Many a day and night, I spent on the hallowed courts of Misty Oaks Park. So many great battles. Made shots, missed shots, trash talk, sweat, blood and maybe the occasional elbow. Like most people who have picked up a basketball, I dreamed. How many times did I try to re-create the Iceman's finger roll, Magic's no look pass or Kareem's sky hook? And like all kids...who didn't dream of hitting the last shot? The shot to win the game. Jordan's jumper in 82 to win the National Championship, Sean Elliott's Memorial Day Miracle. The fellas and I back in the day had quite a few phrases we liked to throw around. One of them was "never leave the court on a missed shot". Seems maybe a little hokey now but when you are young and headstrong, it just sounds really cool. (I often wonder who came up with it. It was probably Salmans, he can be clever at times) Basically, we wanted to make sure that we left it all out on the court. To make sure we gave 100% every time. Recent events have given me another reason. What if it's your last shot?
Ever.
No doubt most of you have heard of the tragedy that befell a small town last Thursday. Wes Leonard, a 16 year old basketball player for Fennville High School in Fennville, Michigan lived out every player's fantasy. He hit that shot.
The scene was right out of Hollywood and right off of the playground. With less than 30 seconds to go in overtime, his team tied at 55, Wes drove to the basket and scored the winning layup. His fellow Blackhawks mobbed him as they celebrated the win which also secured a 20-0 regular season.
Every little kids dream....shortly turned into every parent's worst nightmare.
Minutes into the celebration, Wes collapsed on to the floor. Two hours later, he was gone. A family, a team and a community went from a soaring high to the ultimate low.
Wes himself seemed like he came out of Hollywood. 6-2, 215 pounds and described by Fennville Superintendent Dirk Weeldreyer as "the quintessential all-American kid."
"Beyond his outstanding athletic abilities, Wes was a better person," Weeldreyer said. "His fellow students liked and respected him. Their grief speaks volumes about the high regard in which Wes was held."
He was the quarterback who threw for seven touchdowns in one game, he also at times played receiver and defensive end, a three year starter at those various positions. He played baseball too. Big ol' conceited jock right? Wrong. Chad VanHuis, who once umpired Leonard's middle-school baseball games, (the same ones where opposing coaches asking to see his birth certificate earning him the nickname "Big Man Wes")told ESPN "He was very courteous. He was the nicest kid. You'd think with his star potential, because he's so gifted, he'd be cocky, but he never really was that way,"
I have watched, played or coached some form of sport for almost 40 years. Many of those years coaching young men like Wes and I have to ask....
Why?
Why was this young man taken from us so soon? Now that I think about it...I can accept no answer. There is no good reason why Wes Leonard is gone. I mentioned in my last entry Brandon Gordon who was also taken from us so young after a fight with cancer. That was tragic and no less painful. I can't figure out what is worse...knowing your time is short and not being able to do anything about it or having your life cut short so abruptly with no warning. All I know is that losing these young men is such a horrible waste. You think our world couldn't use men like that in the future? The universe is truly a cold, unfeeling mistress and I have to admit, my faith is quite shaken.
All Wes Leonard did was be a kid. Well loved, someone who seemed enjoy every day and how does fate repay him? Blowing the whistle and declaring "game over".
Fennville has voted to play on and tonight they face Lawrence High School in the first round of the state playoffs. This story has taken on a national feel as dozens of media people have come to West Michigan to cover the game. The game has been moved to Hope College's DeVos Auditorium to accommodate the expected crowd of what should be approaching 3500. Kudos by the way, to Lawrence High School. They have been the ultimate good sports. Having to be the team who plays the team that the whole country will be rooting for is not going to be easy. This was supposed to be a home game for them. They first volunteered to donate all the proceeds to the charity of Wes' parents choice, then when they realized their gym couldn't handle the impending crowd, Hope College stepped in and donated the use of their building. The two teams will also be sharing a pre-game meal...something unheard of in today's sports world. Bo Kimble, who lost his best friend Hank Gathers 21 years to the day after Wes died, will be speaking to the teams as will Michigan State Basketball coach Tom Izzo.
