I'm glad you got glad you got that.

You were told when it was time to leave that you couldn't go back west.

Your family chose to settle in Louisiana.

And after all these years still here in Louisiana, what does that meant and how have you fallen in love with the state?

In the state, fallen in love with you that your family chose to come here and that you've remained here after all these years?

Well, my parents lost their six acre farm, so there wasn't nothing to go back to.

So they said, well, we'll go to Louisiana because they have a lot of colleges, university go.

We go educate the children.

So that was the first move.

And when we got here, there was still a lot of prejudice.

And, you know, we had a lot of hard times in grammar school, but we got past all that and and it became we had all insight and fight to keep going without calling people names and fighting back.

Well, congratulations on everything that you accomplished with all those years and lifting your 26 gold medals.

We're proud to have you here in Louisiana.

We're proud to celebrate your night tonight as a member of the Class of 2023 in Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Congratulations.

Your pleasure, Mr. Walter Imahara, everybody.

Okay.

Our first of our four inductees tonight, Hussein comes in baseball.

If there was a baseball when the rolling around in the day in New Orleans, this guy was behind it.

He's a former major leaguer.

He found his true calling coach.

The manager took the Texas Rangers to the World Series, won a World Series title last year as the third base coach of the Atlanta Braves.

They gave him the night off, couple of days off.

So come over here and hang with us.

He'll be back in Atlanta tomorrow.

But tonight, Ron Washington is here with you with his fellow inductees.

Please meet Ron Washington.

For New Orleans native Ron Washington, there is a ten year major league playing career that he is best known for his role as coach and manager.

He's as positive a guy that you've ever seen.

I would have loved to have the opportunity to play for a guy like that.

He became known as developer of some of the game's top young infielders in the 1980s and early 2000s while coaching the Mets and the A's.

Then in 2006, he was hired by the Texas Rangers as their field manager, Washington, who took the Rangers to two World Series appearances, including a heartbreaking loss in seven games to the Cardinals in 2011, has a reputation as an enthusiastic positive teacher of the game.

He also has given back to his hometown and the Major League Baseball Youth Academy by frequent appearances and contributions.

When you look around Washington, you see someone from New Orleans, from inner city that made it out, that can offer a wealth of knowledge and create a huge impact that could tell a story to a lot of these kids.

And they can look at him and see, okay, I do have a path.

He has as much enthusiasm when he's out here working with a seven or eight year old than then.

What is working with Congress so you don't have to wind them up.

They look forward to it because they know that it will make a difference.

And what they're trying to do in the big leagues.

Washington is still teaching as the third base coach for the Atlanta Braves, finally getting his World Series championship ring in 2021.

Ron Washington's been a very special part of our success here with the Atlanta Braves.

He brings consistency every day.

You can set your watch and what time watch comes through the door.

He is great with our players and teaching them the routine of being a major league player.

He's been doing this for a long time.

He's been a very successful, very successful baseball manager and coach.

We're blessed to have him here.

Wash Congratulations are going into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame manager, coach, mentor, positive influence on people, all things that describe this baseball lifer a success on and off the field tonight.

Our front door is his home plate as he joins the baseball ranks in our hall.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Ron Washington.

Well, not that you're going to be nervous, but I want to put you at ease.

Whoever has taken your place in the third base box is wearing his shoulder out.

Your braves put up six in the first.

We've gone to the bottom of the six.

It's nine one Atlanta over Milwaukee.

So I want you to it's not over yet, but I hope that helps.

It does.

That's what those guys do.

That's yeah.

And they've done it very well all season long.

So glad you can be here where we are with with you tonight.

We heard in the videos and as an inner city kid growing up in New Orleans, was it always baseball?

Were the other sports How did baseball become the sport of choice for Ron Washington?

Any time a ball moved in New Orleans when I was young, I was running behind whether it was football, basketball or baseball.

But the thing about baseball, it became an individual sport where your competition was individualized in a team concept.

So and I played baseball very well.

I got eliminated from basketball.

And once I got eliminated from basketball, I said, don't have to worry about me coming back to that football.

I just wasn't big enough to sustain in baseball.

I had all the skill set that it took, and when competition happened, I played it at a high level.

When you were playing and you were coming up, how did not having enough kids to play a game actually help you get better at baseball?

Because I know there were times you had to move around a little.

But anyhow, I come up from downtown and we would show up to play a game and there would be five or six of us that would show up.

So I left from downtown and went uptown.

I played up in Carrollton, in New Orleans at Gilbert Park, and you know, my guys down at Willie Hall said that I was a trader.

I knew if I went uptown, we would play every day that we were supposed to play.

So they called me a trader and I felt like they know who I am when I went uptown.

They can use me to help them, but they were helping me to get exposure and here I am.

And when I went back to the beginning and start working my way back to where I am right now, I realized that I made a difference in a lot of people lives.

But along the way, there were a lot of people that made a difference in Ron Washington life.

So I think all of those people and I even think those kids for letting me into their lives.

So I'm blessed and I'm just happy to be alive.

Atlanta, he'll be back tomorrow.

But tonight he's ours.

Ladies and gentlemen, Ron Washington, Coach voice Everybody give him a big hand.

He's a great ambassador of the game.

He'll help the other team's players.

That's the honest to God truth.

He just cares about going baseball.

There are two Davises in this year's Hall of Fame class.

Both of them went to LSU and it's their time to be inducted.

The first athlete, an outstanding medal winner, NCAA champion in the horizontal jumps.

He also proved to be a star not only in the field but on the track as well.

The story here of Walter Davis, a multiple Olympian and world championship medalist native Louisiana.

And Walter Davis's star shined brightly for the LSU Tigers.

Of my time at LSU, Walter was one of the top athletes we have ever had in our program in any discipline.

Walter came to our motion and he was a basketball player.

We're not looking for just trying to get technique.

We're going with technique, see the leg motion.

And I immediately started to recruit him to run track.

He just had this can jump.

Davis excelled in the horizontal jumps in his career, and I was standing next to Bull and Walter walked up and Booth said, Listen, just go back to the end of the runway.

I don't care where you go back, go back to the end of the runway, run down this runway and jump.

That's exactly what he did.

And he won it.

But one of his six NCAA titles came in the four by 100 meter relay in 2000 to Walter Davis for LSU.

Runs in Lane five, showing a strong work ethic in both disciplines.

What's that got all work done in practice?

What?

You seen me dance, which was I practice it.

Come to find out what was the fastest growing team.

But Walter was one of those guys man work ethic, well grind and he was a champion.

Davis participated in the 2000 and 2004 Olympics and made eight world championship teams winning gold in both indoor and outdoor events.

I think it's wonderful for a country boy to go to the Olympics twice.

He's an indoor world champion.

Outdoor world champion, met with the president of the United States.

He was Athlete of the Year and he's still humble.

So it seems that the selection committee realizes that this is the perfect person to be the first track and field athlete inducted since 2007.

Really?

He's a fine man.

Just had it had an air about himself.

He's a great tiger.

He's he's never changed.

He's still he's still going to smile.

He's still going to handshake.

He still signed an autograph, but he won't tell you anything about himself.

If you didn't know him, you know, you wouldn't know who Walter Davis is.

It's a little longer than a triple jump to Natchitoches, but his sprinter Speed, helped him break the tape at our finish line.

Ladies and gentlemen, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Walter Davis, who was the youngest and the loudest cheering spot right in the front.

You like that?

I'll ask a policeman right there.

Where's your.

Sorry, sorry.

Go ahead.

I got to go behind Mr. Washington again tonight.

It's a hard act to follow, huh?

Yeah, I'm ready for it.

You're ready for it?

Let's do it.

Where?

Where does the country boy humbleness we heard about in the video, where does that come from?

It comes.

It comes from my parents.

They always taught me, like, act like you've been somewhere.

So even though I've been all over, I still act like I. I have been all over.

So I don't.

I don't get too high.

I don't get too low.

I just stay, stay even.

Q Do you ever go back and think, wonder if your basketball coach from high school goes, Man, I should have fought for him harder.

Look, he did a track with all of that because was was there ever a strong feeling that you were going to lean basketball?

Well, in my eyes, I always thought I was a basketball player.

I just growing up, I wanted to be a basketball player.

But once that start jumping for, I wasn't worried about basketball.

Then we saw on the video I know the track meet, I believe was 22.

Specifically, you had won two individual titles, but I understood that you were more concerned or more proud of the relay.

Why did that one stand out more?

What made that more special than the individuals that you had won?

I think because I thought I thought I was the last resort sort of to the relay team, because our team have they went to SCC and other meets and I wasn't on the team.

So when we got to Nationals and they put me on a team, I felt like I had something to prove.

Your travel certainly took you not only nationally but globally.

What was it like still representing LSU no matter where you went with the background, the success you had in Baton Rouge with with Pat Henry and all of your teammates, to then be seen around the world with that same sort of success?

It meant a lot because I had I had a great coach man.

