Will Smith: Play from your heart. Photo by Sid Snively.

Actor Will Smith is trending worldwide after his dustup with comedian Chris Rock last night at the Oscars, but moviegoers in Lake Highlands remember Smith as the enthusiastic and heartwarming guy who visited our Wildcat pep rally in 2008 during football and volleyball playoffs. Smith attended with Tony Romo, then quarterback of the Dallas Cowboys, and the two surprised students with rousing and uplifting speeches.

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Rock was on stage to present the Academy Award for Best Documentary when he made a joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, who suffers from hair loss due to alopecia.

“Jada, can’t wait for G.I. Jane 2,” Rock said, referring to the movie for which Demi Moore shaved her head.

Smith walked on stage and slapped Rock before returning to his seat and shouting, “Keep my wife’s name out your (bleeping) mouth.” His words were silenced by censors for the American broadcast, but some overseas audiences heard the full exchange.

When Smith asked to visit Lake Highlands High School fourteen years ago, he had only one condition – he didn’t want the press invited. He told Walter Kelly, then principal at the school, that his goal was to interact with students without the hubbub of lights and cameras. As it happens, Advocate’s Carol Toler was in the gym serving as the PTA’s communications chair that day.

“Go out and change something,” Smith told students after they finally quieted from squeals of excitement. “Be fearless and relentless.”

Before the pep rally, Smith took personal time dispensing hugs and chatting with the captains of the teams, band, cheerleaders, Bell Boys and coaches. He urged the athletes to “play from the heart.”

After his encounter with Rock last night, Smith was named Best Actor for his work in King Richard portraying Richard Williams, father of tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams. During his acceptance speech, he apologized to the academy and to his fellow nominees – but notably not to Rock. He may wish to listen to advice he gave Wildcats in the LHHS gym.

“Every passing moment is an opportunity to turn things around.”

Will Smith at LHHS. Photo by Sid Snively.