As I meander through this process of writing about the players that I have coached or am currently coaching I am reminded frequently that whether I initiated contact or they reached out first, at some point there was a feeling that each of us could gain something by being on the same team. Each player brings something to the team and takes away something they did not have before they joined. Experiences, friends, a little different perspective than they might have started with, and hopefully a better understanding of who they are from the time they started.
Tonight, I will spend some time letting you know about Mark Bucknam, the big guy from the little state. Projects, potential, enthusiasm, and straight up talent are things that I look for in players that may come to FSC and play. We are a good team, we have good depth, and I like building from within the group if possible. Mark came for a visit during his junior year through a relative of a former player. He was lanky, under developed, but dang he had a decent serve for a tall kid. There was the little guy inside of me thinking how cool it would be to work with this raw ability, create an attacking machine and see what he could do with his enthusiasm and desire he spoke about. Flash forward and two years later he was a freshman on the team. The fall season started and all systems were a go. He was finding his limits, working on his lack of flexibility, and starting to work on the game he wanted. What do they say about the best laid plans? Well, he had a little hiccup in the fall and got a little behind the eight ball for the rest of the semester. He became a bench warmer before we even played the first match. Frustration set in and he knew that he was now going to have to spend the fall healing. None of it was his fault but his body decided that it was best to rest and observe the others on the team play. Once he was cleared to play it was time to start back.
Being smart is a great thing but being industrious is even better at times. Mark had the realization that he probably wouldn’t see much playing time his freshmen year since he spent most of the first semester recovering from being sick and we also had some great depth and talent in front of him. Not to be deterred he approached me about red shirting since he lost so much time due to the illness and being my student assistant for the season. Well, free help, someone to talk to during the matches, and another set of eyes is never a bad thing so without hesitation I said yes. My thought was, this kid talks about really wanting to make an impact as a player so this will definitely open his eyes to how tough it is out here day in and day out. During practice, he would work on his game and then during matches he would help players work on their matches. During trips, he would snap pictures, make little videos of our journeys, and annoy the occasional international player with his tidbits. All in all, it was perfect for me.
Let’s take a break from the tennis side of Mark and talk about the other side. My first impression of this kid was this: How badly can a kid with a great life really want to put in the dirty work to improve his game. You see, Mark is a talented photographer/videographer, originally was a double major wanting freshman, went to a great high school we have all heard about, has a great group of core friends, and a solid relationship with his parents and girlfriend. When you coach kids, you look for some pain that you can use to prod the athlete with to make them want to get away from the pain and show they are worthy of where you want them to go. Honestly, I cannot find that pain for Mark. He is industrious. He has taken his passion for cameras and is shooting successful videos with his friends, he has reached out to local digital companies and works with them, and has a network that is ever expanding. For God sake, he even hit a half-court shot during a basketball game and received the reward for that. What pain could he really have? Of course, he wants to be a good player but if it doesn’t happen he is still going to have all these other successes. He is only a sophomore and already has a pretty good grasp of where he is going. He has narrowed his focus of study and is pursuing those options in earnest.
Okay, back to the tennis Mark. This season was going to be one of growth for his game. You see, Mark is about 6’4” with a big serve but also has the big guy problems that plague many his size. Movement isn’t natural and big guys have this bad habit of reaching because they can instead of using their legs (Reference Nicolas Bigler). Mark is really just a raw player who knows what it will take to make his game what he wants but hasn’t quite mastered how to do it. He has had fits and starts but hasn’t had a full semester yet to really put in the work and gain some momentum. I really enjoy having him help me during matches but can see that he would like to be on the other side of the bench. Of course, all the players who aren’t playing would like to be starters but the work required is daunting and many cannot seem to put in that full effort when there are other things that act as distractions are that are actually more important for their futures. This is not a negative statement towards Mark or any of them but just a fact that to a lot of players there are things that mean more. I am okay with all of it if each player justifies their role in the team with themselves. When a player wants more that is awesome. When a player works for more it is visible. Mark has natural skills that he is utilizing to better himself and set up his future. If he truly wants more from his tennis it is more than likely going to cost him something else that he treasures. He has a lot going for him so I do not know if I will ever see his best as a player but am truly enjoying watching the other aspects of his growth become better. I suppose by his senior year he will be making videos for his own company, hiring and firing employees, and just counting down the days to graduation so that he can show the world what he can achieve. It is who he is and I do not doubt that he will accomplish it. He will continue to play tennis because he is a good player who offers a lot every time he is out there. Hell, it’s good exercise and he really does have a good serve.
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
Sunday, March 26, 2017
Matt Buck--A Former Player at FSC--Learning Who You Are
Freedom to be who you are and do what you love are two things that a lot of people don’t get the chance to pursue during their lives. Most of us will lie and say that we achieve these or strive to be what we want but to actually become what we want and do what we say we are going to do is hard. Tonight, I will discuss a former player who I feel is doing just that. He only played two years for me but he graduated with amazing honors, a great job, and a truth about who he was and was going to be.
Recruiting visits, whether on campus or off are not my favorite thing. By nature, I am an introvert and would rather speak with no one daily. The funny thing is that most people think I am outgoing. I guess this is based on my career choice and when they see me I always have something to say to them. Comfort of surroundings can be a curse but it also relaxes those that crave it. When Matt Buck came to FSC for his tour of campus he and his sister happened to find my office and asked if they could stop in for a quick visit. Matt was not on my radar for players but hey, it’s my job and if a potential student-athlete has a chance to be on the team why not give them a chance and increase the chances that they choose FSC over someplace else. The visit was unspectacular, as most are, but Matt had a nice personality and knew what he wanted out of FSC and I liked that about him. His sister was there for support but this was Matt’s visit and let him do the talking. Matt’s dad was a college basketball coach so he understood athletics but didn’t really look like much of a tennis player. I know, you want to know what a tennis player looks like. This is not explainable but Matt was, let’s just say soft, compared to many of the athletes that come through my door. I never saw him play but he was sure he would fit in to my overall scheme, so I thought, “what the hell, let the kid have his shot.” He was also a tad bit different with his personality than most of my players but different makes my job fun.
Fast forward to the first couple of times Matt and the rest of the team trained together. He was athletic, so much for my soft thought, and he could play. Not at the top level but he could play. Imagine Venus Williams as a blonde boy, this was Matt Buck. He hit hard and harder. Serves, groundstrokes, volleys, and overheads were as hard as he could and if they fell within the boundaries he him them harder until he missed. Oh, and he missed, got frustrated, and just kept pounding balls. We started doing off court training and this is where Matt shined. The boy could jump. I cannot believe that just because his dad was a basketball coach that he had a jumping gene but he could fly. He did really well in all of our athletic events and gained a lot of respect from his teammates for his never wavering effort. His tennis, however, didn’t change. That’s not truly correct, he did get a little more consistent, and with that came the desire to hit harder. He was a great team player but there was more to Matt than his tennis.
Matt, like all the players that I have written about and will write about, was going through so much growth as he began to weave through FSC. See, Matt was what I would call an accounting genius. Not just good at accounting but astonishingly good at accounting. He went through the classes without dropping letter grades. He attempted to take as many hard classes as he could just to push his limits and to gain knowledge that would lead to his future. During this time, he also began becoming who he was instead of what he thought everyone wanted him to be. Having conversations with him were entertaining and helped me understand things that I would never have to deal with on a personal level. His growth as a human continually outpaced his growth as an athlete but it was an incredible process that I got to witness first hand. As he moved into his sophomore season he realized that playing time would not be greater so he even went harder in the classroom and in his personal journey. Oh yeah, he was also a stalwart on the team’s intramural basketball team. His post playing skills were legendary and were talked about a lot more than his tennis accomplishments. If you needed help with accounting, you went to Matt. Not only teammates but anybody who attended FSC reached out for his assistance when it came to his major. The kid who showed up in my office with his sister was transforming right in front of all of us.
At the start of his junior year Matt came to talk to me. He decided that tennis was no longer going to be part of his life at FSC as accounting was offering too many opportunities. I hated losing him as part of the team but having a player with that much maturity and assuredness about what he wanted to do was amazing. Another thing he talked about was getting out in his community more. This was fun to watch but also a little scary. He went hard and at times over did it. We would talk at lunch or at impromptu meetings about what he was doing, how it was going, and what was next. He let his hair down for awhile and I think it hit the floor a few times but he was strong enough to rein it in and get back to what he was there for in the first place. As his skills in accounting were recognized some amazing internships and job opportunities started popping up. We discussed options, the pros and cons, and then he made his decision. At this point I was merely looking through the windows that he allowed me to and the picture he was creating was turning into a masterpiece. By the time Matt was a senior his opportunities were what any graduate would wish for upon receiving their degree. Options, choices, good, bad, and where to begin were all thoughts that had to be thought through. His life was his now and he had done what you are supposed to do when you go to college, learn.
Matt is now a full-fledged accountant in Texas and from everything I can tell is doing as well as I thought he would do. He knows who he is, what he wants, and he goes after all of it with the same tenacity as he did hitting a tennis ball. He only played for me for two years but gave me four years of memories that I still hold close and think about often.