I have played and coached in dozens of games and won a bunch of them. I have coached outstanding young men to victories and trophies. I was a small part of that group that dominated Texas DeMolay conclave from 02-06 in a way that had never been seen before or has been since.
I would give it all back for Wes Leonard to be leading his team tonight.
Kids like that deserve to be given a long full life to see what they can do with it. My heart goes out to that community and to his parents. I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through. I was never blessed with kids of my own but you don't have to be a parent to realize that the ultimate tragedy for a parent is having to bury a child. Which leads me back to my question...
Why?
I don't have an answer and no one else does either. God already has Pistol Pete and John Wooden...did he need Wes too? Oh and before anyone drops the obligatory "he's in a better place" don't. He was 16 for heavens sake. His place is with his family and friends and playing ball. He needs to be patrolling the fields and courts of Fennville...the sun on his face, dirt on his shoes and a twinkle in his eye.
I don't know what will happen with the Fennville Blackhawks this post-season. Will they rally around the memory of a fallen teammates and have the ultimate storybook ending? Just as possible is the burden being too much for young men and they are too emotionally spent to go on. It's not fair to ask so much of those so young. Personally, I hope for the former. I hope they go on a magical run that ends in the Breslin Center holding the trophy up so high that Wes can read the engraving.
God, fate and the universe owe the people of Fennville that much. You took one of their own way too early than was necessary. You have devastated a community and ripped apart a family. In your arrogance and selfishness, you robbed the world of a bright young man who may have made the world a better place. A championship is the least of what you can do.
I never met Wes Leonard and I mourn the wasteful loss of one so young but as someone who loves the games people play, I envy him this much. If you are a basketball player, is there a better way to leave this world? If you have to be cruelly taken from your family....you went out knowing your teammates will live to play another day. Wes gave his team one final assist. No one ever gave their all more than he and for that sir...I salute you.
One last thing....the official cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy...also known as an enlarged heart. Big Man Wes had a big heart. From what those who spent time around him have told us...that was no surprise.
Go Blackhawks.
Peace.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Labor strife and bring on the Madness!!
Iron City Beer 17
Brats and Cheese 14....in overtime.
Well, I screwed that one up.
Since we last chatted, they played Super Bowl 45 in Dallas, or officially, North Texas. The rest of the country learned that yes, it can snow in Texas and it usually does at the worst possible times. Jerry Jones must have been pulling his hair out of his oft-surgically enhanced skull. As I have learned up here in the Great White North, use salt Jerry, not sand. Works much better. I must give the Pack credit. They outplayed Pittsburgh in every phase of the game and we ended up with a great contest and Green Bay ended up with it's 13th title.
The confetti had not even stopped falling in Jerryworld when talk turned to the labor dispute between the NFL players union and the NFL and its team owners. Basically, the players like the deal the way it is, and the owners want more. They are crying poverty but are unwilling to show anyone their books to prove this. The Owners want an 18-game schedule and rookie salary cap, the players want neither.
I will fix this.
No 18 game schedule, add the rookie salary cap. Make the split 58-41 in favor of the players (they currently get 59.5) and give the remaining 1% to the retired players. Also, show us the books or you forfeit. Problem solved. In the real world, it won't be that smooth or logical but don't worry, their might be a lockout for a bit but it will not ruin the season. Neither side is stupid enough to risk the golden goose.
We go through this periodically with the games we love. I have no problem with players getting paid but don't cry poverty if you have to "settle" for $5 million as opposed to $8 million. Owners, don't bitch about players salaries because you pay them willingly. Players just don't find money trees, someone has to sign the checks. Let's all have a moment of reality here. Players and owners make a buttload of money off of a game. Forgive me for being pollyanna-ish for a moment but what if we paid scientists, doctors and teachers what we pay our pro athletes? We would be #1 in the world in, well damn near everything. Playing pro sports is not a right, it's a privilege. What would Shaq be without basketball? Broke as hell. Speaking of Shaq...the NBA is headed for a collision with their own labor dispute and unlike the NFL, that could drag out for months and we may lose a season over it.
