Toni Toney knows her role in the family: She's the one with all the right answers. Sound familiar? Every mom has been there, fielding questions like "Why can't I stay up later?" or "Can I watch this show?" For Toni, the questions are a little different when it comes to her youngest son, Malachi—the "baby boy," as she lovingly calls him.
This Mother's Day, we're reminded of the powerful impact moms have on South Florida's biggest sports stars. Tennis legend Chris Evert once said her greatest accomplishment wasn't her trophies—it was being a mother. Heat star Bam Adebayo credits his mother, Marilyn Blount, for moving him from tough streets in New Jersey to a better life in North Carolina. "I'm nowhere without my mother," he says. Coco Gauff's mom, Candi, managed her daughter's homeschooling to fuel her tennis rise. Dwyane Wade drew his energy from his mother, Jolinda, a preacher. Even coaching icon Jimmy Johnson realized his fire dimmed when he stood over his mother's coffin, knowing he wanted more time with family.
But here's the difference: Most of those names are finished products—adults in their prime, already stars. Malachi Toney is just 18 years old. He might be one of the biggest names in college football right now, a standout receiver at the University of Miami, but he's still just a college sophomore. His story is just beginning.
Just the other day, Malachi was leading a clinic for hundreds of kids at Washington Park—the same park where he played just a few years ago. An 18-year-old giving back? Telling young hopefuls, "It's all about the work"? That doesn't happen by accident.
Someone taught him right. Or rather, someone is still teaching him. Toni, who raised Malachi as a single mom, knew he was special from the moment he stepped onto a football field at age 7. She didn't even want him playing at first—he was so small. But his local youth team needed a quarterback, and she didn't hold him back.
When that park became his stage, and college football became his dream, Toni was there with every answer. The good story? It's just getting started.