I did not write my blog last week because I was on a sports mission trip in the Dominican Republic with Northland's Women's basketball team. It was a great trip and God taught us many things. You can see some pictures and read about the trip by clicking on the following link.
Dominican Mission Team
Here are a few of my thoughts about the trip and the eternal value of taking trips like this.
Sports missions works in multiple ways. We often think of trips like this as an evangelistic outreach. Presenting the gospel to athletes in a foreign country is a great privilege. Seeing some of them respond to trust Christ is thrilling. This trip was especially memorable for me as I had the privilege of leading a young man to the Lord during our last game. He is a student at the University of Santo Domingo (the oldest university in the Americas – founded in 1538). When the gospel was clearly presented at halftime he raised his hand indicating that he was interested in finding out more. During the third quarter of the game he trusted Christ as Saviour. There were numerous others who raised their hands and we continue to pray that the Lord would cause the seed that was planted to be watered, take root and grow.
While giving out the gospel was a definite goal of this trip, the process of discipleship was also a large part. There were two aspects of discipleship that were obvious to me on this trip. They were: time spent in the Word of God and time spent in a different culture. Each of these aspects gave us a fresh dose of perspective.
The first discipleship impact was our time in the Word. This time was led by Coach Whitt as we studied parts of the book of Nehemiah. These studies were a personal challenge to all of us and it is obvious that they had an impact on each team member. The testimonies that the girls shared in our team meetings were evidence of that.
A second discipleship impact was the time spent in a different culture. It makes us reflect on all that we have to be thankful for in our own country and helps us to focus on a more eternal perspective. While on a trip like this it is amazing how unimportant some things become. I personally didn’t care how the NBA playoffs were going. The news of the day wasn’t that important. Things we take for granted at home didn’t really seem to matter as much. We heard no complaints from the team about things like, not having air conditioning, access to the internet, hot showers, or even water pressure. Flexibility was a must, which is a refreshing change from the demanding schedules we usually keep at home. The focus was on more eternal things and pursuing the purpose for which we came to the Dominican Republic.
This trip was amazing in what God did both through us and in us. I would encourage you to take a sports team on a mission trip, if at all possible. Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about how to plan such a trip. You will never regret spending the time, energy, money, etc. to go on such a trip because of the evangelistic and discipleship opportunities they provide.
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Sunday, May 3, 2009
God's Hall of Fame
Being selected into a Hall of Fame is probably the highest honor that an individual athlete or coach can be awarded here on this earth. The screening process through which a Hall of Fame nominee is approved for enshrinement is very meticulous. Some inductees have had very convincing resumes and were approved by the committee on the very first vote. Others may have been on the ballot multiple times and still have not been voted in. It is a very exacting process because the Hall of Fame is reserved for only those who have accomplished something unique, amazing, or great.
This stands in contrast to the criterion for entrance into what some would call “God’s Hall of Fame”. Entrance into God’s Hall is not based on great talent, abilities or accomplishments. There is only one criterion for entrance into God’s Hall. That criterion is faith. You don’t have to be talented or gifted to exercise faith. However, the important thing is not simply that you have faith, but that you have a worthy object in which your faith is placed. Faith derives its value from its object. The most deserving objects of your faith are the Word of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Over the past few months at our church, we have been studying through the book of Hebrews. We have recently reached the eleventh chapter which includes the list of the great characters of faith. This chapter is often an inspiration to me personally as I am challenged by their examples. These people were great believers in God and they evidenced their faith by their actions. It didn’t matter how they felt. To them, faith was “believing the Word of God and acting upon it no matter how they felt, knowing that God promised a good result in His time”. How about you? Would this describe your faith?
Coaches need to be men and women of faith who act in obedience to the truth regardless of feelings. A coach’s emotions can run the gamut from the “thrill of victory” to the “agony of defeat”, but there should be a steady confidence in following God’s plan. The eternal plan is to make a difference in lives. To make a difference that will last for eternity. While making that difference may not land you in a Hall of Fame here, you are making an impact that will reap eternal rewards. Stay faithful.
I hope the following poem is an encouragement to you as you may labor in obscurity, coaching a small group of young people that no one ever notices. Your faithfulness to make an eternal difference will one day be rewarded.
God’s Hall of Fame
To have your name inscribed up there is greater yet by far,
Than all the “halls of fame” down here and every man-made star.
This crowd on earth, they soon forget the heroes of the past,
They cheer like made until you fall and that’s how long you last.
I tell you, friend, I would not trade my name however small,
If written there beyond the stars in that celestial hall.
For any famous name on earth or glory that they share,
I’d rather be an unknown here and have my name up there.
-Anonymous
This stands in contrast to the criterion for entrance into what some would call “God’s Hall of Fame”. Entrance into God’s Hall is not based on great talent, abilities or accomplishments. There is only one criterion for entrance into God’s Hall. That criterion is faith. You don’t have to be talented or gifted to exercise faith. However, the important thing is not simply that you have faith, but that you have a worthy object in which your faith is placed. Faith derives its value from its object. The most deserving objects of your faith are the Word of God and the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
Over the past few months at our church, we have been studying through the book of Hebrews. We have recently reached the eleventh chapter which includes the list of the great characters of faith. This chapter is often an inspiration to me personally as I am challenged by their examples. These people were great believers in God and they evidenced their faith by their actions. It didn’t matter how they felt. To them, faith was “believing the Word of God and acting upon it no matter how they felt, knowing that God promised a good result in His time”. How about you? Would this describe your faith?
Coaches need to be men and women of faith who act in obedience to the truth regardless of feelings. A coach’s emotions can run the gamut from the “thrill of victory” to the “agony of defeat”, but there should be a steady confidence in following God’s plan. The eternal plan is to make a difference in lives. To make a difference that will last for eternity. While making that difference may not land you in a Hall of Fame here, you are making an impact that will reap eternal rewards. Stay faithful.
I hope the following poem is an encouragement to you as you may labor in obscurity, coaching a small group of young people that no one ever notices. Your faithfulness to make an eternal difference will one day be rewarded.
God’s Hall of Fame
To have your name inscribed up there is greater yet by far,
Than all the “halls of fame” down here and every man-made star.
This crowd on earth, they soon forget the heroes of the past,
They cheer like made until you fall and that’s how long you last.
I tell you, friend, I would not trade my name however small,
If written there beyond the stars in that celestial hall.
For any famous name on earth or glory that they share,
I’d rather be an unknown here and have my name up there.
-Anonymous
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Dreams and Eternity
You may have heard the news this past week about the tragic death of a young baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim named Nick Adenhart. He was killed late one evening in a hit-and-run accident on the same night in which he had fulfilled a lifelong dream of pitching in the “major leagues”. Adenhart was only 22 years old. Shortly before his season debut, Nick had called his dad and said, “You’d better come. Something special is going to happen”. Something special did. The rookie pitcher shut-out the Oakland Athletics for six innings in his first “big league start”. Although the Angels eventually lost the game (after it was turned over to their bullpen), Nick’s teammates, managers, and the media all spoke of the great game he had pitched and the hard work he had done this past year to reach his goal. The news of the accident came as a shock to everyone. No one expects that to happen to a young person who is on the verge of living the dream of a lifetime. However, death is no respecter of persons.
While you may have heard about Adenhart’s death, you may not have heard about the death of a former major league baseball pitcher who had lived out a dream similar to Adenhart’s. Former Detroit Tiger pitcher, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych was found dead this week in an apparent accident involving a truck used in his hauling business. He was 54. Fidrych was nicknamed “The Bird” because of his resemblance to the Big Bird character on the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street. Mark was tall and gangly with long, curly, blonde hair. He had a gregarious personality as well as many endearing eccentricities.
