ESPY winner Kyle Maynard to speak Saturday at Semoball Awards

Ozzie Smith, the scheduled keynote speaker for the 2014 Semoball Awards, will attend the funeral of friend and fellow Hall of Fame baseball player Tony Gwynn on Saturday, and will not be available to speak at the event to be held at the Show Me Center.

Jon K. Rust, publisher of the Southeast Missourian and co-president of Rust Communications, said Smith and event organizers worked together to try to arrange for Smith to attend both events Saturday, but were unable to do so. A video message from Smith congratulating the athletes and explaining the situation will be played at the event Saturday night.

"We really appreciate Ozzie trying to figure out when he could get back in time, but it really wasn't possible," Rust said. Kyle Maynard, a two-time ESPY award-winning athlete and the first quadruple amputee to reach the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro, will be the replacement speaker.

The Semoball Awards is a banquet and awards show that will honor the best athletes in all of Southeast Missouri. Smith, a Hall of Fame shortstop who played for the St. Louis Cardinals, had agreed months ago to be the keynote speaker for the event, which is expected to draw more than 900 people. Tickets are no longer available for sale.

"We were thrilled when we were able to secure Kyle to come to the Semoball Awards," Rust said. "He's an incredible individual, and we think his message will resonate with the people in the audience -- not only that night, but will be with them the rest of their lives."

Maynard said he's excited for the opportunity to address the area athletes and to help celebrate and recognize them. The former high-school wrestler said one of his main purposes in life is to help others realize and achieve their potential.

"It's great to see a group of students like this, because they're in a position that can help them find their purpose," he said. "Because in order to be successful in sports, you have to work hard, and that's the same thing you have to do to be successful in life, your career, everything."

Maynard has turned his life experiences into a book titled "No Excuses: The True Story of a Congenital Amputee Who Became a Champion in Wrestling and in Life." Being born without the lower portions of each limb, he struggled with sports at first but said "no excuses" is one of his guiding principles.

"When I was growing up, it was an attitude that my mom and dad instilled in me," he explained. "They didn't focus on the victim stuff or the excuses; instead, they decided to focus on my potential."

When Maynard made the 10-day trek up Mount Kilimanjaro in 2011, an ESPN film crew was on hand to document the feat that later would earn him his second ESPY award. He calls the ordeal the hardest thing he's ever done in his life.

"The sheer length of it is something I couldn't have prepared for," he said. "That long of a bearcrawl just brought me to the breaking point."

But he wasn't just climbing for himself. He was carrying the ashes of PFC John Corey Johnson, who was killed in action earlier that year. He could give no excuses then. He had a responsibility.

Two-time ESPY Award-winner Kyle Maynard will speak at the Semoball Awards on Saturday. (Submitted photo)

"Sure, there might be some things that are outside your control, but if you want something bad enough, you just have to go after it," he said.

Maynard said he hopes his keynote address will help all the athletes in attendance realize that physical differences and perceived limitations aren't as important as the power of will and perseverance.

"If it helps them achieve a little bit of their potential, and they can go out and use it to leave the world a little better than they found it, then it should be a great night," he said.

The 2014 Semoball Awards are presented by SoutheastHEALTH and title sponsors First Midwest Bank, Harry Blackwell Family of Dealerships, Technomad and the St. Louis Cardinals.

tgraef@semissourian.com

Pertinent address:

1333 N. Sprigg St, Cape Girardeau