Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast Among Final Four Highlights

By Kevin Jackson, Christian Post Reporter Friday, March 30, 2007

The Final Four will feature more than just basketball as 1,200 fans will come together at the 11th Annual Legends of the Hardwood Breakfast, where Christian sports celebrities will be able to share their faith.

Sponsored by Athletes in Action and the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, college ministries that both have sports focuses, the breakfast will honor those basketball role models who show outstanding leadership, character, and integrity while they are competing as well as in their daily life.

As a major part of the event, the two associations will present a respected sports veteran with the Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award. The honorees are people who have exhibited a high level of moral character, integrity, but also faith in their lifetime careers.

This year's recipient will be Jim Haney, executive director of the National Association of Basketball Coaches (NABC).

The winner of the 2006 Coach Wooden Keys to Life Award was the University of Washington Head Basketball Coach Lorenzo Romar.

The meal will have influential speakers from all around the basketball industry including Billy Gillispie, head men's basketball coach of Texas A&M; Mark Price, a Georgia Tech All-American and former NBA All-Star; Clark Kellogg, CBS Basketball Analyst; Jerry Colangelo, Phoenix Suns chairman and CEO; and Ernie Johnson, host of Inside the NBA on TNT and emcee for the event.

Alongside the speakers, there will also be interviews with many of the Division I NCAA Men's Basketball coaches and players.

The event will begin on Saturday at 8 a.m. in Atlanta.

Athletes in Action features many of these events throughout the year in their Sports Legend Series. Near most major athletic championships, the ministry brings together some of the most influential Christian figures of that sport to speak on faith and athletics. Among the other times are during the Pro Rodeo Finals, the Super Bowl, and the NBA All-Star Weekend.

All these events are open to the public and tickets can be purchased at the Sports Legends Series website.