I had the privilege of attending the very first game that Fidrych pitched at Tiger Stadium. What a memorable experience for a teenager! It was the summer of 1976 and just happened to be the once-a-summer trip I made to Tiger Stadium back then. The young pitcher on the mound that day seemed very different than the Mickey Lolichs, Denny McClains, and John Hillers that had dominated from that “holy hill” before.
In between innings, Fidrych was down on his hands and knees patting the dirt on the mound. In the middle of an inning, you might see him running around the infield high-fiving his teammates when they made good defensive plays. I found out later that he was actually “talking to the baseball” before he pitched it. “The Corner” (Tiger Stadium was at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull streets) was electric that day as “The Bird” had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. He ended up throwing a complete game, two-hitter defeating the Cleveland Indians, 2 - 1. What excitement he brought to “the old ballpark” that day and for the rest of the summer. He won seven of his first eight decisions including a complete-game win on “ABC-TV’s “Monday Night Baseball” against the Yankees. He sold out stadiums wherever the Tigers played and was voted to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star game as a rookie. He pitched 24 complete games that season and won 19. He was the American League Rookie-of-the-Year and runner-up to the Baltimore Orioles', Jim Palmer for the Cy Young Award. He too, like Nick Adenhart, was living a childhood dream.
Unfortunately, injuries cut short Fidrych’s baseball career and certainly, this recent accident cut short his life. It reminds us again that death is no respecter of persons. As coaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, the dreams and the thrill of the moment and forget about the seriousness of life and death issues. These two deaths give us a sobering reminder of what is most important to prepare for – not the next game, but eternity.
Where will you spend eternity? Click on this link and scroll down to the "What about you?" section.
While you may have heard about Adenhart’s death, you may not have heard about the death of a former major league baseball pitcher who had lived out a dream similar to Adenhart’s. Former Detroit Tiger pitcher, Mark “The Bird” Fidrych was found dead this week in an apparent accident involving a truck used in his hauling business. He was 54. Fidrych was nicknamed “The Bird” because of his resemblance to the Big Bird character on the popular children’s television show, Sesame Street. Mark was tall and gangly with long, curly, blonde hair. He had a gregarious personality as well as many endearing eccentricities.
I had the privilege of attending the very first game that Fidrych pitched at Tiger Stadium. What a memorable experience for a teenager! It was the summer of 1976 and just happened to be the once-a-summer trip I made to Tiger Stadium back then. The young pitcher on the mound that day seemed very different than the Mickey Lolichs, Denny McClains, and John Hillers that had dominated from that “holy hill” before.
In between innings, Fidrych was down on his hands and knees patting the dirt on the mound. In the middle of an inning, you might see him running around the infield high-fiving his teammates when they made good defensive plays. I found out later that he was actually “talking to the baseball” before he pitched it. “The Corner” (Tiger Stadium was at the corner of Michigan and Trumbull streets) was electric that day as “The Bird” had a no-hitter going into the sixth inning. He ended up throwing a complete game, two-hitter defeating the Cleveland Indians, 2 - 1. What excitement he brought to “the old ballpark” that day and for the rest of the summer. He won seven of his first eight decisions including a complete-game win on “ABC-TV’s “Monday Night Baseball” against the Yankees. He sold out stadiums wherever the Tigers played and was voted to be the starting pitcher in the All-Star game as a rookie. He pitched 24 complete games that season and won 19. He was the American League Rookie-of-the-Year and runner-up to the Baltimore Orioles', Jim Palmer for the Cy Young Award. He too, like Nick Adenhart, was living a childhood dream.
Unfortunately, injuries cut short Fidrych’s baseball career and certainly, this recent accident cut short his life. It reminds us again that death is no respecter of persons. As coaches, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement, the dreams and the thrill of the moment and forget about the seriousness of life and death issues. These two deaths give us a sobering reminder of what is most important to prepare for – not the next game, but eternity.
Where will you spend eternity? Click on this link and scroll down to the "What about you?" section.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
The "Ought", the "Is", and the "Absolute"
Last weekend at the NABC Convention I had the opportunity again to attend a clinic held by Michael Josephson of the Josephson Institute of Ethics. I have had the privilege of attending quite a few of his sessions over the past five years or so and he always challenges my thinking and causes me to reflect on my philosophy of sports. His thoughts also drive me to the absolute truth of God’s Word.
Mr. Josephson’s organization (Josephson Institute of Ethics) has partnered with the NABC to promote sportsmanship and character development as well as to encourage coaches to have high ethical standards. You can check out his website at www.josephsoninstitute.org . He does tremendous work with businesses, schools, and with public servants such as police officers. The results of his work have been featured on national television programs and he is a well-respected consultant on ethical issues and challenges we face in our culture today. The sports related arm of the ethics institute is Character Counts which emphasizes a program called Pursuing Victory with Honor. His “six pillars of character” are certainly worth promoting in any endeavor that works with young people. Check it out at www.charactercounts.org.
In one session I attended entitled, "The Toughest Decisions Coaches Make", Mr. Josephson dealt with lying and deception specifically related to the recruitment of athletes. There were many coaches in the session who agreed with him regarding what he called the "Ought". We ought to be truthful with the athletes we recruit. We ought to be "up front" with both the athletes and their parents. We ought not to lie. We ought not to deceive. We ought not to make promises that we cannot fulfill. While many coaches believed and agreed with the "ought" that he was presenting, you could tell by the reaction of most of them, that they didn’t believe that they could maintain job security in that kind of environment. The "Is" environment that most coaches lived in contrasted significantly with the "Ought" environment that they all agreed was right. They justified what "Is" because they felt that they could not live by the "Ought" and survive in a work environment that depended on winning for job security. In short, the end justified the means and the end seemed to be self-preservation for many coaches. The only way to accomplish that was to win, and to win often. A necessary ingredient to consistently winning is to have superior athletes. Whatever it takes to get them is justified as long as the outcome is winning.
As Christian coaches we should function beyond even the "Ought" that Michael Josephson presented. We have absolutes. We have the truth of God’s Word. The reason why we don’t lie, deceive, or cheat is not because it’s just a good idea to help us maintain a civil society. It is because it is God’s law. Admittedly, none of us is capable of keeping God’s law, but that’s not why He gave it – to see if we could keep it. He gave it so that it would point out how far we fall short of His absolute holy standard. Then, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to perfectly fulfill the law by living a sinless life and becoming a sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. He paid the death penalty for our transgression of the law, but he didn’t just die. He rose again and became victorious over death. We especially celebrate His resurrection this weekend with the Easter holiday.
So, what goes beyond the "Ought"? The absolute truth does! The truth is that none of us deserves to stand in the presence a Holy God, but He made a way by sacrificing His Son to clothe us in His righteousness. The truth is that Jesus paid the penalty of death, was in the grave for three days, and then conquered death for every man. The truth is that Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. (John 14:6) The evidence of his death and subsequent resurrection is overwhelming – the empty tomb, the testimony of the soldiers guarding the tomb, the eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior, the changed lives of not only the followers of Christ after His resurrection, but of those today who have accepted Christ as their Lord. In the book of Acts, Luke writes that Jesus showed himself alive after His death by "many infallible proofs", a phrase that indicates the strongest possible legal evidence.
I heard it said once that "facts don't cease to exist simply because they are ignored". In a similar way I believe that "the truth doesn't cease to exist simply because it is rejected". God’s word is absolute truth. We need to obey it and live it in every aspect of our lives, even when coaching and/or recruiting athletes. Let’s maintain honesty, integrity, character and sportsmanship in our coaching not just because we "ought to", but because it is absolutely right to.
Mr. Josephson’s organization (Josephson Institute of Ethics) has partnered with the NABC to promote sportsmanship and character development as well as to encourage coaches to have high ethical standards. You can check out his website at www.josephsoninstitute.org . He does tremendous work with businesses, schools, and with public servants such as police officers. The results of his work have been featured on national television programs and he is a well-respected consultant on ethical issues and challenges we face in our culture today. The sports related arm of the ethics institute is Character Counts which emphasizes a program called Pursuing Victory with Honor. His “six pillars of character” are certainly worth promoting in any endeavor that works with young people. Check it out at www.charactercounts.org.
