I was born to my mom Brenda Tracy when she was 18. My mom and dad got married, but they divorced a few years later due to my dads alcohol and drug use. My dad spent most of my life in prison and my mom was left to take care of my brother and me.When I think back on being a child, what I remember most is being angry. At age 9 I tried to kill myself and I was placed into residential care, but no amount of counseling or medications made the anger go away. I dropped out of high school my sophomore year and started self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. I remember hating my mom, but not really knowing why. For whatever reason, my mom always tried to help me. When no one else cared, including myself, she did. She tried her best with me, but I didnt make it easy.When I was 17, it became clear to me and my mom that my life was headed in the direction of death, or prison. I didnt care. At the time, death and/or prison were the same thing. None of it mattered to me, but it did to my mom. In what I know now was a moment of desperation, my mom revealed her deepest secrets to me. She told me about the abuse she suffered with my father and she told me that she was drugged and gang-raped by four football players right after she left my father. I remember her crying and asking me not to hate her or be ashamed of her. She apologized repeatedly to me for something she was not to blame for.Its difficult to describe, but in that moment, sitting in the car with my mom, everything changed. Suddenly, I looked at her as someone who was just trying to survive and do the best she could. I didnt feel this hateful anger toward her anymore and I didnt feel as much anger for myself, either. It wasnt a perfect journey, but I began to turn my life around. I went from being a high school dropout and being told I would never graduate to making the varsity basketball team in high school and graduating and going on to college to play on a juco basketball team.In 2014, my mom went public with her story and over the last two years I have had the privilege of watching her walk in Gods purpose. She used to tell me, Darius, with God, all things are possible. Not just the things you think are possible, but ALL things. She used to reassure me that anything meant for my harm, God could turn for my good and that it didnt matter what mistakes I had made, that God had a good plan for me. Over and over she would say, Many are called, but few are chosen, and that I was special and chosen.I wasnt damaged because of my past, I was chosen and special because I had a testimony that I could share with others and a life story that could help others, and that is the greatest calling in life -- to be of help and service to others.What my mom didnt realize is that she was chosen. My mom has been living out everything she taught me. She has been a living example of with God, all things are possible. She is the definition of hope and inspiration.Her mere existence makes me want to do better and be a better man. Her heart and her spirit are rooted in selflessness. She spent her life giving and sacrificing for my brother and me and now that we are grown, Ive watched her give her heart and her time to the world -- selflessly.And she does it at a personal cost. More than once my mom has cried on my shoulder -- deeply saddened by the violence in the world and on our college campuses, hurt by those who mock her, bully her and threaten her because she has dedicated herself to being a voice for those who do not have one.It is in those moments when she cries on my shoulder that I am most proud to be her son. Its a great honor to be that strong shoulder for her. Shes my hero and she should be yours, too. She is courageous and brave and relentless in her pursuit of justice and cultural change.Its because of her example that I felt like I could contact the president of the NCAA and the entire Board of Governors and ask them to do something about violent athletes. Its because of her example that I felt like I could start a change.org petition that resulted in the NCAA convening an ad-hoc committee to combat sexual assault -- a committee that my mom sits on.Im just one person, but its true that one person can change the world, and if you dont believe me, just look at my mom.More on Brenda Tracy? I can act as a voice for victims Video ?? Helping change culture on Baylors campus?Video ?? Sexual assault survivor finally gets answers?Video ?? Tracys son urges NCAA ban on violent athletes?Story ?The IMPACT25 is espnWs annual list of the 25 athletes and influencers who have made the greatest difference for women in sports. Explore the 2016 list and more content at espnW.com/IMPACT25. Danny Manning Jersey . -- Matt Rupert scored once in regulation and again in the shootout as the London Knights extended their win streak to nine games by defeating the Owen Sound Attack 4-3 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Leandro Barbosa Jersey . Meanwhile, there were huge victories for Sunderland and West Ham over fellow relegation rivals, leaving the battle to avoid the drop up for grabs with the bottom 11 teams separated by just six points. Eden Hazard and Fernando Torres scored second-half goals to seal a fourth straight victory for Chelsea, which climbed above Arsenal and Manchester City in the standings ahead of their games on Monday and Sunday respectively. https://www.cheapsunsonline.com/459z-joe-johnson-jersey-suns.html . Aduriz headed home Markel Susaetas cross in the sixth minute to open the scoring at San Mames Stadium. He bettered that with a long-range blast that went in off the goal frame in the 18th, and converted a penalty in the 72nd after Diego Mainz was sent off for fouling Aduriz with only the goalkeeper to beat. Grant Hill Jersey .J. -- Marshawn Lynch said Thursday it will be good to get back to football after the Seattle quiet talking running back wrapped up his final mandatory media session of Super Bowl week. Connie Hawkins Jersey . Ancelotti says Ronaldo has recovered from a hamstring injury but "but he doesnt feel comfortable yet so we wont risk him." Madrid is third in the Spanish league, six points behind leader Barcelona, going into Saturdays game against Valladolid. St George Illawarra have moved quickly to shut down talk of troubled NRL star Kieran Foran joining the club, leaving the Warriors and Canterbury as his most likely destinations in 2017.Rumours of Foran moving to the Dragons gathered steam after coach Paul McGregor on Sunday revealed his interest in the former Parramatta stars services for next season.However Dragons recruitment head Ian Millward quelled the speculation on Tuesday, adamantly declaring Foran wouldnt be wearing the Red V next year.Kieran wont be a Dragon in 2017, Millward told the clubs website.The Dragons bizarre about-face means Forans future is likely to end up in New Zealand or Belmore, with the Bulldogs reported to have recently met with the former Kiwi international.Foran, 26, hasnt been sighted in the NRL game since leaving the game in July, when he was granted a release from Parramatta less than one season into a lucrative four-year deal.He played nine games in the famous blue-and-gold before sensationally being admitted to a Brisbane rehabilitation clinic to address personal issues in April.The Warriors were considered frontrunners to snare his signature last month, however the Bulldogs are believed to have recently met withh Foran to inquire about his health.ddddddddddddForans interest in re-uniting with former Manly coach Des Hasler will immediately raise question marks over the future of incumbent five-eighth Josh Reynolds.He has one year remaining on his current contract, while halves partner Moses Mbye penned a deal until the end of 2020 earlier this year.Reynolds told AAP before this years finals series that he isnt bothered by talk of Forans possible arrival, saying he has put up with speculation over his spot for most of his career.Forans coming, (Daly) Cherry-Evans is coming, (Luke) Brooks is coming. Everyones been coming, he said.Its a big club. The clubs pretty wealthy and well off. When someones off contract, they always might be coming here. For me, its something Ive got to accept and know its going to come.But I know ways to deal with that now and the best way is to get out on the field and play consistent footy.If I buy into all that stuff, Im doing myself a massive disservice because I believe in myself a lot. I feel like I can be the five-eighth here for my whole career. ' ' '