Heroes Among Us
I have a challenge for all of you. Do you have a hero in your life? I
want you to take a few moments and write about him or her. Yes, that
means you have to stretch your fingers out and do some typing. (Right
now my friend Steve from high school is shaking in fear over the
thought!) Write down your thoughts and feelings about the hero or
heroes in your life. Then print it out and send it to your hero. That
simple act will not only make that person's day, but it will be your
way of thanking them for all they do in your life.
To start the ball rolling, I thought I would share a letter with all
of you. Everyone knows that my wife is my hero and that I have
written a number of stories about her. But there is someone else who
has been my hero since sixth grade, when I moved from the suburbs of
Chicago, IL to the small town of Clinton, WI. Here is a letter I sent
out to Bill Greer this past winter. He is someone who has had a
tremendous positive impact in my life as a teacher and coach, and now
as someone I coach with at Clinton HS.
Read on........
Dear Bill,
You have been and always will be a role model for me and literally
thousands of students and players who have been influenced by you as
a teacher and a coach. From the first day I met you, when we moved
here in the sixth grade, I have watched you, copied you, and taken
many of life's lessons from you.
While I only had you for a coach one time, (when you subbed for
baseball) I have watched, listened, and "stolen" coaching methods,
ideas, and mannerisms from you. My whole coaching style and
philosophy is 90% Coach Greer, 7% Mike Wesling, and 3% everyone
else......(Stats may be a little off, but not much, LOL.)
My respect for coaches was incredible when I first started coaching
in 1989. I was totally overwhelmed when I realized the tremendous
"POWER" that coaches have to influence a student's life for good or
for bad. It was almost too much for me when I realized how I could
totally destroy a player's self-confidence by uttering a single word,
or even by giving the wrong facial expression at times. I remember
praying and asking for help so that I would always keep the player's
and what was really important in their lives first, and then worry
about wins and losses second. One of the quotes that has always meant
a lot to me and has always reminded me of you is:
"Coaching is to create the best person we can out of the athletes we
meet. Our secondary goal is to make them the best athlete we
can."
My goal for any team has always been that the players can look back
on their year and say to themselves, 'Those were some good times." If
a team has a great year record-wise, then that is a bonus. Ten years
form now not many people are going to remember who own the
conference, or which team went to state, but if they built
relationships with each other that last, felt like they accomplished
something personally, and can look back and laugh about the fun they
had, then I feel like I have done my job as a coach. That is
something that you have done remarkably well. Besides having an
incredible win loss record as a coach in every sport you have taken
on, you have taught so many "Life Lessons" that have affected players
for the rest of their lives.
My wife has story after story of things you did when she had you as a
coach. It seems to me that the things she remembers most are those
that had little to do with basketball, and everything to do with
life. Athletes play their hearts out for Coach Greer, not because
they fear him, but because they don't want to disappoint him. When an
athlete plays out of fear, or to show up a coach, their whole hear is
not in it. But when an athlete plays hard for themselves and because
they don't want to disappoint a coach, then they are playing with
their whole being. When that coach continues to build confidence, the
player begins to play not only for themselves, but also for their
teammates.
I respect you most for that.
I have heard many a player reflect those same thoughts about you.
When I first started coaching at Clinton High School, I was
intimidated out of my mind. I will always remember my second
practice. We were scrimmaging your team, and you were the only one
who was talking, teaching, and coaching. I was too afraid to say
anything in front of you for fear that I would be wrong. You pulled
me aside and said, "You know, Mike, you can start saying things to
your players anytime now. Just relax and be yourself." The legend had
given me permission to talk, and it was OK to do so! LOL
I have a long way to go as far as basketball knowledge is concerned,
but I have been learning that and what is most important in life from
you. Thank you for who you are, what you stand for, and for being
someone I have always looked up to. I look forward to the future,
except for that sad day when you decide to hang up the whistle for
the last time. I hope and pray that day is far form now, but wanted
you to know that you have touched so many lives, that anytime you
walk away from the game, you can hold you head up high and be proud
for being willing to let the Lord use you in so many ways...... Every
man has his faults, but besides my dad when I was growing up, you
have always been the man I most respect and admire in life...... and
I know I am on a very long list of people.
Very Sincerely, Michael
Who is your hero? Take some time this week and write to them. You
never know, it might make all the difference in the world to hear
from you!
Michael T. Powers Thunder27@aol.com
Copyright © 1999 by Michael T. Powers, All rights reserved
As always, I would love to hear what you thought of this story. Email
me and let me know!
Michael is happily married to his high school sweetheart Kristi, and
has two boys: Caleb (4 years old) and Connor (1 year old.) Several of
his stories will be published this coming spring and he is working on
his first book. He owns a video production business, coaches high
school girls basketball, and is the founder of "Straight From the
Heart," a free daily e-zine that features inspirational and uplifting
stories, often by published writers. To subscribe send an email to:
Thunder27@aol.com
"When we read, we start at the beginning and continue until we reach
the end. When we write, we start in the middle and fight our way
out." Vickie Karp
Michael T. Powers
Thunder27@aol.com
Copyright © 1999 by Michael T. Powers, All rights
reserved
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