Lane 9.

This past Friday the Winter Olympics started and so did my future as a professional skier. I got my first ski lesson at Bretton Woods in New Hampshire and I think I am a natural!! Lindsey Vonn watch out you may have some competition lurking in the shadows! LOL!! Ok Ok maybe I shouldn't get ahead of myself but I did have a great time. I cant wait until the next adventure. This biggest thing is getting over the fear of heading downhill with something in your hands and attached your feet. Your first instinct is to throw your hands out for balance and lean back to brace yourself when in fact just the opposite is true for you to be in control of yourself and your skis. I graduated from the bunny slope after just one lesson! Though me and the snow covered ground spent a lot of time together over the next 3 days I am very pleased with the progress I made. As an athlete your built to compete and believe "Anything you can do I can do better!!" but are quickly humbled when we step out of our area of expertise and into someone else's. I have new respect for those competing in the Winter Games especially those doing cross country skiing. Who in the right mind would want to ski uphill??? I have had a great time watching the coverage and learning about all the different sports over the past to few days but I am giving up television for lent (The next 46 days :-() so this is where the story ends for me. Best of luck to all the Americans competing.

I am posting some pictures as well just in case anyone needs proof!!

L

The big game has come and gone and with it all the festivities. Congrats to the Saints!! What an amazing thing for that team to bring so much pride and happiness to New Orleans. Mardi Gras is just around the corner and I can only imagine the amount of partying that will go on in Louisiana until then. I myself am not much of a party animal, you will seldom fine me with my eyes open after 10 P.M. but I did participate in a few Super Bowl related activities during the week. Below is a quick rehash...well I always intend to be QUICK but I don’t have a way with words like the journalist so I often get long winded trying to describe my thoughts. Anyway here goes...

Monday: “A Night with the UM Greats”

This event at the Fountain Bleu turned out fabulous. A fundraiser for the University of Miami brought together NFL stars such as Michael Irving, Ed Reed, Antrel Rolle, Clinton Portis and many more. I think close to 100,000 was raised with auction items such as a set of all 5 hurricane national championship rings. Though it was cocktail attire the mood was very laid back with informal interviews. Each player had time to answer questions, tell stories and crack jokes.  As the one of few UM female athletes having become a professional athlete and I believe the only one to be currently competing professionally it was an honor to have been invited to be part of the event.

Friday: Super Learning at Miami Edison Senior High

Events like this remind me why it is so important to use my platform as a role model to encourage change. Myself, Airizona Cardinal Antrel Rolle, Haitian Olympic boxer Andre Berto and Motivational Speaker Mack White were encouraging students to put there best foot forward on the upcoming FCAT and in life in general. The school has to improve by 60 points to stay open and the most a school has ever improved is 30 points. Though the odds are against them you can see kids who are dedicated to learning and expressing there educational goals through poems and raps and dances. This is a group of students some might be inclined to head in the opposite direction of if you saw them approaching but their appearance is not representative of their potential. 

I am glad to see teachers embrace the cultural differences bridging the gap between the traditional ways of learning and the way that best fits the children of today’s society.

Saturday: AIA Super Bowl Prayer Breakfast

I wish this event got more coverage because it is great to dispel some stereotype’s about football players. The feature of this event is the Bart Starr award given to a football player exemplifying outstanding character and leadership in his home, on the field and in the community. This year Kurt Warner was the recipient.

I think the under lying theme this year was marriage and family.  Bart Starr, Tony Dungy and Kurt Warner all made comments about how important their spouses have been in achieving their goals. Kurt even stated how he realizes that his platform is what allows him to receive the accolades when so often his wife has done much of the leg work in whatever project he is receiving an award for.

Michael Vick and Tony Dungy discussed how their relationship evolved, forgiveness and what having a second chance is all about. Tony made a good point about how you sometimes we applaud the rehabilitation of one and deny that another deserves a second chance. The lesson being you can’t choose to forgive one but not another.

