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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.”

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.