In one session I attended entitled, "The Toughest Decisions Coaches Make", Mr. Josephson dealt with lying and deception specifically related to the recruitment of athletes. There were many coaches in the session who agreed with him regarding what he called the "Ought". We ought to be truthful with the athletes we recruit. We ought to be "up front" with both the athletes and their parents. We ought not to lie. We ought not to deceive. We ought not to make promises that we cannot fulfill. While many coaches believed and agreed with the "ought" that he was presenting, you could tell by the reaction of most of them, that they didn’t believe that they could maintain job security in that kind of environment. The "Is" environment that most coaches lived in contrasted significantly with the "Ought" environment that they all agreed was right. They justified what "Is" because they felt that they could not live by the "Ought" and survive in a work environment that depended on winning for job security. In short, the end justified the means and the end seemed to be self-preservation for many coaches. The only way to accomplish that was to win, and to win often. A necessary ingredient to consistently winning is to have superior athletes. Whatever it takes to get them is justified as long as the outcome is winning.
As Christian coaches we should function beyond even the "Ought" that Michael Josephson presented. We have absolutes. We have the truth of God’s Word. The reason why we don’t lie, deceive, or cheat is not because it’s just a good idea to help us maintain a civil society. It is because it is God’s law. Admittedly, none of us is capable of keeping God’s law, but that’s not why He gave it – to see if we could keep it. He gave it so that it would point out how far we fall short of His absolute holy standard. Then, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, to perfectly fulfill the law by living a sinless life and becoming a sacrifice for our sins by dying on the cross. He paid the death penalty for our transgression of the law, but he didn’t just die. He rose again and became victorious over death. We especially celebrate His resurrection this weekend with the Easter holiday.
So, what goes beyond the "Ought"? The absolute truth does! The truth is that none of us deserves to stand in the presence a Holy God, but He made a way by sacrificing His Son to clothe us in His righteousness. The truth is that Jesus paid the penalty of death, was in the grave for three days, and then conquered death for every man. The truth is that Jesus is the only Way, the only Truth and the only Life. (John 14:6) The evidence of his death and subsequent resurrection is overwhelming – the empty tomb, the testimony of the soldiers guarding the tomb, the eyewitnesses of the resurrected Savior, the changed lives of not only the followers of Christ after His resurrection, but of those today who have accepted Christ as their Lord. In the book of Acts, Luke writes that Jesus showed himself alive after His death by "many infallible proofs", a phrase that indicates the strongest possible legal evidence.
I heard it said once that "facts don't cease to exist simply because they are ignored". In a similar way I believe that "the truth doesn't cease to exist simply because it is rejected". God’s word is absolute truth. We need to obey it and live it in every aspect of our lives, even when coaching and/or recruiting athletes. Let’s maintain honesty, integrity, character and sportsmanship in our coaching not just because we "ought to", but because it is absolutely right to.
Sunday, March 29, 2009
The Final Four
Well, the Final Four is set and it looks like it’s shaping up to be an exciting one. For me, the Final Four weekend, which includes the NABC Convention, has been something I really look forward to each year. I have been a member of the NABC (National Association of Basketball Coaches) for 18 years and have attended the annual convention that is held in conjunction with the Final Four many times. Over the years, I have appreciated the leadership in the NABC that makes a strong effort to include ministry events in the Final Four weekend. These events have included coaches Bible studies, worship services, seminars for coaches and wives, workshops for coaches as fathers, testimonies from Christian coaches and athletes, discussion panels, question and answer sessions, fellowship luncheons and award banquets. I have often returned from the NABC convention spiritually refreshed and rejuvenated. The excitement surrounding the basketball games is just an added bonus. I also enjoy attending various coaching clinic sessions, watching the teams practice, and taking in the NABC All-Star game.
When talking strictly basketball, I think the Final Four is most exciting when you have a “hot team”, a “home team”, a “historical team” and a “happy-to-be-there team”. It seems like we have that this year for sure.
This year’s “hot team” is probably Connecticut. They have gone through some ups and downs and it took a while to adjust without Jerome Dyson, but now they are firing on all cylinders.
This year’s “home team” is obviously Michigan State. This is the Spartans fifth appearance at the Final Four since 1999. How they handled Louisville was so typical of a Tom Izzo coached team. Having a “home team” creates an exciting atmosphere surrounding the weekend.
The “historical team” is North Carolina. Few colleges have more tradition than the Tar Heels. This is their eighteenth appearance at the Final Four. They are certainly on a mission after being embarrassed by Kansas in last year’s Final Four semi-final game.
The “happy to be there” team is Villanova, but I wouldn’t count them out of having a chance to win it all. Jay Wright has done a great job building that program and they are more than capable of knocking anyone off. They could also be considered the “hot team” coming in.
If you are a college basketball fan it doesn’t get any better than the Final Four. As far as who I think will win, my heart says Michigan State, but my head says North Carolina. It should be another classic.
When talking strictly basketball, I think the Final Four is most exciting when you have a “hot team”, a “home team”, a “historical team” and a “happy-to-be-there team”. It seems like we have that this year for sure.
This year’s “hot team” is probably Connecticut. They have gone through some ups and downs and it took a while to adjust without Jerome Dyson, but now they are firing on all cylinders.
This year’s “home team” is obviously Michigan State. This is the Spartans fifth appearance at the Final Four since 1999. How they handled Louisville was so typical of a Tom Izzo coached team. Having a “home team” creates an exciting atmosphere surrounding the weekend.
The “historical team” is North Carolina. Few colleges have more tradition than the Tar Heels. This is their eighteenth appearance at the Final Four. They are certainly on a mission after being embarrassed by Kansas in last year’s Final Four semi-final game.
The “happy to be there” team is Villanova, but I wouldn’t count them out of having a chance to win it all. Jay Wright has done a great job building that program and they are more than capable of knocking anyone off. They could also be considered the “hot team” coming in.
If you are a college basketball fan it doesn’t get any better than the Final Four. As far as who I think will win, my heart says Michigan State, but my head says North Carolina. It should be another classic.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
A Real Champion
In my 27 years of coaching basketball, one of my all-time favorite coaches to compete against and fellowship with was Keith Champion. Champion, what a great name for a coach! Keith is certainly a champion in more ways than one. He has led many of his teams to conference, state and regional championships, but has developed young men to be champions off the court as much as on the court.
Coach Champion has coached in Christian schools and colleges for over 30 years. Most recently, Keith has been the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, MN. You may have been aware that the board of directors at Pillsbury voted to close the school this past December. Tough economic times and declining enrollment forced the board to make a very difficult decision and it abruptly left Coach Champion without a place to coach half way through the season. After 30 years in coaching, finding another place to coach posed a serious challenge. Keith’s resume is outstanding, but starting over again is never very easy. Most coaching vacancies would probably be filled with coaches half his age.
Through this transition, Coach Champion and his wife Judy have consistently trusted the Lord to lead and open doors. I remember having a conversation with Keith shortly after Pillsbury announced they were closing. I asked him what possibilities the future held. He mentioned the possibilities of teaching or administrating at some Christian schools, but then shared with me a question that he had asked his wife, “Judy, I’m a coach, aren’t I?” I’m sure that Judy’s reply was much the same as mine would have been, “Yes, Keith, you’re a coach”. The longer I thought about Keith’s question, the more I realized that he is more than just a coach. He is a coach’s coach. He is a godly leader and well-respected humble servant. Anyone who has ever played for him or coached against him has certainly realized this. Keith understands the real purpose of coaching. He knows that it’s not about building a resume, a program or a reputation. With Keith, coaching is about building young lives. Thankfully, Keith will continue to do this now at Clearwater Christian College. About a week ago, Clearwater announced that Coach Champion has agreed to coach their men’s basketball team and serve as assistant athletic director.