Kurt told how his wife was instrumental in his coming to know the Lord and spoke about his decision to retire. He made two good points regarding both. As it relates to retirement people think you make your decision based on what happens Sunday but they forget about all that goes into preparing for Sunday. When you reach a point where you can't commit to doing the same things you have done in the past to reach your highest potential then it is time to move on and so he did. Then he spoke about meeting and dating his wife who had two children when they met. He chose to look at a women with kids as a great PACKAGE instead of a woman with BAGGAGE. That stuck with me and speaks volumes to what a great attitude will bring you in life.

It was an incredible week and I am glad to have been able to take advantage of the Super Bowl being so close to home. :-)

Well it is Super Bowl Sunday! We will know soon enough who the Champion is. I must say that if games are won by fan participation and enthusiasm then the Saints have this game in the bag! I got to walk around South Beach to view the atmosphere and there were Saints EVERYWHERE.  There was a New Orleans style band parading up and down the streets, old ladies in restaurants dropping it like it was hot, girls hanging out of hotel windows doing what needed to be done for beads (I think you know what I mean) You name it it was happening on South Beach yesterday.

I am rooting for the Colts simply because I know Reggie Wayne better than I do Jeremy Shockey and Jonathan Vilma. Reggie has been such an inspiration to me over the years as I faced different trials on the track that I couldn’t cheer for the Saints without feeling guilty. During the Colts last Super Bowl campaign I had the opportunity to catch a meal with some of them during the season while visiting Indy and you could feel the energy. At the U we currently call it SWAG though I believe there are no real words to describe exactly what that “in the zone” energy is. It is however, great to have the ability to recognize it and see it work its magic. Still you have to be impressed with what this represents for ALL of Louisiana. I love the way sports unites people encouraging them to look beyond their differences to find a common ground. I mean where else are can you find educated business people who have never used ebonics or slang yelling “WHO DAT?” with umph. 

Last time the Super Bowl came to Miami I went to the game so I could be a part of history with the African American head coaches facing off. This year I will be watching at a pool party in the Gables with friends although I don’t see it being warm enough to swim. Enjoy the game everyone!

Well the Pro Bowl has come and gone and there is no love lost here. I don’t think I stand alone in my frustration as a fan. Who doesn't love the idea of the All-Stars facing off. The only thing is the players don’t seem to have any real incentive to want to participate, being named to the team seems to be enough. I did get a chance to visit the players hotel and see some of the goings on. My opinion didn’t change much of the overall event and its lack of pep. As a Raven, I pondered attending the game solely because of the possibility of Ed Reeds retirement but he was among the something like 50% of players who chose not to participate. As an athlete it hurts me to my heart to see the business aspect of an event become more important than spirit of the sport. I believe the event is only in place now to continue to line the pockets of the businesses involved. The players seem to be on the same page having all but blatantly boycotted it. It is sad because both players and fans suffer yet the the show continues to go on. I encourage the NFL to make a better attempt at revamping the dynamic of this game or to can it all together.

For the next 12 days my friends, friends of my friends and ton of people I don’t know will encroaching on the area I call home. Friends and friends of friends actually in my home. Although I have severe territorial issues I am excited about the festivities and being able to take part in something I have come to love as much as any MAN.Thru the festivities will be blogging from a FEMALE athlete’s perspective.

I am a Baltimore Raven (Yes, still very depressed from the recent stomping they Colts gave us.) I should explain that I started out as anti-football as they come. In high school I was dating the star running back at my school. It was typical for me to sit at home until the game was over, walk to the school, ask my friends or my boyfriends family what my boyfriend did well then regurgitate all of that with gusto when he finally emerged from the locker room. It was explained to me that it was considered sacrilege to be in is such a big football town dating an all-star and not have the slightest idea about football. I was forced to pick a team and begin to follow it. I was raised in the Pittsburgh area so it would have been a no brainer to be a Steeler but that was too much like the right thing to do. I picked the Ravens because my favorite color is purple. The following year they won the super bowl so I knew I had picked the right team and have stuck by them ever since becoming a die hard football fan in the process.

