January Jones welcomes Humorist Sporty King on Tuesday, May 7th at 9 pm ET!

How To Be Ugly!

Discussing Success, Toastmasters and The Yellow Ribbon Program!

Sporty King, ACS, CL has spoken with domestic and international audiences, sharing his passion for Life, Leadership, and Literacy. He is an award winning professional speaker, author and TV personality who delivers inspirational, practical, usable techniques to apply in your daily life. Thus he works with people who want to help others feel good about themselves and their contribution to the bottom line. Imagine sharing that message with your students, parents, conference and meeting attendees. 

Jack-of-all-trades…master of none? Not really.
                                    Which life would you say doesn’t affect yours?

Sporty’s signature keynote speech, “How To Be UGLY” (Unique, Gifted, Lovable You), delights and enlightens audiences of all ages, ethnicities and genders. View it on the Video Links page. Best used as a keynote-plus-concurrent session speaker, it is his passion for manipulating the English language that brings magic to his words… a magic that makes him the ideal person to deliver your winning message. Also consider using Sporty as M.C. (L.) * (Master of Ceremonies, Creativity & Listening: one who listens intently to delight your audience with the connecting points throughout your program.) Thus his moniker,The Master of Listening.

Recently finishing as Division Champion, while competing for the 2011 World Champion of Public Speaking, he is an accomplished member of Toastmasters International, having earned the designations ACS, CL (Advanced Communicator Silver, Competent Leader); and is a member of the 1996 Toastmasters Hall of Fame, having finished as one of the Top 9 speakers in the world at the International Speech Contest.

Among King’s media appearances are the Chicago Tribune; ABC/TV’s “Someone You Should Know” news segment with Harry Porterfield; and weekly on WGN/TV’s nationally syndicated Minority Business Report, delivering inspirational messages about business and life.

Sporty is a native of Harlem, in New York City. He started writing poetry in 1969 to combat homesickness. Having won an ABC (A Better Chance) Scholarship, he went away to private high school (in Massachusetts). During his first year he was one of seven blacks in a student population of 200+… second year 1 of 5… 3rd year 1 of 3…. His poetry started out somewhat militant, but with an introspective base of seeking to understand [rather than perpetuate].

King began his 18-year career at The Wall Street Journal in January of 1975 as a messenger. While at the Journal, he began sharing his poetry at the department Christmas party. Sporty wrote poetry that would get each person in the department’s name into the poem. It became the highlight of the party, and heads of other departments began seeking invitation to his department’s party. Eventually, more  departments merged their party, and people vied for position in Sporty’s poem. One year the poem got up to 70  names, 10 pages…. He served his final 6 years at the Journal as Midwest Region Classified Advertising Sales Manager, before retiring to pursue his oratorical gift.

As a Chicago Public Schools registered vendor and ISBE Certified provider for CEU/CPDU credits, Sporty was consistently on the program at the Chicago Archdiocese of Chicago’s Young Adult Ministry seminar; Poetry Instructor at Harvey APC After-school Mentor Program; and Young Authors’ Club Coordinator at Ella Flagg Young Elementary School. He is a former Bolingbrook Community League basketball coach and referee; Adjunct Professor at Kennedy-King College; former Artist-In-Residence at Purdue University; former Public Speaking instructor at Harold Washington College and Prologue Alternative High School; Past Board President and member at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Boys & Girls Club; and Board President at WYTEC (Westside Youth Technical Entrepreneur Center). All places where he enjoyed a hands-on influence in the lives of young people.

That influence is fueled by Sporty’s belief that we touch children’s lives by re-educating and refreshing adults. Thus his message is well received with parents and auxiliary organizations as well. He credits his 1994-2010 monthly sessions with ”Seasoned” Citizens at Chicago Department on Aging Centers as keys to his ability to increase communication between generations.

In July 2010 he relocated to Charlotte, NC and has continued sharing his gift for saving lives through his contract with the Urban League of the Central Carolinas, facilitating a Life Skills Training Program.

In January 2011 he began working with the Cadre of Speakers… facilitators available to Military Service Members through the Yellow Ribbon Program (YRP). YRP weekends serve pre, during and post deployment Service Members and their families to keep their bond strong as they keep America strong. Seminars are scheduled for the families and are held in multiple locations every weekend throughout the country. Sporty received his first Command Coin for Excellence from the 181st Infantry Regiment.

An expert on personal success, the impact of words in our lives, and turning any negative into a positive, Sporty is the author of 6 books: “I Found Out I’m Dying: A Celebration of Life” … a ‘story’ in poetry that reminds us to be comfortable with the decisions we make in enjoying life to the fullest; “Do You Have Any Idea… How Fine You Are?” … a poetic tribute to God’s greatest gift to, and source of mankind –Woman; “StartingToday…” weekly affirmations for daily living; and “Your Name Came To Mind” … the sequel to “I Found Out…”reminding readers to be comfortable with spiritual growth; “Morning… Noon… & Night…” is a collection of inspirational quotes sure to give you memorable lessons that you can apply and share in your daily dealing with destiny; and his most recent book, “a poet in every PrOphET” is an inspirational story in poetry about the connection between Sporty’s gift and vision….