Sports & Celebrity Newswire

Posts Tagged ‘Motivational Speaker’

Jeff Locker Motivational Speaker

 Jeffrey Locker, a motivational speaker from Long Island, New York, was found strangled and stabbed in his car, in East Harlem on July 16, 2009. Locker was found with his hands tied behind his back and a cord wrapped around his neck and tied to the headrest of his car and stabbed in the chest when police found his body. Locker phoned his wife at their suburban home Wednesday night, telling her he had a flat tire and he’d be a little late. When he didn’t return, she called police.

Locker was found hours later, bound and stabbed to death in his car near a city housing project in what appears to have been an attempted robbery. He was found with his hands bound behind his back with an electrical cord. He died from multiple stab wounds to the chest, with injuries to his heart, lung, liver and aorta, the medical examiner’s office said. Police wouldn’t say why they believed it was an attempted robbery.

Locker had told his wife that two people helped him with the flat on his midsize station wagon and that he was going to drop them off before returning home, possibly from New Jersey, police said. But it didn’t appear the car, a 2007 Dodge Magnum, had a flat tire when it was discovered in East Harlem near the Wagner Houses, a 22-building complex with about 5,000 residents.

Investigators also were looking to talk to witnesses who told reporters that they saw Locker at a nearby deli buying condoms and bottled water around 3 a.m. Thursday and that they had seen the car there before.

Jeff Locker was an inspirational keynote speaker known as the business spiritualist: he was committed to bringing more peace, joy and fulfillment to sales people, managers, executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals

Locker helped business people and professionals as a Life Fulfillment Counselor to get out of their own way and move to their next level of success in all areas of their lives.

Locker’s wife, Lois Locker, left their Long Island home early Friday without speaking to reporters. She previously referred reporters to her husband’s Web site, which describes him as dedicated to “bringing spirituality into the business world.”

Jeff Locker, who had three children, offered workshops on dealing with stress, frustration and anxiety in the workplace.

Major companies around the country hired him to speak, the site says. He also co-authored a spiritual self-help novel called “Teachings for a New World” and was a radio talk show host, it says.

“Jeff finds balance in his life by being an avid golfer and a devoted, participating father to his two sons and his little princess,” the site says.

We are saddened by this news and wish to express our condolences to Jeff Locker’s wife, family and friends. This is a horrible tragedy.

PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency is a speakers bureau and top booking agent for motivational speakers, inspirational speakers, sports stars and celebrities. For more information call 800.966.1380

Kurt Warner

People often ask me who my favorite athletes are to deal with. I always give them the same answer…there are a lot of great guys, far too many to mention. But definitely high on the list is Kurt Warner, the quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

A lot of athletes change over the years due to their success and wealth. Not Warner. He’s the same guy today as he was 10 years ago. He’s a devout Christian, a big family guy and very philanthropic. In fact, a couple of weeks ago, he traveled to his hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, to assist Habitat For Humanity in rebuilding more than 20 homes for families that had been affected by the devastating floods of 2008. He wasn’t there for just a photo-op – he got his hands dirty and worked hard like everyone else.

Warner has enjoyed a rags-to-riches career that couldn’t have been scripted any better by a Hollywood director.

After finishing his college career at Northern Iowa, Warner attended the Green Bay Packers training camp in 1994 but was released before the regular season began. It was at this point that he famously stocked shelves at a Hy-Vee grocery store in Cedar Falls, Iowa for $5.50 an hour. With no NFL teams calling, Warner played for the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League beginning in 1995. He was named to the AFL’s All-Arena first team in both 1996 and 1997 as he led the Barnstormers to Arena Bowl appearances in both seasons.

In 1998, Kurt Warner was signed by the St. Louis Rams and was allocated to the Amsterdam Admirals of NFL Europe, where he led the league in touchdowns and passing yards. Going into the 1999 season, Warner was the Rams backup quarterback but took over the starting job when Trent Green was sidelined with an injury. The rest, as they say, is history. Warner put together one of the greatest seasons by a quarterback in NFL history, throwing for 4,353 yards with 41 touchdown passes and a completion rate of 65.1%. He went onto lead the Rams to a Super Bowl victory over the Tennessee Titans and was named both the Super Bowl MVP and NFL MVP. He became the sixth player to win both awards in the same year, joining Bart Starr, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Montana, Emmitt Smith and Steve Young.

