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?