Former NFL great Deion Sanders recently scolded reporters for daring to ask how he could appear at an event funded by libertarian philanthropist Charles Koch to discuss the problems faced by inner city kids.
Sanders appeared at an event in Palm Springs, California, sponsored by Koch to discuss “Urban Specialists,” a program he has been part of for 17 years that works to help kids get out of gangs and adopt a productive lifestyle.
But after Sanders and Urban Specialists founder Pastor Omar Jahwar spoke about the good works the program has done for inner city kids, reporters proved they were more interested in stirring dissent, The Daily Caller reported.
During a media Q&A one reporter asked Sanders, who is famous for his lack of cursing, how he could associate with the Koch brothers since the media doesn’t like their politics.
“For the media to ask me a question like, ‘Why partner with the Koch family?’ I don’t use profanity but that’s the first thing that came to mind,” Sanders said. “Why not [partner with Koch]?… I can see good people from a mile away. We don’t have to agree on everything but we agree on most things… No matter how we equate it, as long as we’re doing it for the right reason that’s all we care about. This isn’t about us. This is about blessing people.”
“Stand together. Can you imagine if we actually did that?” the two-time Super Bowl champion added.
Turning his attention to those in the room who actually helped with his program, Sanders continued saying, “You’ve done it. You got it, you’ve made it, you still get it. This isn’t about you, this is about so many people you make smile.”
Sanders praised those at the Koch event as “go-getters” who have already “made it” in life but are now prepared to use their great wealth to help others.
“You are winners,” Sanders said during a panel talk. “It is our goal to one day sit over there and give somebody an opportunity like you give us… If you can just be there with and stand there with us, by God can we provoke change.”
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.
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