At CSPN we are thrilled that Coach Champion will continue to coach and impact young lives. We are also are grateful that he has agreed to serve on the CSPN Advisory Board. He has already contributed some articles to the Coach’s Corner. These articles are reprints from a weekly article called “From the Sidelines” that he used to write for the Owatonna People Press. Coach Champion always communicates a Biblical philosophy and ministry focus through his coaching and writing. We look forward to his valuable input in an advisory role for us at CSPN. We also look forward to seeing how God is going to continue using Coach Champion at Clearwater Christian College.
Coach Champion has coached in Christian schools and colleges for over 30 years. Most recently, Keith has been the athletic director and men’s basketball coach at Pillsbury Baptist Bible College in Owatonna, MN. You may have been aware that the board of directors at Pillsbury voted to close the school this past December. Tough economic times and declining enrollment forced the board to make a very difficult decision and it abruptly left Coach Champion without a place to coach half way through the season. After 30 years in coaching, finding another place to coach posed a serious challenge. Keith’s resume is outstanding, but starting over again is never very easy. Most coaching vacancies would probably be filled with coaches half his age.
Through this transition, Coach Champion and his wife Judy have consistently trusted the Lord to lead and open doors. I remember having a conversation with Keith shortly after Pillsbury announced they were closing. I asked him what possibilities the future held. He mentioned the possibilities of teaching or administrating at some Christian schools, but then shared with me a question that he had asked his wife, “Judy, I’m a coach, aren’t I?” I’m sure that Judy’s reply was much the same as mine would have been, “Yes, Keith, you’re a coach”. The longer I thought about Keith’s question, the more I realized that he is more than just a coach. He is a coach’s coach. He is a godly leader and well-respected humble servant. Anyone who has ever played for him or coached against him has certainly realized this. Keith understands the real purpose of coaching. He knows that it’s not about building a resume, a program or a reputation. With Keith, coaching is about building young lives. Thankfully, Keith will continue to do this now at Clearwater Christian College. About a week ago, Clearwater announced that Coach Champion has agreed to coach their men’s basketball team and serve as assistant athletic director.
At CSPN we are thrilled that Coach Champion will continue to coach and impact young lives. We are also are grateful that he has agreed to serve on the CSPN Advisory Board. He has already contributed some articles to the Coach’s Corner. These articles are reprints from a weekly article called “From the Sidelines” that he used to write for the Owatonna People Press. Coach Champion always communicates a Biblical philosophy and ministry focus through his coaching and writing. We look forward to his valuable input in an advisory role for us at CSPN. We also look forward to seeing how God is going to continue using Coach Champion at Clearwater Christian College.
Monday, March 16, 2009
"Mercy Rule" shows no mercy
Did you hear that Team USA was beaten by Puerto Rico in the second round of the World Baseball Classic? The interesting thing about the game was not that Puerto Rico won - they are a team full of major-leaguers and are very talented. The amazing thing was that the final score was 11-1 in seven innings. No, the final two innings weren’t rained out. It was a “mercy rule” game. You know, when a team has a 10-run lead late in the game. Our best American professional baseball players were “mercy ruled”? How embarrassing is that!
I think the term “mercy rule” is a bit of a misnomer. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have a rule like this for certain competitions, but is it really necessary at the highest levels and should it really be called a “mercy rule”? I think our USA baseball team is talented enough that they could have come up with a couple of good rallies in the final two innings had they been given a chance. They do have some pride and I think some of them might have been humiliated by the seven-inning loss (in some cases, that may not be a bad thing).
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time that I had heard of the “mercy rule” being used. I remember it back when I was playing Little League baseball and church league softball 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, I think the primary reason for the rule was for the sake of time. In community recreation leagues there was a time limit on games and the “mercy rule” helped keep things on schedule. I understand the need to have such a guideline, but should it really be called “mercy rule”? It really doesn’t show mercy at all. It seems to be just a more obvious way to highlight an embarrassing defeat.
When it really comes down to it, showing mercy means that one shows compassionate leniency toward an enemy or a wrongdoer. According to Webster, it is a discretionary power to punish or to spare. It is a withholding of some form of punishment or judgment that was rightly deserved. God showed mercy to us in sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. He withheld judgment for our sins and refrained from issuing the penalty of death that we all rightly deserved. He provided life for us through His Son when we deserved death and hell. I love the verses in Lamentations 3:22, 23 that say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”. Showing mercy to others is commanded in Luke 6:36 when the Bible says, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”. How have you done recently at showing mercy to others that may have “deserved” your wrath?
While I think that our current sports culture has no idea of the true meaning of mercy, maybe we can use a sports situation when the “mercy rule” is applied to share the message of God’s mercy to us. Also, let’s be careful about running up the score. Obviously, you don’t want your players to give less than their best and there are some lopsided competitive situations that might be unavoidable, but we need to be careful about embarrassing an opponent. While I believe that there is an appropriate use of the “mercy rule”, let’s be sensitive to the feelings of the ones who may be on the receiving end of that “mercy”.
I think the term “mercy rule” is a bit of a misnomer. I’m not saying that we shouldn’t have a rule like this for certain competitions, but is it really necessary at the highest levels and should it really be called a “mercy rule”? I think our USA baseball team is talented enough that they could have come up with a couple of good rallies in the final two innings had they been given a chance. They do have some pride and I think some of them might have been humiliated by the seven-inning loss (in some cases, that may not be a bad thing).
Honestly, I can’t remember the last time that I had heard of the “mercy rule” being used. I remember it back when I was playing Little League baseball and church league softball 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, I think the primary reason for the rule was for the sake of time. In community recreation leagues there was a time limit on games and the “mercy rule” helped keep things on schedule. I understand the need to have such a guideline, but should it really be called “mercy rule”? It really doesn’t show mercy at all. It seems to be just a more obvious way to highlight an embarrassing defeat.
When it really comes down to it, showing mercy means that one shows compassionate leniency toward an enemy or a wrongdoer. According to Webster, it is a discretionary power to punish or to spare. It is a withholding of some form of punishment or judgment that was rightly deserved. God showed mercy to us in sending Jesus Christ to pay the penalty for our sins. He withheld judgment for our sins and refrained from issuing the penalty of death that we all rightly deserved. He provided life for us through His Son when we deserved death and hell. I love the verses in Lamentations 3:22, 23 that say, “It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness”. Showing mercy to others is commanded in Luke 6:36 when the Bible says, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful”. How have you done recently at showing mercy to others that may have “deserved” your wrath?
While I think that our current sports culture has no idea of the true meaning of mercy, maybe we can use a sports situation when the “mercy rule” is applied to share the message of God’s mercy to us. Also, let’s be careful about running up the score. Obviously, you don’t want your players to give less than their best and there are some lopsided competitive situations that might be unavoidable, but we need to be careful about embarrassing an opponent. While I believe that there is an appropriate use of the “mercy rule”, let’s be sensitive to the feelings of the ones who may be on the receiving end of that “mercy”.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
We're On the Same Team
“If the game of life ended tonight, would you be a winner?” This was a question often asked by Bobby Richardson, the well known New York Yankee second baseman of a bygone era. Richardson played in seven World Series and was the World Series MVP in 1960. He was also selected to the MLB All-Star game nine times and won five consecutive Gold Glove awards. Richardson often spoke of his faith in Jesus Christ and influenced many people with his testimony and challenge about the “game of life”.
One person who speaks of Bobby Richardson’s influence on his life is Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. In his new book, The Winner’s Manual - For the Game of Life, Coach Tressel shares a tremendous amount of material that he has collected over his years in competitive athletics and coaching. He has allowed Bobby Richardson’s question to help him keep a focus on what is really important in life. He says that “the information in this book is not so much about football as it is about life and what it really takes to succeed – emotionally, relationally, spiritually, and professionally”. The book is full of quotes, stories and thought-provoking questions that will help any athlete at any level develop a right perspective of sports and life. He addresses topics such as work, discipline, adversity, success, responsibility, faith and belief.
