Canadian freestyle skier, Sarah Burke: September 3, 1982 - January 19, 2012

The accident occurred at the Park City Mountain Resort Eagle superpipe in Park City, Utah on January 10 during a training session. She immediately went into cardiac arrest due to a severed artery, but was resuscitated and airlifted to the University of Utah Hospital where she underwent surgery to repair a tear in her vetebral artery.

Her publicist’ told the media that Burke’s injuries had resulted in “irreversible damage to her brain due to lack of oxygen and blood after cardiac arrest.” She was put on life support, but sadly passed away Thursday surrounded by her family. Her organs and tissues were donated as she requested before her death.

ABC Reports:

Peter Judge, the CEO of Canada’s freestyle team said “Sarah was the one who, in a very positive way, stood in the face of adversity and asked, `Why not? What she would have wanted was for her teammates and others in her sport to stand up and also say, Why not? To benefit from the significant opportunities available to them, being able to compete in the Olympics and the X Games. Those were the things she wanted and cherished and fought for.”

Judge said the accident occurred from a simple 540-degree jump that Burke usually landed routinely.

“It was more the freak nature of how she landed,” Judge said. “The angle of how she hit must have been exactly the right way, to create a very bizarre circumstance.”

Burke won ESPN’s 2001 Award for female skier of the year and was voted 2007′s Best Female Action Sports Athlete at the ESPY awards. She regularly participated in skiing films, including Propaganda, in which she showcased her skills by sliding huge rainbow rails, spinning a huge 540 in the pipe and throwing back-flips with ease.

Burke successfully lobbied International Olympic Committee to have the superpipe skiing event added for the 2014 Sochi Games. Two years ahead of the games, she was considered a potential favorite for the gold medal in Sochi

Burke is survived by her husband, fellow freestyle skier Rory Bushfield, whom she married on September 25, 2010 in Pemberton, British Columbia

Carl Lewis is a popular motivational speaker says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

Because of his popularity, PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency receives numerous inquires on how to book Carl Lewis for speaking engagements, personal appearances, endorsement deals, autograph signings, trade shows, grand openings, commercials and corporate events. To contact Carl Lewis agent, call 1.800.966.1380.

Carl Lewis was instrumental in transforming track and field from its nominal amateur status to its current professional status, that now enables athletes to have more lucrative and longer-lasting careers.

Lewis received the highest praise when he was voted “Sportsman of the Century” by the International Olympic Committee and was named “Olympian of the Century” by Sports Illustrated.

Magic Johnson is one of our more popular speakers says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

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Source: Los Angeles Times Sports

After The Times’ Bill Plaschke asked him about the 1992 Dream Team’s competitive scrimmages during practice, Johnson leapt out of his chair and began demonstrating the moves Michael Jordan used during those intense sessions.

In frame-by-frame detail, Johnson imitated Jordan sticking out his tongue, adjusting his shot in mid-air to avoid being blocked by David Robinson and delivering a 360-degree-spin dunk, a sequence that Johnson said was the “greatest shot I have ever seen.” He also told that story to bolster his argument about why the 2008 Redeem Team would have no shot against the Dream Team

“When you think about the Olympics and the Dream Team, I have to throw it to you,” Johnson said. “Kobe [Bryant] and them won by 22 points. Ehh, 22 points? We won by an average of 44 points. So when they want to step up to that, you tell them we’ll be waiting on them.”

CNN reports that the 49-year old Lewis has scheduled a 2 p.m. news conference in Mount Holly New Jersey to announce his political plans.

The seat Lewis is seeking is now held by Republican Dawn Addiego.

Monday is the filing deadline for anyone who wants to run for the New Jersey Legislature.

Mike Eruzione is a popular speaker says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency

The highlight for Eruzione was scoring the game-winning goal against the heavily favored Soviet Union. That victory against the Soviets advanced the U.S to the finals where they defeated Finland to win the gold medal.

Eruzione retired from competition after the Olympics, despite contract offers from the New York Rangers, stating that he’d reached the pinnacle of achievement already. Eruzione then became a television broadcaster, grabbing the microphone at Rangers and New Jersey Devils games and for the NHL on USA Network, and going on to comment at five Olympic Games, working for both ABC and CBS.

Today, Eruzione is a much sought-after corporate spokesperson and motivational speaker, says PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency.

Bruce Jenner is a top motivational speaker at PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency .

Jenner is definitely a crowd pleaser and by far heads the list as one of sports top motivational speakers, drawing large audiences wherever he speaks, says booking agent Jonathan Wexler of PFP Sports & Celebrity Talent Agency. Bruce is highly respected, especially within the corporate world.

Born on October 28, 1949 in Mount Kisco, New York, Bruce is a former 1976 Olympian gold medalist in the decathlon, which earned him the title of the “World’s Greatest Athlete”.

Jenner is remembered for being handed a large American flag at the 1976 Summer Olympics from a bystander in the audience as he spontaneously ran a celebratory victory lap, a gesture that has been emulated frequently since that time by athletes in other sports from countries around the world

Following his Olympic success, Bruce Jenner appeared on the front of Wheaties brand breakfast cereal as a “Wheaties champion”. He was invited to the White House to meet with President Gerald R. Ford who autographed a political cartoon that featured the pair.

