想大家能夠看得出來,我很高興來到這里。事實上,也許我比在座的各位更感到高興,因為來到這里的大多數人可能都沒有想到自己有一天會成為名人堂的成員。相信我,當我21歲的時候我從未想過自己將來有一天能夠與“魔術師”約翰遜,拉里·伯德,還有邁克爾·喬丹享有同樣的光環(huán)。在高中時,雖然我在球場上非常爭強好勝,但是我并不是有天賦的運動員。所以我開始努力學習,最后考上了懷俄明州大學并獲得了獎學金。大學期間,雖然我經常把時間花在讀書上,但也總會抽出時間去看懷俄明州的球賽。
A lot of people don't know this, as a matter of fact -- Wyoming won the NCAA basketballchampionship (in 1943).
估計大家都不知道,懷俄明隊曾榮獲過美國大學體育總會籃球賽的冠軍。
After my university graduation at Wyoming, I went to graduate school. I had a lot of offers, butI chose the one with the best athletic program: USC. I became a die-hard basketball fan, withearly memories of Walt Hazzard kicking the crap out of my beloved Trojans.
我從懷俄明州大學畢業(yè)之后,便去讀了研究生。當時我收到了很多學校的錄取通知書,可是我最終選擇了能提供最好運動項目的學校——美國南加州大學。之后我成為了鐵桿籃球迷。記得那時沃玆·哈澤德把我心愛的特洛伊人隊打得很慘。
I was awarded a PhD in chemistry, and immediately went out to seek my future. Made a lot ofmoney in real estate, and after 15 years I started to dabble in minor league sports. At onetime, I owned a tennis team, a soccer team, a volleyball team, and promoted boxing matches.This entrance into the entrepreneur's side of sports eventually led to me becoming a majorleague owner.
我獲得了化學博士學位,之后馬上走出校門開始了未來的征程。我在房地產業(yè)嫌了很多錢,15年后,我開始涉足小型聯(lián)盟運動。有一段時間,我擁有一支網球隊、一支足球隊、一支排球隊,甚至組織過多次拳擊比賽。體育賽事企業(yè)家的這段經歷最終使我成為一支大球隊的老板。