Having grown up as a Michigan Wolverine fan myself, you can probably imagine my hesitation to purchase, let alone recommend, a book written by an Ohio State Buckeye football coach. I grew up in Michigan during the 1960’s and 70’s. Remember Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes? I have great memories of the many battles between Michigan and Ohio State during that era and the wins that sent the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl. Obviously in the past few years, Ohio State has been the team going to the big bowl games and it has been hard not to cheer against them. However, I realized that Coach Tressel and I are really on the same team. We are both trying to influence others for the cause of Jesus Christ and for eternity through the opportunities available to us through coaching and sports. I hope that you will consider joining that team also. We need many more young coaches who will take the challenge to impact a new generation of athletes to seriously consider Bobby Richardson’s question. Are you prepared to help them answer it?
One person who speaks of Bobby Richardson’s influence on his life is Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel. In his new book, The Winner’s Manual - For the Game of Life, Coach Tressel shares a tremendous amount of material that he has collected over his years in competitive athletics and coaching. He has allowed Bobby Richardson’s question to help him keep a focus on what is really important in life. He says that “the information in this book is not so much about football as it is about life and what it really takes to succeed – emotionally, relationally, spiritually, and professionally”. The book is full of quotes, stories and thought-provoking questions that will help any athlete at any level develop a right perspective of sports and life. He addresses topics such as work, discipline, adversity, success, responsibility, faith and belief.
Having grown up as a Michigan Wolverine fan myself, you can probably imagine my hesitation to purchase, let alone recommend, a book written by an Ohio State Buckeye football coach. I grew up in Michigan during the 1960’s and 70’s. Remember Bo Schembechler and Woody Hayes? I have great memories of the many battles between Michigan and Ohio State during that era and the wins that sent the Wolverines to the Rose Bowl. Obviously in the past few years, Ohio State has been the team going to the big bowl games and it has been hard not to cheer against them. However, I realized that Coach Tressel and I are really on the same team. We are both trying to influence others for the cause of Jesus Christ and for eternity through the opportunities available to us through coaching and sports. I hope that you will consider joining that team also. We need many more young coaches who will take the challenge to impact a new generation of athletes to seriously consider Bobby Richardson’s question. Are you prepared to help them answer it?
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Memorable March Madness
Now that March has arrived, it’s time to get ready for the basketball “madness” that makes this time of the year so special. From “Cinderella stories” and underdogs to “buzzer beaters” and clutch free-throws, we all love seeing the bench players locking arms and pulling for their teammates. The NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament is one of my favorite sporting events of the year. A team must win six straight “sudden death” games in order to capture the championship. The tournament can thrill your soul one moment and tear your heart out the next. What other sporting event can provide that kind of drama? Let me ask you, “What is your most memorable moment from past tournaments?”
I have so many memories of tournaments over the past 30 years that’s its difficult to select just one. However, if I was forced to, I would probably choose Bryce Drew’s buzzer beater shot in 1998 that defeated a heavily favored “Ole Miss” team and sent Valparaiso University on to the Sweet 16. Sure, there are other memories that are probably more significant in the history of the tournament, but this one stands out to me because of the father/son aspect. I remember seeing a photo in Sports Illustrated of the exact moment when Bryce was taking the shot. His father/coach, Homer Drew, was standing in the background, arms folded, calming watching the play develop. I can assure you that he wasn’t as calm after the shot went in. What a special moment for a father and son to share.
While I never experienced the same kind of situation that Homer and Bryce Drew shared, I did have the wonderful privilege of coaching my own son through four years of college. I have a lot of memories from those four years, but they are not just from what happened on the basketball court. We traveled from Anchorage, Alaska to Zambia, Africa playing basketball. Each trip provided the opportunity not just to play the game, but to share a message. The message was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Basketball opened many doors and gave us many shared experiences as father/coach and son. Whether it was in regular season competition, off-season mission trips, or summer basketball camps, we have great memories of serving the Lord together while enjoying the game of basketball.
Shortly after Bryce Drew’s dramatic shot we added the “Valpo” play to our “playbook” hoping that we might have an opportunity to use it sometime. Just two seasons ago, we had a game situation in which the play actually worked to perfection and we won a game with a “buzzer beater” shot. No, it wasn’t my son that made the shot, but the moment was still very special. It taught us that, “when the opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare”. We were prepared. Thank you Bryce and Homer Drew.
As you prepare for this year’s edition of March Madness why not take the time to share with the rest of us why a specific memory of March Madness stands out to you. Just click the comment button below and help us get ready for the madness to come.
I have so many memories of tournaments over the past 30 years that’s its difficult to select just one. However, if I was forced to, I would probably choose Bryce Drew’s buzzer beater shot in 1998 that defeated a heavily favored “Ole Miss” team and sent Valparaiso University on to the Sweet 16. Sure, there are other memories that are probably more significant in the history of the tournament, but this one stands out to me because of the father/son aspect. I remember seeing a photo in Sports Illustrated of the exact moment when Bryce was taking the shot. His father/coach, Homer Drew, was standing in the background, arms folded, calming watching the play develop. I can assure you that he wasn’t as calm after the shot went in. What a special moment for a father and son to share.
While I never experienced the same kind of situation that Homer and Bryce Drew shared, I did have the wonderful privilege of coaching my own son through four years of college. I have a lot of memories from those four years, but they are not just from what happened on the basketball court. We traveled from Anchorage, Alaska to Zambia, Africa playing basketball. Each trip provided the opportunity not just to play the game, but to share a message. The message was the gospel of Jesus Christ. Basketball opened many doors and gave us many shared experiences as father/coach and son. Whether it was in regular season competition, off-season mission trips, or summer basketball camps, we have great memories of serving the Lord together while enjoying the game of basketball.
Shortly after Bryce Drew’s dramatic shot we added the “Valpo” play to our “playbook” hoping that we might have an opportunity to use it sometime. Just two seasons ago, we had a game situation in which the play actually worked to perfection and we won a game with a “buzzer beater” shot. No, it wasn’t my son that made the shot, but the moment was still very special. It taught us that, “when the opportunity comes, it’s too late to prepare”. We were prepared. Thank you Bryce and Homer Drew.
As you prepare for this year’s edition of March Madness why not take the time to share with the rest of us why a specific memory of March Madness stands out to you. Just click the comment button below and help us get ready for the madness to come.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
What's Your Platform?
We often see celebrity athletes or coaches use their high profile exposure in front of television cameras as an opportunity to share a personal message. This is sometimes referred to as “having a platform”. Some of these athletes and coaches have taken the opportunity to share a Bible message or a statement of their personal relationship with Jesus Christ. In the BCS Championship football game this year you may have seen Tim Tebow’s “John 3:16” message written on his eye black. Tebow has certainly used his “platform” to share his faith and open doors for ministry. One NFL coach who has taken advantage of his “platform” has been Tony Dungy, the recently retired coach of the Indianapolis Colts.
In Dungy’s new book, Uncommon, he shares a unique perspective on “having a platform”. You might be aware that Dungy had a son that committed suicide about a year before the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007. In Uncommon, Dungy shares a story of a father who had called him because his son appeared to be slipping into depression and considering suicide. This was because the son’s finance had died in an accident prior to their wedding date. The father asked Dungy if he would call his son and share words of encouragement with him. Over the next few weeks Coach Dungy called the young man several times. He told him that, “it may not seem like it at the moment, but things would get better, and ending his life wasn’t the answer. There were more people than he realized who cared about him who he would leave behind, crushed. They would wonder what they should have done, what they could have done. He would leave an empty hole in their hearts.”
