I love hearing from the NBA and WNBA stars in the PLAY channel under Being A Champion. Check it out, the videos are truly inspiring. So, I thought I'd put forth a couple more Champions who are doing great things, from right here in my own back yard.... Diana Taurasi (basketball guard for the WNBA champion Phoenix Mercury) is pictured with her team on the latest Wheaties cereal box. Dee brings success everywhere she has played (3 NCAA titles, 2 Naismith Player of the Year Awards, Olympic Gold Medalist with the 2004 U.S. Women's basketball team, first round WNBA draft pick, Rookie of the Year, and this past summer completed her first trip to the WNBA Finals... with a triumphant win!) Congrats, Dee. Chino Hills puts out some great Champions!

Leah O'Brien-Amico, three time gold medalist in Olympic Womens Softball and three NCAA Championships with the University of Arizona, continues to serve our community, raise her children, and inspire through her motivational clinics and speaking engagements. Coming in February, Leah will be featured on a new sports show by Trinity Broadcasting called "More than Conquerors". Her role is all about setting the character bar higher. "Putting conviction, character, and success on the back of personal integrity, adding that sports and success does not define who she is, rather it is what she does." Another great role model!

Also, from the Chino Valley and a Champion in his own right... Chad Cordero, pitcher for the Washington Nationals Major League Baseball Team exemplifies never forgetting where you came from. Chad has been recognized many times over for his financial contributions to Youth Sports, however, even greater than finances, every time Chad comes home, he makes a point to stop by one of the local schools to spend time inspiring the kids... he recently honored the Boys' Republic cross country team for their League Championship and Sportsmanship Award. Boys' Republic is a private, non-profit school and treatment center helping troubled teenagers become productive, responsible citizens. Now THAT is what great champions are made of! Thanks for being a great role model, Chad!

Lest we forget Geoff Blum, whose 14th inning home run propelled the Chicago White Sox to its third game win in the 2005 World Series. After 5 hours and 41 minutes, Geoff won the longest game in World Series history with a tiebreaking, two-out solo homer, and Chicago beat the Houston Astros to move within a win of a sweep and its first title since 1917. What's Geoff doing these days... my best guess is running after his triplets who should be about 2 1/2 years old now! No, really, those Astros knew a good thing when they saw it.... the Astros just signed Geoff (free agent) to a one-year, $1.1-million contract, plus incentives. Looks like Geoff will be headed back to Houston!

Even though I could go on and on, as there are many more CHAMPIONS from our little Chino Hills/Valley community... it wouldn't be complete unless I mention up-and-coming Sedrick Ellis, a senior defensive tackle for the USC Trojans, named last week as the 2007 Pac-10 Conference Defensive Player of the Year. Congrats, Sed! An All-American as a junior, "Sedrick has been one of the best defensive linemen in the nation so far this season" (usc.scout.com). We'll be watching to see how Sedrick parlays his celebrity and does his community proud! (The Trojans will face the Univ of Illinois in the Rose Bowl game Jan 1)