Times like these make me appreciate and long for the days on the playgrounds, sandlots and parks of my youth. More and more pro athletes are motivated by money and fame. We were motivated by bragging rights. We played in sun, cold and even the occasional hurricane. Sometimes, it was 7a at Central Park Mall against strangers and radio people....other times it was 1a at Emerald Valley which may or may not have been followed by breaking into a neighborhood swimming pool. Places like Misty Oaks, Stone Ridge or Dallas's West End served as venues. We played in the shadows of skyscrapers getting sunburned or behind a bank in Bowie watching the locals getting burned by a kid in Air Jordans and dress slacks. Every player in pro sports had those moments. I truly believe that if they remembered them more, we would have less problems. Ok, enough nostalgia for now.
With the NFL season done, its time to turn to basketball. In the pro game, my San Antonio Spurs are still the holders of the best record in the league currently sitting at 50-11. However, there might be a black cloud on the horizon and its not a Silver and Black one. Tony Parker was injured in the February 27 win over Memphis. He injured his left calf and is expected to be out 2-4 weeks. Since the injury, the Spurs are 1-1, losing in Memphis by 16 then winning in Cleveland by 10. The trouble could come down the road as San Antonio faces the Heat twice along with the Lakers then the red hot Dallas Mavericks in Big D, all in the next seven games. This is the first real adversity the Spurs have faced in an otherwise magical season. How they deal with said adversity will go a long way in proving whether or not Duncan, Ginobili and company have one more title in them. The fun begins Friday night as the traveling circus and freak show that is the Miami Heat visit the Alamo City.
The date on the calendar reads March and that means one thing...
Let the Madness begin.
Conference play wraps up this week and the conference tournaments will be starting soon. Who is the favorite going into the Big Dance?
What time is it, right now?
It has been a number of teams so far this season. Duke and Michigan State started the year 1 and 2. The Dookies have done their part, holding the top ranking for the first 10 weeks of the season. Sparty? Well, the folks in East Lansing are gripping hardcore after what they have gone through. A team many selected to reach a third straight Final Four has a current record of 17-12, lost to in-state rival ( and previous doormat) Michigan at home in the Breslin Center for the first time since 1997 and the first time anywhere in six years. MSU is scrambling to even make the NCAA tourney and if they fail, they will break a streak of 13 straight appearances.
Duke lost the top spot to Ohio State in week 11. The Buckeyes stayed there until a loss to Wisconsin dropped them out four weeks later. Kansas then took over and was #1 for about 8 hours before getting ambushed in Manhattan that night. (Little Apple, not Big Apple) Duke ascended back up until a loss to Florida State put Brutus' boys back at #1. In addition to these teams Pitt, UConn, Texas and Syracuse have all made cases for being the best in the land at one time or another. Out West, Mountain West brethren San Diego State and BYU have been in the conversation with lengthy win streaks. This past Saturday, BYU defeated the Aztecs for a second time this season and there was talk of the Cougars first ever #1 tournament seed and even as a dark horse candidate to win it all. They have a player in Jimmer Fredette whom many think, myself included, is the player of the year. Jimmer reminds me of video I have seen on the great Pete Maravich. Take away the Pistol's floppy socks and add a few pounds of muscle and you have Jimmer. Yesterday however, BYU was dealt a blow when it was announced that Sophomore Brandon Davies has been suspended indefinitely due to a violation of BYU's Honor Code. The school has said that no criminal act took place and left it at that. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Davies violated the code by having sex with his girlfriend. Premarital sex is one of the things that is a no-no for BYU students.
And no, I am not sure either how they would enforce that rule without a confession.
OK, I have never been a fan of BYU. Any school that doesn't allow their students to drink iced tea is 10 kinds of wrong to a Texan. Personally, if the kid wants to have sex with his girlfriend, that's his business. However, he did sign a pledge and went into his time in Provo knowing what he could and couldn't do. I applaud BYU for having the huevos for sticking to its rules even if I don't agree with that rule. Although....does anyone else find it ironic that the faith that this institution is based on was once a big fan of polygamy and with some members, still is?
With no clear cut dominant team in college hoops, we should be in for an outstanding tournament. It will be bad for our brackets but a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Get those brackets warmed up because the madness is upon us.