Dungy knew the loss that the young man was feeling and tried to help him understand that “while the ache may always stay with us, God will help us push through.” After a few weeks passed, including the date on which the son would have been married, Dungy said that he could tell that the young man was beginning to “push through the dark clouds to find a ray or two of sunlight”. In one conversation, the young man began to thank Dungy for his encouragement and asked him what he did. “By the way,” he said, “what is it that you do”? Dungy told him that he was a coach. “Oh, cool,” the son said, “High school or college?” He didn’t even know that he had been talking to a NFL Super Bowl Championship coach.
The point is that the young man didn’t care that Dungy was anybody famous. He was just a guy that his dad knew who had lost a son – and who cared enough to take the time to call him. Dungy’s platform was not that he was a famous NFL coach, but that he had lost a son to suicide.
What a powerful story for all of us to realize that it is not fame, notoriety, or celebrity that gives us the “platform” for touching other lives. It is the life experiences that God gives us whereby we realize His grace and recognize that He alone can meet our deepest needs. This story leaves me with just one question, “What’s my platform?”
How about you? Have you really thought about what your platform is? It may not be related to sports even though you are highly involved in them.
Purchase Tony Dungy's new book,Uncommon, here.
In Dungy’s new book, Uncommon, he shares a unique perspective on “having a platform”. You might be aware that Dungy had a son that committed suicide about a year before the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007. In Uncommon, Dungy shares a story of a father who had called him because his son appeared to be slipping into depression and considering suicide. This was because the son’s finance had died in an accident prior to their wedding date. The father asked Dungy if he would call his son and share words of encouragement with him. Over the next few weeks Coach Dungy called the young man several times. He told him that, “it may not seem like it at the moment, but things would get better, and ending his life wasn’t the answer. There were more people than he realized who cared about him who he would leave behind, crushed. They would wonder what they should have done, what they could have done. He would leave an empty hole in their hearts.”
Dungy knew the loss that the young man was feeling and tried to help him understand that “while the ache may always stay with us, God will help us push through.” After a few weeks passed, including the date on which the son would have been married, Dungy said that he could tell that the young man was beginning to “push through the dark clouds to find a ray or two of sunlight”. In one conversation, the young man began to thank Dungy for his encouragement and asked him what he did. “By the way,” he said, “what is it that you do”? Dungy told him that he was a coach. “Oh, cool,” the son said, “High school or college?” He didn’t even know that he had been talking to a NFL Super Bowl Championship coach.
The point is that the young man didn’t care that Dungy was anybody famous. He was just a guy that his dad knew who had lost a son – and who cared enough to take the time to call him. Dungy’s platform was not that he was a famous NFL coach, but that he had lost a son to suicide.
What a powerful story for all of us to realize that it is not fame, notoriety, or celebrity that gives us the “platform” for touching other lives. It is the life experiences that God gives us whereby we realize His grace and recognize that He alone can meet our deepest needs. This story leaves me with just one question, “What’s my platform?”
How about you? Have you really thought about what your platform is? It may not be related to sports even though you are highly involved in them.
Purchase Tony Dungy's new book,Uncommon, here.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Let Kids be Kids!
On a weekend with a multitude of sports stories of varied interest, there was one story that made me look twice to be sure that what I was reading was for real. It wasn’t anything surrounding the NBA All-Star weekend, even though Kryptonite (5’ 9” - Nate Robinson) defeating Superman (6’ 11” Dwight Howard) in the dunk contest was pretty entertaining. It wasn't about MLB, spring training, performance enhancing drugs and A-Rod. It wasn’t anything surrounding the two major sporting events affected by the weather, the Daytona 500 and the AT&T Pro-Am at Pebble Beach. It wasn’t even anything surrounding some of the most exciting sporting events to watch at this time of year, NCAA college basketball. It was about a 12-year old football prospect. That’s right! A 12-year old, NCAA Division I football quarterback prospect.
My first reaction was, “Come on . . . a 12-year old that could be the next Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger?” How could any scout figure that out? The kid’s voice probably hasn’t even changed yet.
My next reaction was, “What are college coaches or NFL football scouts doing checking out a 12-year old? Certainly they’ve crossed the line in trying to find the next future star athlete. Can’t kids just be kids anymore?
As I read the article further, my final reaction was, “What are the parents doing marketing a 12-year old? Are times so tough that the best investment a parent can make for their children’s future education is in sending them to specialized coaches and elite camps? Is the best way to invest for a child’s college education through pushing, packaging, promoting and marketing them to secure an athletic scholarship?
In my opinion kids are growing up too fast these days. The push to be too specialized in a specific sport, too soon, creates situations that can result in burnout. The kids barely have a chance to be kids. I recently saw a video of five-star basketball recruit Elena Delle Donne who, after signing with the University of Connecticut, stayed on campus less than two days before returning home. She said she was sick and tired of hoops and has been doubting (since the time she was 13 years old) whether she really wanted to keep playing. Her parents seemed stunned to find this out. While Elena has tremendous talent for basketball, it seemed like she never really even had a chance to choose what activities interested her most.
Both of these stories ought to raise concerns in parents about pushing their kids too aggressively. Parents, let the kids have fun and don’t try to re-live your lives through them. Coaches, keep things in perspective and don’t make them only work at the specific sport you coach. Help children develop a balanced life and let them pursue things that interest them. There will be a time to “narrow the focus down” and “pursue a specific passion”, but not when they are 10 – 12 years old. Let’s get back to letting kids be kids.
Read more about 12-year old, David Sills here.
Watch the video of Elena Delle Donne and "burnout"
My first reaction was, “Come on . . . a 12-year old that could be the next Peyton Manning or Ben Roethlisberger?” How could any scout figure that out? The kid’s voice probably hasn’t even changed yet.
My next reaction was, “What are college coaches or NFL football scouts doing checking out a 12-year old? Certainly they’ve crossed the line in trying to find the next future star athlete. Can’t kids just be kids anymore?
As I read the article further, my final reaction was, “What are the parents doing marketing a 12-year old? Are times so tough that the best investment a parent can make for their children’s future education is in sending them to specialized coaches and elite camps? Is the best way to invest for a child’s college education through pushing, packaging, promoting and marketing them to secure an athletic scholarship?
In my opinion kids are growing up too fast these days. The push to be too specialized in a specific sport, too soon, creates situations that can result in burnout. The kids barely have a chance to be kids. I recently saw a video of five-star basketball recruit Elena Delle Donne who, after signing with the University of Connecticut, stayed on campus less than two days before returning home. She said she was sick and tired of hoops and has been doubting (since the time she was 13 years old) whether she really wanted to keep playing. Her parents seemed stunned to find this out. While Elena has tremendous talent for basketball, it seemed like she never really even had a chance to choose what activities interested her most.
Both of these stories ought to raise concerns in parents about pushing their kids too aggressively. Parents, let the kids have fun and don’t try to re-live your lives through them. Coaches, keep things in perspective and don’t make them only work at the specific sport you coach. Help children develop a balanced life and let them pursue things that interest them. There will be a time to “narrow the focus down” and “pursue a specific passion”, but not when they are 10 – 12 years old. Let’s get back to letting kids be kids.
Read more about 12-year old, David Sills here.
Watch the video of Elena Delle Donne and "burnout"
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Speaking At Your Own Funeral
At a funeral this week, attended by many dignitaries, famous athletes and coaches who all could have spoken flowering eulogies of the deceased, there was a very unique speaker. Kay Yow, long time women’s basketball coach at North Carolina State University, spoke at her own funeral by way of video tape. Yow who has battled breast cancer since being diagnosed with it in 1987, died just last weekend. She was 66 years old.
Pat Summit, University of Tennessee’s well-known women’s basketball coach and longtime friend of Yow said, “I have never known of a service like this . . . and it would be just like Kay to be the absolute first.” "Obviously I don't think there was a person in that room that wasn't touched and probably affected by her words." She also called the tape, “amazing”.