Recruiting visits, whether on campus or off are not my favorite thing. By nature, I am an introvert and would rather speak with no one daily. The funny thing is that most people think I am outgoing. I guess this is based on my career choice and when they see me I always have something to say to them. Comfort of surroundings can be a curse but it also relaxes those that crave it. When Matt Buck came to FSC for his tour of campus he and his sister happened to find my office and asked if they could stop in for a quick visit. Matt was not on my radar for players but hey, it’s my job and if a potential student-athlete has a chance to be on the team why not give them a chance and increase the chances that they choose FSC over someplace else. The visit was unspectacular, as most are, but Matt had a nice personality and knew what he wanted out of FSC and I liked that about him. His sister was there for support but this was Matt’s visit and let him do the talking. Matt’s dad was a college basketball coach so he understood athletics but didn’t really look like much of a tennis player. I know, you want to know what a tennis player looks like. This is not explainable but Matt was, let’s just say soft, compared to many of the athletes that come through my door. I never saw him play but he was sure he would fit in to my overall scheme, so I thought, “what the hell, let the kid have his shot.” He was also a tad bit different with his personality than most of my players but different makes my job fun.
Fast forward to the first couple of times Matt and the rest of the team trained together. He was athletic, so much for my soft thought, and he could play. Not at the top level but he could play. Imagine Venus Williams as a blonde boy, this was Matt Buck. He hit hard and harder. Serves, groundstrokes, volleys, and overheads were as hard as he could and if they fell within the boundaries he him them harder until he missed. Oh, and he missed, got frustrated, and just kept pounding balls. We started doing off court training and this is where Matt shined. The boy could jump. I cannot believe that just because his dad was a basketball coach that he had a jumping gene but he could fly. He did really well in all of our athletic events and gained a lot of respect from his teammates for his never wavering effort. His tennis, however, didn’t change. That’s not truly correct, he did get a little more consistent, and with that came the desire to hit harder. He was a great team player but there was more to Matt than his tennis.
Matt, like all the players that I have written about and will write about, was going through so much growth as he began to weave through FSC. See, Matt was what I would call an accounting genius. Not just good at accounting but astonishingly good at accounting. He went through the classes without dropping letter grades. He attempted to take as many hard classes as he could just to push his limits and to gain knowledge that would lead to his future. During this time, he also began becoming who he was instead of what he thought everyone wanted him to be. Having conversations with him were entertaining and helped me understand things that I would never have to deal with on a personal level. His growth as a human continually outpaced his growth as an athlete but it was an incredible process that I got to witness first hand. As he moved into his sophomore season he realized that playing time would not be greater so he even went harder in the classroom and in his personal journey. Oh yeah, he was also a stalwart on the team’s intramural basketball team. His post playing skills were legendary and were talked about a lot more than his tennis accomplishments. If you needed help with accounting, you went to Matt. Not only teammates but anybody who attended FSC reached out for his assistance when it came to his major. The kid who showed up in my office with his sister was transforming right in front of all of us.
At the start of his junior year Matt came to talk to me. He decided that tennis was no longer going to be part of his life at FSC as accounting was offering too many opportunities. I hated losing him as part of the team but having a player with that much maturity and assuredness about what he wanted to do was amazing. Another thing he talked about was getting out in his community more. This was fun to watch but also a little scary. He went hard and at times over did it. We would talk at lunch or at impromptu meetings about what he was doing, how it was going, and what was next. He let his hair down for awhile and I think it hit the floor a few times but he was strong enough to rein it in and get back to what he was there for in the first place. As his skills in accounting were recognized some amazing internships and job opportunities started popping up. We discussed options, the pros and cons, and then he made his decision. At this point I was merely looking through the windows that he allowed me to and the picture he was creating was turning into a masterpiece. By the time Matt was a senior his opportunities were what any graduate would wish for upon receiving their degree. Options, choices, good, bad, and where to begin were all thoughts that had to be thought through. His life was his now and he had done what you are supposed to do when you go to college, learn.
Matt is now a full-fledged accountant in Texas and from everything I can tell is doing as well as I thought he would do. He knows who he is, what he wants, and he goes after all of it with the same tenacity as he did hitting a tennis ball. He only played for me for two years but gave me four years of memories that I still hold close and think about often.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Victory is Earned and How it Looks Through My Eyes
Today I think I began to lose my mind. Not really, but to about 14 guys it probably appeared so. To explain this let me say that we won and it was a big win. The guys on this team have amazing heart and in the big moments they have been able to call it up. Winning big matches is always fun and they have special feeling when they are conference, regional, and revenge matches all wrapped up in one. Last year, the team we defeated today snuck past us with a 5-4 victory after a great comeback by us that just came up a little short. Fast forward to this year and the guys were ready to exact revenge for the hard loss. Doubles was intense as always with us gaining a 2-1 advantage after it was over. All anyone ever sees is the line score but there is so much that happens within the matches that helps shape the overall win or loss. Number 3 doubles was the first to get a win. They broke serve early and maintained that lead until they were serving at 6-5 in the race to 8. The best player on the court was serving so as a coach you have a sense of calm. It was disturbed abruptly when he was broken to tie the score at 6-6. After both teams held the score was 7-7. Our team played a great game and took advantage of some opportunities to gain the break back to go up 8-7 and serving for the match. Derek and Jose closed it out to get the first point for FSC. Number 2 doubles was next. They had been down a break of serve the entire match and were down 5-6. Playing patiently and making the other team create opportunities versus giving away points played a brilliant game to break and tie the match 6-6. They held serve and had their first lead when they changed sides at 7-6. After another great game, they broke serve to take the win and give FSC a 2-0 lead with only number 1 doubles still playing. Number 1 doubles was not having a great day. They were down two breaks of serve for most of the match but Miguel and Laurent are gritty if not always pretty while playing. They got one break back midway through the match and just kind of hung around until 5-6. The other team was serving and the guy serving had been tough as nails through the match so far. Pressure is a funny thing, it can cause the easy to become hard and the normal to feel extraordinary. It also goes both ways. Opportunities don’t come often and that is exactly what the number one team had. An opportunity to break serve and tie it up. As I said, pressure goes both ways and this time the other team prevailed. We held serve so changing sides we had one more shot being down 6-7 and the other team with the pressure to serve it out. Again, we fought and had two more opportunities to break serve but in the end, could not answer the bell, shook hands and defeat, and took a 2-1 lead heading into singles
When your team has a lead heading into singles that is usually a good thing. You either must win two singles matches of the six or three of the six. Today, with a 2-1 lead we needed to split the singles and get three of them in our favor to come out victorious. I felt confident that we had the talent to make that happen. In short order, I became very nervous that I had overestimated the ability on this particular day. We were dominating at number 1 and number 3 but the other matches were not going in our favor. They were not going in our favor quite decisively. Number 1 and 3 won in straight sets to give us four of the five overall match points we needed. Soon after the two victories our number 6 was decidedly beaten so it was 4-2 in overall score. Looks good on paper, but this is where being inside tells much more. Number 2 had easily lost the first set and was in a battle in the second set. At the same time number 4 and five were also losing easily but still battling. Here is where heart and the will to win comes into play. All three of these guys got real gritty and fought like hell to make sure we didn’t lose. I had perched myself on the number 5 court with a view of the number 2 match. I did not have a view of number 4 at all and kept trying to keep tabs on what was happening across the bleachers. My number 5 was down a break in the second and was playing poorly. Not only was it not going his way he was letting me know how badly it was going and that he just couldn’t figure it out. My words to him were simple, “Grind out each point and just keep putting the ball back in play and let’s see what happens.” Remember, I spoke about pressure not too long ago. Well, you never know when it is going to rear its ugly head. Miguel just kept staying alive and fought his way back to even at 5-5 in the second set. He then immediately got broken and was back under the gun. Pressure is a damn cruel thing and once again it played into Miguel’s favor and he again tied the set at 6-6 and he and his opponent would now duel in a tiebreak for the set. Miguel jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the breaker and things were looking good then suddenly it was 5-5. Two points from defeat or a defining third set. The point began and the grind ensued. Miguel hit a poor shot and found himself multiple feet off the court on the dead run scrambling to get to a backhand. He laced a backhand up the line passing his charging opponent. Winner, and a 6-5 lead in the breaker. He won the next point and life reentered his body.
While all of this was transpiring, Jose was struggling through his second set. The ebb and flow was positive to negative and everything in-between. Again, we entered a tie break but Jose made sure that it was a test of wills. After multiple back and forths Jose finally got the upper hand and finished off the set with a flurry of aggressive shots and a 9-7 victory in his second set tiebreak. Again, life has been blown back into our lungs. Across the bleachers, Laurent was serving for his second set at 5-4. I relaxed a bit thinking that we were surely on our way to a third set there as well. Pressure, that damned word and its damned effects, popped up once again. Laurent dropped his serve and then went down 5-6. He squared up his match and once again we had another tiebreak. Laurent dominated his breaker so we entered our third three setter of the day. The match was far from decided but we just needed one of the three to clinch the overall victory.
Here we go, I thought silently while I paced around the Wynee Warden facility. Miguel jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Jose jumped out to a 4-1 lead and Laurent was fighting and was up 3-2 when I glanced over. Miguel’s opponent had a flurry of good play and closed the gap to 3-2 but leveled off and Miguel again got two quick games to be within one game of clinching. Jose also had inched away and was playing dominating tennis against an opponent that had given his all and was wilting under the constant pressure. Miguel became a man possessed and closed out his third set 6-2 and therefore clinching the overall victory for FSC. We were ahead 5-2 but as a coach I want to win them all. Jose also was up 5-1 and looked ready to close out his as well. At 5-1 he had a match point, lined up a backhand down the line, let it rip and……missed it. Oops, door open and closed. This had a relaxing effect on the opponent and he played brilliantly for the next two games and closed the gap to 5-3. Jose, undeterred finished out the match with a 6-3 victory in the third to give us a 6-2 lead. Now we just needed to cheer Laurent on to finish off this match and get our 7-2 victory. It is funny and amazing to me that a team sport can at times be so individual. Athletes with personal pride are fun to watch and I appreciate the effort more than most will know. Laurent’s opponent was playing strictly for personal pride. The team had lost, he had battled with the hope of being needed, and now he was fighting for an empty victory. Let me tell you, he fought and fought and gave Laurent everything he had. Laurent, also playing for personal pride and only to help the cause gave his everything as well. The two players played high level and didn’t allow the few mistakes they made lower the quality of the match. Each had opportunities and the opponent was able to put his together to pull out the victory. I hate losing even when we win and so do most of the guys on the team. When you are keeping score, you want to win. Laurent was not happy getting beat and I like that.