Like when I first got to LSU, he had me lifting with the girls.

So I was thinking like, I made a mistake coming here, like I'm lifting with the girls.

But, but like a little did I know he like he's a he's a jumps guru and he's here tonight.

And I want to say Coach Boo, I appreciate that.

You know, there are a lot of the inductees tonight.

We'll talk to Paul Bird later when he was pitching at LSU and helping build a program that became what it is.

And certainly you were there at LSU with the track program that put itself and made a grand announcement on the national stage that it's still there today.

Do you keep in touch with a lot of the people that you're there to help build that foundation?

Well, I talked to I talked to the coach.

I talked to Bennie a lot.

Like I try to get him to recruit my my stepson.

So so I talked to him a lot.

But I try to go back just like alumni gold and mates, just to go back and see how everybody is doing it.

Still enjoy going back and watching how the program progresses.

Yeah, I do.

In and I talked with some of my teammates and we go back and just sit and watch and just reminisce on when we were there.

Well, we're glad it wasn't too long of a jump for you to come up here, and we're certainly proud to have you.

Now as a member of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, class of 2023.

Ladies and gentlemen, Walter Davis.

We're going to go the all the inductees can't thank everybody, but I've talked to all of them.

And because of time, they can't do that.

But to a man and woman, every one of them has talked about how people, as Coach Walsh said, helped them get where they are today.

I don't know if we got a lot of well, support fans here in the audience, but WBA said think where a man's glory begins and ends and say, my glory was I had such friends and we're just so lucky to be blessed by each other.

So on behalf of all the inductees, thank you all for helping all of them get to where they are today.

Our next one you are going to love.

He's going to bring back a lot of good memories of LSU football in the 1980s.

He had a he was on the 1986 Playboy magazine, and I'm sure not many are familiar with that.

It's a kind of a little racy deal.

And Wendell Davis grew up in Shreveport, and his mother, Miss Mary, kind of ran a tight ship and he was on the 1986 Playboy all-American team.

He told a bunch of us last first time that magazines, they were going to be in my house and probably the last house, but a guy named Tommy Hartman was throwing passes to him.

They were 35 years in front of everybody else came from 340, was a triple threat, starting high school, starting college in an NFL.

Let's take a look at my buddy Wendell Davis.

Some of you younger folks here tonight may not have a clear grasp of Wendell Davis as a Hall of Famer, but let's try to help you out in where do we end?

Zone ball favors, heat go ducks down a few feet and a pass complete.

Did they know he was the type of athlete that if you put him in a position, he was going to excel at that position?

Wendell was really the forefather of receivers in this in this conference.

He was the first guy that really put up those sorts of numbers.

Touchdown the Wendell baby from Shreveport Fair Park High School to All-America status at LSU to a first round NFL selection.

Davis excelled in receiving and then doing something with the football.

Once he caught it and you couldn't catch him and you kept wondering he may not have won a track meet, but when he had the ball in his hand, he was the fastest guy on the field.

There's something about him.

He had that little extra something when the ball was in play that that it really made a difference for him.

Play Flicker hurts and throws weight on the field to win Al Davis open at the fact touchdown LSU his roots were so good he created separation of the break so he was easy to throw to.

He was always open and he was singled up.

So it made my job a lot easier.

When down Davis runs a corner pattern, the ball comes over his opposite shoulder and he falls away from the ball and still has to make the catch that pass.

Catching from quarterback Tommy Hodgson and then the ability to record the yards after the catch in the mid 1980s helped him set most of LSU's school marks, including single season yards, 27 over 100 touchdowns, 11 and yards per game, 113.

And even though injuries ended his NFL career early, there is nothing that can take away what he accomplished.

Second and ten with the throwing from the end zone.

Touchdown Brendan Davis.

It was his route running and most of all it was his exceptional hands.

He could catch a ball just about anywhere if it was on the thrown overthrown play action around back at home.

He needs it.

Deep down, he's not going for 35.

It's truly time that one of LSU's top quarterbacks was joined by his favorite wide receiver in our hall.

Well, I am happy that kids and and people around the state kind of get to relive his career again and it's well-deserved.

He's such a he's a super guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Wendell Davis.

Ray, So we did this on the phone.

Let's set it straight.

You heard Tommy in the video said, Wendell, everybody else is Wendell.

You and I met on the purple carpet and you said there's a special reason why.

Tonight we're going with Wendell.

Why don't you let everybody know?

Well, that reason is my mother, Mamie Wendell.

And in honor of my late mother.

My name is Wendell tonight.

That is so.

Yeah, I know you said Chicago changed it.

Got to Wendell.

We'll go.

With what?

Hey, Wright.

Good enough for Mama.

God bless her.

We're going with wind Down.

That's right.

That's right.

Where did your concept of the team first?

Because I know when we talked a little bit this past week, now we're honoring you and your accolades, but you didn't want to really dwell on a lot of individual cause.

You've got the team first.

Where did that start?

Middle school, high school.

How did you get that built in?

What started my family?

I mean, we didn't come from a big family, but there was four of us and I didn't grow up by myself, so I had to work with my brothers and sisters on whatever we did.

And so I started there.

But also in the neighborhood.

I was a neighborhood kid.

You know, we we got out and we played and we we played baseball.

We played football.

I mean, in the neighborhood.

And everybody shared we shared equipment.

We found equipment.

My dad brought home equipment and we shared that.

So team was very important to us.

And that's that's that's how I learned to play sports.

One reason why I grew is because of the support of my family.

And all through my life, I've had support from from Little League all the way up to high school, through college.

I've had support of my family, and that's been very important to me.

And I also learned that during that time that it wasn't about me, you know?

And when you find out that it's not about you, you realize that, you know, God gives you a gift to share with others.

And every time you know, something happens, I wonder why it happened.

And I found out it was for my my kid.

It was for my wife.

It was for somebody else.

So learning that it wasn't about me was very special to me.

On a night like this, you get to see your quarterback.

He's celebrating ten years since he made his way into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

You get to see.

Ah, do you still keep in touch with a lot of the other guys you played with in Baton Rouge?

As much as I can, you know, guys are you know, they have families.

Everybody goes in different directions.

But I try to as much as I can, I try to get back to Louisiana as much as I can.

You know, when I was told that I was going to be inducted, it just brought back a lot of memories for me.

You know, I just went back all the way to the Boys and Girls Club.

I went back to Midway Middle School.

I went back to Fair Park High School.

I went back to LSU.

You, you know, and it just brought back all the coaches.

You know, I remember every coach I had, every coach I had, and all of them had a big part in my life.

Well, Mama said, Wendell, Chicago wants to see, say, Wendell, but whether you're here or Chicago or anywhere else, we all say the same way.

Hall of Famer, congratulations to you all.

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, Wendell Davis.

Still to come on the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame celebration, LSU baseball champion coach Paul Winery, NFL greats Eli Manning and Matt Forte, and women's basketball star Elena Beard.

So don't go anywhere.

The annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is sponsored by the following State Farm Insurance Agents of Louisiana.

Hello and welcome, everybody.

I'm Glenn Rollins, a friend of LPI.

Tonight.

I'm joining you for the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 induction celebration.

We have a very special guest in the studio who you'll meet in just a moment.

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Simply call, text, give give2888769 5000 Pledge online at PBS.org or scan the QR code on your screen with your smart device.

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Receive a DVD of this program and an LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead plus at every level receive Visions LP B's Monthly Program Guide, a subscription to Louisiana Life Magazine and access to LP B Passport, the streaming service for the best of PBS and LP B, What a pleasure it is to be joined by Dee Dee Breaux.

She's in many.

Hall of Fame is one of the greatest coaches in the history of the women's sport of college gymnastics.

She blossom.

She grew the event at LSU, and now it's a must have ticket, that's for sure.

One of the primary stories across the country.

Dee Dee, you had the privilege of being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame a few years ago.

Tell me about that.

I think the auditorium is still reverberating with your enthusiasm.

Well, I don't know about that, Lynn, but it was an incredible event.

You know, first of all, you get this phone call and you're so blown away because it's the sportswriters, it's the people really study sports in our state and they're honoring you by giving you a Hall of Fame induction.

So you know that right there was the first.

And then to go to the event, it's a family event.

It's like, you know, your kids, grandkids, everyone's their friends.

And we had people flying in, too, to participate in the event with us.

And it was just there was so much gratification.

But the people, the the other sport people, I mean, we had rodeo riders, we had a jockey, David Toms was in my class, Ed Reeves was in the class.

And, you know, we do a big children's clinic.

And I think that was the highlight of my event, of the ancillary things that go on to be able to to communicate and talk to these children and be standing next to Ed Reed, who's one of the greatest football players ever.

And he's on his knees explaining to kids how this is done.

And, you know, it's just there was so much gratification.

You proudly are a south Louisiana person, a Louisiana person.

What did it mean to you personally, deep down, especially as you have to the distance of a few years, from the celebration to to be in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame?