In 2001, Kurt Warner enjoyed another career year when he led the Rams to the Super Bowl and won his second NFL MVP award. For the next several years, his career was up and down. However, last year, he returned to old form when he led the Cardinals to their first division title since 1975 and first-ever Super Bowl appearance. He recently re-signed with the Cardinals for two more years and will likely be inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame after he retires.

Away from the gridiron, he’s a much sought-after Christian speaker and sports motivational speaker.

PFP Sports and Celebrity Booking Agency is a speakers bureau and top booking agent for sports stars, football speakers, celebrity speakers, athlete appearances, endorsements and corporate entertainment. For more information call 800.966.1380

Deion Sanders

Professional athletes all have a special talent that very few people possess. Still others have a talent that can just be described as a freak of nature. A few athletes come to mind – two-sport stars Bo Jackson and Brian Jordan and baseball Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, who was drafted by all three major sports out of college. But one of the best was without a doubt Deion Sanders.

Nicknamed “Prime Time” during his All-America football days at Florida State, Deion  is the only athlete to have ever played in both a Super Bowl and World Series. He is considered one of the greatest cover cornerbacks ever. He played for the Atlanta Falcons, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Ravens, winning the Super Bowl with the 49ers and Cowboys. He was a nine-time All-Pro and was named to the 1990’s NFL All-Decade Team.

In Major League Baseball, he played a nine-year, part-time career, participating in 641 games with four teams – the New York Yankees, Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. During the 1989 season, he became the first player in history to hit a home run and score a touchdown in the same week.

Deion was considered a better football player than baseball player. His reputation was so great that opposing offensive coordinators almost always specifically accounted for him in their game plan.[He was widely known to shut down “his” half of the field, causing most quarterbacks to essentially ignore the receiver he was covering. He allegedly ran a 4.16 in the 40-yard dash, making him the second fastest in the NFL to Darrell Green.

Deion also occasionally played offense. He and Bill Dudley are the only players in NFL history to score a touchdown six different ways – interception return, punt return, kickoff return, receiving, rushing and a fumble recovery.

Deion will mostly be remembered by his “Prime Time” persona and for “high-stepping” it into the end zone followed by his touchdown dance celebrations. The interesting thing about “Prime Time” was that it was just a marketing ploy. He used it to become not only a fan favorite but also one of the highest-paid athletes of his time.

 Deion had some difficult times in the late 1990’s that led to him becoming born-again and an ordained minister. He also wrote an interesting book published in 1998  entitled “Power, Money & Sex: How Success Almost Ruined My Life.”

 Today, Deion is a analyst for the NFL Network. He’s also an a highly-acclaimed Christian Speaker and motivational sports speaker. I recently hired him to speak at a client’s sales meeting and he received higher ratings for his speech than any other speaker.

If you would like to find out how to hire Deion Sanders for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Deion Sanders booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top sports and celebrity booking agent for athletes, entertainers, sports stars and celebrities.

Find more football speakers and nfl speakers.

Danny Gokey is back in his native town of Milwaukee for a few days at the Merrill Hills Country Club, home of The Greg Jennings Celebrity Golf Tournament, before preparing for The American Idol Summer Tour. Danny is still a big hit – so big that Greg Jennings, wide receiver of the Green Bay Packers, chose to give a 200K grant to Sophia’s Heart, Danny’s organization for his late wife. Milwaukee’s Habitat for Humanity will also benefit from the outing. The organization will receive 50% of the proceeds including money from auctioned items.

Danny confirmed that he is meeting with the 19 Record’s president to sit down soon with Sony National. Kris Allen, Adam Lambert and Allison Iraheta all have signed contracts. I am sure Danny will have no trouble getting a contract as well.

If you would like to find out how to hire Danny Gokey for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, request Danny Gokey booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity booking agent for American Idols, entertainers, sports stars and celebrities.

Gale Sayers

I recently hired Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Gale Sayers for a speaking engagement and was reminded of Brian’s Song, one of the most touching movies ever made and something that many people are reminded of when they think of Gale.

The 1971 made-for-television movie told the story of Sayers friendship with teammate Brian Piccolo, a relationship that shattered racial boundaries during a time of racial tension. Piccolo played four seasons with the Bears and, in 1969, began coughing early in the season. On November 16 in Atlanta, after scoring a fourth-quarter touchdown in a 48-31 loss to the Falcons, Piccolo removed himself from the plane, bothered by a persistent cough and chest pains.

