No Longer the bad boy of football

Toronto Argonaut Ricky Williams inspires youth with the story of his search for happiness through a spiritual path of meditation and yoga

By Sr. Elaine MacInnes, O.L.M.
May 2007

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When Ricky Williams stood in front of the microphone and said, "I have a passion," I could not help but think of another young black man whose four inspirational words, "I have a dream," changed the world. That day, Ricky changed the way many young people in his audience were thinking-away from violence and unhappiness, towards discipline and inner peace.

This popular Toronto Argonauts running back, following the wishes of head coach Pinball Clemons, wanted to do something inspirational for Toronto youth before returning to the United States.

Having seen Fires That Burn, the DVD on my life and work, Ricky asked to meet with me. Also at the meeting was Cheryl Vanderburg who leads the yoga teachers in our small charity, Freeing the Human Spirit. We carry out a program of bringing hope and healing to inmates at Canadian correctional institutes through the practice of yoga and meditation.

Ricky told us that h e wanted to tell the story of his search for happiness and h how he had turned his life into a spiritual path through meditation and yoga. Jim Barnes, a teacher at Cardinal Newman Catholic High School, helped us arrange for Ricky to address two student groups there, each with approximately 500 students, on December 16, 2006.

CBC news covered the event throughout the day, including a visit to several hundred students at Northern Secondary School in Toronto. The Sunday morning news on February 3, 2007, presented a 10-minute feature of the day's activities.

Ricky told his story with such candor and humility, he erased for all present the frequently heard comment, "Ricky Williams, the bad boy of football."

Everyone, including the star himself, was grateful for the opportunity to come together for a sharing. Grateful parents and teachers contacted us with the comment, "This is the way we should be teaching our children. "Long may Ricky's passion continue."

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