You know, the whole time Skip Berman was our athletic director at LSU, he always introduced me as a Hall of Famer.

Well, at that point, I was never in a Hall of Fame.

So finally, when I was in a Hall of Fame, I realized, you know, this is not just about me.

It's about where I came from.

I grew up in Donaldsonville.

My my start was on Sister Marie's front porch taking dancing lessons and coming to Baton Rouge and and going to Powell movies and doing gymnastics.

And then all of a sudden, I find myself not only at the state level, regional level, national level, and then being able to to compete internationally some the gratification of of being in this hall of Fame.

And now El-P is a part of this program which really LP based is Louisiana Broadcasting.

And so it just it makes it that much more special.

Well, let's make it very special for this credit card offer because this is just unbelievable.

I got my card out.

I'm ready to go on for the first pledge of 20 $500 or more on a credit card.

You've got to be the first one.

You'll receive a Joe Burrow autographed LSU's Cincinnati Bengals helmet.

This is one of a kind.

This is unbelievable.

The first pledge of 20 $500.

And it's really cool.

I mean, it's got LSU on one side, the Bengal helmet on the other side.

Joe Burrow signed it.

I'm looking at the autograph and it's just it's amazing.

So, you know, the first one.

So I'm sure people are grabbing their wallets now and pulling out that pulling out that credit card.

Well, if you don't happen to be the first one on the Joe Burrow autographed LSU, Cincinnati Bengals helmet, how about this for the first pledge of $500 or more on your credit card, you'll receive an autographed football by renowned orthopedic surgeon and Louisiana native Dr. James Andrews.

D.T., you're well aware he is one of the pioneers of the most innovative orthopedic surgery in the world.

You know, we've got great ones here in Baton Rouge, and a lot of them studied under this doctor, and he is one of the best.

Well, how about that?

That first pledge of 20 $500 or more for the Joe Burrow autograph helmet and the first pledge of $500 or more will receive the football signed by orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.

Let's go to our corporate challenge right now, and this is special as well.

The Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau is challenging all viewers to donate during this program, and they will match dollar for dollar to the first $1,500 called in making your donation worth twice as much to help be certainly our thank you to the Natchitoches convention and to look at what that organization does for this event, for the Hall of Fame event.

They put their heart and soul into it, just like LAPD.

You know, that's that's an incredible offer.

Didi, you're in Louisiana through and through.

I know these awards and honors aren't just something you put up on the wall and forget about.

No, I internalize it.

I truly, truly am gratified every time I, you know, am honored to be inducted and honored into, you know, Louisiana legend and then the Hall of Fame.

It's truly a remarkable the whole event is remarkable.

And you certainly deserve every honor that you've had.

Let's get back to the program now as we continue with the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction on LP from Natchitoches.

Show your team spirit for LP, Become a member now and choose from these thank you gift options for $30 a month.

Receive the Louisiana Sports combo including the hardcover book Stairway to seven LSU Tigers Baseball 2023 National Champions to LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead A signed photographic print of Mike the Tiger by acclaimed photographer Carole Highsmith, an LP Cooler on Wheels and a DVD of this program, The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 Celebration for $15 a month Receive the LP Cooler on Wheels for $13 a month.

Receive the book Stairway to seven or for just $10 a month.

Receive a DVD of this program and an LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead plus at every level Receive Visions LP B's Monthly Program Guide, a subscription to Louisiana Life Magazine and access to LP Passport, the streaming service for the best of PBS and LP.

Welcome to the beautiful and historic city of Natchitoches, home of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Museum.

Our city is proud of our historic nature, and we are overjoyed to be living in this moment of history with you.

All right.

Now, today, we will witness the induction of 12 amazing individuals into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

It is a moment that has been earned through a lifetime of dedication and hard work.

If inspiration is what you need in life, sit back and listen to the amazing sagas that are to come Of the 2023 induction class and do come back and see us here in Natchitoches, the beautiful city of Light and home of the Northwestern State University for Cam Demons has and I'm here with Chris Brown, who is the official artist of the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame inductees.

And Chris, you've been making these portraits of inductees for years now, since 2009 29.

Yes.

When I'm done, I think just shy of 150 portraits at this point.

And so what drew you to this project?

Well, I got some advice quite a while ago from a professional artist to find my niche.

Being a former athlete myself, my niche was sports.

And so I just found a way to tie art and sports together.

I love Louisiana now.

I'm a Nebraska boy.

Growing up, I went to college in Louisiana and I feel like I fell in love with the state.

I fell in love with the college and of course, the city and academics.

So it's it's just like the perfect place for me.

My only just begun.

Strap in.

Sometimes we want to be just like our dads.

Our next inductee mirrors that.

That is good.

It's something the little guy wants to follow along.

This is a perfect father son story when it comes to coaching baseball.

Daddy was really, really good and then his little boy ended up being pretty good too.

Highlighted by national championship at LSU.

Let's meet coach Palminteri.

Well, pulmonary, the phrase like father like son is also true.

His dad was an outstanding one of the Hall of Fame coach, Miami Dade North Junior College had some of the big leaguers.

Paul grew up on the field.

He wasn't the great athlete like a lot of like a lot of people.

But he got most out of what abilities he had because he knew the game.

He anticipated situations after college and two years of minor league ball coaching did come calling.

And, you know, somewhere along the line I knew he was going to coach because of what his dad had done.

First, it was Saint Thomas University in Florida.

Then the air Force Academy and then Notre Dame.

But an athletic director wanted him for his program in Baton Rouge.

I knew his dad and I were good friends.

His dad's a Hall of Fame coach and I knew would be a second generation coach.

He was already coaching successfully.

The more I researched, the more I found out that this is our guy and by his second year, the Tigers were back in Omaha, and one year later, in 2009, the Tigers were winning the national championship at the College World Series, and Paul needed some of his great players to come through and everything kind of took off, just like it's designed to do.

He coach with a lot of love and a lot of passion.

One thing he really did, we did really well and he did it for me.

I know we did it for a lot of guys that I've played with, as he had a very good knack of figuring out what players union, what SCC titles galore, that 2009 NCAA championship national coach of the year honors and over 1500 wins are part of his resume but more than anything it's the legacy including joining his father Demi in the American Baseball Coaches Hall of Fame and Paul and the LSU Tigers and all our fans kept going.

The tradition of LSU, another Hall of Fame opens its doors tonight and welcomes one of the gentlemen of college baseball.

Ladies and gentlemen, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Coach Pulmonary.

For those of us who are fortunate enough to to cover you and your career in Baton Rouge.

And as we saw in the video, we know very well your relationship with your dad and his influence.

What were some of the other coaches that had an influence on who pulmonary became as a head coach?

Well, I was very fortunate, Victor, because I grew up the son of this legendary junior college coach, and I learned so much from him.

But, you know, after, you know, you become a little bit older, your you become a high school athlete and then a college athlete, you hope that you will run across somebody else in your life that could also mean to you and teach you lessons not only about how to grow as a ballplayer, but, yeah, I knew I wanted to coach and I needed somebody to mentor me.

And by the good grace of God, I ended up meeting a man by the name of Ron Masry, who was interviewed in that piece I just saw at the University of New Orleans.

And I had the fortunate great fortune of playing for him for two years.

And it was the greatest experience anybody could have, especially a prospective.

I had unbelievable teammates.

George Perez is here tonight and so many other great teammates and Ron Masry knew had taught me.

He taught me, even though I was just the player of how to bring people together and to go after a common goal, how to promote the program in the community.

And Ron Mates, you became like a second father to me.

And then I was very fortunate once I got into coaching at some point when I was very young coach to meet Tommy Lasorda, the great manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

And Tommy took a interest in my career and for the next 30 years or so, I spent an awful lot of time with him and learned so many valuable lessons from him.

So when you think about it, you know, you have three mentors, all of them Hall of Fame coaches or managers, all good Italian-Americans and and they just were such a great influence on me in my life.

And there was a guy by the name of Skip Berkman that I don't know if you know this, but he's pretty good salesman.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So when Skip when Skip told me that I was the guy that he wanted and he was so emphatic about it, it was so flattering to me, and it filled me with confidence that I could do the job.

That was just impossible to say no to him.

And so we took the leap of faith and I'm really glad we did.

All four of my children, Nick, Alex, Sammy and Tommy, all have met their spouses down here in Louisiana.

It's become our home and it's just the most wonderful place in America.

And I'm so glad that I'm a part of Louisiana.

And there are so many players wearing Major League Baseball uniforms today that played for you in Baton Rouge.

Are you able to keep in touch with a lot of the players that spent their careers with you and have moved on?

Well, Victor, it's really the the thing that I went into coaching for.

You know, I wanted to have an impact on young people's lives.

Listen, the winning is important, you know, and and winning championships.

And I don't apologize for wanting to be successful.

I think it's the American way as long as you do it within the rules and do it with good sportsmanship and so forth.

