By CRAIG HARVEY on observertoday.com

CHAUTAUQUA - Every March, thousands tune into CBS to watch the college basketball March Madness Tournament and usually see Clark Kellogg sitting in front of the camera back at the studio wearing his usual blue suit coat.

On Tuesday, the 6-foot-8 Kellogg stood at the podium of the Amphitheater at Chautauqua Institution not to talk about college basketball or who will be picked in tonight's National Basketball Association draft.

He was there to advocate for the younger generation and the young athletes as well as discuss the troubles they face today.

While Kellogg's name is synonymous with college basketball, some may not be aware he was a first-round draft pick (eighth overall) in the NBA draft in 1982. He spent five seasons in the NBA where he was a unanimous pick for the All-Rookie team. At the age of 26, Kellogg was forced to retire due to a knee injury. He finished his career averaging 18.9 points per game and 9.5 rebounds a game.

As Kellogg got ready to give his lecture, "The Young Athlete: A Different Perspective For Students and Parents," he pointed out he does not want to be considered a lecturer.

"I think of an expert as someone that is accomplished in a very important and significant field," he continued. "I would much rather consider myself as a guest speaker if that's ok with you all."

Though being a speaker isn't what he had hoped for in life, everything has worked out well for Kellogg and his wife and their three children.

"My wife would be amused if she knew folks here thought of me as a lecturer," he said. "My wife is always amazed when I get asked to speak somewhere. She finds it hard to believe that simply earning a living through playing basketball or talking about basketball, I have had these unique opportunities. She says, 'Clark, you have been unbelievably blessed. We've done really quite well together considering you've never really had a real job.' "

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