Before I go...a couple of shout outs...
Billy Newton...welcome to Club 40. You have some dark clouds of your own coming...we're going to get you through.
Joey Pants....thanks man.
And finally...to what I was talking about early in reference to children and the games they play. There was a local young man who passed away in February of 2009 named Brandon Gordon. As someone who as mentored and coached young folks, nothing makes my heart ache more than when one is taken from us so early. When I read his story, what amazed me is not how he died but how he lived. It's odd but more often than not, kids deal with illnesses like this better than adults. As we get older, we develop cynicism, fear and prejudices but the kids are still young enough that they don't have those built in yet. I read the story and while I was sad that Brandon had to endure cancer before he passed, I was more sad because the world was robbed of what he could have been.
All Brandon wanted to do was play hockey, and we have millionaires fighting over billions. Maybe we should make both sides read Brandon's story. Maybe then, they will gain proper perspective and stop making asses of themselves.
You can read Brandon's story here.
Peace.
Brats and Cheese 14....in overtime.
Well, I screwed that one up.
Since we last chatted, they played Super Bowl 45 in Dallas, or officially, North Texas. The rest of the country learned that yes, it can snow in Texas and it usually does at the worst possible times. Jerry Jones must have been pulling his hair out of his oft-surgically enhanced skull. As I have learned up here in the Great White North, use salt Jerry, not sand. Works much better. I must give the Pack credit. They outplayed Pittsburgh in every phase of the game and we ended up with a great contest and Green Bay ended up with it's 13th title.
The confetti had not even stopped falling in Jerryworld when talk turned to the labor dispute between the NFL players union and the NFL and its team owners. Basically, the players like the deal the way it is, and the owners want more. They are crying poverty but are unwilling to show anyone their books to prove this. The Owners want an 18-game schedule and rookie salary cap, the players want neither.
I will fix this.
No 18 game schedule, add the rookie salary cap. Make the split 58-41 in favor of the players (they currently get 59.5) and give the remaining 1% to the retired players. Also, show us the books or you forfeit. Problem solved. In the real world, it won't be that smooth or logical but don't worry, their might be a lockout for a bit but it will not ruin the season. Neither side is stupid enough to risk the golden goose.
We go through this periodically with the games we love. I have no problem with players getting paid but don't cry poverty if you have to "settle" for $5 million as opposed to $8 million. Owners, don't bitch about players salaries because you pay them willingly. Players just don't find money trees, someone has to sign the checks. Let's all have a moment of reality here. Players and owners make a buttload of money off of a game. Forgive me for being pollyanna-ish for a moment but what if we paid scientists, doctors and teachers what we pay our pro athletes? We would be #1 in the world in, well damn near everything. Playing pro sports is not a right, it's a privilege. What would Shaq be without basketball? Broke as hell. Speaking of Shaq...the NBA is headed for a collision with their own labor dispute and unlike the NFL, that could drag out for months and we may lose a season over it.
Times like these make me appreciate and long for the days on the playgrounds, sandlots and parks of my youth. More and more pro athletes are motivated by money and fame. We were motivated by bragging rights. We played in sun, cold and even the occasional hurricane. Sometimes, it was 7a at Central Park Mall against strangers and radio people....other times it was 1a at Emerald Valley which may or may not have been followed by breaking into a neighborhood swimming pool. Places like Misty Oaks, Stone Ridge or Dallas's West End served as venues. We played in the shadows of skyscrapers getting sunburned or behind a bank in Bowie watching the locals getting burned by a kid in Air Jordans and dress slacks. Every player in pro sports had those moments. I truly believe that if they remembered them more, we would have less problems. Ok, enough nostalgia for now.