But I really did it for the kids.

You know, I wanted to work with young people.

And I've had just so many through the years that have enriched my life.

And it was a privilege to work with them.

Many of them have made it to the major leagues and been successful.

And yes, I've stayed in touch with most of them, but I've also stayed in touch with all the ones that didn't make it to the major leagues.

So two of them are here tonight.

Mickey Gibbs and Chris McGee surprised me and showed up tonight.

And I can't tell you how much that made my day to just see former players that cared enough about me to want to show up here tonight.

And and I'm so proud of all the players that I coached, not because they went on to play in the major leagues, but just because they've become successful in whatever chosen profession they have.

They're successful husbands, successful fathers, they're great in the community and they are making a difference in our communities.

Paul told me on the purple carpet ceremony before coming in that he's about to go to Baton Rouge and accept the job.

His daughter's about to go to Notre Dame, and she comes downstairs and says, Dad, I think you're going to look okay in purple and gold, and we're glad she gave you the seal of approval so you can come down to Baton Rouge.

Congratulations on tonight and everything you've done.

Ladies and gentlemen, head coach and Hall of Famer Pulmonary.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

And that was where I got to return to the football field for our next inductee, who lit it up for Slidell High School, really became a household name for fans of the Tulane Green Wave, that he had a stellar ten year career in the NFL.

Now he oversees the What's Your Forte Foundation.

That mission is to invest in equitable economic advancement of youth and families.

You'll learn more about that now, why you meet Matt Forte.

Born in Lake Charles, Matt Forte starred at Slidell High School, Tulane and a decade in the NFL.

His high school coach and an opposing coach have memories of Forte, the high school player.

We gave him the football a lot because we knew what we had.

We knew we had a back that could run inside, run outside.

We knew we had a bag that to catch the football and run.

So we used him quite a bit.

We played slide out three times in one year.

They beat us all three times and Matt had over 800 yards of total offense combined in those three games.

And I always told Matt, I said, You know what?

It was time to be recruited.

All you got to do is put those fat blue tapes in and if you're good, you're going to get your scholarship.

At Tulane, Forte rushed for over 2100 yards as a senior with 23 touchdowns.

He finished his career with more than 4200 yards rushing, twice earning conference.

USA Honors the way he approached each day.

His effort.

You know, you just saw it at an early age on him and he was able to do all those things early.

And I think that's where, you know, even through a situation like Katrina and the year after Katrina, which was a tough situation also, he was always a guy that showed up every day to do the work.

A second round pick of the Chicago Bears, he rushed for close to 10,000 yards in the NFL and 54 touchdowns and posted another 21 receiving scores with the Bears and the Jets.

I don't think he was a dual threat.

I think he was like a triple threat.

People forget the part that the running back also has to block and he can do it all.

I mean, running the ball, he was he was great catching the ball out of the backfield.

One of the best and then when it came to protection, he was big enough, strong enough and physical enough to go in and protect the quarterback when he had to.

Forte twice was the Bears.

Brian Piccolo award winner given yearly to a player who best exemplifies the courage, loyalty, teamwork and dedication of the late Chicago running back.

He was a professional long before he actually got paid to be a professional.

One of the things that I like in people in general is that they are who they are.

They're not one person over here and somebody else over here.

Matt is who he is.

And that's the thing that I appreciate about Matt.

And certainly Matt is one of the greatest athletes I ever saw on an opposing sideline in my almost 30 year high school coaching career.

All those qualities and career numbers in high school, college and the NFL made this his year to join this class.

Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Matt Forte right here.

Congratulations, Matt.

Thank you.

Great to see you.

Coach Self mentioned in the video the time around Katrina, and we certainly know the impact it had on so many lives.

I want to ask you about the effect it had on you personally, but also in your development in football, because I know you were dealing with a lot then, but as we heard things change after that, how did it change and why for you?

Yeah, I think Hurricane Katrina, you can look at it for what it was and it was obviously a tough time for a lot of people from Louisiana that were affected.

But me personally, to have to play a season displaced in and live in a condemned dorm, that was open for us, but also our locker room was chairs.

Well, with a bag in front of it where it wasn't the the healthiest guys were getting staph infections and different things.

Like we had a lot of challenges in front of us.

But it was that, you know, time in my life that it allowed me to grow in character as a person and to not complain when things don't go your way.

Because a lot of times or most of the time it's not going to go your way.

And so complaining about it is not really going to do anything.

What you got to do is buckle down and be up for the challenge.

And so that taught me when I was 19 years old that to really take advantage of the situation that's in front of you and make a positive out of it.

Well, certainly in your final years at Tulane, you helped put Greenway Football on the map and you go from Slidell to the Crescent City to the Windy City.

How was that changed for you?

Well, it was extreme opposite as far as weather, because obviously it being super hot here, but then super cold down in and over in in Chicago.

And my parents would tell you, they made every one of my games my rookie year one, which was being in the in December against the Green Bay Packers where I think at kickoff it was zero and then it later on got to negative ten.

And my mom who is super tough I think that's where I get my toughness from.

She stayed outside the entire time while my dad went back and forth to the family room.

By the way, he's a big defensive lineman that played at Tulane as well.

I know how proud you are to represent New Orleans.

Obviously, you played at Slidell and then your time at Tulane and now you're still in the Chicago area.

But what does that mean for you when no where you are that you've got the representation of south Louisiana?

Yes, where I'm from, I got the state tattooed on my arm, actually, and I always represented it.

No better where I go, even being in Chicago.

It's funny, whenever you know, my wife as well is from Chicago and I met her and I still live in Chicago.

But when people they just I've been there so long, they just naturally think I'm from there.

But I quickly correct them now I'm from the boop from down south.

And so I always represent and I love representing for Louisiana, but we'll make sure we get a good picture for your phone holding up the induction.

So that way, if anybody asks, you could just show them that.

Yeah.

And I'm also in the Louisiana sports Hall of Fame.

Congratulations on everything.

And it's our pleasure to celebrate with you tonight.

Thank you.

Ladies and gentlemen, Matt Forte.

Each year, the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame recognizes individuals whose careers have had an impact on sports journalism across the state.

Bruce Brown, a Lafayette native, has a journalism career that spans nearly five decades.

His penmanship has been a staple in sports publications in the AK D.A., most noticeably a 37 year career with the Lafayette Daily Advertiser.

He is an award winning writer, author and past vice president of the Louisiana Sportswriters Association.

Now, retired, Bruce makes contributions as a freelance writer for the UL Lafayette Athletic Network, Tiger Rag magazine, and the Baton Rouge and Acadiana Advocate.

Laurie Lyons, a native of Homa, made a lasting mark covering prep sports in the River parishes during a time when female sports journalists were uncommon.

Laurie pioneered a path of professionalism and storytelling that twice earned her LSW a prep writer of the year.

She also served as president of the Louisiana Sportswriters Association, the second woman ever to hold that title.

Today, Laurie teaches journalism and multimedia at Riverside Academy in Reserve.

Inspiring Young Minds to think creatively as she has done throughout her career.

We congratulate Bruce Brown and Laurie Lyons as 2023 recipients of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame Distinguished Service Award in sports journalism.

Don't go anywhere.

We've got more sports greats coming up.

When former LSU and Major League pitcher Paul Bird takes the stage.

Plus, Baton Rouge native Mel Woodruff shares coaching stories of high school championship success.

Financial tips presented by Law Capital Federal Credit Union.

The sooner you start putting money away for the future, the more it will grow.

And if you put the cash into an account that pays interest, you'll get back more than just your savings, thanks to compound interest.

For more financial education, visit a g dot info.

Hello again, everybody.

I'm Lynne Rollins, a friend of OPB.

Welcome back to our studios.

During our broadcast at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 induction celebration.

If you love watching programs that celebrate Louisiana as talented sons and daughters, please help the LPI be present more of these types of programs.

You can do that with your pledge of support.

In a moment, we'll be joined by another very special guest who is one of the best in his craft over many, many years.

But first, during this brief intermission, we invite you to support programs such as this by becoming a member of OPB.

Call or text.

Gilbert GBC 2888769 5000.

Become a member online at LP dot org or scan the QR code that's on your screen with your smart device.

You will want to do that right now.

Right now because we have thank you gifts selected especially for you during this broadcast.

So pledge right now to take advantage of these exclusive offers.

Show your team spirit for LPI.

Become a member now and choose from these thank you gift options for $30 a month.

Receive the Louisiana Sports combo, including the hardcover book Stairway to seven LSU Tigers Baseball 2023 National Champions to LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead A signed photographic print of Mike the Tiger by acclaimed photographer Carol Highsmith and LP B Cooler on Wheels and DVD of this program, The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 Celebration for $15 a month Receive the LP B Cooler on Wheels for $13 a month.

Receive the book Stairway to seven or for just $10 a month.

