Heart, Focus, Determination, Courage........Character

I was sent a story that recently took place at Pepperdine University in the Men's Division I Tennis Tournament. The story is very fitting as we prepare to take part in the Relay For Life and as we strive to be committed to our team and our teammates.


Waves Advance to the Sweet Sixteen
Courtesy: Pepperdine Sports Information
Release: 05/11/2008

Courtesy: Pepperdine Athletics

MALIBU, Calif. — In an amazing show of heart, strength and determination, Andre Begemann helped lead the Pepperdine men’s tennis team to a 4-2 victory over Stanford University, Saturday afternoon, in round two of the NCAA Division I Tennis Tournament. Begemann had received a phone call from his father in Germany last night, with the news that his mother had just passed away after a long battle with cancer.

“I knew she was very sick on Friday and I wanted to go home,” said Begemann. “I spoke with her Saturday morning and she asked that I stay and play in the tournament. My tennis career meant so much to her.”

Begemann asked Coach Steinberg not to tell the team prior to the match. He wanted his teammates focused on beating Stanford. With only three hours of sleep, a subdued but focused Begemann struggled in doubles, and then came back with a vengeance in singles. It was fitting that his was the first singles match to finish and to tie the match with Stanford. After his victory, he sat on the bench with his head in his hands and a bright red towel wrapped around his neck while he struggled to keep his composure. His performance was nothing short of courageous and a tremendous tribute to a mother who meant the world to him.

“It was the most incredible match I’ve ever coached,” said Coach Adam Steinberg. “Andre played with so much heart under the circumstances. I’ve never coached in a situation like that and I hope I never have to again.”

In front of a crowd of over two hundred spectators, both teams gave it their all. Few among the crowd knew of the personal struggle on court one.

“This is a young man who honored his mother and played his best among the best in the country,” said Pepperdine Athletic Director John Watson. “He played with so much love and emotion that it was overwhelming.”

All too often athletes complain about having a bad day or not feeling well as an excuse to their performance. I think this story puts things into perspective. Most of the things we have to fight through are no where near as significant as Andre's loss. I applaud Andre's decision to stay and play, but it would have been just as courageous for him to go home and be with his family. He made his decision, and regardless of the lack of sleep and the deep emotional pain, he gave his absolute all for his team, his teammates, and his mom.

What will be Your Legacy?

In high school athletics only one thing is certain, you will only have, at maximum, four years to be part of a team. All members of the team leave something behind, some legacy that others remember. Some legacies have lasted for decades, while others are just a ghostly vapor that fades over time. Be a lasting legacy!

It is important that we determine our definition of “legacy.” Some believe a legacy is all about them and what they will be remembered for, such as how great a pitcher they were or how great a hitter they were, or records they have set. If this is your definition of legacy, then your legacy lives and dies with your records staying intact. How much greater is a legacy that is left behind to benefit all players for all time, a legacy that benefits Helias Softball first and foremost?

My hope is that you are remembered for who YOU are. Remembered for you as a person first and a player second. Remembered for the commitment you had to be your best in order for your team to be its best. Remembered for the confidence you had in yourself and your teammates no matter what the odds or the situation. Remembered for the character you displayed when you served your teammates, your friends, your school, your family, and those in need. Remembered for the routines you left behind to be repeated by the countless new faces that will be added to Helias Softball year after year. Remembered for your living legacy, a legacy that defines the personality of a team that you put your heart and soul in and breathed life into. You have a choice as to how you will be remembered by what you will leave behind for the future.

What will be your Legacy?

"The measure of a man's real character is what he would do if he knew he would never be found out." Thomas Macaulay

Remarkable Story of Character

Most of the stories we hear about, read about, or watch on television that deal with athletes are very negative. Athletes using performance enhancing drugs, abusing alcohol, and displaying lewd conduct seem to be an everyday occurrence. There is a story that took place on a softball field in the State of Washington on April 27, 2008, that absolutely touched my heart. It is a story of what being an athlete is all about. A story of true character that I will not forget in my lifetime. The story is more powerful if you watch it. I have placed two videos on this post. The first is a great telling of the story. the second video is an ESPN interview with the players involved. I hope that we can display this same character in our upcoming summer and fall seasons, but more importantly I hope that we can display great character in our every day lives. If you would like to read more about the story it is on ESPN's website, The Early Show's website, and Good Morning America's website. Enjoy!

Our Journey

A sunny day, work to be done, and jay birds fly upward toward the sun,
but I'll work hard and I'll fly higher, than any jay bird could ever aspire.

The bulldogs growl and bark away, and hornets buzz around all day,
but I am swift and they don't bother me, a cloud of dust is all they will see.

And owls and lakers lazily sleep, fading away without even a peep.
I'll leave them be, all snug in their slumber, to nightmares and fear of me and my lumber.

Falcons soar and are very proud, while pirates on shore are boisterous and loud
I stay humble just doing my best, and leave them behind to weep with the rest.

