South Central Ex-Pro NBL Player Shares "VISIONARY" Teachings Globally
"Positive, trustworthy, motivating, inspiring, well prepared, and a visionary! He sees more than what's expected and that's great in our industry," says Claire DiMattina, NBA International Australasia's Managing Director

CARINA, AUSTRALIA, February 24, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Eric Bailey epitomizes the expression, "beat the odds." Identified at birth as having Osgood-Schlatter's disease, a congenital bone deformity, he was placed up for adoption. Raised by adoptive parents, he grew up on the rough streets of South Central Los Angeles in the early 1960s amid poverty, racial intolerance, crime, and drug addiction.

In spite of being teased and taunted by many peers in his community his parents continued to instill what is now his personal mantra that "Life stops when you stop!"

By age fourteen, Bailey had already reached six feet, five inches, attributed to an Osgood-Schlatter's-related growth spurt. With his three P's in life (plenty of prayer, positive thinking, and long hard hours of practice) at Cathedral High School, Eric's "vision," began coming to fruition: to become a professional basketball player. He went on to earn such honors as Player of the Year, All CIF (California Interscholastic Federation), All City (Los Angeles) and the coveted Most Valuable Player (MVP) awarded upon graduation in his senior year.

Hard work on the court was mirrored in his studies. Undeterred by initial rejection from all of the colleges he applied to, Eric upped his grades at a junior college. There, his talent with basketball was discovered and mentored by Rick Adelman (now head coach with the Houston Rockets). Eric eventually went on to earn a basketball scholarship to Boise State University.

In a life characterized by setbacks, Eric also found himself passed over in the NBA draft. With typical determination, Eric refused to let go of his dream. Soon after his rejection he was drafted into Australia's NBL and went on to a successful, 14-year pro basketball career.

In 1996, with a strong desire to help others benefit from his life lessons in "vision," he entered the world of professional speaking. To date, he has spoken to over 1.5 million people around the world. In July of last year he was honored as a Certified Speaking Professional (CSP) by The National Professional Speaker's Association. (Less than 10 percent of all professional speakers worldwide have obtained this certification, one of the industry's highest achievements)

Eric Bailey, who currently resides in Australia with his wife and daughter, is excited and eager to return to his roots to share his unique story. In today's tough economic climate, Eric's triumph over adversity and his defining quality of personal vision is moving and inspirational.

Some of the world's largest multinationals, including Nike, McDonald's and Canon, community organizations, and youth of all ages have been captivated with Bailey's energy, humor, and wisdom. He continues to inspire and share his visionary strategies with audiences around the world.

You can learn more about Eric at these two YouTube.com sites:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqtIa7qPIW8 and
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQVwIDfrO-Y&feature=related .
Visit our web site at www.ericbaileyglobal.com.


For additional information about Eric Bailey, please contact Coire Nichols Houston at (313) 733-4365 or cdncommunications@comcast.net.

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