Saturday, April 4, 2009

Photos from the 40 Under 40

Here are some photos from last night's dinner... the video will be a few days but we will get it up:




Robbbie Wows the Crowd

Last night Robbie took the stage at the 40 Under 40 Awards following an introduction from Paul Brooks and a salute from Lynn Swann and a standing ovation from the crowd.

He then went on to give a speech (only one so honored). We hope to get the video back from Sports Business Journal so we can post it up here on the site, along with pictures of the event...

In the meantime, here is the speech:
THANK YOU LADIES AND GENTLEMEN…
THIS IS A COMPLETE SURPRISE AND YET MIRACULOUSLY I HAVE A SPEECH PREPARED FOR ME COURTESY OF MY BROTHER ARNIE, WHOM I UNDERSTAND IS LOBBYING FOR AN OVER 40 AWARD, SINCE HE TURNS 40 AT THE END OF THE MONTH.

OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE, AND BE A PART OF MANY OF THE MOST INCREDIBLE EVENTS IN SPORTS THROUGH MY TIME AT ABC, THE NFL AND FOR THE LAST SEVEN YEARS AT NASCAR.

YET DESPITE EVERYTHING THAT I HAVE SEEN, NOTHING COULD HAVE EVER PREPARED ME FOR WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH THE LAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

ON JANUARY 22ND, 2009, THE SAME DAY THAT SPORTS BUSINESS JOURNAL APPARENTLY SENT OUT MY NOTIFICATION OF BEING AMONG THE FORTY UNDER 40, I WAS PACKING TO HEAD TO DAYTONA BEACH FOR THE ROLEX 24 HOUR RACE, WHEN, I FELL TO THE FLOOR OF MY APARTMENT. (PAUSE) I SUFFERED A RUPTURE OF AN ANEURYSM IN MY BRAIN.… I WAS FOUND ON THE FLOOR OF MY CLOSET BY MY CONTRACTOR CRAIG WHO I HAD BROUGHT IN TO DO WORK ON MY NEW PLACE IN CHARLOTTE. HAD CRAIG NOT FOUND ME WHEN HE DID YOU WOULD HAVE BEEN RECOGNIZING ME POSTHUMOUSLY, AND SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT AND ASK THAT WE RECOGNIZE HIS QUICK ON THE SPOT HEROISM THAT SAVED MY LIFE. (PAUSE)

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK DOCTOR TIM ADAMSON, AND ALL THE PEOPLE AT PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL FOR GETTING ME OUT OF THE THERE AND THE REHAB CENTER IN ONLY 5 WEEKS.

THANK YOU ALSO TO MY COLLEAGUES AT NASCAR AND OUR PARTNERS WHO HAVE PROVIDED ME WITH SO MUCH LOVE AND SUPPORT. I GREATLY LOOK FORWARD TO BEING ABLE TO GET BACK TO WORK WITH ALL OF YOU IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE.

LASTLY, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS. I WANT YOU TO KNOW THAT I LOVE AND APPRECIATE ALL OF YOU FOR WHAT YOU HAVE SACRIFICED AND PUT UP WITH AND I PROMISE IT IS SOMETHING I WILL NEVER FORGET.
THANKS AND GOOD NIGHT !!!