Spartans are ancient from days of old and Kewpies are babies, they are not bold,
but I am committed to all that I do, and when they look in my eyes, they see it too.

Bulldogs again! We took care of that, and Comets have no hands to hold onto a bat.
I'm on a team that works hard together, and what we have planned will live on forever.

Pirates again with patches on their eyes, and bruins are strong, but don't search for the prize.
Tigers are powerful and like to attack, but I am confident I can tame them with my team at my back.

My journey has seen many fine sights, many that would cause most people a fright.
And although my adventure seems to come to an end, it start right back over with Districts my friend.

Purpose, preparation, and confidence at my side, commitment and courage ride right next to Pride.

A Crusader am I mounted high on my steed, and along with my teammates Blue and Gold's what we bleed.

With one goal in mind we control our own fate and no mascot will hinder our journey to STATE.

--BGC--

Actions Speak Louder.....Keep Your Cool

You've been there, the heat of competition, game is close, and tension begins to mount. Emotions swirl around and you find that your mind is so cluttered that any sense of clarity has passed by. Hopefully someone, a coach, captain, or some team leader, stepped up and had something to say. If you are like me, you may not remember a word coming out of the person's mouth. Turns out that the words are not that important anyway.

Most athletes in a time of high stress remember the actions, nonverbal communication, and tone of those who step up to lead, more so than the actual words. Unfortunately, too many of us recall these moments where someone either tries to rally everyone by yelling and screaming, or by someone who is so stressed out themselves they put you in a more unsettled place. Ideally the coach or team leader that steps forward is a person who can keep their cool. Someone whose composure is never in question. Someone whose very nature, regardless of actual words spoke, puts you in a more relaxed state, aiding you in performing at your highest level.

As leaders, keeping your composure is of the utmost importance. I have said before that the leaders of a team have a major impact on the teams personality. Those players who are looked up to by their peers tend to be the pulse of the team. If the leaders show anxiety, tentativeness, and a lack of confidence, it will spread throughout the team like a virus. If the leaders are composed, confident, aggressive, and courageous, these qualities will also find their way into the play of their teammates. Keep your cool and be consistent. Lead with the same spirit whether in a close game or a nail biter. In many cases the composure of a team's leaders is the difference between winning 1-run games and losing 1-run games.

"Leadership is a matter of having people look at you and gain confidence, seeing how you react. If you're in control, they're in control." Tom Landry, former Dallas Cowboys Coach

Great Expectations

When I was young I dreamed of 3-2 counts bases loaded and hitting the ball out of the park, throwing a game winning touchdown, and hitting the game winning shot at the buzzer. There were no limitations and the sky was the limit. No one made me live in their version of "reality." I am sure there was a time in your life when you felt the same freedom. When did we start "playing it safe?" When did we begin telling ourselves, "be real, you can't do that," or worse, listening to others tell us what we can and can't do? Fear of failure and lowering the bar to make sure we can succeed has become too much of the norm.

It is time to revert back to our childhood! It is time to play without fear and bask in the glory of the successes we lived out in the minds of our childhood selves. Raise the bar and live in a time of Great Expectations. It is time to once again reach for the stars instead of keeping our feet planted on the ground where we try to control our performances by being watered-down, "safe" athletes.

In order to truly have a memorable season, a season of no regrets, there has to be high expectations. We need to stretch ourselves. It is time to once again let our feet leave the ground and BELIEVE that we can reach new heights, and turn a deaf ear to the mumblings around us that try to stifle our flight.

"Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, "Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?" Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we're liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." Marianne Williamson, Author

My bad...

I had the opportunity to watch parts of a softball tournament last weekend and a player from one of the St. Louis teams made a comment that brought back memories from my own playing days. The comment, "My bad." A once prevalent saying amongst teammates has fallen by the wayside. The comment is so simplistic, but shares so much about the person speaking it.

A ball hit to short, fielded and thrown high to 1st base. The first baseman jumps with the ball barely nicking the glove and carrying on to the fence. First basemen runs down the ball, gets it back in the circle, and simply says, "My bad." That's right....the first basemen says it. It is a concept that needs to be renewed. Was it technically the first basemen's fault the play wasn't made, no, but by taking responsibility it helps the thrower of the errant toss relax and continue to play. Some argue that you should not take responsibility for a bad play if it isn't your fault. I like to look at the bigger picture. A simple statement may diffuse the emotions of the person who really fell short allowing them to play more focused. The person taking responsibility may work harder to come up with those difficult plays helping out their teammate and their team later on.

It is funny how seemingly little things spread throughout a team, good and bad. Once one person steps up and takes responsibility for themselves or maybe even someone else, I believe it will spread like wildfire. People take responsibility for their play and everyone else rallies around them instead of grinding the mistake into their teammate who already feels bad.

If you agree, I hope you will put this line of thinking into practice. If you totally disagree all I can say is, "my bad."