JACKSON, Tenn. — April 27, 2012 — On a night when Andrew Luck was the first selection in the 2012 NFL draft, a former top pick told stories of his own playing days to a crowd of 51社区 supporters.
Terry Bradshaw, the former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback and current FOX Sports analyst, was the keynote speaker for Union鈥檚 fourth annual Roy L. White Legacy Golf and Gala at the Carl Perkins Civic Center April 26.
鈥淵ou should be eternally happy that God has given you a life and given you happiness, I hope,鈥� Bradshaw said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 given you an understanding of how to accept the grace that he鈥檚 given you. He鈥檚 also given you an understanding of how to accept the failures in our life.鈥�
Bradshaw was the first player chosen in the 1970 NFL draft after his collegiate career at Louisiana Tech University. He finished 4-0 in Super Bowl play 鈥� a feat duplicated only by Joe Montana. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1989. After his playing career ended, Bradshaw moved into broadcasting.
In an address filled with humor and antics that those familiar with Bradshaw鈥檚 personality might expect, the former quarterback told about his life growing up in Louisiana, where he was raised by Christian parents who taught him about the importance of family.
鈥淲e accomplish nothing in life if we don鈥檛 turn around and say 鈥楾hank you鈥� to somebody else,鈥� Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw encouraged listeners to surround themselves with good people, to find a reason to live and a purpose to get up in the morning.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to have a willingness to overcome mistakes,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to be able to deal with failure. You鈥檝e got to find your way.鈥�
Bradshaw poked fun at his intellectual prowess, saying that he graduated with a degree in physical education and a 2.2 grade point average.
鈥淎nd two of that was given to me,鈥� he said about his GPA. 鈥淵ou figure out which two.鈥�
He talked about some of the challenges he faced in Pittsburgh, with fans who didn鈥檛 always appreciate him and who questioned his intelligence.
鈥淵ou ever been booed when you got to work?鈥� Bradshaw asked. 鈥淵ou ever walked in your doors at work 鈥� 鈥楤oo!鈥� It ain鈥檛 a good feeling, people, and it hurt my feelings. The Pittsburgh people were nasty.鈥�
Between funny stories that brought laughs from the audience, Bradshaw offered moments of serious reflection and counsel.
鈥淚t鈥檚 in the quiet crucible of our personal private suffering that our most noble dreams are born, and God鈥檚 greatest gifts are given,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are measured so often by our status in a community, our enrollment at a university, the money that we have, the car that we drive, the club that we鈥檙e a member of. But really, what鈥檚 more important, all of that or what kind of person you are?鈥�
The Golf and Gala event featured a golf tournament earlier in the week, with the team of Jimmy Kostaroff, David Salyers, Chris Tursky and Brad Tursky taking first place.