I am not claiming to be a guru or even to have what a guy might consider real football knowledge but I am far from clueless. Still, my style of watching is completely my own, tailored specifically to my own taste. I could care less about what people think about the way I reason, the people, team or games I choose to watch etc. So I welcome your comments on whatever craziness I write over the next two weeks but I will not apologize for my wacky point of view. Talk to you soon

L

We do it every year, resolve to do this or that and make all these changes for the better. A few months, weeks and sometimes in only days our good intentions have fallen by the wayside. Well I am not doing it this year!! Instead I am resolving not to make anymore resolutions because certainly there is a better chance of me doing it, if I don't spend so much time resolving to do it. So here is to a resolution free and far more productive year!!

I had intended to post some of my old blogs throughout December and then start fresh in January but as you can see that didn't happen. So I think I will just post old blogs as I see fit amongst the new ones as I go.

Here is a throwback that will help you get to know me a little better hope you enjoy! Talk to youk all soon! L

SEPTEMBER 22, 2007

I have been pondering subject matter of my next blog over the past week or so but have yet to find a topic I think you all would want to read about.... So what should I talk about???? 
When in doubt, why not try a topic I am expert on and can report with quality and in detail. There's nothing I am more knowledgeable about than myself. 

So today I am goin to interview ME!! 
Reporters take notes -- these are all things you all have forgot to ask me. New York Times might want to hire me when they see how talented I am. :-) Wait scratch that idea who wants to write, edit and all that! I am headed straight for live television interviews. CNN and NBC here I come!!! 

What is your favorite color? 

Orange all shades of orange. I also like purple. 

If you could change one thing in America, what would it be? 

Recycling. I feel the goverment should have a better system in place for small-scale recycling projects that are simple yet make so much difference. For example having three garbage cans in all public places for paper plastic and waste. If there were three cans people would throw their stuff in the right 
one and it wouldn't cause any unecessary hardship. Also eveyone should have recycling bins at their home. You shouldn't have to request them. If you have them, you will use them!! 

What's your favorite song? 

Um.... I would have to say Babyface "Grown and Sexy" 
And Stephanie Mills "Home." You cut them on and no matter what I am going to be singing at the top my lungs. While we are on the topic of I must stress the importance of being proposed to and maybe even walking down the aisle to the Tempations "This is My Promise" 

Do you prefer to wear jeans or a dress? 

 I think if this was a question on a game show and you asked any of my friends they would all say jeans. I am actually growing quite fond of dressing girly and enjoy dressing up. I just don't enjoy picking out the outfit and putting it together. I like to look good, I am just not very good at how to go about it. 

What modern technology do u think we would be better off WITHOUT? 
Television. All you need is to hear the information you don't need to see it. Our imaginations are going to waste because we are not challenged to use our creativity. 

If you could get any wild animal which one would it be and why? 

I have always wanted a lemur. I have actually looked into it on a few occassions but is seems a little bit complicated. You have to have a special license and have to go to class to obtain this license. It is because lemurs are very energetic creatures some even describe it WILD (go figure!) but don't be surprised if next year I bring 1 to a track meet. :-) 

An expert reporter must know her how to keep the audience's attention so I have decided to make this interview into a series so as not to overwhelm you all with information so until next time. This is Lauryn Williams signing off.

As if I don't have a hard enough time posting as it is, I have decided to add another venue where my blog can be read. I am very excited to have joined Yard Barker and though I know EVERYone doesn't want to read EVERYthing I write, I hope that this will allow some of my more passionate post to be read by a wider audience. I currently blog at www.universalsports.com and www.laurynwilliams.net I went to copy my previous post from those sites to add here and was shocked that I have poseted 55 blogs over the past two years. Long story short I love you all but I am not copying and pasting all of those to Yard Barker. I have decided instead to pick out some of my favorites and post those from now until the new year and then begin to post my current thoughts. I hope you enjoy them.

L

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