Receive a DVD of this program and an LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead plus at every level Receive Visions LP TV's Monthly Program Guide, a subscription to Louisiana Life Magazine and access to LP Passport, the streaming service for the best of PBS and LP.

Welcome back, everyone.

I am so delighted to be joined by Pulmonary, a Hall of Famer in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and a Hall of Famer in many other halls across the country as well.

More than 1500 victories as a college baseball coach and at the time he retired a couple of seasons ago from LSU.

That was the highest active total in the country college.

It's great to see you.

I know you're recovering with joy on your face and in your heart From the 2023 induction ceremony inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

Congratulations.

Thank you, Lynn.

I'll tell you, it was one of the more memorable weekends of my entire life.

I got to have all four of my children and grandchildren there.

But to meet the people that we got a chance to meet while we're in Natchitoches, first of all, Natchitoches, the city, I just love it.

It's the oldest city in this in the state of Louisiana, I'm sure you know, But it's just got such a beautiful ambiance about it.

The people are so friendly.

And then, my goodness, that that Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame building is something to behold.

That's got to be a bucket list thing.

If you're a Louisiana resident.

You know, I can see the sparkle still in your eyes, even though we're a few hours removed from the the actual ceremony.

What were some of your favorite parts?

Who among your Hall of Fame inductee partners stood out to you?

Well, there were many.

I was really captivated by the stories of everybody.

Everybody you know, obviously, Walter, the weightlifter, you know, his story was captivating.

But I was so proud to go into the Hall of Fame with Mel Woodruff, who was a teammate of mine at LSU in 1975, 76, tremendous coach at Parkview Baptist, won 11 state championships.

But everybody that we met, whether it be Walter Davis or Wendell Davis or Ron Washington and on down the list, a guy named Eli Manning was pretty cool, too.

But everybody had a great story about their life.

They're all very humble.

They all knew that other people helped them get to the point that they were that they would be recognized by a Hall of Fame and you could see why these people were so successful.

Well, Paul, we've got some special offers.

And by special, I mean with a capital.

Yes.

Let's take a look at this first one for a 20 $500 special credit card offer.

The first pledge, the first pledge of 20 $500 or more on a credit card.

You will receive a Joe Burrow autographed LSU's Cincinnati Bengals helmet.

We've got it on stage here.

You can see it.

This is remarkable, but you must be the first pledge of 20 $500 or more.

Now, if you miss out on that, we've got another special credit card offer for you for the first pledge of $500 or more on your credit card, you'll receive an autographed football by renowned orthopedic surgeon and Louisiana native Dr. James Andrews.

Truly one of the most gifted and innovative surgeons in the world when it comes to orthopedic injuries.

Paul, I know you're very well aware of him.

If it wasn't for Dr. James.

Well, if it wasn't for our sport of baseball, we probably wouldn't have kept Dr. James Andrew in business.

But, you know, when when players have elbow injuries or shoulder injuries, whatever he is, he's the man.

He's the expert, and he happens to be an LSU grad, which we're very proud of.

We've also got a corporate challenge for you, the Natchitoches Convention and Visitors Bureau.

And thanks to them, it's challenging all viewers to donate during this program.

And they will match dollar for dollar to the first 1500 dollars called in Making your donation worth twice as much to help me, please take advantage of that.

And we are so grateful.

Let's check in with our thank you gifts again.

They can be yours when you support be show your team spirit for LPI.

Become a member now and choose from these thank you gift options for $30 a month.

Receive the Louisiana Sports combo, including the hardcover book Stairway to seven LSU Tigers Baseball 2023 National Champions to LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead A signed photographic print of Mike the Tiger by acclaimed photographer Carole Highsmith, an LP B Cooler on Wheels and a DVD of this program, The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 Celebration for $15 a month receive the B Cooler on wheels for $13 a month.

Receive the book Stairway to seven or for just $10 a month.

Receive a DVD of this program and an LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead plus at every level receive Visions LP B's Monthly Program Guide, a subscription to Louisiana Life Magazine and access to LP B Passport, the streaming service for the best of PBS and LP B.

We are so delighted that Pulmonary is sharing his time with us tonight after being inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

But this is not your first connection with LP, a former Louisiana legends member at LP.

I know that's very special to you as well.

Well, it was very special.

When I got a call about the Louisiana Legends, I knew that D.T.

Breaux had been inducted as a Louisiana legend shortly before that.

I knew it was a tremendous honor.

And then to get honored again by the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, you know, you don't you don't go into coaching to receive honors.

When you go into coaching to work with young people.

And then these things happen because of the efforts of a bunch of young people.

So it's a very humbling experience to be honored like this, but a very appreciated I can I can assure you of that.

He's pulmonary, a Louisiana legend, a Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame member and a Louisiana.

And now through and through.

These are the types of stories that LP B and only LP bring you daily.

And we appreciate your support.

We appreciate you watching.

Right now, let's get back to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony in Natchitoches.

Support for this programing is provided by Natchitoches, Louisiana's oldest city with close to home getaways.

Just for two information and planning ideas at Natchitoches dot com.

We're going to be long here I'm sorry me and Ron Washington is supposed to get a tattoo in budget 1145 and I don't want to be late so let's move on to Alina Beard, our buddy from Shreveport.

Women's basketball, pretty big news this year handed in our state.

The next inductee in her day.

She was a bright spot on the court.

I mean, about the state college and pros, phenomenal shooter, defender won all of the game's top honors.

Please welcome Shreveport native I like a big Alina Beard was a basketball star at the high school collegiate and professional levels with honors to show for it.

She was a hard worker and she wanted to be the very best she could be.

Alina Beard's legacy is a legacy of excellence.

Miss Basketball in Louisiana, Every major award in college basketball and WNBA Defensive Player of the year, she had a work ethic that made her a star on all levels.

One day I'll be she's one of the first to practice, you know, to get in to the gym and one of the last to leave.

Down low beard turns, spins, banks it in.

Beard's got 41 beard help Southwood high in Shreveport to four state titles and 144 wins, scoring more than 2600 points.

And she was just such a will to win.

A massive recruiting battle ended with her attending Duke, where she became the first NCAA player to amass 2600 points, 500 assists and 400 steals as she earned three SCC Player of the Year honors and got the Blue Devils to two Final Fours.

Her legacy is the lifting up of Duke women's basketball and the excellence that she displayed on the court in the classroom with the community.

The giving Back in 2004, she was the second pick in the WNBA draft and played in more than 400 games, averaging over 11 points and two and a half assists twice.

She was Defensive Player of the year and a 2016 champion with the Los Angeles Sparks.

And it was just it was fun for me.

Watch her success at Duke and then WNBA and do so well there.

It's a legacy of joy, of passion now being led to finishing Janet Love of the game, love of people, determination to be great.

This evening, we welcome the 13th women's basketball star to take her place in our hall.

She has done it superbly on every level of the sport and been so honored.

Now it's time to say well done as a first ballot inductee.

Ladies and gentlemen, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Elena Beard.

Well, you can say that in the mic.

Wow, You can say that.

No, no, no.

He just called me by nickname, which I won't repeat, but thanks, UNC.

All right.

All the accolades, all the success we saw starting with what high school where did your passion for basketball come from?

I think that's a loaded question, but obviously it came from the first time I picked up a ball when I was out playing streetball with my brother, his friends, my sister, my mom and my dad.

It became a pastime sport for us in which we would, you know, use our weekends, find a part and play one on 1 to 1, two, three and three.

And I quickly realized that I was really good at the game when I was beating my brother, his friends, my cousins, my uncles.

They can all attest to it right now that that was the case.

And I also realized that it could eventually become that vehicle that could take me to the places that I envisioned along the way.

You told me there was a five month stretch in Shreveport.

That's the first time you had been there that long and over 15 years.

And now it has led to the 318 Foundation, which I know is your passion.

Tell us what you're doing.

Absolutely.

I played my last WNBA game in October of 2000 and and I knew that I had a five month period before I sort of transitioned into my new career, which eventually I transitioned into the venture capital space after announcing my retirement.

But I spent five consecutive months in Shreveport, and that was as long as I had spent in Shreveport in that last 18 years up until that point.

And I stayed with my parents, that'll never happen again for that period of time.

But it happened.

But I took it upon myself to just listen to the community.

So I eventually established the 318 Foundation, which is which has a mission of closing that opportunity gap in historically underserved communities for young girls in which we work with 25 young women now at Woodlawn Leadership Academy.

And we have the goal of adding two more partner high schools and 75 more women this year.

So I know you can expand it even more.

Yes, absolutely.

Because you look shocked.

Earlier you were wondering if I was paying attention.

Voice, identity success, innovation, opportunity and networking.

That's the 318 vision.

Yeah, 318 vision.

Right.

I completely believe that is impossible to.

Be what you can't see.

Right.

I can recall when the WNBA first started, before the WNBA was established, I had a Reggie Miller jersey and I had a dream of being the first woman to ever play in the NBA.

