Author Tony Meale turns “The Chosen Ones” into Keynote Speech on Leadership, Culture and Team-Building

Author Tony Meale turns “The Chosen Ones” into Keynote Speech on Leadership, Culture and Team-Building

In 2012, Cincinnati native Tony Meale authored “The Chosen Ones,” which tells the story of the legendary 2002 Roger Bacon basketball team that beat LeBron James in the state final. Now Tony is helping business leaders get the most out of their teams—just as former Roger Bacon coach Bill Brewer did more than 20 years ago—and has turned the book into a keynote speech on leadership, culture and team-building.

“There are a lot of parallels between success in sports and success in business, and there are so many things Bill did that season that all leaders should do—but don’t,” Meale said. “I’m on a mission to change that.”

Meale, who lives in Chicago, has ghostwritten for athletes and executives for more than a decade, crafting written and spoken content on their behalf. He has worked with leaders at every level—from solo entrepreneurs to Fortune 500 CEOs—and coached them on goal-setting, achievement and getting the most out of their teams.

“In my experience, teams do not fail because they lack talent,” Meale said. “They fail because of inconsistent leadership, poor communication, broken processes or difficult personalities. The same things that hold teams back on the basketball court hold organizations back in the boardroom.”

Meale resigned from his newspaper job in 2011 to write “The Chosen Ones,” which provides an in-depth look at Bill Brewer, who coached Roger Bacon to that historic win over Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary in March 2002. It was LeBron James’ only loss to an Ohio team, as he finished his prep career 81-1 against in-state competition.

“Coach Brewer taught us so much about toughness, discipline and sacrificing in pursuit of a goal,” said Roger Bacon High School Principal Tim McCoy '02, who was a member of the 2002 state title team. “Tony did a wonderful job capturing that season in the book, and there are so many lessons from our story that still apply today.”

Meale, who delivered more than a dozen keynotes following the book launch, is stepping back into the speaking arena to share these pivotal lessons with businesses, sports teams and more. The 2003 St. Xavier High school graduate has generously pledged to donate a portion of speaker proceeds to Roger Bacon.

“We are so appreciative of Tony’s willingness to give back to Roger Bacon,” Director of Advancement Brandon Spaeth '11 said. “His book will always hold a special place in our community, and by telling this story in new ways to new audiences, he is helping to support our students, faculty and staff.”

Meale was 16 when Roger Bacon won the state title, 26 when he left his job to write “The Chosen Ones,” and 36 when he narrated a short film by the same title for ESPN in 2022.

“I didn’t want to wait another 10 years for the next milestone,” Meale joked. “I want to keep Roger Bacon’s incredible story alive while also helping teams achieve their goals. This is the best way to do that.”

Click here to book Meale for a speaking engagement. Use promo code “ROGER BACON” when reaching out.