It was a few Saturdays ago that we welcomed former Illinois Wide Receiver, as well as College Football and CFL Hall of Famer, David Williams to 1490 WDAN’s “Saturday Morning Sports Talk.”
As we shared memories that day, Williams invited CIMG to stop by his annual Golf Outing. So this past Friday (Sept 11), we were there; with Williams himself reminding us who benefits from this annual outing.
AUDIO: We’re out here for the Tom Jones Challenger League, and we’re out here for the DASH program. The DASH charity is run by Bonnie Blair; and the Tom Jones Challenger League’s for disabled kids, that we’ve been donating to for the last five years.
And just a few feet away, there she was; the five time Olympic Speed Skating Gold Medalist, Champaign’s own Bonnie Blair. She and her husband, Olympic speed skater Dave Cruikshank, created the DASH speed skating team up in the Milwaukee area because they felt it was needed; on and off the ice.
AUDIO: When we were growing up, and what we’ve learned over the course of all these years, is what sport gave to us. So much about learning how to be a good person, goal setting, being able to look somebody in the eye and going up and shaking their hand. And chasing goals and chasing dreams.
(1st Picture) Six-time Olympic Speed Skating Medalist (5 Gold, 1 Bronze) Bonnie Blair. (2nd Picture) David Williams welcomes all participants to his annual golf outing. (3rd Picture) U of I Women’s Basketball Coach Shauna Green.
Many of Williams’ teammates from that 1983 Rose Bowl season were there, with one of the most interesting being wide receiver and kick returner Don Passmore. He has spent much of his working life as west coast director, overseeing 13 states, for a company that makes protective gear for firefighters. And with that First Responder connection, he was certainly reflective on Friday’s 25-year anniversary of 9-11.
AUDIO: Every channel was breaking into the news, right? Then I saw the second one hit! Never forget it. A haunting……you know seeing people jump out of the windows.
Also from the ’83 season Rose Bowl team, defensive lineman, linebacker, and special teams player Jim Burke. He has wonderful memories of playing aside two Illini defensive legends, Mark Butkus, and 1983 Big Ten MVP Don Thorpe.
AUDIO: (Thorpe)….out of Buffalo Grove. To be the (most valuable) player of the Big 10, as a defensive tackle, you have to play at a very high level. He wasn’t a quarterback, wasn’t a receiver, didn’t touch the ball. He was special.
Names from the 2007 Illini Rose Bowl team were at Williams’ outing as well, including safety Kevin Mitchell. He says the “Juice Williams game” 28-21 win at Ohio State was especially satisfying.
AUDIO: 2005, our first time being in Columbus, we lost 40-2. And in the locker room, I remember Coach Dan Disch was like, “Hey, just remember this. Because when we come back, it’ll be a different story.” And sure enough, when we came back…….and I tell people all the time, it was me as a person, my own first time being in a David vs Goliath moment, right? We weren’t supposedly supposed to win. But we went in that house, Senior Night, a sold out house; and went in and got the “W.” and no one believed it but us.
And among the many golfers there from the U of I basketball program was shooting guard from the 2005 National Championship Game team, Dee Brown. When he looks back on that team 21 years ago, Brown says he remembers the closeness they all had.
AUDIO: We always had that motto, and we lived by it. “We’re family, we’re connected, we do this thing together.” So just going through that run, going through those times with those guys; was an amazing moment, an amazing time. And just thinking about it brings so many emotions.
Today, Dee Brown is the head basketball coach at Roosevelt University in Chicago. And he feels very fortunate.
AUDIO: I’m blessed to have my own program in my home city. We’re building, in Division Two, but I’m blessed just to be a head coach and still be around the game of basketball.
You will hear my full interviews will all of those voices, on the Saturday, September 19th edition of “Saturday Morning Sports Talk.” 8 to 10 AM on 1490 WDAN.
