Ward was molded by a mother and father who loved him and always expected him to do his best. Ward, now married and living in New York, said he will bring a message on the importance of a strong family to Champaign when he speaks Saturday morning at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Game Day '98. Before starring at Florida State University in the early 1990s, Ward grew up in a Christian home in Thomasville, Georgia, the third of six children. Role modeling is something Ward is eager to talk about. Sure, I am a role model.
Every person is for somebody.
But the biggest misconception in the world is to look at professional athletes as a good role model. His father coached the high school basketball team Ward played on. A lot of what I learned I learned from them. When Ward faces the temptation of trash talk and egotistical boasting common in the NBA, he frequently thinks about what kind of model he is and who he represents. I have no choice.