Azzi Camp 2013 - Be Your Best

Here's a video from my recent basketball camp!

3 things I told the campers:

1. Be yourself
2. Have a vision
3. If you fall down, get back up

USF Azzi Camp 2012

It's camp time! We just finished our USF Azzi Camp and we begin another week in Mill Valley this week.

 It's exciting for me to see how many young girls and boys in the Bay Area are playing basketball and loving it!

 We had a surprise guest at our USF camp. Rick Welts, President of the Warriors toured USF with me to explore the possibility of having a WNBA team play at USF while the Warriors build their arena. I am thrilled at the possibility of a team in the Bay Area!

Visiting the Kids of Northern Light School

My team at USF and I visited the Northern Light School in Oakland recently. We had an incredible experience with the kids! They sang to us, we danced in their “circle” and we laughed and cried! It was an emotional experience to feel the love and gratitude at the school.

Many of the kids don’t know their parents, but Northern Light provides them with hope and a chance at a successful life. The school is K-8th grade, but they have a 98% graduation rate from college!

They boast a Navy Seal, Doctors, Teachers, Lawyers, and amazing young graduates who are making the world a better place as they fulfill their dreams! We left completely inspired and hopeful about our own lives. Thank you Northern Light!!

Be Your Best!

We just finished a week of the 3rd Annual Azzi Camp in Mill Valley (here's a post from last year's event). We had 115 boys and girls. It was a blast! Our staff was outstanding and the kids were tremendous!

I hope they all left loving basketball and having a desire to, as our motto states, “Be Your Best.” I feel lucky to live in a community where kids are very active and there is so much support for our public schools.

'Impossible is Nothing'

I attended an “Impossible is Nothing” lunch at The Northern Light School in Oakland on Friday. Dana Carvey was the lunch speaker.

John Novich, one of our amazing local parents, is an ambassador for the school. He reached out to me when I moved to the Bay Area to help support the school. I have also had the opportunity to speak to the kids at Northern Light.


I remember the moment I arrived at the gym, the kids were sitting in a circle holding hands singing “Impossible is Nothing.” I was shocked at my response — uncontrollable tears! There was a feeling of pure love in that gym.

The kids who attend Northern Light would likely not otherwise have a chance at a first class education. They are from very difficult family environments — some parents even on drugs or in jail. Yet their graduation rates are simply outstanding!!

What I love about the school is that they teach the kids to be responsible citizens of the world. While we were there for Dana’s talk, they raised $212 dollars for relief for Haiti. While that may not seem like a lot, these kids do not have much at all, but they fully understand that they have been given the opportunity of a lifetime at Northern Light.

So, when John asked Dana Carvey to speak at the school, he gladly obliged. His message to the kids was wonderful. He talked about not giving up and counting your successes by how much you fail. He also talked about how much time it takes to be good at anything. I left the lunch very inspired by Dana and his story.

Annual Holiday Basketball Clinic

Each year I lead a holiday clinic for our local CYO — Mt. Carmel. We had a great turnout and I really enjoyed working with the kids. It brings me a lot of joy to see so many boys and girls here playing basketball.

The parents here are fantastic too — so supportive. Many of them volunteer to coach and work with youth on a regular basis. It was a great day!

WNBA Cares About Kids

I was in Phoenix for the WNBA Final — Phoenix vs. Indiana. The game was outstanding!!! Phoenix won in overtime, 120-116. The skill level and scoring ability of both teams may be the best I have ever seen, and I am not easily impressed!

I was in town for our WNBA Cares event at the Lincoln Phoenix YMCA. Toyota, the Phoenix Mercury and the WNBA partnered for a $50,000 renovation of the reading and learning center at the “Y.”

I emceed the event and my good friend and colleague NBA Legend Bob Lanier came to support the cause. He is one of the most outstanding people I have ever met!

There were about 50 kids chosen based on their good grades to be a part of the program and to be the first to use the center. I love these events because the kids can’t stop smiling!

Visiting Vancouver

I had a great time in Vancouver with the Raptors for a kids clinic and a 3 on 3 tournament. I was with Jay Triano, the Raptors head coach. We worked with local youth and spoke to them about the importance of working hard and having a vision for success.