In the 25 minute video tape, Yow thanked many who encouraged her through the 20-year battle with cancer and then shared her faith in Jesus Christ. She said, “It has changed my life and has changed the life of every person who has accepted Him.” She concluded with the words, “And now I say farewell. It has been a wonderful journey, especially since the time I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.”
Yow’s accomplishments as a basketball coach were outstanding, but the influence she had on everyone who knew her was even greater. She led the U.S. Women’s Basketball team to an Olympic gold medal in 1988, won more than 700 games in her career, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2002. She spent 38 seasons as a coach (34 with NC State), won four ACC tournament championships, earned 20 NCAA tournament bids and reached the Final Four once, in 1998. Her greater accomplishments were probably in raising awareness and money for cancer research while continuing to coach her team through the physical effects of the cancer and the chemotherapy treatments. “Her battle with breast cancer was never about herself”, said Megan Smith, who works with the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer fund in Atlanta. “She was such a courageous and humble person at the same time.” Yow also served on the board of the "V Foundation" for Cancer Research which was founded by ESPN and her friend and colleague, former NC State men's basketball coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993.
Yow admitted that taping the message for her own funeral was “actually sort of eerie”, but said she first felt compelled to tape a message after doctors diagnosed a recurrence of breast cancer in 2004. "I don't want you to fret over the fact that I'm not here or question why I'm not here," Yow said. "Because God knows what he's doing. He doesn't make mistakes. ... I have now a place in heaven with him."
Yow’s dying words certainly should cause all of us to reflect on what is really important in life and on our own eternal destiny. The Bible speaks clearly of how one can know for certain that they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that heaven will be their eternal home.
Read more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ here.
Read more about this unique funeral here.
Pat Summit, University of Tennessee’s well-known women’s basketball coach and longtime friend of Yow said, “I have never known of a service like this . . . and it would be just like Kay to be the absolute first.” "Obviously I don't think there was a person in that room that wasn't touched and probably affected by her words." She also called the tape, “amazing”.
In the 25 minute video tape, Yow thanked many who encouraged her through the 20-year battle with cancer and then shared her faith in Jesus Christ. She said, “It has changed my life and has changed the life of every person who has accepted Him.” She concluded with the words, “And now I say farewell. It has been a wonderful journey, especially since the time I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior.”
Yow’s accomplishments as a basketball coach were outstanding, but the influence she had on everyone who knew her was even greater. She led the U.S. Women’s Basketball team to an Olympic gold medal in 1988, won more than 700 games in her career, and was inducted into the Naismith Hall of Fame in 2002. She spent 38 seasons as a coach (34 with NC State), won four ACC tournament championships, earned 20 NCAA tournament bids and reached the Final Four once, in 1998. Her greater accomplishments were probably in raising awareness and money for cancer research while continuing to coach her team through the physical effects of the cancer and the chemotherapy treatments. “Her battle with breast cancer was never about herself”, said Megan Smith, who works with the Kay Yow/WBCA Cancer fund in Atlanta. “She was such a courageous and humble person at the same time.” Yow also served on the board of the "V Foundation" for Cancer Research which was founded by ESPN and her friend and colleague, former NC State men's basketball coach Jim Valvano, who died of cancer in 1993.
Yow admitted that taping the message for her own funeral was “actually sort of eerie”, but said she first felt compelled to tape a message after doctors diagnosed a recurrence of breast cancer in 2004. "I don't want you to fret over the fact that I'm not here or question why I'm not here," Yow said. "Because God knows what he's doing. He doesn't make mistakes. ... I have now a place in heaven with him."
Yow’s dying words certainly should cause all of us to reflect on what is really important in life and on our own eternal destiny. The Bible speaks clearly of how one can know for certain that they have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ and that heaven will be their eternal home.
Read more about a personal relationship with Jesus Christ here.
Read more about this unique funeral here.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Covenant School Coach Fired
An interesting twist has developed in the story I wrote about this weekend. The coach from the winning team of the 100-0 basketball game has been fired. He has stated that he "did not agree with the apology" or the statement posted by his school regarding the incident. He further stated, "We played the game as it was meant to be played. My values and my beliefs would not allow me to run up the score on any opponent, and it will not allow me to apologize for a wide-margin victory when my girls played with honor and integrity." This raises the question about philosophy of competition. Should a superior team never "back off" in it's effort against an inferior team? Do you believe that The Covenant School did play with honor an integrity? Would you feel differently if the final score had been 90-10 or even 65-15? At what point do you cross a line in humiliating your opponent? Please feel free to send comments to coachscott@cspnonline.com.
Click here to read more.
Click here to read more.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
“Victory without honor is a loss”
That’s what Kyle Queal, the head of The Covenant School in Dallas, Texas said after his high school girls’ basketball team defeated the Dallas Academy 100 – 0. No, that’s not a typo. One hundred to zero!
Officials from The Covenant School have made a formal request to forfeit the game even though the scoreboard obviously said that they had won. Their halftime lead was 59 – 0. They are trying to do the right thing by seeking a forfeit and apologizing for the margin of victory. Both schools are members of the TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools). In a statement from the association, TAPPS director, Edd Burleson said, “There is no mercy rule in girls’ basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become lopsided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest.” Burleson further stated, “On a personal note, I told the coach of the losing team how much I admire their girls for continuing to compete against all odds . . . they showed much more character than the coach that allowed that score to get out of hand. It's up to the coach to control the outcome."
The officials at The Covenant School are certainly trying to right the wrong. In a statement on the Covenant website, Queal said the game "does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition. We humbly apologize for our actions and seek the forgiveness of Dallas Academy, TAPPS and our community." Read the entire Covenant School statement here.
The response from the Dallas Academy officials and their team members has been great. When the Covenant School officials met with the Dallas Academy officials to apologize, they praised "each member of the Dallas Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team for their strength, composure and fortitude in a game in which they clearly emerged the winner." Dallas Academy coach Jeremy Civello said he appreciated the gesture and has accepted the apology "with no ill feelings."
Shelby Hyatt, a freshman on the Dallas Academy team said, "Even if you are losing, you might as well keep playing . . . keep trying, and it's going to be OK." At a shoot-around last Thursday, several Dallas Academy players said they were frustrated during the game but felt it was a learning opportunity. They also said they are excited about some of the attention they are receiving from the loss, including an invitation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.
As coaches, all of us have gotten “caught up in the moment” of winning a lopsided game and pursuing individual or team scoring records at the expense of the opponent. We need to put ourselves in their shoes and protect our relationship with them. This is certainly more important than scoring 100 points. There is nothing wrong with pursuing victory. The Bible says, “ . . . so run, that ye may obtain” (I Cor. 9:24), but it needs to be done in an honorable and Christ-like way.
For more details on the story check out the following articles.
CBS Sports
Dallas Morning News
Officials from The Covenant School have made a formal request to forfeit the game even though the scoreboard obviously said that they had won. Their halftime lead was 59 – 0. They are trying to do the right thing by seeking a forfeit and apologizing for the margin of victory. Both schools are members of the TAPPS (Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools). In a statement from the association, TAPPS director, Edd Burleson said, “There is no mercy rule in girls’ basketball that shortens the game or permits the clock to continue running when scores become lopsided. There is, however, "a golden rule" that should have applied in this contest.” Burleson further stated, “On a personal note, I told the coach of the losing team how much I admire their girls for continuing to compete against all odds . . . they showed much more character than the coach that allowed that score to get out of hand. It's up to the coach to control the outcome."
The officials at The Covenant School are certainly trying to right the wrong. In a statement on the Covenant website, Queal said the game "does not reflect a Christ-like and honorable approach to competition. We humbly apologize for our actions and seek the forgiveness of Dallas Academy, TAPPS and our community." Read the entire Covenant School statement here.