And I'm sure every young girl in that moment had that dream because we didn't have anything to look forward to.

But the WNBA was established in 1996, and I remember watching one of the first games against the New York Liberty and the Houston Comets watching Cynthia Cooper, Sheryl Miller, I mean, Sheryl Swoopes and Tina Thompson.

Teresa Weatherspoon And I told my parents that I felt like I was in jail for another four, 4 to 8 years, Right.

Because I knew I had to wait, get to the WNBA.

And so anything that I do from this point on is about representation.

So the 3.8 vision program itself is about bringing in people that look like these young women, and it gives them someone to aspire to be.

Well, the young women in the Shreveport area are blessed and honored to have you doing that.

And we are honored to celebrate you tonight.

Congratulations on your career and welcome to Louisiana sports.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

It appeared, everybody.

How did LSU do in women's basketball this year?

They are.

I think our classmate Kim Mulkey, is coached down.

If you move patient whether I think she's going to be on, she's pretty sharp.

Hey, we've had a couple of baseball coaches tonight.

We're going to have one in a moment.

So it's time we get a pitcher in here.

We got a pretty good one.

He was really good at LSU then.

He was really good for a long time in the big leagues.

He does a better Skip Bartman impersonation than anybody else.

He should be in the Hall of Fame.

Just for that, please welcome our friend Paul Bird, one of LSU's top all time pitchers with 31 wins and 319 career strikeouts.

Three Paul Byrd helped LSU to its first college World Series title in 1991, but he was without a doubt one of the smarter young men I've ever coached on the mound.

He'd always come up with a way to get head around.

I remember one day Paul was struggling and one of the games I don't remember when it was, but you know, it was enough struggle to bring Skip out of the dugout and he walked up to the mound.

We skip those and Paul started was the nicest guy ever.

He's on.

Sorry, Coach.

You know, I'll just I'm trying to figure this out because.

Bird, It's not your fault.

Bird.

It's my fault.

It's all my fault.

I never should've gave you a scholarship.

Oh, it shocked me that he said that it falls.

I'd go big, but it was a typical skip Bird would go on to be a second Team All-America selection, and after three seasons, he was drafted in the fourth round to start a 14 year career in the Major Leagues that included 109 wins, along with victories in the LDS and ALCS to help Cleveland reach the 2007 world Series.

Also, he reinvented himself to extend his career, and that takes a lot of talent.

The average big league guy played about three years.

Paul played 14, so it was a wonderful big league career for Paul Bird.

There's the lying and the double pump to David Ortiz Junior in Miss.

He struck him out when people remember the stars of the LSU baseball era of the late eighties and early nineties.

This pitcher is always mentioned.

Paul was, you know, a great teammate but but he was a guy that, you know, to me had a great personality off the field but was different he had that that that winner mentality and I think once once he crossed that line you knew that the game was Paul birds to be had.

I guarantee you loved to have Paul he was he's an awesome teammate.

He's an awesome person and he was a great picture.

Is the winningest pitcher to ever pitch in the history of LSU.

With 17 wins and one season, he is a superstar.

After his pitching days ended, he made new fans as an announcer for the Atlanta Braves.

You get sent up to Section 414 with a Labradoodle named Sophie.

Tonight, we are making an announcement that this pitcher has found the strike zone in Natchitoches.

Ladies and gentlemen, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Paul Bird.

Thank you very much.

Before we start, I would like to say something.

My wife and we decided it was a joint effort that I should lose a little weight.

I was going a little heavy and she said, this is going to be a big night because you're going to take pictures with people.

It's going to be there forever.

It made me up on the wall with other and you want to get in shape a little bit.

So I lost £15.

But we've been traveling the state of Louisiana for a week and I gained it all back.

So I did look like Matt Forte before this started.

And it gets worse.

I got a sty in my left eye.

I did see an optometrist.

It's not contagious stuff.

I've shaken your hand.

You're okay.

But I'm.

I'm the guy that looks like Igor for the rest of the evening.

Could you maybe use that sty news about 40 seconds ago?

But that's okay.

We're good.

Know, but it's not contagious.

That's right.

Because you mentioned it.

How is your wife?

She's doing well, thank you.

My wife's recovering from septic shock.

Whether it's disease or your blood stops up, stops pumping.

And so she's okay.

She's here.

We're so glad.

We are so glad you're doing well.

Oh, hey, look, I came in to.

And my life.

My life, I don't want to say started, but it took off when I got to Louisiana.

I'm here because Skip Berkman gave me the greatest speech on why I should be here.

I was going to Arizona State and he told me he needed me.

There nobody else on the recruiting trip.

And that's so different from other arrogant coaches that tell you we're going to win.

You can come if you want to, but we're going to do it.

And he said, My program is going to fall apart if you don't come here.

It wasn't true, but the guy's good.

Let me tell you, I'm 17 years old.

I walk into the locker room after that talk and all the lights are out and there's a light shining on a bird jersey hanging from a locker.

And I went back and I said, I'm coming here.

And because of that, I met my wife and I came into the state of Louisiana and I stole the girl.

She's okay.

Good.

That's good.

So I didn't know was going to be emotional.

I want to give a shout out real quick.

I'm sorry.

Go.

Skip had a team chaplain.

His name's Wayne Waddell.

He drove 6 hours just to be with me for 3 hours today.

We're still close.

He taught me that I was more than a baseball player.

It couldn't be my life.

It was just something I did.

And I fought against that.

And I learned in grand scheme of things, he was right.

I just throw a ball past the guy that holds the stick.

There's more to life.

Could you please stand?

Lastly, as a freshman, you're on home run duty behind the left field wall, and my job was to catch homeruns and return the baseballs so we didn't lose.

And there was a little boy who was deaf and he was nine years old.

And he helped me gather the ball for years.

And he visited me in the big leagues.

And we've maintained a strong friendship.

Went to the Louisiana School of the Deaf.

His name is Dustin Katrina.

He's here tonight.

I love Louisiana.

I have strong ties.

You can you can see the connection that Louisiana with all of the impact of that.

And that's why I want to ask about your wife.

Yeah, those who don't know.

Paul is a three time Emmy Award winner as a broadcaster.

We saw the little clip there, but he stepped away from it because of her health.

So we're so, so glad she's here.

Yeah.

And glad that glad that she's doing well.

And speaking of the impact of Louisiana, you joked about the food we were going to talk about, that the impact had come from Louisville down here.

But not only do you meet your wife here, but with your Kentucky background and with your wife's support, you all have also started the birdhouse ministry.

And I know it involves horses.

Tell us about that.

I'm arrogant at times, competitive at times.

And we went through pre-marital counseling and it changed our lives.

We always said, hey, if we make it and are able to put together some money, we're going to start a counseling center.

And we've done that.

It's the bird house ministries.

When you get more than five feet of a horse, which we involve horses in our counseling, your heart rate lowers.

It's like a big service dog.

So so it's neat what happens at the place.

And my wife runs it and I have tried to be involved more and she's very graciously said, it's my turn.

And so I'm on grounds crew and I'm on and I'm on fundraising.

And so I've been spending some time with Walter Imahara and really picking his brain on how to take care of the grass.

It's my life.

Finally, I want to ask you about how special it was when you got the call about becoming a member of the Class of 2023 because of the direct back to the LSU days.

Ronnie Rance called me, who was my roommate my freshman year.

He introduced me earlier in the week.

He had so many great stories to tell.

He went with the story in Vegas, where you both stayed out, broke curfew and got suspended.

That's that was the lead off.

That was the lead off.

That was my introduction.

So I lost a lot of credibility.

And Ronnie's mom was in town who's here tonight.

And we were both keeping the radar gun in street clothes on the stands.

And I had to explain to the scouts why I wasn't pitching.

So it was tough.

He's a really good friend of mine.

We've stayed friend over the years.

He's one of my favorite personalities in the world.

And when he called me to tell me I was going to the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, he was as excited as I was.

I had to pull the car over.

That's how big a deal it was to me.

Well, we're pleased and honored to share with you tonight.

Congratulations, ladies and gentlemen, Paul Byrne.

Thank you.

And honor coach, an elite football player.

Those will be our final two inductees tonight.

We're going to start with a coach who coached 11 state baseball championships at one school in Baton Rouge.

And while they won a lot of games, he thought, as Paul Bird testifies, there's more to life than ball.

And that's how he coached up his guys and still won 11 titles.

I think you're going to enjoy meeting, coach, emailed Woodruff.

It's not hard to say that M.L.

Woodruff put Parkview Baptist Baseball indelibly in the minds of high school baseball fans after 23 playoff appearances and 11 state championships.

And those titles came in the 1980s, the nineties and the decade of the Twins.

The Eagles were 22 and zero in all state semifinals and finals in which they played.

You know, kind of the old saying, if you build it, they will come, you know.

And then I remember Coach Woodruff telling me one time he was like, I was kind of ready to retire before I did, but we just kept winning.

