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(shù)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(shù)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(jīng)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(chǎn)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(wǎng)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(jīng)歷最終使我成為一支大球隊的老板。