Ice Man :: Nice Man

The Ice Man, The Nice Man. That's the way longtime friend, Marc Cross, introduced the NBA Hall of Famer.

George Gervin is about as nice as they get. At his Celebrity Roast held last night in downtown San Antonio, one NBA legend after another stepped up to the mike and sang the same tune: "How can you roast a man who has been so good to all of us?"

From "Dr. J"Julius Irving, Clyde Drexler, Bill Russell and Sean Elliot to Darryl Dawkins, Rick Barry, Bob Lanier, John Lucas, and Earl "The Pearl" Monroe, they came to honor the coolest man ever to play the game.

What many fans around the world may not know about is the winning shots Mr. Gervin has made off the court that will last long beyond his scoring records. The George Gervin Youth Center was created to give every kid a chance to succeed. As George puts it, "I learned a long time ago, the every part of success starts with an education. I want these kids to have the chance I didn't have."

But, that's just the tip of the ICEberg.

George Gervin has impacted the lives of countless fellow human beings through his philanthropy and hard work and with a little help from his friends. A senior living facility, technology learning center, and daycare are all part of his vision and mission to help the world around him.

One of the most touching moments of the evening was a video greeting by George Gervin, Jr., who was unable to attend, telling his dad how much he loved him, what he meant to him, and signing off as "Ice Cube".

George Gervin stands for what is good in all of us. May his ministry serve to inspire you to give back with all your God-give talent and remind that one must be poor to enjoy the luxury of giving.

I am proud and blessed to have George Gervin as a friend and stand in line behind all who admire the one they call the Ice Man, The Nice Man.

Wizard of Words

Paul Williams has a secret.

I had the pleasure of reconnecting with the famous songwriter recently at the ASCAP Latin Music Awards in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We first met in Los Angeles when he appeared on my KMPC Radio show.

His timeless words can have you singing for hours and it's there's no telling how many have associated a memory or emotion with his precious lyrics.

As I write, I look out on an unusually cold and wet morning in San Antonio and remember, "What I feel has come and gone before. No need to talk it out. We know what it's all about. Hangin' around, nothing to do buy frown. Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down."

Another of his classics, We've Only Just Begun, first recorded by the Carpenters, has become anthem for newlyweds around the world.

Just An Old Fashioned Love Song (Three Dog Night), Evergreen (written with and sung by Barbara Streisand), You and Me, Against The World (Helen Reddy), and one of my personal favorites, Waking Up Alone, are but a sampling of how his pen has touched listeners around the world.

As this little giant once said, "There are those who listen and those who wait to talk."

So, what is Paul's secret?

Is it that he proudly celebrates 18 years of sobriety after, "misplacing a decade," and now speaks of life, love, and creativity, having been recognized by UCLA as a Certified Drug Rehabilitation Counselor?

No, Mr. Williams' real secret can be found in the lyrics of what is surely his greatest work to date, Rainbow Connection, written for Kermit the Frog. You see, anyone who could give birth to the thought, "Who said that ev'ry wish would be heard and answered when we wished on the morning star? Somebody thought of that, and someone believed it. Look what it's done so far," will surely be forever young.

Paul Williams has not only discovered the Fountain of Youth, he's provided us with a musical map.

He continues to look at life through the twinkle in his eye, comforting those of us who still believe in magic, reminding, all the while, that if we never give up, someday we'll find it, the Rainbow Connection. The lovers, the dreamers and a wizard named Paul.

I am convinced that God places two kinds of people in our path daily: Those who are angels and those who are angels-in-training. Our job is to determine the difference and act accordingly.

Though Your Heart Is Aching

"Smile, though your heart is aching. Smile even though it's breaking."

I first heard those words, sung by Nat King Cole, while listening to the radio at a very young age. To this day, it is one of my mother’s favorite tunes and throughout the years, I have enjoyed sharing it, at just the right moment, with my own radio audience.

One day, I made it a point to research the story of such precious words and a haunting melody that for decades have given comfort to so many. What I found, while not surprising, was a revelation of a perfect explanation. You see, the man behind the inspiration for these timeless thoughts spent a lifetime bestowing his gift of laughter on the world.

He was Charlie Chaplin.

Although Chaplin wrote the music for the song while scoring his acclaimed film, “Modern Times”, in 1934, it wasn’t until 20 years later that songwriters Geoffrey Parsons and John Turner penned the touching poetry. The lyrics are indeed a tribute to Chaplin’s eternal optimism in the film and his joie de vivre in real life.

“If you smile through your fear and sorrow
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You’ll see the sun come shining through for you”

Natalie Cole has shared that her father, Nat, was given the song personally by Mr. Chaplin. The recording rose to become a top ten hit 1954 and officially became Chaplin’s signature theme around the world.

You might say that, Smile is an arm around your shoulder, a hand on your hand, and a reminder from someone who cares to,

“Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness.
Although a tear may be ever so near.”

In the final scene of "Modern Times", Chaplin and his girlfriend, both on and off screen, Paulette Goddard are seen sitting by the side of the lonely road with nothing but the clothes they are wearing. She starts to cry and laments, "What's the use of trying?" He gets closer, holds her in his arms and says, "Buck up - never say die. We'll get along!"

Charlie Chaplin once said, "To truly laugh, you must be able to take your pain, and play with it!" He is a man who lived this lesson and reveled in the belief that “life is still worthwhile, if you’ll just smile.”

Watch the classic seen.