You know, and so what a what a good problem to have.

Right?

30 years teaching and coaching, 603 victories.

A national coach of the year, his players, including many here tonight, realize this coach was a mentor, a father figure, and to many, a lifelong friend.

I remember the game days were the days that we showed up and we got to have fun.

What, you hold us accountable?

Absolutely.

But the practices and the the preparation, the lead up to those game days were always the most strenuous time for us.

I mean, we showed up to games and it was it was easy.

He told me an interesting story when we spoke about, you know, artificial turf is great, but he always liked grass.

And one of the things that you miss when you don't have grass and real dirt is you don't have to tarp your field and tarp.

And the field is kind of like the ultimate team exercise.

And he wouldn't think about that as being significant, but he thought it was.

He's much more than 11 state championships, much more than his winning percentage reflects.

He is a guy of character, guy, integrity and somebody that taught the game of life through baseball.

The state high School and State Baseball Coaches Association's have already inducted him.

And this evening, on a night when baseball stars are celebrated with four inductees, this coach now has a spot in Natchitoches in our building.

I mean, you see the banners and the signs on the wall for state championships.

Coaches can't go play in the big leagues.

He can't go through pitchers anymore, but he can young men to championships.

And that's the measure of success.

Well, and he's certainly at the top of that list.

Oh, ladies and gentlemen, Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer coach M.L.

Woodruff.

Hello again, Coach.

Right in regulation right there.

Oh, what a ride, huh?

The culmination of quite a journey for somebody who never thought he's going to be a baseball coach.

Now we're sitting inducting you in the Hall of Fame.

Yeah.

I didn't dream of this one.

I dream of this.

What was your idea of what you wanted to do before baseball wound up interrupting, making you take a left turn and having all this success?

Well, my goal was to be an elementary PE teacher.

And my first job, I was an elementary PE teacher at Freshwater Elementary, and I loved every second of it.

But a guy that was the PE teacher at the school had taken a job as a principal at another school, and I didn't know it.

To the end of the school year, that guy had to come back to his job and it left me without a job.

So I started coaching not because I wanted to coaches, I just needed a job.

It worked out pretty good.

Good decision.

So you get to coaching your, young coach getting in there.

And I know that you had one incident with a player who was about five or six inches taller than you, bigger than you that had you questioning, but it also turned around and central on the right path.

Why don't you share that story with us?

Yeah, so my story is I don't love the win.

I just hate to lose.

And I had a player named Mike Stovall and was about six three.

He was a catcher and I had played baseball at LSU.

So I knew a little bit about the game and Mike was long out of his out of his glove.

He went down back and up like a pitcher and he couldn't throw anybody else out.

They were stealing our wallets, they were stealing our cars and everything else.

So I had to practice at home coaching him.

So I got him to practice early.

I went through all the stuff I needed to, and to my amazement, he listened to every word that I said and I felt my spirit, God say for the first time since I know that you can do this.

My second story was I was calling to ministry at 54 years of age, and I could remember crying on my floor in the in my office, crying out to God, like, what else is there to do?

Is this all that there is?

Just winning these baseball games and state championships.

And I feel felt in the spirit again.

When I was called in the sports ministry, our church was starting a sports ministry and I was I was called into it.

So I went from leading 60 kids to leading over a thousand kids in a year with their parents and, their their aunts and uncles, and had a chance to look at sports differently in the in the light of how God saw it rather than how I thought about it.

And now you're recruiting coaches, you're getting Bible studies.

Is it just in Baton Rouge?

Your goal, I believe, is statewide, correct?

Well, the third chapter is September 21st.

I'm going to retire from sports ministry.

But at the same time, I have another calling is to start Bible studies in high schools for coaches.

So what I've always wanted to do is to coach coaches.

I enjoy coaching, I love doing it, but I always wanted to coach because I felt like I impacted players and now have a chance and opportunity to impact those That impact the players we define.

A winning is not what we did, but it was the process of how we did it and who we did it for.

And your process have been great and we now enjoy celebrating you tonight.

Congratulations on being a member of the Class of 2023 coach and I wonder if everybody coming up on the 2023 Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame celebration and Super Bowl champion Eli Manning recalls his childhood in New Orleans and shares his family stories.

And you won't want to miss it.

The annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is sponsored by the following State Farm Insurance agents of Louisiana.

Hello, and welcome back.

I'm Lynne Rawlings, supporter and friend of APB.

What a great ceremony this is.

You're watching the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 celebration.

We have one more special guest you'll meet in just a moment.

But first, this is our last time out to invite you to become a member.

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Welcome back, everyone, and what a pleasure it is to be joined on set by M.L.

Woodruff.

If you're a Baton Rouge area high school baseball fan, you certainly know this man.

You certainly know his accomplishments.

They are known Louisiana wide 11 state championships in his career.

He has won almost 80% of his games, more than 600 victories during that Hall of Fame career.

We welcome Emile Woodruff to the set.

I know it's not a dream come true, but I saw you relish accepting that Hall of Fame plaque as one of the newest members.

I was smiling from ear to ear.

I smiled in a picture when we didn't lose a game that was smiling at this time because I was elated about the folks that came to be part of it.

Family, my friends and I felt so well loved by being accepted of of the goings on, of what happened when I was coach.

Baseball was the number one sport recognized the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.

You had pulmonary go in.

You had Paul Byrd go in yourself going in, of course.

And there was a lot of baseball connection.

Yes.

And baseball's a great game to teach life lessons.

I pray that I did that well, having those opportunities of coaching young men to be great fathers, great husbands, you know, that's the theme that came out when we talked to people, your career, that, yes, there were those victories and not many people have ever done it better any place, any time across the country.

But that love, that nurturing, that was the theme that came through over so many decades.

Well, then I never really wanted to coach.

I was thrown into a position where I needed a job and I accepted that job.

And I found out that I could I could coach in a little bit.

And I found it on a baseball field that as a young man that was six three and I was five nine.

And I was always scared of older, older kids.

That's why I didn't want to coach.

I wanted to be an elementary PE teacher.

So I had an opportunity to coach and that young man listened to everything I said and I felt God calling me and the coaching and did it for 30 years.

We'll continue that story in just a moment.

But I want to tell you about a extremely special credit card offer.

Now listen carefully and be quick to the phone.

Well, the first pledge of 20 $500 or more on a credit card, you'll receive a Joe Burrow autograph at LSU Cincinnati Bengals helmet that needs no other explanation for the first 20 $500 on your credit card.

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Now, if you don't quite win that, we've still got another great gift for you.

Well, the first pledge of $500 or more on your credit card, you'll receive an autographed football by renowned orthopedic surgeon and Louisiana native Dr. James Andrews, truly one of the pioneers and innovators.

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We thank you so very much.

Let's go back and talk to Mel Woodruff.

Emil, your favorite experience over three very hectic days in Natchitoches as you were joined by some of the other sports legends and greats in the state of Louisiana, an opportunity to sit on the bus and talk to some some Hall of Famers and find out their story.

I enjoyed Davis.

He was a guy that exuded humility, being such a wonderful person and also a great player that he he just came across as he knew who he was.

You know, you look for things like that and people don't use things that that make a difference in people's lives down the road maybe they never know about.

Yeah, I'm a I'm an artist and I am a part of what I did was pulling out the goal to those kids that played for me and also those that and trying to help them make them better.

So I don't I'm not a judge, but I do enjoy trying to understand people and where they come from.

Congratulations to your Hall of Fame selection, that's for sure.

We've got thank you gifts for you.

They're wonderful.

Here they are right now.

Show your team spirit for LP.

Become a member now and choose from Thank you.

Gift options for $30 a month received the Louisiana sports combo, including the hardcover book Stairway to Heaven, LSU Tigers Baseball 2023 National Champions to LSU Baseball 2023 Champions Bobblehead A signed photographic print of Mike the Tiger by acclaimed photographer Carol Highsmith, an LP Cooler on Wheels and a DVD of this program, The Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame 2023 Celebration for 15 a month Receive the LP cooler on Wheels for $13 a month.

Receive the book Stairway to seven or for just $10 a month.

Receive a DVD of this program and an LSU Baseball 2023 champions bobblehead plus at every level receive visions LP vs monthly Program Guide, a subscription to Louisiana Life Magazine and access to LP Passport, the streaming service for the best of PBS and LP.

We're about to say good night for this special show, but my personal thanks to Louisiana Public Broadcasting for journeying to Natchitoches, Louisiana and putting this special program together featuring 12 of the state's very best, the newest inductees into the Louisiana Sports Hall of fame.

Two of those are here with us tonight.

Let's start with coach pulmonary final comments, Coach, then.

I'm just tremendously honored first by LP with the Louisiana legends and now with the Hall of Fame.

Just a wonderful experience.

And I'm just any time I can follow Andy Rose footsteps, I'm just tremendously honored.

Well, she was inducted a few years ago.

Didi, what do you remember?