We won the match 6-3 and I was so proud of the heart the team showed in such a tough match. I mean, we won three tiebreaks just to save the opportunity to win the match and then won two out of the three three set matches that were contested. I was upset that we needed to go that deep to pull out the match and even had a few players ask if I was happy or angry. I told them that I was both. This is where I feel I am losing my mind. How can you be angry when you win? All I can say to that is that I feel I have a superior team and expect them to play the way I feel about them. To tell you the truth, I think they do. They played with heart and passion and did what I always ask. They fought for every point and played until the end. It is confusing at times but I will never discredit a win. They are hard to come by and are hard earned in the world we compete. Thanks guys, keep being what you are.
When your team has a lead heading into singles that is usually a good thing. You either must win two singles matches of the six or three of the six. Today, with a 2-1 lead we needed to split the singles and get three of them in our favor to come out victorious. I felt confident that we had the talent to make that happen. In short order, I became very nervous that I had overestimated the ability on this particular day. We were dominating at number 1 and number 3 but the other matches were not going in our favor. They were not going in our favor quite decisively. Number 1 and 3 won in straight sets to give us four of the five overall match points we needed. Soon after the two victories our number 6 was decidedly beaten so it was 4-2 in overall score. Looks good on paper, but this is where being inside tells much more. Number 2 had easily lost the first set and was in a battle in the second set. At the same time number 4 and five were also losing easily but still battling. Here is where heart and the will to win comes into play. All three of these guys got real gritty and fought like hell to make sure we didn’t lose. I had perched myself on the number 5 court with a view of the number 2 match. I did not have a view of number 4 at all and kept trying to keep tabs on what was happening across the bleachers. My number 5 was down a break in the second and was playing poorly. Not only was it not going his way he was letting me know how badly it was going and that he just couldn’t figure it out. My words to him were simple, “Grind out each point and just keep putting the ball back in play and let’s see what happens.” Remember, I spoke about pressure not too long ago. Well, you never know when it is going to rear its ugly head. Miguel just kept staying alive and fought his way back to even at 5-5 in the second set. He then immediately got broken and was back under the gun. Pressure is a damn cruel thing and once again it played into Miguel’s favor and he again tied the set at 6-6 and he and his opponent would now duel in a tiebreak for the set. Miguel jumped out to a 4-2 lead in the breaker and things were looking good then suddenly it was 5-5. Two points from defeat or a defining third set. The point began and the grind ensued. Miguel hit a poor shot and found himself multiple feet off the court on the dead run scrambling to get to a backhand. He laced a backhand up the line passing his charging opponent. Winner, and a 6-5 lead in the breaker. He won the next point and life reentered his body.
While all of this was transpiring, Jose was struggling through his second set. The ebb and flow was positive to negative and everything in-between. Again, we entered a tie break but Jose made sure that it was a test of wills. After multiple back and forths Jose finally got the upper hand and finished off the set with a flurry of aggressive shots and a 9-7 victory in his second set tiebreak. Again, life has been blown back into our lungs. Across the bleachers, Laurent was serving for his second set at 5-4. I relaxed a bit thinking that we were surely on our way to a third set there as well. Pressure, that damned word and its damned effects, popped up once again. Laurent dropped his serve and then went down 5-6. He squared up his match and once again we had another tiebreak. Laurent dominated his breaker so we entered our third three setter of the day. The match was far from decided but we just needed one of the three to clinch the overall victory.
Here we go, I thought silently while I paced around the Wynee Warden facility. Miguel jumped out to a 3-0 lead. Jose jumped out to a 4-1 lead and Laurent was fighting and was up 3-2 when I glanced over. Miguel’s opponent had a flurry of good play and closed the gap to 3-2 but leveled off and Miguel again got two quick games to be within one game of clinching. Jose also had inched away and was playing dominating tennis against an opponent that had given his all and was wilting under the constant pressure. Miguel became a man possessed and closed out his third set 6-2 and therefore clinching the overall victory for FSC. We were ahead 5-2 but as a coach I want to win them all. Jose also was up 5-1 and looked ready to close out his as well. At 5-1 he had a match point, lined up a backhand down the line, let it rip and……missed it. Oops, door open and closed. This had a relaxing effect on the opponent and he played brilliantly for the next two games and closed the gap to 5-3. Jose, undeterred finished out the match with a 6-3 victory in the third to give us a 6-2 lead. Now we just needed to cheer Laurent on to finish off this match and get our 7-2 victory. It is funny and amazing to me that a team sport can at times be so individual. Athletes with personal pride are fun to watch and I appreciate the effort more than most will know. Laurent’s opponent was playing strictly for personal pride. The team had lost, he had battled with the hope of being needed, and now he was fighting for an empty victory. Let me tell you, he fought and fought and gave Laurent everything he had. Laurent, also playing for personal pride and only to help the cause gave his everything as well. The two players played high level and didn’t allow the few mistakes they made lower the quality of the match. Each had opportunities and the opponent was able to put his together to pull out the victory. I hate losing even when we win and so do most of the guys on the team. When you are keeping score, you want to win. Laurent was not happy getting beat and I like that.
We won the match 6-3 and I was so proud of the heart the team showed in such a tough match. I mean, we won three tiebreaks just to save the opportunity to win the match and then won two out of the three three set matches that were contested. I was upset that we needed to go that deep to pull out the match and even had a few players ask if I was happy or angry. I told them that I was both. This is where I feel I am losing my mind. How can you be angry when you win? All I can say to that is that I feel I have a superior team and expect them to play the way I feel about them. To tell you the truth, I think they do. They played with heart and passion and did what I always ask. They fought for every point and played until the end. It is confusing at times but I will never discredit a win. They are hard to come by and are hard earned in the world we compete. Thanks guys, keep being what you are.
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
Derek Bell--A Current Player at FSC
Tonight, I will write about a third current player who has been with me now, for three years. As he nears the completion of his junior year it has been a journey that has had multiple turns but appears to be going in the direction of his choosing. Players must create a path that challenges them to succeed on the court but also that leads them to where they want to be when they leave with the paper that says they have accomplished the task.
Derek Bell is from Missouri but has lived outside of the US at times in his life. He is not a natural tennis player but has accomplished a lot in the short time he has played. If you saw Derek, you would have sworn he was a football player. He is a Midwest kid who has sports in his blood. Whether it is basketball, football, soccer, or baseball Derek is ready to play. Tennis was something he picked up while in high school. Having an athletic background allowed him to figure out the basics rather quickly. While in high school he even became a state doubles champion while competing for his high school. This fete is what led me to recruit Derek in the first place. When a player realizes victory at their highest level there is a certain mindset that is required for this to occur. Most players see the effort that it took to achieve this goal and then can call up that effort when the next big goal presents itself. Derek came to FSC during a large transition period for the program and was thrust into a daunting task right off the bat.
During his freshman year Derek started out playing some singles in the backside of the top six but was a go-to guy for doubles. The freshman year for his team was not one that stands out in the record books for good but the guys fought through and gave their best efforts. Derek was a versatile doubles player and could play with multiple types of players. He had seven different partners during the season and met every challenge with gusto and a wanting that you could see. Through the frustration and losses, he continued to believe that he would get better. Having a strong serve and good volleys kept him in the doubles rotation for his first year. As he moved into his sophomore season the team also went through a transition. The team was strengthened from top to bottom and some of new guys from the prior year saw playing time cut significantly. Derek was one of those guys. He moved in and out of the doubles line up for most of the season. Anger and the sense of being looked over were evident as there were multiple conversations about him being the right guy to fill a particular void. When players believe in themselves, as a coach it is often hard to bench a guy who still holds out hope. Having a player who says they want it is what we all want as coaches. Recall back to the championships that he won while in high school, this was the thought that kept going through my mind. “He will bring back the work ethic that he did to accomplish such a great accomplishment while in high school.” This is one of the thoughts I had. The other thought was, “if I wanted this as badly as he says he wanted it I would be spending every possible moment getting as rock solid as I could.” Fast forward to the conclusion of his sophomore season and the frustration of his season was apparent.
Here we are currently during his junior season and he is still bouncing in and out. There is a difference now though. He may not be where he wants to be on the tennis court but he has figured out where he is going with his studies. He is driven to accomplish his goal of working in the sport industry and has applied for a great internship for this summer. It is funny how life works, sometimes we sacrifice something we like to go after something else that we love. Although Derek has not given up his desire to play at the highest level there appears to be a peace that has overtaken much of his frustration. When you are coaching an athlete, you want them to stretch to achieve the ultimate goal of winning during the competition. Derek is learning that life in the business world is also a competition and that the effort to stand out takes just as much effort as it does to do so on the tennis court.
I will admit that I have spent many days being frustrated with Derek and his talent that is not being utilized. I will also be the first to admit that over the past three years I have watched Derek become a great teammate whether he is playing with them or cheering them on during a heated match. He is, although not always happy about it, becoming the man he wants to be. Talent and effort are not always co-existing buddies and that is a hard lesson to swallow at times. I may not always get what I want from Derek on the court but he is showing me that when you finally find what you want and are willing to work towards it good things may happen. In a roundabout way, he is doing what I ask of all my players when they come to FSC. Be willing to fail so that you can succeed.
