Many sports luminaries delivering commencement addresses

It's graduation season. But on college campuses this year, it's also baseball season, football season, tennis season . . .

That's because stars from the world of sports are joining big names such as former President Bill Clinton and Microsoft founder Bill Gates in delivering graduation day commencement addresses.

Joe Torre, Tino Martinez, Peyton Manning, Mary Carillo and even Tiger Woods' ex-wife, Elin Nordegren, are among the sports figures who spoke to graduates this year.

The star of the group is former Rutgers football player Eric LeGrand, who represented fellow graduates at last Sunday's ceremonies.

LeGrand, who was left paralyzed from the waist down by injuries suffered in a 2010 game, spoke after a controversy about his selection.

Initially, former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was named commencement speaker. But she withdrew after protests from students and faculty over her role in the U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq.

LeGrand then said he was asked to replace Rice but that the offer was rescinded so former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean could give the address.

Eventually, a misunderstanding was cited and both men spoke. Kean donated his $35,000 speaking fee to establish a scholarship fund in honor of LeGrand and the Class of 2014.

"I'm moving my shoulders here," LeGrand told graduates. "I'm moving myself forward. Don't ever let someone tell you you can't do something . . . Anything is truly possible in this world."

SNY and Fox broadcaster Kevin Burkhardt also spoke at a New Jersey school -- his alma mater, William Paterson University.

"It was surreal," Burkhardt said.

Most of those who have given their addresses already seem to have avoided using sports clichés -- though Martinez did tell Fordham University's Class of 2014, "Go out and swing for the fences."

Martinez, the beloved former Yankees first baseman, received an honorary degree, as did Bronx-born U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor (a huge Yankees fan).

Martinez, who is scheduled to receive a plaque at Yankee Stadium's Monument Park next month, watched his daughter graduate.

Family ties were apparent for other sports figures who gave speeches, including Carillo, the tennis commentator and former player who spoke Saturday at the Elon University graduation of her daughter.

Tennessee graduate Peyton Manning spoke at the University of Virginia, his wife's alma mater. Manning brought a football and threw passes to graduates.

San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers spoke of football, family and faith at the Catholic University of America graduation.

Torre, who received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hartford, is having quite a year. The former Yankees manager will be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in July and will have his No. 6 retired by the team in August.

"Never give up," Torre told graduates. "Babe Ruth said, 'It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.' As you leave campus today, remember that."

Words of wisdom also were offered by fellow Hall of Fame inductee Tony La Russa, who spoke at Washington University's commencement.

La Russa, the former A's, Cardinals and White Sox manager who recently was named "chief baseball officer" of the Arizona Diamondbacks, told graduates to "develop a strong and meaningful ego, but avoid being egotistical."

La Russa also quoted a 1982 song from the band Styx entitled, "The Best of Times." (It's unclear how many of the graduates had ever heard of the song -- or the band.)

One of the most widely reported speeches came from a sports figure who is not a professional athlete herself. That came from Nordegren, Woods' former wife, who graduated from Rollins College in Florida with a 3.97 GPA and didn't shy away from talking about her ex-husband's well-publicized extramarital affairs.

"Right after I had taken 'Communication and the Media,' I was unexpectedly thrust into the media limelight," Nordegren said. "And I probably should have taken more notes in that class."

Nordegren, whose degree is in psychology, said: "Education has been the only consistent part of my life . . . And it has offered me comfort. Education is one thing that no one can take away from you."