With the NFL season done, its time to turn to basketball. In the pro game, my San Antonio Spurs are still the holders of the best record in the league currently sitting at 50-11. However, there might be a black cloud on the horizon and its not a Silver and Black one. Tony Parker was injured in the February 27 win over Memphis. He injured his left calf and is expected to be out 2-4 weeks. Since the injury, the Spurs are 1-1, losing in Memphis by 16 then winning in Cleveland by 10. The trouble could come down the road as San Antonio faces the Heat twice along with the Lakers then the red hot Dallas Mavericks in Big D, all in the next seven games. This is the first real adversity the Spurs have faced in an otherwise magical season. How they deal with said adversity will go a long way in proving whether or not Duncan, Ginobili and company have one more title in them. The fun begins Friday night as the traveling circus and freak show that is the Miami Heat visit the Alamo City.
The date on the calendar reads March and that means one thing...
Let the Madness begin.
Conference play wraps up this week and the conference tournaments will be starting soon. Who is the favorite going into the Big Dance?
What time is it, right now?
It has been a number of teams so far this season. Duke and Michigan State started the year 1 and 2. The Dookies have done their part, holding the top ranking for the first 10 weeks of the season. Sparty? Well, the folks in East Lansing are gripping hardcore after what they have gone through. A team many selected to reach a third straight Final Four has a current record of 17-12, lost to in-state rival ( and previous doormat) Michigan at home in the Breslin Center for the first time since 1997 and the first time anywhere in six years. MSU is scrambling to even make the NCAA tourney and if they fail, they will break a streak of 13 straight appearances.
Duke lost the top spot to Ohio State in week 11. The Buckeyes stayed there until a loss to Wisconsin dropped them out four weeks later. Kansas then took over and was #1 for about 8 hours before getting ambushed in Manhattan that night. (Little Apple, not Big Apple) Duke ascended back up until a loss to Florida State put Brutus' boys back at #1. In addition to these teams Pitt, UConn, Texas and Syracuse have all made cases for being the best in the land at one time or another. Out West, Mountain West brethren San Diego State and BYU have been in the conversation with lengthy win streaks. This past Saturday, BYU defeated the Aztecs for a second time this season and there was talk of the Cougars first ever #1 tournament seed and even as a dark horse candidate to win it all. They have a player in Jimmer Fredette whom many think, myself included, is the player of the year. Jimmer reminds me of video I have seen on the great Pete Maravich. Take away the Pistol's floppy socks and add a few pounds of muscle and you have Jimmer. Yesterday however, BYU was dealt a blow when it was announced that Sophomore Brandon Davies has been suspended indefinitely due to a violation of BYU's Honor Code. The school has said that no criminal act took place and left it at that. The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that Davies violated the code by having sex with his girlfriend. Premarital sex is one of the things that is a no-no for BYU students.
And no, I am not sure either how they would enforce that rule without a confession.
OK, I have never been a fan of BYU. Any school that doesn't allow their students to drink iced tea is 10 kinds of wrong to a Texan. Personally, if the kid wants to have sex with his girlfriend, that's his business. However, he did sign a pledge and went into his time in Provo knowing what he could and couldn't do. I applaud BYU for having the huevos for sticking to its rules even if I don't agree with that rule. Although....does anyone else find it ironic that the faith that this institution is based on was once a big fan of polygamy and with some members, still is?
With no clear cut dominant team in college hoops, we should be in for an outstanding tournament. It will be bad for our brackets but a hell of a lot of fun to watch. Get those brackets warmed up because the madness is upon us.
Before I go...a couple of shout outs...
Billy Newton...welcome to Club 40. You have some dark clouds of your own coming...we're going to get you through.
Joey Pants....thanks man.
And finally...to what I was talking about early in reference to children and the games they play. There was a local young man who passed away in February of 2009 named Brandon Gordon. As someone who as mentored and coached young folks, nothing makes my heart ache more than when one is taken from us so early. When I read his story, what amazed me is not how he died but how he lived. It's odd but more often than not, kids deal with illnesses like this better than adults. As we get older, we develop cynicism, fear and prejudices but the kids are still young enough that they don't have those built in yet. I read the story and while I was sad that Brandon had to endure cancer before he passed, I was more sad because the world was robbed of what he could have been.
All Brandon wanted to do was play hockey, and we have millionaires fighting over billions. Maybe we should make both sides read Brandon's story. Maybe then, they will gain proper perspective and stop making asses of themselves.
You can read Brandon's story here.
Peace.
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