Derek Bell is from Missouri but has lived outside of the US at times in his life. He is not a natural tennis player but has accomplished a lot in the short time he has played. If you saw Derek, you would have sworn he was a football player. He is a Midwest kid who has sports in his blood. Whether it is basketball, football, soccer, or baseball Derek is ready to play. Tennis was something he picked up while in high school. Having an athletic background allowed him to figure out the basics rather quickly. While in high school he even became a state doubles champion while competing for his high school. This fete is what led me to recruit Derek in the first place. When a player realizes victory at their highest level there is a certain mindset that is required for this to occur. Most players see the effort that it took to achieve this goal and then can call up that effort when the next big goal presents itself. Derek came to FSC during a large transition period for the program and was thrust into a daunting task right off the bat.
During his freshman year Derek started out playing some singles in the backside of the top six but was a go-to guy for doubles. The freshman year for his team was not one that stands out in the record books for good but the guys fought through and gave their best efforts. Derek was a versatile doubles player and could play with multiple types of players. He had seven different partners during the season and met every challenge with gusto and a wanting that you could see. Through the frustration and losses, he continued to believe that he would get better. Having a strong serve and good volleys kept him in the doubles rotation for his first year. As he moved into his sophomore season the team also went through a transition. The team was strengthened from top to bottom and some of new guys from the prior year saw playing time cut significantly. Derek was one of those guys. He moved in and out of the doubles line up for most of the season. Anger and the sense of being looked over were evident as there were multiple conversations about him being the right guy to fill a particular void. When players believe in themselves, as a coach it is often hard to bench a guy who still holds out hope. Having a player who says they want it is what we all want as coaches. Recall back to the championships that he won while in high school, this was the thought that kept going through my mind. “He will bring back the work ethic that he did to accomplish such a great accomplishment while in high school.” This is one of the thoughts I had. The other thought was, “if I wanted this as badly as he says he wanted it I would be spending every possible moment getting as rock solid as I could.” Fast forward to the conclusion of his sophomore season and the frustration of his season was apparent.
Here we are currently during his junior season and he is still bouncing in and out. There is a difference now though. He may not be where he wants to be on the tennis court but he has figured out where he is going with his studies. He is driven to accomplish his goal of working in the sport industry and has applied for a great internship for this summer. It is funny how life works, sometimes we sacrifice something we like to go after something else that we love. Although Derek has not given up his desire to play at the highest level there appears to be a peace that has overtaken much of his frustration. When you are coaching an athlete, you want them to stretch to achieve the ultimate goal of winning during the competition. Derek is learning that life in the business world is also a competition and that the effort to stand out takes just as much effort as it does to do so on the tennis court.
I will admit that I have spent many days being frustrated with Derek and his talent that is not being utilized. I will also be the first to admit that over the past three years I have watched Derek become a great teammate whether he is playing with them or cheering them on during a heated match. He is, although not always happy about it, becoming the man he wants to be. Talent and effort are not always co-existing buddies and that is a hard lesson to swallow at times. I may not always get what I want from Derek on the court but he is showing me that when you finally find what you want and are willing to work towards it good things may happen. In a roundabout way, he is doing what I ask of all my players when they come to FSC. Be willing to fail so that you can succeed.
Sunday, March 19, 2017
Nicolas Bigler -- Former Player at FSC
Today was recovery day from two exhilarating days with the family at the Fresh From Florida 12 Hours of Sebring. Being in the racing environment is always fun but what is truly amazing is the cultural diversity that you find. Of course, there are the spring breakers, local rednecks, business execs, and the crowd that loves racing. But I am not talking about the crowd that was the majority. I am speaking about the people that come from all over the world to see this once a year phenomenon that is the 12 Hours. That one thought and the multiple languages that we ran across reminded me it was time to reminisce about another player from years gone by.
Nicolas Bigler epitomized his last name. He is a towering person that most would assume might be a power forward for the college instead of a varsity tennis player. Standing 6’6”, he appeared to be bigger than life and could be menacing but in reality, he was a kind and timid fellow. For those that don’t know about tennis tactics, when you are a big man you can be an imposing figure at the net and can earn many free points by moving forward. This usually causes trouble for opponents because someone that big is hard to get over with a lob or to pass them with a passing shot because of the large reach, usually. For Nic this was not the case. He was much more content to hit large looping groundstrokes from well behind the baseline. He is the only player that I have coached that got stuck in the fence, not once, but three times while he played for me. Yes, you read that correctly, he got his foot wedged in the fence because he played that far behind the baseline. He also had moments where his racket would scrape the fence on his preparation. As big as he was being passive was much more his style. I tried many attempts to get him to become an aggressive baseliner with an attacking dimension. We put him at the net and had players pound balls at him to show how easy it was for him to cover. I stood behind him with a giant swiss ball and made him move forward. The swiss ball did not allow him to retreat and kept me from getting pelted. Everything we did failed. Nailing the coffin closed on my attempts to get him to become what I thought he should be was a particular individual session we had one chilly fall morning. He and I were doing reflex volleys and I was trying to get him to shorten his swing. Well, I pulled him out a little wider hoping he would use his legs and not his reach. He did indeed use his reach, retrieved the shot, but since he had a bad base was not in position for the next shot. I hit a laser of a ball to his midsection to get him to recover and then he was on the court. My shot was a little lower and his reaction was a little slower. My 6’6” project was now about 2’5” at the service tee across from me. Holding himself and moaning in agony he advised me that we were done working on volleys for a while. A while was until his graduation.
Utilizing what someone can do instead of trying to get them to grow is frustrating but at times what a coach must do. With Nic the comprise was that we would not work on being more aggressive at net but that we would try to at least get easier transitions and maybe some shorter points. Nic was French-Swiss and was stereotypical in both. He was smart as could be but also very stubborn with what he thought, how he did things, and what he thought of others. His teammates had a nickname of affection for him that he was called daily. I will not repeat that nickname tonight but it fit and it was hilarious to hear and Nic got to the point that he embraced it. Above I mentioned that not being able to push an athlete to try new things was frustrating but Nic grew. He was a fighter, made strides with his game, and complained about everything. One of the funniest stories, and there are many, about Nic was the day he was going to play a top 10 play0er0 in the country. The kid he was going to play was massively unorthodox, very unimpressive, but was a machine at his game. Nic and I discussed how we were going to play him, as I had previously had two players that were able to beat him, but Nic being Nic told me that he had a strategy because this kid wasn’t that good. I tried with all my heart to get Nic to see my side but he was sure he was just going to beat this guy off the court. Being a good coach, I smirked, pulled up a bench and watched the clinical ass-kicking that took place. Nic was soundly defeated, came off the court and informed me that he knew he could beat him but the guy got lucky. He had another opportunity and you guessed it, the result was the same. Being stubborn is at times a good virtue but there are other times where someone might have knowledge you just know nothing about.
I really liked Nic and was glad that he transferred to play for me. His work ethic was awesome and he gave me everything he had each time he stepped on the court. He was quirky, irritating, and overly obsessed with his own opinions but that is part of dealing with cultures and people that are not common to you. Our women’s coach may not like Nic as much, I kid, because Nic fell in love with a female tennis player and she decided to move to Switzerland and pursue her career there. They are now happily married and both are doing outstanding in their chosen profession. They are both set in their ways and somehow work like a fine Swiss watch. Bigler was a big boy who had a soft heart and hard opinions and I was fortunate to have a guy like that to coach.
Nicolas Bigler epitomized his last name. He is a towering person that most would assume might be a power forward for the college instead of a varsity tennis player. Standing 6’6”, he appeared to be bigger than life and could be menacing but in reality, he was a kind and timid fellow. For those that don’t know about tennis tactics, when you are a big man you can be an imposing figure at the net and can earn many free points by moving forward. This usually causes trouble for opponents because someone that big is hard to get over with a lob or to pass them with a passing shot because of the large reach, usually. For Nic this was not the case. He was much more content to hit large looping groundstrokes from well behind the baseline. He is the only player that I have coached that got stuck in the fence, not once, but three times while he played for me. Yes, you read that correctly, he got his foot wedged in the fence because he played that far behind the baseline. He also had moments where his racket would scrape the fence on his preparation. As big as he was being passive was much more his style. I tried many attempts to get him to become an aggressive baseliner with an attacking dimension. We put him at the net and had players pound balls at him to show how easy it was for him to cover. I stood behind him with a giant swiss ball and made him move forward. The swiss ball did not allow him to retreat and kept me from getting pelted. Everything we did failed. Nailing the coffin closed on my attempts to get him to become what I thought he should be was a particular individual session we had one chilly fall morning. He and I were doing reflex volleys and I was trying to get him to shorten his swing. Well, I pulled him out a little wider hoping he would use his legs and not his reach. He did indeed use his reach, retrieved the shot, but since he had a bad base was not in position for the next shot. I hit a laser of a ball to his midsection to get him to recover and then he was on the court. My shot was a little lower and his reaction was a little slower. My 6’6” project was now about 2’5” at the service tee across from me. Holding himself and moaning in agony he advised me that we were done working on volleys for a while. A while was until his graduation.
