Best (and Worst?) Guest Speakers

[Squawk]

There are so many people on the speaker's circuits these days - sportsman's nights, ex-Presidents and Prime Ministers, victims of crime, musicians and the like.

Who are the best and worst speakers you've heard?

Personally, one of the best presentations I attended was from Michael Milton. He is a (now former) Australian speed skier who had his leg amputated as a child due to cancer. Amazingly, he recently became the first disabled skier to break 200km/h downhill. There aren't many able bodied skiers who have even achieved this.

What was partuclarly special about his presentation was the audio-visuals he incorporated showing him plunging down a virtual cliff-face in his skins and describing how physically and mentally challenging the feat was. He has also won 23 Paralympic and World Championship medals and is a Laureate Award winner.

I've had the privilege of spending half an hour one-on-one with him and he was an incredibly affable, down to earth regular guy with a good sense of humour. I would highly recommend him as a speaker if your club is looking for someone with an inspirational story! I think the going rate is about $3,000 + flights and accommodation - you can make enquiries about booking him through his website as well as getting more information about this incredible athlete and great all round person!

http://www.michaelmilton.com/index.htm

As for worst speaker, hmmm. No one sticks out but I'll have to give it some more thought!

[am Bays]

Best speaker I've ever heard and I been to two of her talks on coaching is Joyce Brown, mother of Fraser and ex-Netball coach. She is sensational. Next best is David Parkin.

[smac]

For shock value, Mike Turtur - arrogant, pigheaded and very politically incorrect. Some great moments in his talk, but they were separated by sledges on everyone he had ever met. Was supposed to be a talk on leadership.

For inspirational vale, Wayne Bennett - he spoke of his life at home with a mentally disabled son and how much he means to him. Truly amazing. Funny part of the story is that his son has 15 NRL jumpers - all except Brisbane. When Brisbane lose a road trip, he is always waiting in the front yard in his jumper, itching to tell his dad "my team won today".

For 'keeping me interested' value - can't remember his name (yep, I know that is ironic but it was about 5 years ago now), but the bloke was a former SAS soldier who consulted on the movie Black Hawk Down (because he was there when the real event happened). He spoke of his experiences, from stealth infiltrations to the Black Hawk Down real story. Fascinating stuff.

[JK]

Listened to both Phil Hoffman and David Koch last week speaking at a Small Business conference, and found them enlightening and motivating ... Had Johnny Lett's as a guest speaker at an umm, Gentlemans Lunch one day ... The first two minutes he pretty much covered his career and then performed standup comedy for the next half hour and was funny as!

Ian Healy at a club show last year was also very interesting to listen to.

[Footy Chick]

Im a big fan of the offerings of Tom Hafey.... the man is a freak...

[rod_rooster]

Easily the best speaker i have heard is Kerry O'Keefe. One hell of a funny guy.

[Booney]

At the West Thebby Hotel our cricket club holds a function each year called a "Legends Dinner",for those of us who have played 100 games or more.One of our dedicated off field staff is entrenched at West Adelaide in the stats depertment,good friends with Micheal Flynn,former cycling coach,football and an all round sports science guru.Any way,Michael came to speak at our dinner one night,the poor bloke had put his back out that day and had to stand,one foot on a chair and constantly had to change legs to support himself.As the pub had/has yet to finish (actually not even start) the function room they intend to have,we had our dinner in the bistro and,with some public looking on,Flynny gave his talk,one foot to the other,cringing in pain.Two minutes in and "pop",there goes the sound system,sorry Mike,might have to shout instead of using the microphone,cringing with a bad back,moving one foot to the other,shouting.A group of about 20 people having dinner in the bistro listened in for some time,as you would,free guest speaker and all.Now just as Micheal was getting to a big punch line in a story,as guest speakers do,shouting,moving from foot to foot,cringing,out comes a Birthday cake and 20 odd people break out into "happy Birthday to you,Happy Birthday to you......",poor bloke,ahhh well,we all join in,20 plus drnken blokes and a guest speaker singing Happy Birthday to a stranger.Very funny night,and,as you can imagine,that was the end of the talk,still never found out what the end of that story was......

