In the thrilling moments leading up to the 2024 NCAA Tournament championship game, players from Purdue and UConn got a surprise pep talk from none other than renowned actor Terry Crews. But it wasn’t just him; basketball legends like Magic Johnson, Isiah Thomas, Grant Hill, Candace Parker, and Al Horford also joined in to hype up the teams.
In the speech, Crews used an hourglass as a symbol to remind the players to stay focused on the present moment, rather than getting caught up in future glory or past mistakes. He shared a personal story from his high school basketball days to drive home the point.
"Are you ready to make history?" 🔥@terrycrews is joined by @MagicJohnson, @IsiahThomas, @realgranthill33, @Al_Horford and @Candace_Parker to deliver "The Message" to UConn and Purdue ahead of the National Championship 🗣️ #MarchMadness
🎶: @MumfordAndSons pic.twitter.com/z59yWT5ZkH
— NCAA March Madness (@MarchMadnessMBB) April 9, 2024
Then, Crews passed the torch to the basketball greats, who appeared on a video screen to share their own words of encouragement and wisdom with the players.
While the intention behind Crews’ speech was to energize the players and fans for the big game, some people on social media seemed more puzzled than inspired by the segment. But regardless of the reactions, the message of staying present and focused resonated with many watching.