Utilizing what someone can do instead of trying to get them to grow is frustrating but at times what a coach must do. With Nic the comprise was that we would not work on being more aggressive at net but that we would try to at least get easier transitions and maybe some shorter points. Nic was French-Swiss and was stereotypical in both. He was smart as could be but also very stubborn with what he thought, how he did things, and what he thought of others. His teammates had a nickname of affection for him that he was called daily. I will not repeat that nickname tonight but it fit and it was hilarious to hear and Nic got to the point that he embraced it. Above I mentioned that not being able to push an athlete to try new things was frustrating but Nic grew. He was a fighter, made strides with his game, and complained about everything. One of the funniest stories, and there are many, about Nic was the day he was going to play a top 10 play0er0 in the country. The kid he was going to play was massively unorthodox, very unimpressive, but was a machine at his game. Nic and I discussed how we were going to play him, as I had previously had two players that were able to beat him, but Nic being Nic told me that he had a strategy because this kid wasn’t that good. I tried with all my heart to get Nic to see my side but he was sure he was just going to beat this guy off the court. Being a good coach, I smirked, pulled up a bench and watched the clinical ass-kicking that took place. Nic was soundly defeated, came off the court and informed me that he knew he could beat him but the guy got lucky. He had another opportunity and you guessed it, the result was the same. Being stubborn is at times a good virtue but there are other times where someone might have knowledge you just know nothing about.
I really liked Nic and was glad that he transferred to play for me. His work ethic was awesome and he gave me everything he had each time he stepped on the court. He was quirky, irritating, and overly obsessed with his own opinions but that is part of dealing with cultures and people that are not common to you. Our women’s coach may not like Nic as much, I kid, because Nic fell in love with a female tennis player and she decided to move to Switzerland and pursue her career there. They are now happily married and both are doing outstanding in their chosen profession. They are both set in their ways and somehow work like a fine Swiss watch. Bigler was a big boy who had a soft heart and hard opinions and I was fortunate to have a guy like that to coach.
Friday, March 17, 2017
This and That......About Racing
Race fuel, “Gentlemen, start your engines”, “Please rise for the National Anthem”, and colorful cars racing to a checkered flag are all things that make me love racing. It is a family affair that goes back multiple generations. My granddaddy races along with my dad. I have raced BMX and off-road motorcycles. My brother-in-law races quads and so does my nephew. It is in the family. Oh yeah, even though it is only one horsepower my daughter races around an arena jumping and then really makes me nervous and does it again with fixed objects on a cross country course. This passion is hard to explain to those that have never done it, experienced it, or even thought they might want to check it out.
Some of the things I hear from people range from “Why do you want to watch cars go around in circles?” to “Don’t you think it is a little dangerous for you/your kid?” to “It sure is expensive.” and this one is always a fan favorite, “It sure is loud.” Unless you have experienced going to races this is not a good argument. Stock cars are the only ones that go around in circles. Road racing occurs on closed courses with left and right corners. Also, many of the types of racing are cars that you have seen and may have even driven. Porsches, Mercedes, Corvette, Mazda, Ferrari, Cadillac, BMW, Ford, etc. I cannot argue that it is dangerous. There is loss of life and at times some very severe injuries. I have witnessed my granddaddy spin out in the tri-oval at Daytona. I watched a man die at West Palm when my dad was racing. I have seen a BMX racer perish and motocross racers perish. My daughter has seen horses die on the course while competing. I’ve had my own share of injuries. Separated shoulder while flipping over a starting gate, blown out ankles, massive contusions, and many more. Once mended it was right back to it. The people that claim it is expensive are correct. Anything that has engine or eats is going to cost money. Racing by nature is expensive. You cannot just go around the corner and participate. You must tow your vehicle to the track which, yes is not economical. Oh yeah, horses go in the trailers as well. Things get broken and should be repaired. The faster you go the more expensive it gets. The higher the level the more it costs. In the racing world, these are relative expenses and part of the cost of chasing trophies. Also, ask a parent today how much little league, travel ball, and tournament teams cost. Lastly, I cannot argue with the loud issue. It is loud and that is part of it. The sound is what creates the symphony. Whether it is a deep throaty V-8, a 2 Liter turbo, 3.5 EcoBoost, or a screaming V-12 the sounds become mesmerizing and help create identity.
Having been around this sport in different capacities I don’t really care if people like racing or not. This is something that is so engrained in my life I cannot imagine being involved in anything else. Over the years my family has gotten to go to so many places and experience so many things. I’ve watched races in Lime Rock Park in CT, Road America in WI, the Indy 500, the Coca-Cola 400 in Daytona, Martinsville in VA, Road Atlanta in GA, Sebring, Saint Augustine, the old USA Speedway in Lakeland, and even a race at Disney. I’ve been to Watkins Glen in NY, VIR in Virginia, Roebling Road in GA, Pocono Raceway in PA, and others that have slipped my mind. In my own racing, I’ve been to races in Vegas, IN, IL, NY, VT, NC, SC, GA, TN, AL, and yes, all over the state of Florida. From the everglades to the panhandle. Brianna has competed in horse heavens such as Ocala, west Georgia, and North Carolina at Tryon where they are holding worlds next year. If it wasn’t for these sports I doubt we would have had the opportunities to visit all of these places and experience the cultures each brings.
Racing is what our family is about. We do it and will continue to do it. Our passion to excel and control power is something that has been passed down over many years. As a dad, it is awe inspiring watching my daughter control her 1200-pound partner over a course of jumps, ditches, and water crossings. Her grace, determination, and skill are the same things that I appreciate when watching a driver manipulate their car around a course. Mastering a skill, no matter the sport, is truly a dedication of time. There will be so many sacrifices along the way that you might as well master something that drives you. Watching guys risk it for a moment of glory has been motivation for many years and will continue to be so for many more.
Some of the things I hear from people range from “Why do you want to watch cars go around in circles?” to “Don’t you think it is a little dangerous for you/your kid?” to “It sure is expensive.” and this one is always a fan favorite, “It sure is loud.” Unless you have experienced going to races this is not a good argument. Stock cars are the only ones that go around in circles. Road racing occurs on closed courses with left and right corners. Also, many of the types of racing are cars that you have seen and may have even driven. Porsches, Mercedes, Corvette, Mazda, Ferrari, Cadillac, BMW, Ford, etc. I cannot argue that it is dangerous. There is loss of life and at times some very severe injuries. I have witnessed my granddaddy spin out in the tri-oval at Daytona. I watched a man die at West Palm when my dad was racing. I have seen a BMX racer perish and motocross racers perish. My daughter has seen horses die on the course while competing. I’ve had my own share of injuries. Separated shoulder while flipping over a starting gate, blown out ankles, massive contusions, and many more. Once mended it was right back to it. The people that claim it is expensive are correct. Anything that has engine or eats is going to cost money. Racing by nature is expensive. You cannot just go around the corner and participate. You must tow your vehicle to the track which, yes is not economical. Oh yeah, horses go in the trailers as well. Things get broken and should be repaired. The faster you go the more expensive it gets. The higher the level the more it costs. In the racing world, these are relative expenses and part of the cost of chasing trophies. Also, ask a parent today how much little league, travel ball, and tournament teams cost. Lastly, I cannot argue with the loud issue. It is loud and that is part of it. The sound is what creates the symphony. Whether it is a deep throaty V-8, a 2 Liter turbo, 3.5 EcoBoost, or a screaming V-12 the sounds become mesmerizing and help create identity.
Having been around this sport in different capacities I don’t really care if people like racing or not. This is something that is so engrained in my life I cannot imagine being involved in anything else. Over the years my family has gotten to go to so many places and experience so many things. I’ve watched races in Lime Rock Park in CT, Road America in WI, the Indy 500, the Coca-Cola 400 in Daytona, Martinsville in VA, Road Atlanta in GA, Sebring, Saint Augustine, the old USA Speedway in Lakeland, and even a race at Disney. I’ve been to Watkins Glen in NY, VIR in Virginia, Roebling Road in GA, Pocono Raceway in PA, and others that have slipped my mind. In my own racing, I’ve been to races in Vegas, IN, IL, NY, VT, NC, SC, GA, TN, AL, and yes, all over the state of Florida. From the everglades to the panhandle. Brianna has competed in horse heavens such as Ocala, west Georgia, and North Carolina at Tryon where they are holding worlds next year. If it wasn’t for these sports I doubt we would have had the opportunities to visit all of these places and experience the cultures each brings.
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
Vladimir Barabash--Former Player at FSC
Whoa, it’s been a few days since I last put down some thoughts. I would love to say it was because some awesome stuff kept me away but it was just life. Although, my life is awesome and what I do is fun and exciting, at times it consumes everything and halts anything that I may feel is important. Reading, exercising, and writing have become habits that I love doing. The writing gets pushed away when the others don’t. I have taken a few days to just focus on my work but it is time to write again.
Playing as many matches as the team has played in the past twelve days reminds me of some of my other teams that I have coached. There were guys who were gamers and were ready for every day and there were guys who were ready every day but let you know how badly they hurt and how bad the scheduling was. Vladimir Barabash was one of the first guys. His story to FSC success is almost fairytale material. Once a year, I took a trip to IMG/Bolletierri Academy to see the talent that I may want to recruit or skip over for the next year and years beyond. The annual trip was really just a fun day to see how the academy had grown and to see what cool projects they were working on to help athletes grow. Vlad was one of the guys on the list for that particular trip so off I walked to one of the back courts on the large campus of the academy.
As a coach, you always dream of seeing a player that is going to be the game changer. Vlad was not that guy. He was a scrawny, lanky, somewhat unathletic kid. I do mean kid. He had a non-descript serve, a decent forehand, and a non-existent backhand. We won’t really talk about volleys because I lost interest after watching for about five minutes. My second thought, after my first thought that I wasted another trip, was that I do have a large squad and he seemed like a nice kid and if he wanted to walk on he might grow into a decent JV guy. We spoke for a few minutes, I told him what I thought, and I headed back to FSC to continue the search for “real” players.