Not only is Bruce a popular sports speaker and motivational speaker, he is also a successful entrepreneur, television personality and author. Outside of his speaking appearances, Jenner also stars in the E! reality series Keeping Up with the Kardashians, along with wife Kris Jenner, stepdaughters Kim, Kourtney, Khloe and stepson Robert, which began in late 2007 and 2008.

Jenner, who recently appeared at the “Celebrity Legend Dinner” as the keynote motivational speaker in Cooksville Tennessee said, “I’m a firm believer in what you’re doing. We live in the most generous country in the world. We are the greatest group of givers in the entire world. We have communities like this that reach down in their pocket to help other people. It just makes me so proud to be part of this country and the great job that we do.”

Outside the corporate world, Bruce also enjoys playing golf, flying planes and racing cars.

PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency is a speakers bureau and top booking agent for sports speakers, athlete appearances, endorsement deals and celebrity bookings. We help assist corporations in booking Bruce Jenner and hiring Bruce Jenner for corporate events, endorsement deals, autograph signings and speaking engagements. Call 1.800.966.1380 for Bruce Jenner speaker and Bruce Jenner booking agent information.

Bruce Jenner is guest speaker at the "Celebrity Legends Dinner" at the Leslie Town Centre, one of the events of the 8th annual Cookeville Regional Golf Classic. Herald-Citizen Photo/Craig Delk

COOKEVILLE, TN – Bruce Jenner, motivational speaker, television reality star and former 1976 Olympian gold medalist in the decathlon, which earned him the title of the “World’s Greatest Athlete”, spoke Thursday night, August 12, at the “Celebrity Legend Dinner” held at the Leslie Town Center.

“The Celebrity Legends Dinner” is one of the highlighting events of the 8th annual Cookeville Regional Golf Classic. Jenner was guest speaker to a sold out crowd of more than 300 as he told stories about his ’76 Olympic gold medal win in the decathlon. The celebrity dinner also included an interview session conducted by Buddy Pearson, local sports authority at the Herald-Citizen.

Proceeds from the event and the tournament benefited the hospital’s Foundation, more specifically the Cancer Care Fund and Caring Hands Fund, which assist patients with various needs including utilities, groceries and medical supplies, and the Save-A-Life Mammogram Project, which provides free mammogram screenings for women who are under or insured.

“I’m a firm believer in what you’re doing,” Jenner said. “We live in the most generous country in the world. We are the greatest group of givers in the entire world. We have communities like this that reach down in their pocket to help other people. It just makes me so proud to be part of this country and the great job that we do.”

Source: Herald-Citizen

Lindsey Vonn endorses Under Armour helping the company expand the womens market

The ad shows Vonn training, lifting weights and standing on a balance ball.

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Magic Johnson speaks at Basketball Hall of Fame honoring the 1992 Olympic Dream Team

Photo of 1992 Summer Olympics Dream Team

Johnson honored Chuck Daly (July 20, 1930 – May 9, 2009), who coached the Dream Team to the men’s’ basketball gold medal at the 1992 Summer Olympics.

Johnson went on to say, “I want to thank all these guys because it was my greatest basketball thrill was to play with all of them and to go into the Olympics and win the Gold medal.”

“Last but not least I want to thank Michael Jordan for setting the tone for us and a winning attitude the greatest player when he came in the door we knew it was all about business.”

Johnson went on to thank the rest of the dream team including Charles Barkley, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, John Stockton, Karl Malone, Clyde Drexler, Chris Mullin, Scottie Pippen and Larry Bird.

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After Magic spoke, it was Larry Bird’s turn to speak.

Bird made his acceptance speech and went on to quip about the 1960′s dream team:

“There’s a lot of debate going around, who had the best team, the ones in the ’60s or the one in ’92,” Bird said. “I don’t know who had the best team, but I know that the team in 1960 was a hell of a lot tougher than we were. Because I couldn’t imagine the ’92 team getting in covered wagons for eight days [the crowd starts laughing], going across the country, jumping in the Atlantic Ocean , swimming for six days, then walking 3,000 miles to the Coliseum in Rome … “For a dollar a day!”

The 1960 U.S. Olympic gold medal winners were inducted into the Hall of Fame as well. However, unlike the 1992 Dream Team, the 1960 team were not allowed to play in the Olympics as pros. Even at amateur status back then they still blew away the competition by over 40 points a game, and had future NBA Hall of Fame inductees like Jerry West and Oscar Robinson leading the team.

Lindsey Vonn wins gold medal for United States in downhill in Vancouver Olympics

Vonn, who has been plagued with a bruised right shin, seemed to have no problem racing down Franz’s Downhill in 1 minute, 44.19 seconds taking her to a gold medal victory for the United States.

“This is everything I’ve wanted and hoped for,” an emotional Vonn said.

Mancuso finished 0.56 seconds behind Vonn, and Elisabeth Goergl of Austria took the bronze medal, 1.46 seconds back.

“She had the weight of the world on her,” said Thomas Vonn, Lindsey’s husband and personal coach. “People were basically hanging the medal around her neck before the start. That’s incredibly hard to deal with.”

“It was one of the most clutch runs I’ve ever seen,” Thomas Vonn said.

Lindsey Vonn is now considered the favorite to win the super-combined race which is scheduled for Thursday.