wfn.org | ESPN personality Robin Roberts obeys mom, steps up to mike at Center

[PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ecunet.org>]

Note #6532 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

22-May-2001
01175

ESPN personality Robin Roberts obeys mom, steps up to mike at Center

Life-long Presbyterian credits her success to parents, Jesus

by Carrie Lutes-Hellmann

LOUISVILLE - It wasn't easy for broadcaster Robin Roberts to find time in
her schedule for a visit to the Presbyterian Center in Louisville, but she
learned early in life to listen to her mother.

Roberts, a commentator for ESPN, has appeared on such programs as Sunday
SportsDay, NFL PrimeTime and SportsCenter, and she sometimes fills in for
Diane Sawyer on Good Morning America. She also has covered Wimbledon, the
Olympics, the WNBA and the NCAA Final Four.

The opportunity to visit the Presbyterian Center came up when Roberts was up
to her ears in March madness. She checked her voicemail during a commercial
break and heard the voice of Joey Bailey, deputy for Mission Support
Service, asking her to visit the Center as part of her trip to Louisville.
Roberts was coming to Louisville to appear at a May 18 Tribute to Working
Women luncheon sponsored by Business First of Louisville.

After giving the matter some thought, Roberts told her assistant to call
Bailey and regretfully decline his offer. A few hours after that was done,
she got a phone call from her mother, Lucimarian, who asked whether she'd
received the invitation from Bailey and whether she intended to visit the
Center. Roberts could only say, "Yes, ma'am."

Lucimarian Roberts and her husband, Larry - Robin's parents - have both long
been active in the PC(USA) at all levels, including service on a number of
General Assembly committees.

Roberts said the visit, in which she was greeted by about 100 Center
staffers, was "quite emotional." She is a life-long Presbyterian and a
member of First Presbyterian Church in Hartford, Conn. When she was growing
up, she said, she resisted going to church. Today, however, she credits her
success to her parents and someone they introduced her to - Jesus Christ.

Growing up in the deep South as a woman of color wasn't always easy, Roberts
said, noting that it's a little easier today for a woman to find a place in
a mostly male industry, thanks to the accomplishments of so many women
athletes.

She makes a point of encouraging young women to get involved in sports. That
kind of involvement not only helped her become an award-winning sports
reporter and anchor, but it also helped her set ambitious goals and focus on
achieving them. She also credits her own athletic career, in basketball -
she is Southeastern Louisiana University's third all-time leading scorer
(1,446 points) and rebounder (1,034) - to a desire to stay physically fit.

Roberts, who is reluctant to call herself a role model, said she's flattered
when young people tell her they have watched her for years. She hopes to use
her influence to do good, as Oprah Winfrey has by encouraging her viewers to
read.

Asked about television journalism, Roberts admitted that many newsroom
meetings end in heated debates, but said she is encouraged that discussions
of ethics do take place - that stations don't just air whatever they want.
She said her prayers often help her get through the debates. She assured her
audience, "You have a voice"; she said writing, emailing and calling TV
stations does make a difference.

Roberts said the most exciting event she's ever covered was the 1992 Olympic
gold-medal performance of the so-called "Dream Team"- Michael Jordan,
Charles Barkley, Larry Bird and nine other basketball players who she said
were like "rock stars." She said she normally doesn't get caught up in a
particular team, but in that case she enjoyed rooting for the U.S.A. team.

After Roberts' brief talk, Lisa J. Houston, senior administrative assistant
in the Women's Ministries program area, and Mary Elva Smith, associate
director, gave her a certificate noting her achievements in sports and
broadcasting and congratulating her on being a Presbyterian. Roberts said
she would hang the certificate next to her Emmy awards.

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