Fast forward to the fall and I received a call or a message that there was a kid from the Ukraine that said he was going to be on the tennis team. For the life of me I could not remember a kid from the Ukraine that I had recruited or where I might have seen one playing. About thirty minutes later, Vlad walked in to my office and he was coming to FSC. This is one of those moments where, as a coach, you don’t know if you want to be excited because you have another body or to be worried how you fit this kid into your workout plans. The funny thing is, I had no idea he was coming to FSC because there had been no communication with IMG or Vladimir. Welcome to FSC and the men’s tennis team I hope you still like tennis after the first semester.
Heart is something that cannot be taught and sometimes it is the only thing a guy needs to unleash what is inside. Starting his freshman year, Vlad stood about 6’2” and weighed a whopping 140 pounds. Training didn’t affect him at all. Whatever I could dish out he handled. He got abused daily by the better players and just absorbed it over and over. Shockingly he developed a backhand and this uncanny mentality of believing he could win any match. He somehow made it into a couple of matches in singles his freshman year but the funniest part was his ability to win doubles. He was paired with another quirky player and the two of them finished off the season at number three doubles. They were fun to watch, unconventional, but damn sure effective. His sophomore season was mostly doubles and he continued to grow. He also came up with a catch phrase that I still use today. “What kills you makes you stronger!” Yes, he messed up the language, we laughed, and then we did everything we could to kill each other. Vlad just kept becoming stronger.
By his junior year, he was a constant in the lineup. He played number 4 singles and number 2 doubles. The mentality he developed had become engrained and he was becoming the “silent assassin”, which was a nickname he got from his teammates. Again, he had a stellar season and was ready to start his senior year. It has always given me great pleasure to see the growth of athletes over their time at FSC. Vlad had learned and had remedied the flaws that haunted his game. When he went on the court it was expected he would come back with a win at both singles and doubles. He played with a quiet confidence and his perseverance had earned him a scholarship for his senior season. Watching what he had become as a player, a person, and as a quiet team leader was a gratifying experience. When he finished at FSC he was about 6’4” and had added 40 pounds to his scrawny frame. He was still lanky but was not awkward and was basically ripped.
There have been many players that have passed through the gates at FSC. Every single one of them has touched me and made me a better person. Vladimir is one of the warriors. He gets this moniker because of where he started and where he finished. He never appeared to fear losing and worked his ass off to earn what he got. I will never rate my players as the greatest of all time but I will, with strong resolve, state facts about those who should have never made it, those that did what was expected, and those that did it all. Vlad was a true example that hard work does pay off.
Playing as many matches as the team has played in the past twelve days reminds me of some of my other teams that I have coached. There were guys who were gamers and were ready for every day and there were guys who were ready every day but let you know how badly they hurt and how bad the scheduling was. Vladimir Barabash was one of the first guys. His story to FSC success is almost fairytale material. Once a year, I took a trip to IMG/Bolletierri Academy to see the talent that I may want to recruit or skip over for the next year and years beyond. The annual trip was really just a fun day to see how the academy had grown and to see what cool projects they were working on to help athletes grow. Vlad was one of the guys on the list for that particular trip so off I walked to one of the back courts on the large campus of the academy.
As a coach, you always dream of seeing a player that is going to be the game changer. Vlad was not that guy. He was a scrawny, lanky, somewhat unathletic kid. I do mean kid. He had a non-descript serve, a decent forehand, and a non-existent backhand. We won’t really talk about volleys because I lost interest after watching for about five minutes. My second thought, after my first thought that I wasted another trip, was that I do have a large squad and he seemed like a nice kid and if he wanted to walk on he might grow into a decent JV guy. We spoke for a few minutes, I told him what I thought, and I headed back to FSC to continue the search for “real” players.
Fast forward to the fall and I received a call or a message that there was a kid from the Ukraine that said he was going to be on the tennis team. For the life of me I could not remember a kid from the Ukraine that I had recruited or where I might have seen one playing. About thirty minutes later, Vlad walked in to my office and he was coming to FSC. This is one of those moments where, as a coach, you don’t know if you want to be excited because you have another body or to be worried how you fit this kid into your workout plans. The funny thing is, I had no idea he was coming to FSC because there had been no communication with IMG or Vladimir. Welcome to FSC and the men’s tennis team I hope you still like tennis after the first semester.
Heart is something that cannot be taught and sometimes it is the only thing a guy needs to unleash what is inside. Starting his freshman year, Vlad stood about 6’2” and weighed a whopping 140 pounds. Training didn’t affect him at all. Whatever I could dish out he handled. He got abused daily by the better players and just absorbed it over and over. Shockingly he developed a backhand and this uncanny mentality of believing he could win any match. He somehow made it into a couple of matches in singles his freshman year but the funniest part was his ability to win doubles. He was paired with another quirky player and the two of them finished off the season at number three doubles. They were fun to watch, unconventional, but damn sure effective. His sophomore season was mostly doubles and he continued to grow. He also came up with a catch phrase that I still use today. “What kills you makes you stronger!” Yes, he messed up the language, we laughed, and then we did everything we could to kill each other. Vlad just kept becoming stronger.
By his junior year, he was a constant in the lineup. He played number 4 singles and number 2 doubles. The mentality he developed had become engrained and he was becoming the “silent assassin”, which was a nickname he got from his teammates. Again, he had a stellar season and was ready to start his senior year. It has always given me great pleasure to see the growth of athletes over their time at FSC. Vlad had learned and had remedied the flaws that haunted his game. When he went on the court it was expected he would come back with a win at both singles and doubles. He played with a quiet confidence and his perseverance had earned him a scholarship for his senior season. Watching what he had become as a player, a person, and as a quiet team leader was a gratifying experience. When he finished at FSC he was about 6’4” and had added 40 pounds to his scrawny frame. He was still lanky but was not awkward and was basically ripped.
There have been many players that have passed through the gates at FSC. Every single one of them has touched me and made me a better person. Vladimir is one of the warriors. He gets this moniker because of where he started and where he finished. He never appeared to fear losing and worked his ass off to earn what he got. I will never rate my players as the greatest of all time but I will, with strong resolve, state facts about those who should have never made it, those that did what was expected, and those that did it all. Vlad was a true example that hard work does pay off.
Saturday, March 11, 2017
Connor Angell: A current player at FSC
This past week has been tough on the team but today is beautiful and each is doing what they need to prepare for the next onslaught of matches. Some of the guys have actually had a spring break since they are not in the starting group on a day to day basis. These guys are still valuable assets to the program because they offer variety to practice. Different personalities, playing styles, and that continual voice that says, “Hey buddy, if you screw up I’m here to take your place.” I run a large roster and do my best to make each player feel that they are important daily. It is often a hard balance because, of course, I must focus some time just to the players that are going through the match battles but those guys who fight to be on the team are an amazing bunch. There is no promise of playing time but they train, hit, do extra work, and are part of the fabric that makes our team so special. They get beat on and on occasion do the beating. Those moments are special for the entire team because it shows that hard work does pay off.
Connor Angell is one of those players who doesn’t get as much playing time as, I am sure, he hopes. He is what we would call a local boy. Hailing from Sebring he came to FSC as the top dog from his high school. I got him because Florida Southern has the program he wanted to study, the size school he wanted, and he had the opportunity to be on the men’s tennis team. To say his tennis is unique would be an understatement. He is 6’4”, lean, and very quiet. His strokes are at times awkward but over the past two years have become effective. He plays with an air of aloofness but I’ve come to realize that is a mirage. He is quite coy and deep down is one heck of a competitor. He is not one of the top guys but goes toe to toe when asked. His unique game throws off his teammates and offers a good challenge to those he is paired with for the particular drill. Having Connor around is also calming. He rarely, if at all, gets frazzled visually while playing and will do whatever it is you ask. Connor is a workhorse in the gym and is still getting better with footwork as a player on court.
Being well like by his teammates is one of his best qualities. His freshman year he was a bit standoffish but not in a bad way. He just marches to his own drummer and had his own friends who were not tennis players. This year he was able to sneak into one of the apartments with two other players and that has changed everything. He is one of the go to guys for hanging out and if there is something to go and do he is there. I know last season he had an opportunity to play in an exhibition match and most of the team chose to watch his match instead of the actual match being played. All his buddies want him to succeed and are happy for his continued growth. As a coach, I enjoy having Connor on the team and look forward to the rest of this season and the next two as well.
Connor Angell is one of those players who doesn’t get as much playing time as, I am sure, he hopes. He is what we would call a local boy. Hailing from Sebring he came to FSC as the top dog from his high school. I got him because Florida Southern has the program he wanted to study, the size school he wanted, and he had the opportunity to be on the men’s tennis team. To say his tennis is unique would be an understatement. He is 6’4”, lean, and very quiet. His strokes are at times awkward but over the past two years have become effective. He plays with an air of aloofness but I’ve come to realize that is a mirage. He is quite coy and deep down is one heck of a competitor. He is not one of the top guys but goes toe to toe when asked. His unique game throws off his teammates and offers a good challenge to those he is paired with for the particular drill. Having Connor around is also calming. He rarely, if at all, gets frazzled visually while playing and will do whatever it is you ask. Connor is a workhorse in the gym and is still getting better with footwork as a player on court.
Being well like by his teammates is one of his best qualities. His freshman year he was a bit standoffish but not in a bad way. He just marches to his own drummer and had his own friends who were not tennis players. This year he was able to sneak into one of the apartments with two other players and that has changed everything. He is one of the go to guys for hanging out and if there is something to go and do he is there. I know last season he had an opportunity to play in an exhibition match and most of the team chose to watch his match instead of the actual match being played. All his buddies want him to succeed and are happy for his continued growth. As a coach, I enjoy having Connor on the team and look forward to the rest of this season and the next two as well.
