Perhaps we all can learn a lesson from Jim MacLaren. That is certainly the goal of the man who has had to fight his way back from not one, but two devastating accidents in his life.
At the age of 14, MacLaren found acceptance at Vermont Academy, an exclusive boarding school that eventually led him to an Ivy League education at Yale, where he not only excelled in his course studies, but also lacrosse and football. As an undergrad, MacLaren majored in theater studies while morphing into a 300-pound defensive end for the Bulldogs.
Like a firecracker, Baltimore Ravens running back Ovie Mughelli has been waiting for his chance to explode ever since he arrived as a fourth-round draft pick out of Wake Forest in 2003.
Growing up in the town of Picayune, Mississippi, Jonathan Bender was anything but the average teenager. Sparked by a growth spurt in high school, the 6-11 forward started to garner national attention for his amazing skills on the basketball court. As a senior at Picayune High School, Bender averaged 23.1 points, 15 rebounds, five blocked shots and four assists per game.
Josh Suchon has encountered his share of crossroads while on his journey to becoming the Oakland A's beat writer for ANG Newspapers.
Basketball has not seen too many phenoms the likes of Chase Budinger.
Jaymee Sire is definitely the exception and not the rule. After all, how many 22-year-olds land a job as a television news anchor just two months after graduating from college?
Growing up in the surf town of Huntington Beach, Calif., Lauren Perkins was anything but your typical 5-year-old. In fact, she was already developing her thrill for danger by taking her first spins on a motorcycle, as well embarking on her dad's skateboard for the very first time.
PGA Tour star Pat Perez worked his tail off to get where he is today. The road to stardom certainly did not happen overnight for this four-year veteran. If anything, this journey began when he picked up his first club as a 3-year-old and will continue until he tops that leader board consistently. A born perfectionist and competitor, Perez has that hunger to win — and win often. 
He might be the hardest working guy in sports media today, which quite frankly, isn't all that surprising when considering how J.T. "The Brick" managed to become one of the top sports talk hosts on radio today.
