00:00I've been fortunate. I've had just so many incredible mentors in my life.
00:05I mean, obviously starting with my parents who were just two amazing, amazing people.
00:10And then I was lucky to have some really important coaches in my life when I was younger who I
00:16think kind of put me on this path.
00:17And then getting to Illinois, Ron Gunther was the athletic director when I was a football player there.
00:23And he's remained a mentor and a friend.
00:25And then you're just fortunate to have people come into your life who help shine a light on the path
00:30and show you the direction that you want to go.
00:33And now to be here is really a full circle moment.
00:36I was joking with some people last night.
00:38The last time I came to the Final Four in Indianapolis was in 1997.
00:43A couple of buddies and I crashed the gate.
00:45We didn't have tickets.
00:46We snuck into the arena.
00:48And I ended up, we snuck in about three hours early.
00:52I sat in a toilet stall for like an hour waiting for them to open the door so that I
00:56could fill in with all the other folks.
00:59And now to be here with a credential and to have a chance to actually sit on press row and
01:05have a team sitting there or up on the court is really pretty surreal for me.
01:10And obviously to do it at a place that I care so much about and that has changed my life
01:15through my time as an athlete, a student, and then also a law degree from Illinois.
01:20So it's a really important place for me and to be able to contribute to putting a team back in
01:26the Final Four is really a meaningful moment for me.
Comments