Thursday, March 9, 2017
Congrats, You've Earned the Right to Work Harder
Today was an out of the ordinary day for a guy who coaches a highly competitive NCAA DII men’s tennis team. I actually had a day off in the middle of the week and during an exceptionally busy time. You see, we played Saturday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We then turn around and play Friday, Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday, and throw in Thursday just for good measure. I felt like maybe a day without courts, practice, judging performance, or worrying about the depth of a forehand would be good for the guys. They have grinded and have shown so much heart, hustle, desire, and passion for the game and for the team that it just felt right to let them have a breather. Knowing when to let up and knowing when to push is such a shot in the dark. How hard and far can we push? It is widely known that the body can push further than the mind allows a lot of the time. We tell ourselves we are tired and, poof, we are tired. This dance we play in our mind is only exacerbated by the fact that I am not judging myself but eight players who have become fighters in each of their own right.
Although I have now been doing this for twelve years I am astonished that even when a team is relatively the same for a couple of years the heartbeat of the team can change as well as the emotional stature of the team. The guys don’t always see it because they are too close but from the fence lines it becomes apparent. This team is very different from their identity just last season. I preface this by saying I have no idea what our overall record will be, nor do I really care, but these guys are truly becoming competitive warriors. Their want to succeed is outweighing the pains they feel, the struggles they are going through, and the obstacles that have been put in their way. Players who played higher last year are filling out roles in different positions this year, there is very little selfishness which is bound to happen in such an individual sport, and these guys want to succeed. It pains them to not be successful. Really pains them to the point that the old quote, “I hate losing more than I enjoy winning” fits this team very well. Working on being their best is the goal for each of them and not just my mission. This makes things easier for me and harder in some aspects. I don’t have to push as hard but they push me to get more out of them. As I have said in the past, this is when the growth really occurs and the fun begins.
Tomorrow starts the second half of the hell week that actually takes in two weeks, but heck who is counting. Each match is another opportunity for every guy to push beyond his past limits and become what he wants to be as he moves forward. Of course, we all want to win and the joy is much more appealing than getting beat. The sad thing about that is that we learn so much when we are defeated. I truly believe that but I also believe that a hard-fought victory also teaches a player how hard they can push themselves to achieve a goal. What makes it more remarkable is when they do it again and again. Damn, I love competition.
Although I have now been doing this for twelve years I am astonished that even when a team is relatively the same for a couple of years the heartbeat of the team can change as well as the emotional stature of the team. The guys don’t always see it because they are too close but from the fence lines it becomes apparent. This team is very different from their identity just last season. I preface this by saying I have no idea what our overall record will be, nor do I really care, but these guys are truly becoming competitive warriors. Their want to succeed is outweighing the pains they feel, the struggles they are going through, and the obstacles that have been put in their way. Players who played higher last year are filling out roles in different positions this year, there is very little selfishness which is bound to happen in such an individual sport, and these guys want to succeed. It pains them to not be successful. Really pains them to the point that the old quote, “I hate losing more than I enjoy winning” fits this team very well. Working on being their best is the goal for each of them and not just my mission. This makes things easier for me and harder in some aspects. I don’t have to push as hard but they push me to get more out of them. As I have said in the past, this is when the growth really occurs and the fun begins.
Tomorrow starts the second half of the hell week that actually takes in two weeks, but heck who is counting. Each match is another opportunity for every guy to push beyond his past limits and become what he wants to be as he moves forward. Of course, we all want to win and the joy is much more appealing than getting beat. The sad thing about that is that we learn so much when we are defeated. I truly believe that but I also believe that a hard-fought victory also teaches a player how hard they can push themselves to achieve a goal. What makes it more remarkable is when they do it again and again. Damn, I love competition.
Monday, March 6, 2017
Miguel Alvarez-Hevia: A current player at FSC
Tonight is the first piece on the players that have played for me or are currently playing for me. I have tried to put them in alphabetical order so there is no misperceived order of importance. They have all been important in their own ways. I’ve been coaching at Florida Southern for ten years now and it has been a journey of many laughs, a few tears, and much sweat. There have been superstars, role players, semi-coaching players, under performers, and most importantly great guys who continue to leave amazing memories in my mind.
The first player to get the personal treatment will be Miguel Alvarez-Hevia. Miguel is currently a junior at FSC and was a transfer after his freshman year from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is from Spain and is very proud of that fact. Anytime you talk with Miguel he will tell you in no uncertain terms that it is the best country with the best of everything. I love that he has such passion for his homeland and never take offense because he has a disarming smile when he speaks. He basically has a zoo at his house in Spain with so many different animals that I cannot name them all here. His passion for tennis is apparent and don’t try to stump him when it comes to ATP or WTA players because he knows most of them and may even be able to rattle off some stats. He knows who has won each tournament this year and who is doing what in the world of fuzzy yellow balls.
Miguel is a solid player and for the two years he has been at FSC has been a starter in the doubles and singles line-up. He loves the net, I know that is weird for a Spaniard, and has a penetrating backhand. The oddity of his game, besides liking the net, is his weird delivery on his forehand. It is unique to say the least but he has mastered how to stay in points and create opportunities even though opponents often try to attack it. He has a heart that must come from a fighter and a passion to continually improve that makes coaching him easy and hard. The easy part is that I never have to worry about him putting in the work or doing the drills to the letter. The hard part is getting him to realize that resting periodically is also part of the training process.
Teams are each unique and this one works without true captains. Last season, Miguel was somewhat of a pain in the ass prima donna in a good way but didn’t show the leadership characteristics necessary to be a leader. Flash forward to this year and Miguel is now a vocal leader on the team. His demands are reasonable and he leads by example. His meticulous attention to the details of his game make me be more aware of what is necessary to help him. He has no problem pushing me or even disagreeing with me when he doesn’t like something. It is nice to have a player stick to his guns. This year though, he will actually listen to my reasoning and has even conceded a time or three. I appreciate him for the talent he has and the effort he puts forth daily to be the best he can be while playing collegiate tennis.
Lastly, he is an amazing student. This sentiment will be shared multiple times throughout the player profiles but it always amazes me when someone from another land who had to learn a different language can come over and do better than a natural born citizen. His work ethic in the classroom matches that of his court work. He is a funny guy and I am really proud of him for trying new things. “Hey Miguel, how was the sushi and your salad?” He will understand.
The first player to get the personal treatment will be Miguel Alvarez-Hevia. Miguel is currently a junior at FSC and was a transfer after his freshman year from the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. He is from Spain and is very proud of that fact. Anytime you talk with Miguel he will tell you in no uncertain terms that it is the best country with the best of everything. I love that he has such passion for his homeland and never take offense because he has a disarming smile when he speaks. He basically has a zoo at his house in Spain with so many different animals that I cannot name them all here. His passion for tennis is apparent and don’t try to stump him when it comes to ATP or WTA players because he knows most of them and may even be able to rattle off some stats. He knows who has won each tournament this year and who is doing what in the world of fuzzy yellow balls.
Miguel is a solid player and for the two years he has been at FSC has been a starter in the doubles and singles line-up. He loves the net, I know that is weird for a Spaniard, and has a penetrating backhand. The oddity of his game, besides liking the net, is his weird delivery on his forehand. It is unique to say the least but he has mastered how to stay in points and create opportunities even though opponents often try to attack it. He has a heart that must come from a fighter and a passion to continually improve that makes coaching him easy and hard. The easy part is that I never have to worry about him putting in the work or doing the drills to the letter. The hard part is getting him to realize that resting periodically is also part of the training process.
Teams are each unique and this one works without true captains. Last season, Miguel was somewhat of a pain in the ass prima donna in a good way but didn’t show the leadership characteristics necessary to be a leader. Flash forward to this year and Miguel is now a vocal leader on the team. His demands are reasonable and he leads by example. His meticulous attention to the details of his game make me be more aware of what is necessary to help him. He has no problem pushing me or even disagreeing with me when he doesn’t like something. It is nice to have a player stick to his guns. This year though, he will actually listen to my reasoning and has even conceded a time or three. I appreciate him for the talent he has and the effort he puts forth daily to be the best he can be while playing collegiate tennis.
Lastly, he is an amazing student. This sentiment will be shared multiple times throughout the player profiles but it always amazes me when someone from another land who had to learn a different language can come over and do better than a natural born citizen. His work ethic in the classroom matches that of his court work. He is a funny guy and I am really proud of him for trying new things. “Hey Miguel, how was the sushi and your salad?” He will understand.
Saturday, March 4, 2017
Jim Fitzpatrick
Tonight, starts the personal series about those who have been important in my sports and coaching career either as mentors or as players. The people who will be in these pieces have all been vital to where I am today. There is really no order in how they will appear or in the importance they were to me. They have all been important and made indelible marks that I think about in those quiet moments that come around from time to time.
I will start with my last junior coach. His name is Jim Fitzpatrick and I met him when he was the director of tennis at what was Lake Region Yacht and Country Club. Originally, he was just another coach in the list that I had used when I got serious with tennis. I had some great coaches who all helped me along the way but Jim was the last one. Robert Hollis was awesome and because of him I had decent volleys. Eric Dove, or Big E as he was known, was where the basics were honed. I had played at Auburndale City courts, Winter Haven City, Cypresswood, and ended at LRYCC.
