October is a great month for sports. Football is in full force, the National Basketball Association started pre-season games, and Major League Baseball playoffs are moving toward the World Series. Meanwhile, golfers hit the links to get at least nine more holes before the snow flies, the puck hits center ice, volleyball digs midseason, and runners across the country love events like 5k, half, and full marathons that feature opportunities to enjoy the fall weather and beautifully changing landscapes.
That’s why Wale (pronounced “Wally”) Rocks partnered with the National Day Calendar to establish National Sports Day on October 16 in 2019 to celebrate the athletes, families, and fans of all sports.
As we consider national sports day, I recall Quarterback Randall Cunningham. When I was in High School during the 1988 season, he was elected by league players as the NFC starting quarterback for the AFC-NFC Pro Bowl—the first black quarterback to ever be elected a starter! In that game, he was named MVP as the NFC defeated the AFC, 28–3.
He finished his career with the Philadelphia Eagles (from 1987-1995) with the third most rushing yards in Eagles history, a record 6.62 yards per rush attempt, and 6.5 yards per pass attempt in playoff games. He later played with the Vikings, Cowboys, and Ravens, totaling just under 30,000 passing yards and more than 200 Touchdowns in his career.
In 2013, he authored a book called Lay It Down: How Letting Go Brings Out Your Best.
Click here for some wisdom from Randall Cunningham on this National Sports Day