The response from the Dallas Academy officials and their team members has been great. When the Covenant School officials met with the Dallas Academy officials to apologize, they praised "each member of the Dallas Academy Varsity Girls Basketball team for their strength, composure and fortitude in a game in which they clearly emerged the winner." Dallas Academy coach Jeremy Civello said he appreciated the gesture and has accepted the apology "with no ill feelings."
Shelby Hyatt, a freshman on the Dallas Academy team said, "Even if you are losing, you might as well keep playing . . . keep trying, and it's going to be OK." At a shoot-around last Thursday, several Dallas Academy players said they were frustrated during the game but felt it was a learning opportunity. They also said they are excited about some of the attention they are receiving from the loss, including an invitation from Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban to see an NBA game from his suite.
As coaches, all of us have gotten “caught up in the moment” of winning a lopsided game and pursuing individual or team scoring records at the expense of the opponent. We need to put ourselves in their shoes and protect our relationship with them. This is certainly more important than scoring 100 points. There is nothing wrong with pursuing victory. The Bible says, “ . . . so run, that ye may obtain” (I Cor. 9:24), but it needs to be done in an honorable and Christ-like way.
For more details on the story check out the following articles.
CBS Sports
Dallas Morning News
Sunday, January 18, 2009
First Things First
What a blessing to see Kurt Warner back in the Super Bowl this year, this time with the Arizona Cardinals. For Warner, playing in the NFL was always a dream, but the route that he took was certainly not a “traditional” one. He was an undrafted rookie free agent out of Northern Iowa in 1994. He was cut by the Green Bay Packers in training camp, spent 3 years with the Iowa Barnstormers of the Arena Football League and then spent 2 years with NFL Europe’s Amsterdam team. Upon finally arriving in the NFL in 1998, the route continued to have many ups and downs. He was the fourth-string quarterback with the St. Louis Rams early in 1998, but then was elevated to backup because of injuries. When Trent Green went down, Warner began the magical run that led to the Super Bowl. Many of you may recall Warner’s first appearance in the Super Bowl in the 1999-2000 season. The “Greatest Show on Turf” defeated the Tennessee Titans and Warner was named MVP. Two years later he was the regular season MVP and had the Rams back in the Super Bowl. This time they lost to the New England Patriots on Vinatieri’s last-second field goal. Since then, Warner has bounced around to a couple different teams and been benched four times. First, he was benched in St. Louis (in favor of Marc Bulger), then with the New York Giants (in favor of Eli Manning) and then twice since coming to the Cardinals in 2005 (in favor of Matt Leinart). In spite of all the ups and downs he has certainly kept things in perspective and lives his life by the Matthew 6:33 principle, “Seek ye first the kingdom of God”.
Matthew 6:33 is the theme verse for Kurt Warner’s foundation called, “First Things First”. Warner has spoken freely of his faith in Jesus Christ and always carries a Bible with him to every post-game press conference. In 2001, he and his wife Brenda established the “First Things First” foundation to promote Christian values. You can read more about this foundation at www.kurtwarner.org. You can be pretty certain that Warner will keep things in perspective as he prepares for another Super Bowl. Don’t be surprised if, in the next two weeks, he is more outspoken about his faith in Jesus Christ than about the Pittsburgh Steeler’s defense.
Matthew 6:33 is the theme verse for Kurt Warner’s foundation called, “First Things First”. Warner has spoken freely of his faith in Jesus Christ and always carries a Bible with him to every post-game press conference. In 2001, he and his wife Brenda established the “First Things First” foundation to promote Christian values. You can read more about this foundation at www.kurtwarner.org. You can be pretty certain that Warner will keep things in perspective as he prepares for another Super Bowl. Don’t be surprised if, in the next two weeks, he is more outspoken about his faith in Jesus Christ than about the Pittsburgh Steeler’s defense.
Monday, January 12, 2009
"Quiet Strength" Quietly Retires
It was no surprise when Tony Dungy officially announced his retirement recently from coaching the Indianapolis Colts. He has been contemplating it ever since the Colts won the Super Bowl in 2007. Dungy was not only the first Afro-American coach to win the Super Bowl, he may have been the first to break the stereotypical mold of what a NFL coach is like. Dungy was not the intense, in-your-face, foul-mouthed, fire-breathing, intimidating, type of coach that most people think you have to be in order to succeed in the NFL. He is a man of faith who seldom raised his voice above a normal speaking tone. He once said to his players, “I don’t yell a lot. In fact, yelling will be rare. When I get mad, I usually talk at the same volume I’m talking now, and when I get really mad . . . I whisper. So if my voice at this level won’t get your attention, and you believe you need someone to yell at you to correct you or motivate you, then we’ll probably need to find you another team to play for so that you can play your best”. (Quiet Strength, p. 105)
I think Tony Dungy has proven that, as a coach, you can be demanding without being demeaning. How about you? Do you feel that you have to verbally “tear players down” in order to “build them up"? While it is important to be yourself, you must control your temper when frustrating things happen. As a young coach, I chose a coaching ministry verse to help me keep things in perspective regarding the way I spoke to my players. James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (NKJV). God challenged me with this verse. I realized that if I wanted to see His righteousness developed in the lives of those athletes He had entrusted to my care, I couldn’t be spewing my wrath over them while coaching. Regardless of your personality type, you must manifest a Spirit-controlled temperament. Tony Dungy has been a great role model in this way. I would encourage you to read his book, Quiet Strength. It is a worthwhile read for any coach in any sport.
I think Tony Dungy has proven that, as a coach, you can be demanding without being demeaning. How about you? Do you feel that you have to verbally “tear players down” in order to “build them up"? While it is important to be yourself, you must control your temper when frustrating things happen. As a young coach, I chose a coaching ministry verse to help me keep things in perspective regarding the way I spoke to my players. James 1:20 says, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (NKJV). God challenged me with this verse. I realized that if I wanted to see His righteousness developed in the lives of those athletes He had entrusted to my care, I couldn’t be spewing my wrath over them while coaching. Regardless of your personality type, you must manifest a Spirit-controlled temperament. Tony Dungy has been a great role model in this way. I would encourage you to read his book, Quiet Strength. It is a worthwhile read for any coach in any sport.
Friday, January 2, 2009
A Cheer for the Faithful
Your team’s fans cheering for the opposing team? Most of us wouldn’t think of it except for giving a polite round of applause to an injured opponent as he or she was helped off the field. However, that is exactly what Coach Kris Hogan of Faith Christian School from Grapevine, TX asked his team’s fans (the Faithful) to do. Cheer for the other team. In a football game against Gainesville State School, a correctional facility, Hogan had an unusual idea. He thought, “What if half of our fans—for one night only—cheered for the other team?” He sent out an e-mail asking the Faithful to do just that. Some people were naturally confused. One Faith player walked into Hogan's office and asked, "Coach, why are we doing this?" And Hogan said, "Imagine if you didn't have a home life. Imagine if everybody had pretty much given up on you. Now imagine what it would mean for hundreds of people to suddenly believe in you."
Even if you could never imagine yourself cheering aggressively for an opponent, we certainly need to examine how much we cheer aggressively against them and what damage it can cause in our relationship with them. One thing that I have always tried to encourage our fans to do is to cheer positively for their team and not negatively against their opponent. Why not try implementing this cheering philosophy at your school? Or even try something like what Faith Christian did for Gainesville for a school on your schedule that might be in a similar situation. It will do wonders for everyone involved!
Even if you could never imagine yourself cheering aggressively for an opponent, we certainly need to examine how much we cheer aggressively against them and what damage it can cause in our relationship with them. One thing that I have always tried to encourage our fans to do is to cheer positively for their team and not negatively against their opponent. Why not try implementing this cheering philosophy at your school? Or even try something like what Faith Christian did for Gainesville for a school on your schedule that might be in a similar situation. It will do wonders for everyone involved!
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