When I first met Jim, he was this very imposing figure. He was a huge presence with a cold look. I blame him for my enjoying the taste of Diet Coke. I don’t know what made him such a great coach but he could get the best out of the players he worked with. We had quite a crew that came through LRYCC. There was Russell Briggs, Eric Dean, Brett Swango, Eric Turnquist, Tonya Williams, Jason Heller, and many more that I am sure I forgot. We had a good time and worked hard. Thanks to all of these players I learned how to be tough during battles on and off the court. Jim didn’t play favorites with us on the courts while training. If we weren’t doing what we were supposed to be doing, he let us know. Very rarely did he raise his voice but he had a look that would slice through any BS you might be thinking or doing. Not only did he have us training hard but a few of us even worked for him.
We taught the little kids, cleaned up the facility, and even did court maintenance. I learned how to care for clay courts and even rebuilt them at times. When I first started going to LRYCC we had this little hut but I remember when the new building was constructed. This clubhouse was spectacular and seemed so professional. It surely allowed us to spread out but it didn’t change what I was there for which was to get trained by Jim. I cannot tell you what specifically I learned from Jim but I know that because of his desire to help whoever wanted to be helped he made a lasting difference in my tennis career. I always was so impressed with how much time he spent with us on the court and off. His office was our clubhouse. Right after school we would go to the club and stay there the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. I remember many a night where my private lessons started once the lights came on. He didn’t travel to tournaments, we were tough enough to handle it ourselves and all had great parental support, but we definitely checked in after each day of the tournament.
Jim left to take a job in his hometown and it was a great move for him. He is currently still the director of tennis at the Country Club of Columbus. For the rest of us it was a painful blow. Thankfully, I was in college and all was well until my senior year. It is a weird phenomenon that happens to tennis players during their senior seasons. This invisible pressure that it will be over soon pops up and for a lot of players they begin playing fearfully instead of flowing in the matches. Well, I had that happen. My dad, who was my college coach for three years, told me to get out of town and go see Jim. Without hesitation, I went to Columbus, GA and spent a few days with him. I don’t know if we actually discussed anything to do with tennis but my senior season was as good as the rest of my college career and it was good seeing him again. That visit was one of the last times I have seen Jim. Life has happened and I am terrible at catching up or keeping up with people. We have chatted a few times over the phone regarding players and he is still giving advice. A few years ago, I was looking at some different options, Jim called to speak to me about a player but I left with more information about me than I did about the player.
I got to play some great tennis at some great places. Jim was one of the key people who helped get me through those moments that I doubted myself. I was never as talented as a lot of the players that I trained with or competed against but to Jim that didn’t matter. He was adamant that hard work and dedication to your craft would pay dividends in the end. They did! I played four years of college tennis, the teams I was on competed in three national tournaments, I had winning records all four years, and even had the opportunity to travel to Europe after college to compete. I could ramble on but I just want to say, “Thank you Jim. You have no idea what you meant to me as a tennis coach and as a mentor.”
I will start with my last junior coach. His name is Jim Fitzpatrick and I met him when he was the director of tennis at what was Lake Region Yacht and Country Club. Originally, he was just another coach in the list that I had used when I got serious with tennis. I had some great coaches who all helped me along the way but Jim was the last one. Robert Hollis was awesome and because of him I had decent volleys. Eric Dove, or Big E as he was known, was where the basics were honed. I had played at Auburndale City courts, Winter Haven City, Cypresswood, and ended at LRYCC.
When I first met Jim, he was this very imposing figure. He was a huge presence with a cold look. I blame him for my enjoying the taste of Diet Coke. I don’t know what made him such a great coach but he could get the best out of the players he worked with. We had quite a crew that came through LRYCC. There was Russell Briggs, Eric Dean, Brett Swango, Eric Turnquist, Tonya Williams, Jason Heller, and many more that I am sure I forgot. We had a good time and worked hard. Thanks to all of these players I learned how to be tough during battles on and off the court. Jim didn’t play favorites with us on the courts while training. If we weren’t doing what we were supposed to be doing, he let us know. Very rarely did he raise his voice but he had a look that would slice through any BS you might be thinking or doing. Not only did he have us training hard but a few of us even worked for him.
We taught the little kids, cleaned up the facility, and even did court maintenance. I learned how to care for clay courts and even rebuilt them at times. When I first started going to LRYCC we had this little hut but I remember when the new building was constructed. This clubhouse was spectacular and seemed so professional. It surely allowed us to spread out but it didn’t change what I was there for which was to get trained by Jim. I cannot tell you what specifically I learned from Jim but I know that because of his desire to help whoever wanted to be helped he made a lasting difference in my tennis career. I always was so impressed with how much time he spent with us on the court and off. His office was our clubhouse. Right after school we would go to the club and stay there the rest of the afternoon and into the evening. I remember many a night where my private lessons started once the lights came on. He didn’t travel to tournaments, we were tough enough to handle it ourselves and all had great parental support, but we definitely checked in after each day of the tournament.
Jim left to take a job in his hometown and it was a great move for him. He is currently still the director of tennis at the Country Club of Columbus. For the rest of us it was a painful blow. Thankfully, I was in college and all was well until my senior year. It is a weird phenomenon that happens to tennis players during their senior seasons. This invisible pressure that it will be over soon pops up and for a lot of players they begin playing fearfully instead of flowing in the matches. Well, I had that happen. My dad, who was my college coach for three years, told me to get out of town and go see Jim. Without hesitation, I went to Columbus, GA and spent a few days with him. I don’t know if we actually discussed anything to do with tennis but my senior season was as good as the rest of my college career and it was good seeing him again. That visit was one of the last times I have seen Jim. Life has happened and I am terrible at catching up or keeping up with people. We have chatted a few times over the phone regarding players and he is still giving advice. A few years ago, I was looking at some different options, Jim called to speak to me about a player but I left with more information about me than I did about the player.
I got to play some great tennis at some great places. Jim was one of the key people who helped get me through those moments that I doubted myself. I was never as talented as a lot of the players that I trained with or competed against but to Jim that didn’t matter. He was adamant that hard work and dedication to your craft would pay dividends in the end. They did! I played four years of college tennis, the teams I was on competed in three national tournaments, I had winning records all four years, and even had the opportunity to travel to Europe after college to compete. I could ramble on but I just want to say, “Thank you Jim. You have no idea what you meant to me as a tennis coach and as a mentor.”
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Important People
This little journey of my writings started as a way for me to share things I am thinking, see, talk about, and just want to get off my chest. I spend a large amount of my time speaking with my athletes about their future, their current issues, and occasionally about their past. It is a rewarding experience that I am honored to be a part of on a nearly daily basis. Working with a player through things they feel are important is one of the awesome parts of my job. Those are the times I get to recall things that I have been through that allow me to relate or empathize with them.
All of this has made me think about many personal memories and people who have helped shape the thoughts and ideas that I now share. The whole point of this is that over the next chapters of the Beyond the Curve blog I will be talking about those people. I have kept so much inside that, at times, it may come off as very personal. Please make no mistake, it is very personal. I wear my emotions on my sleeve but I also internalize a lot of what I feel. I have always expressed my feelings better on paper than verbally. I will do my best not to bore anybody but I will also not apologize for what I am going to write. As I said at the first post, this is for me and my stream of consciousness. My mind is filling up with so much new information I need to get these thoughts and emotions off my chest and I don’t know of any other way. There will be some mundane things but there will also be some interesting and maybe even some comedy thrown in for good measure. The one thing that I will guarantee is that you will know what these people mean to me and have a good understanding of how they have assisted in shaping who I am today.
I am sure I will miss some people, but as time passes they may float back out and eventually reach my fingertips that type this stuff out. The funny thing is that I may have some squirrel moments and throw in a random talk topic then get back to the people the next time. As disciplined as I am about certain things my mind is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. I stole that from somewhere but it fits.
Some random wrap up stuff for tonight is as follows: If you like podcasts do yourself a favor and listen to the Lance Armstrong Forward podcast. The episode with Mack Brown is awesome. Yes, Lance Armstrong has a podcast and it is very good. Second, if you are a coach definitely add They Call Me Coach by John Wooden. This is my third book of the year with the other two being Rich Dad Poor Dad and How to Win Friends and Influence People. Good night and I look forward to share the outstanding people who have meant so much to me.
All of this has made me think about many personal memories and people who have helped shape the thoughts and ideas that I now share. The whole point of this is that over the next chapters of the Beyond the Curve blog I will be talking about those people. I have kept so much inside that, at times, it may come off as very personal. Please make no mistake, it is very personal. I wear my emotions on my sleeve but I also internalize a lot of what I feel. I have always expressed my feelings better on paper than verbally. I will do my best not to bore anybody but I will also not apologize for what I am going to write. As I said at the first post, this is for me and my stream of consciousness. My mind is filling up with so much new information I need to get these thoughts and emotions off my chest and I don’t know of any other way. There will be some mundane things but there will also be some interesting and maybe even some comedy thrown in for good measure. The one thing that I will guarantee is that you will know what these people mean to me and have a good understanding of how they have assisted in shaping who I am today.
I am sure I will miss some people, but as time passes they may float back out and eventually reach my fingertips that type this stuff out. The funny thing is that I may have some squirrel moments and throw in a random talk topic then get back to the people the next time. As disciplined as I am about certain things my mind is an enigma wrapped in a riddle. I stole that from somewhere but it fits.
Some random wrap up stuff for tonight is as follows: If you like podcasts do yourself a favor and listen to the Lance Armstrong Forward podcast. The episode with Mack Brown is awesome. Yes, Lance Armstrong has a podcast and it is very good. Second, if you are a coach definitely add They Call Me Coach by John Wooden. This is my third book of the year with the other two being Rich Dad Poor Dad and How to Win Friends and Influence People. Good night and I look forward to share the outstanding people who have meant so much to me.
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