[Wedgie]

At the West Thebby Hotel our cricket club holds a function each year called a "Legends Dinner",for those of us who have played 100 games or more.One of our dedicated off field staff is entrenched at West Adelaide in the stats depertment,good friends with Micheal Flynn,former cycling coach,football and an all round sports science guru.Any way,Michael came to speak at our dinner one night,the poor bloke had put his back out that day and had to stand,one foot on a chair and constantly had to change legs to support himself.As the pub had/has yet to finish (actually not even start) the function room they intend to have,we had our dinner in the bistro and,with some public looking on,Flynny gave his talk,one foot to the other,cringing in pain.Two minutes in and "pop",there goes the sound system,sorry Mike,might have to shout instead of using the microphone,cringing with a bad back,moving one foot to the other,shouting.A group of about 20 people having dinner in the bistro listened in for some time,as you would,free guest speaker and all.Now just as Micheal was getting to a big punch line in a story,as guest speakers do,shouting,moving from foot to foot,cringing,out comes a Birthday cake and 20 odd people break out into "happy Birthday to you,Happy Birthday to you......",poor bloke,ahhh well,we all join in,20 plus drnken blokes and a guest speaker singing Happy Birthday to a stranger.Very funny night,and,as you can imagine,that was the end of the talk,still never found out what the end of that story was......

Don't blame the back or the microphone, I heard him speak at huddles a few time when he was coaching North. Absolutely terrible speaker, easily the worst (and least insperational) coach I've ever heard at a huddle, I had better gee-ups at the huddles in C Grade Southern League for Noarlunga!

[MagicKiwi]

Worst = Greg Chappell followed by second worst = Kevin Sheedy

Best = A panel at a SACA Test Match Dinner - Dean Jones and Martin Crowe followed by second best = Kerry O'Keefe

[Maddogmike]

Most years at the Bradman Medal they have good speakers!

Past few years have seen Ian Healy, Kerry O'keefe, Doug Walters, Swervin Mervyn & some bloke from the Melbourne Paper who almost made me fall asleep

[Coorong]

Seen em all, heard em all.

The most entertaing.................Lou Richards
The most motivational..............Ken Cole
The looniest (altziemers?).........Ron Barrassi
Handed out the most free cigs...Doug Walters
The most different....................Kevin Sheedy
The learner..............................Greg Matthews
The worst Language..................Lillee

[am Bays]

Most years at the Bradman Medal they have good speakers!

Past few years have seen Ian Healy, Kerry O'keefe, Doug Walters, Swervin Mervyn & some bloke from the Melbourne Paper who almost made me fall asleep

I didn't know Pooraka 3rds B&F was named the Bradman medal.....??

[Coorong]

Uh ho.

[redandblack]

Booney, Westies stats - 'Skinny'?

[CENTURION]

Worst-The CDFC's new President, Tom Zorich. In a 10 minute speech, he would say "er um" 20 times.

[Booney]

Booney, Westies stats - 'Skinny'?

Yep.

[Wedgie]

Worst-The CDFC's new President, Tom Zorich. In a 10 minute speech, he would say "er um" 20 times.

Must be something about Presidents, I heard him speak at the Chimney unveiling and he didn't seem that bad, he's 20 times better than Bohdan Jaworski. Don't get me wrong, Bohdan's a top bloke and is doing a great job at North but his public speaking is shocking.

[Squawk]

Heard Jason McCartney tonight. He was pretty good. Didn't refer to any notes and spoke lucidly and fluently for about 10 minutes about the aftermath of Bali for him and his wife. Caught up with him afterwards and he was very open and friendly and happy to chat away one on one for a good five minutes!

[dinglinga]

yes i have heard jas mccartney speak 2 years ago part of a mazda function

pretty moving

it was part of a golf day ... one of our players got pretty sunburnt and he was complaing about how sunburnt he got

and jas was behind him

jas replied" dont forget the sun tan cream mate"

[CK]

Peter Everitt is entertaining, excellent speech at Glenelg lunch this year.

Robert Shaw (ex-Fitzroy, Crows coach, not the actor ) one of the more abrasive speakers I've seen, not hard to see why he struggled to communicate effectively with players here at times.