 Two days later, a chest x-ray discovered a tumor in his lungs. He underwent surgery to remove the malignant tumor on November 28, at which time the doctor discovered the cancer had spread. Piccolo began chemotherapy treatments and spent Christmas at home. In April of 1970 his left lung and left breast were removed.

Six weeks later, Sayers was honored with the George Halas Award as the league’s most courageous player for the 1969 season. At the ceremony in New York, Sayers gave an emotional speech about Piccolo. Said Sayers, “He has the heart of a giant and that rare form of courage that allows him to kid himself and his opponent – cancer. He has the mental attitude that makes me proud to have a friend who spells out the word ‘courage’ 24 hours a day of his life. . . . I love Brian Piccolo and I’d like all of you to love him, too. Tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.”

Piccolo, bothered by chest pain, was re-admitted to the hospital in early June and died on June 16, 1970. Each year, the Bears honor his memory by presenting the Brian Piccolo award to the rookie and veteran who best exemplify the courage, loyalty, teamwork, dedication and sense of humor displayed by Piccolo.

Speaking of Sayers, he went onto become one of the greatest running backs in NFL history and is considered one of top two running backs along with Walter Payton in Chicago Bears history. In 1977, Sayers was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and is still the youngest inductee in the Hall’s history. In 1994, the Bears retired his number 40 at Soldier Field along with the number 51 of his teammate, legendary linebacker Dick Butkus. In 1999, The Sporting News ranked him #21 on its list of the 100 Greatest Football Players.

Today, he runs Sayers, an IT company that partners with top hardware and software companies to provide information technology consulting services and solutions. Sayers is also an accomplished motivational sports speaker as well as cancer speaker.

If you would like to find out how to hire inspirational speaker and cancer speaker Gale Sayers for a speaking engagement, appearance, endorsement, autograph signing or special event, you can request Gale Sayers booking agent information from PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency. PFP is a top celebrity and sports booking agent for athletes, sports stars, motivational speakers, entertainers and celebrities.

Jim Morris Speaker

Looking to book a speaker who can inspire, motivate and captivate your audience? If so, you should consider Jim Morris as your next speaker.  Considered one of the top motivational speakers on the circuit today, Jim Morris gets rave reviews for his appearances wherever he goes.

 Jim’s story was the inspiration for the movie “The Rookie”, a Disney blockbuster released in 2004 that starred Randy Quaid. The movie won an ESPY for Sports Film of the Year. Sports Illustrated also voted it one of the five greatest baseball movies of all-time.

 Jim’s childhood dream of becoming a major leaguer was cut short cut short due to injuries and, admittedly, a lack of maturity. Eleven years after his retirement from baseball, Jim bet the high school baseball team he was coaching that if they won the District Championship, he would try out for a major league team. As they say, the rest is history. Jim’s team won the District Championship, he threw 12 consecutive pitches at 98 mph during a tryout and was signed by the Tampa Bay Devil Rays. Three months later in front of family and his high school team, Jim achieved his dream and struck out All-Star Royce Clayton with a 98 mph fastball.

Jim’s speech resonates with a range of audiences. As a testament to his broad appeal, below are a few examples of recent events where Jim has appeared…

-  As a Christian speaker, he spoke at a church’s Easter weekend services in California, sharing his faith and story.

 -  As an inspirational speaker, he spoke at school fundraiser in Tennessee that raised money to build a baseball field

 -  As a motivational speaker, he spoke at a sales meeting in Iowa attended by high-level executives of a major corporation.

 Jim can tailor his message to the audience. Among Jim’s speaking topics are…

• Never Giving Up on a Dream
• Finding a Mentor and Becoming a Leader
• Taking Advantage of Second Chances
• Remembering Who You Are
• Keeping Your Promises
• Learning How to Laugh at Yourself

Below is a recent email I received from a satisfied client…“He was excellent. There were many compliments!!  The group really enjoyed his message He had them laughing. Thanks so much.  He really delivered!  Just right for my audience.”

Jonathan Wexler is a sports and celebrity  booking agent for PFP Sports and Celebrity Talent Agency.  If you  are interest in booking Jim Morris for a speaking engagement, appearance or endorsement, please contact us at 800.966.1380.