Well, I remember the people and how gracious the whole community was, the turnout.

But the former inductees coming and then the ones that were there being honored that night.

But to be sandwiched between these two guys, I mean, this is this A-10.

Indeed it is.

M.L.

Woodruff, your final thoughts about what you experienced over the weekend?

It's been unbelievable.

I never dreamed of this ever happening and being sitting on stage with you guys and being part of the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and now being at the Lady presentation for the folks to watch.

It's just a joy.

Thank you guys, for joining us.

Thank you for sharing some of your experiences and thank you to LP B for making this special happen.

We hope you've enjoyed it.

Support for this program is provided by Natchitoches, Louisiana's oldest city, offering history, culture and fun for family vacations information and planning.

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The annual Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony is sponsored by the following State Farm Insurance Agents of Louisiana.

We're on the campus of Northwestern State University for the junior sports camp, where inductees get to coach and mentor athletes.

Now, it's been absolutely amazing, right?

I've been very fortunate to have been also inducted into one other Hall of Fame.

But to be to come back home and experience this moment the way that I have with my family and with my friends in my hometown of Louisiana, eating good food, being around good people that, you know, we're at the very beginning of this journey With me is something pretty special.

Tell me about this experience today.

What does this mean for you to be able to kind of foster future athletes?

I mean, this is your jam.

This is what you've done for many, many years in your high school career.

Right.

And and this is what it's about is impacting the lives of kids.

Because in a broken world live today, sports is is misused a lot.

So I think that God gave it as a gift to give back to him and I think we misuse it.

So we have opportunities today to teach kids differently that maybe than we were taught to maybe help transform sports for God's glory than to hurt.

Right.

And stop.

Oh, God.

Oh, get it.

We'll get it.

Yeah.

Great to be here and see these kids all excited to be playing sports, and that's what it's about when you're when you're seven, eight, ten years old, you know, you want to be outside, running around and and hopefully finding something you're passionate about.

So they're inside, They're playing basketball.

We had some football, so just get them playing a bunch of sports and see what happens as well.

Our final inductee 35 years ago, Archie Manning, was inducted in the Hall of Fame and we had it over to Student Union on the Northwestern state campus.

And a few years ago, Peyton Manning was here in this building.

He went into the hall of Fame.

Now another man is in Natchitoches tonight where his home state wants to honor him for his magnificent career.

So, ladies and gentlemen, please watch and enjoy the play of Eli Manning as it comes time to induct another Manning into our hole.

We need the man who can tell the story of a couple of Newman high school quarterbacks better than anyone.

One was inducted a few years ago, Peyton Manning.

The other is younger brother Eli.

We actually nicknamed him the Easy because he was just so laid back.

I mean, he just didn't let anything bother him.

And it was just a whole different kind of personality with the same results.

And in think about a man wide open, he just knew how to do it with a soft tone, but with a competitive push.

If you can imagine that the recruiting battle for Manning after his stellar play at Newman led him to Ole Miss.

That's right.

Where his father, Archie, starred and where the campus speed limit is.

Archie's number 18, and when Eli was a freshman, he got a ticket going 45 and an 18 mile an hour zone.

You knew that He didn't really care about that tradition itself.

He won the Maxwell and Unitas Awards at Ole Miss, where he set or tied 45 school records.

He was the number one NFL's pick.

And after declining to play in San Diego, he was traded to the New York Giants and all that organization.

So I think it'll be a good place.

I think things will work out here.

He was great because he was quiet, which was what a rookie should be there.

He won two Super Bowls and was named MVP of both.

This four time Pro Bowler played in 236 NFL games, never missing a game because of injury.

His numbers still are among the leaders in the SCC and the NFL.

His legacy is unmistakable.

The one thing that really stands out in my mind was after the Super Bowl, Eli was on the podium and in a lot of ways, how much pressure that took off of this young man who came into the NFL with a name that basically is synonymous with the league and had proven himself he was no longer Archie Manning, He was no longer Peyton Manning's little brother.

He was his own man.

He was Eli Manning.

The Giants included Manning into their ring of honor and retired his number ten in 2021.

No giants will ever wear number ten again.

Ole Miss also retired number ten that same year off in defense of senior class freshman class race had no bearing on it.

Eli Manning was a great teammate.

He just was just one of those special kids that you just hope comes around more than just once in your career as a coach or even once in your life as a as a person.

This New Orleans native is on the way to Canton and the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

But on this Saturday night in July, there's a stopover in Natchitoches as his home state and members Archie and Peyton say welcome, ladies and gentlemen.

Louisiana Sports Hall of Famer Eli Manning again.

So here you go.

Congratulations.

Before there were Super Bowl champions and MVP's, you were the son of Archie Manning in New Orleans before you started.

Had a chance to establish your name.

What was it like growing up in New Orleans?

It was great.

You know, my dad my dad retired from football in 1985.

I was four years old.

I really don't remember him as a football player.

But when I was, you know, five and six, seven years old, he was announcing games for the Saints.

And my brothers and I, we would we would go to the games, go to the Superdome with them, and people would always stop him.

They would ask for an autograph or ask for a picture.

I just thought that's what dads did.

I would go to my friend's house for a sleepover.

The first thing I'd do, I'd walk in and ask the dad for an autograph and a picture.

I got to a pretty good collection.

Mr. Eagan.

Mr. Branson, if you're bankers, maybe a lawyer, but.

But what?

I didn't notice about it.

You know, when I went to Ole Miss and someone asked me for my first autograph, I just did what my dad did, he always signed every autograph he took, every picture he talked to every person.

He shook their hand.

He had a conversation.

He was polite and kind.

Everybody met and had a big influence on just the way we were raised and how you should treat people.

Some people may think because of your dad and the success that he had and the reputation that maybe football was automatic.

Of course you got to play football.

Was it always football?

Were there other ones you thought about?

No, We I think a lot of people assumed my dad had a master plan of creating an AFL quarterback's.

Nothing could really be further from the truth.

He tried to raise three good boys and we played a ton of sports.

He he believes sports.

You know, this gave a lot a lot of great life lessons and teamwork and dedication, commitment and dealing with defeat and loss kind of maybe the same in the same way.

And so we played I played basketball through high school, played baseball mostly through high school.

And so we grew up playing all the sports.

I didn't play start playing tackle football until eighth grade, but we played a lot in the front yard, play with my brothers and pickup games.

And so it was always, always my favorite sport and the one I worked the hardest.

I think when I was playing football, I never wanted anyone to question my my commitment, my desire.

I was always pretty quiet around the locker room.

I didn't say anything unless something needed really needed to be said.

But, you know, I think my, my, my teammates, people close to me and my great friends, my family kind of know that I could I could, you know, had a had a different side of me.

I had a funny side to me.

But I just never let maybe the media ever know.

I never want someone to be able to question anything and my commitment to football.

And and so I think once I retired, I just didn't really care anymore what people thought.

And and, you know, had the opportunity to make fun of my brother a lot on TV and and opened up some opportunities for me.

So you're saying the New York media might have jumped on something like that?

I thought they were easy going.

Maybe just a little bit.

Maybe just a little bit.

They were just so many of them.

There's so, so many media up there in New York.

And so I you know, I was friendly with them, but I never, never quite trusted them, I don't think.

Well, we certainly have we certainly have enjoyed the way you've represented New Orleans throughout your entire career.

It's not all that long ago you retired.

So I have to ask you, how is life after football being dead now?

It's been a lot of fun.

I have four kids, one of the four.

I enjoy coaching them and and some of their their sports.

Now, I don't know if it's just coincidence or my or my coaching ability.

I've coached them and got girls that coached them in softball, got, you know, coached them in basketball.

But they seem their favorite sports are swimming, lacrosse and ice hockey.

Three sports I know nothing about and can't coach them and those things.

So I still still got a few hanging on to the some of the sports I know but enjoying what I'm doing and stay involved with the football.

Stay involved with the NFL and the Giants and get to be around my family and see them and raise some kiddos.

So having fun doing that?

Well, you can count on one hand the number of father son combinations in the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame, and you can now count on one finger the father, son, son combination.

Ladies and gentlemen, Hall of Famer Eli Manning, the very funny ice hockey coaching legend Eli Manning.

Everybody.

Eli, when you stay up here us Joe, you stay with all of our Hall of Famers.

If you will make your way back to the stage, y'all.

What we're going to do is take a picture of them and then we're going to turn them loose to y'all Ladies.

And gentlemen, it would be impossible.

I know, but I hope that you've had half as much fun tonight as we've had bringing this event.

Thank you to our people today for the State Farm Aid for Louisiana, for the Event Center on behalf of the Louisiana Sportswriters Association and the Hall of Fame, I'm Terry Allen.

Goodnight, everybody.

God bless.

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Natchitoches, Louisiana has been a travel destination since 1714.

Nacogdoches shopping festivals, outdoor recreation museums and more make for adventures close to home.

Information at Natchitoches dot com.