I'm proud and honored to announce this year's winner of the WBE Blog of Courage Award. As most of you know, anyone that receives this award will be automatically inducted into the WBE Blog of Fame. The WBE Blog of Courage Award winner is given to the blogger who most exemplifies writing blogs under adversity. This year's recipient of the WBE Blog of Courage Award knows adversity all too well, and is no stranger on how to deal with it.
On December 20, 2006, ShakySpker made his debut on Sporting News. It was eight days later that he wrote his first blog entry called Confused Loyalties in which he talked about the teams he followed as well as where he's lived in life. People didn't take long to notice.
Since 1975, Shaky has lived with Parkinson's Disease, but you wouldn't know it by his positive attitude he brings to blog entries. But 2008 was a tough year for Shaky.
In March, he announced that he needed brain surgery which would require two different visits. He has two holes in his head, but Shaky still managed to make a joke about that by saying he knows more languages now. The surgery went well, but his troubles didn't stop there.
In July, a blog was posted about his wife Emily attempting to committ suicide by overdosing on pills as well as cutting herself. She was later taken to a psychiatric hospital and treated by several therapists. It was later revealed she had bi-polar II which is without the manic depressive characteristics associated with Bi-Polar Disorder. This was really a concern to Shaky, but he's been optimistic about it all despite the concerns of all the medical bills that piled up as a result of the year he's had.
The family has had a most difficult and trying year. But through it all, he's managed to post just often enough to prove why he's a very intelligent and thought-provoking blogger. His latest entry was his own parody of "Twas the Night Before Christmas".
Even under all that adversity surrounding him and his wife, Shaky has kept a positive outlook on life and in the SN community. He's never one to shy away about bringing up real-life issues as well as awareness in the on-line community. He also is very gifted in knowing how to get the attention of readers for his blog. His professionalism as well as positive attitude under adversity is why he's so respected and adored by many members in the SN community. He's been a true testament to human will and dealing with adversity head-on.
So with that, it's my honor and priviledge to present the 2009 WBE Blog of Courage Award to SN blogger ShakySpker. As a result, his name will be automatically placed in the WBE Blog of Fame in the WBE BOF link above(where you can see the previous winners). Congrats ShakySpker!
12/26/2008 02:50:00 PM
David Funk
16 comments:
Inspirational. Keep it up Shaky! The right type of thing to hear heading into the New Year.
No doubt about it. I'm glad to call him my on-line friend. Nice, inspirational guys like him deserve Hall of Fame mentioning. Thanks for the comment good friend!
Shakes is a AWESOME dude and one of the best bloggers around.. great choice for the award.
David,
I'm honored to win the 2009 WBE Blog of Courage Award and I truly appreciate your interest and support. Thankfully, Emily's doing better and is starting to feel more hopefull. We're thankfull for all the prayers and positive thoughts many of you have sent our way. They made a difference. Thanks again!
MadMan- Thanks buddy.
Shaky- I'm honored you took the time to comment about this, and that things are better for your wife, too. Thanks for stopping by, and my God Bless you and yours!
Well done David. Besides being a great story, what a great way to reach out.
I'm a member of the TSN community, but one that didn't know about shaky ... so thanks.
Good life stories are always good, especially in the world of partisan politics, fear, crazies, and many other negatives.
Great job David. Truly a wonderful person and more than worthy recepient. You couldn't have picked a better one.
Frank- Agreed. It's always better to read about things like this instead of the negative publicity that the press tries to ram down our throat. Thanks for the comment.
Lester- I agree about there not being a better person to pick for this. Thanks.
Great job! Shaky certainly is deserving of this honor, he is a shining example of perseverance to all of us.
David, Shaky is truely one of the most amazing people i've had the pleasure of knowing. Just the fact alone that he was blogging from his hospital room while recovering from surgery was simply inspirational!
This choice was a no brainer in my opinion!
TW
Shakes is an exemplary figure in courage, in decency, in kindness and in empathy. I couldn't agree any more with his receiving of this award. It amazes me how someone with so much adversity in life can only think of positive things to say. Congratulations Shakey!
tcp- Well said. And he continues to amaze us all.
TW- Hey buddy, it's been awhile! Glad to see you over here. I agree that he won it this year in a landslide.
backell- There is no one like him. It makes us realize how fortunate we are because if he can keep it real, then anyone can.
Thanks for the comments gentleman! This one's for Shaky!:)
No one better deserving!
Mal- No doubt about it. I'm so glad to see you leave a comment over here!
@ShakySpker
Never let yourself down, your story is truly very inspirational :)
@David
Nice writeup, Thanks for introducing to such a optimistic person on the blogosphere, will surely take some time to design an award
Thanks Cheth for the kind words for both of us and for stopping by.
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