Jay was fabulous to work with! For someone with his success both as a player and as a coach to be so humble was outstanding. I have been to Vancouver a number of times, but have never had time to enjoy the stunning scenery. It has to be one of the most dramatic, beautiful cities in the world! I love the way the Mountains fall into the sea. Simply gorgeous!

WNBA All-Star Weekend

I had the opportunity to attend the WNBA All-Star festivities over the weekend. What an amazing time!

In the above photo, I'm standing with Mike Thibault head coach of the WNBA's Connecticut Sun (2008 WNBA Coach of the Year) and two young ladies who introduced me at a WNBA Cares event.

Here I am working with kids as part of WNBA Cares Toyota Project Rebound in Windham, Conn. Toyota and the WNBA partnered to renovate the boys and girls club basketball court. It was gorgeous! I emceed the event and had the pleasure of working with the all stars on hand for the clinic — including 5-time all star Tamika Catchings.

Here's a photo of me and a Fox reporter at the WNBA All-Star Game.

It was a great weekend. I've got a ton of fun stuff coming up in the next little while, and I'll be sure to keep you all in the loop here. Thanks for reading.

A Great Week at Camp

I had a great time with the kids, 3rd-8th grade boys and girls, at my basketball camp last week.

Trooper Johnson, Paralympian, played one-on-one against the kids and never lost!!! Amazing skills!

Keith Smart spoke to the kids too. He is the assistant coach of the Golden State Warriors and played for Indiana University. He is known for his last-second buzzer beater against Syracuse to win the NCAA Championship in 1987.

I was very impressed with the staff and the kids. I even got out there and played. Camp brings out the kid in me! We had a fun and exciting week!!! Here are a few photos from the camp.

Trooper Johnson demonstrating his amazing skills.


Keith Smart talks to the campers.

A New Reading & Learning Center in Seattle

I was in Seattle yesterday for the dedication of a new Reading and Learning Center.

I emceed the event for the WNBA and the Seattle Storm. Sue Bird and Swin Cash were two of the Storm players who participated in the event. The Storm partnered with WNBA Cares, and Pitney Bowes sponsored the renovation of the center.

Kids from disadvantaged situations will have an opportunity to read and learn in a wonderful setting. I was blown away by the before and after photos of the center. They did so much work, painting and building to create such and incredible place for the kids.

A funny moment happened when I was introducing the VP for Pitney Bowes. As soon as I said the word “Vice-President,” one little boy yelled, “You mean OBAMA!” Absolutely hysterical! I took a deep breath and said, “well, we tried to get Obama here, but he was busy today.”

The kids were really sweet. They are our future, so I am thrilled when I can be a part of events like this.

Teaching Kids That Good Health's No. 1

I had an opportunity to visit Encinal High in Alameda, California, on Friday. John Murray, the Warriors strength and conditioning coach, and I were speaking to the kids about their health and how important it is that you take care of your body by eating right and exercising.

Here's a brief video of my talk as well as a couple of photos (got to love the USANA sweatshirt! This may become my trademark!)

A Great Day

I spoke yesterday at Mill Valley Middle School. I spoke to the kids about working hard and following their dreams and goals.

The biggest message I hope they remember is to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and move on when they fall or fail. We all make mistakes and get “cut” or make a bad grade. The point of life is to simply be your best and to always give your best effort.

I also spoke to them about being healthy and active. I was a role model myself, wearing my USANA sweatshirt. Education at this age about supplements is vital, especially for young potential athletes who are so easily influenced by the “wrong” stuff.

It was a great day!

Helping the Northern Light School

Good morning, everyone.

What a great weekend. Michael Johnson, an Olympic sprinter who's won four gold medals, and I are involved in helping raise funds for the Northern Light School in Oakland, California. The accompanying photo is from a fundraiser we took part in.

The school is privately funded, so they depend on generous donors for their survival. The kids are all from very difficult circumstances, such as no parents, or parents on drugs or who are homeless.

Northern Light provides hope and a first-class education for kids who would never have this kind of opportunity. 97% of their graduates go on to earn college degrees. The success rate is astounding!

It is my pleasure to be able to help the school in any way. Michael is a first-class gentleman who has taken his fame to make the world a better place.