Ridger Sports

Coaches’ teaching can have life-long impact

— Traveling across the south for several days earlier this month put me in places like Jackson, Miss., Mobile, Ala., Memphis, Tenn., and Panama City Beach, Fla. As I often do, I take my best Razorback shirts with me to wear when I go on outings as it often leads to conversions with others, some of which have been highly enjoyable, if not memorable.

Although several years ago I had the misfortune of walking through Atlanta’s international airport right after Arkansas coach Bobby Petrino had left the Atlanta Falcons, my wearing o’ the red usually sparks positive feedback. The reaction I received in Atlanta was, shall I say, somewhat less than positive.

However, I have struck up conversations with folks from areas as far flung as the Redwood forest in California to the Liberty Trail in Boston, Mass., and they were all triggered by a “Hog” emblazoned in some form or fashion on my shirt or hat.

Anyhow, one of the folksI crossed paths with in Florida was quite aware of the prowess of Razorback athletics although he had no personal connection with the state or its sports.

What he was, however, was a former UCLA basketball guard who played just after the Wooden era ended but who got to meet the legendary coach. While not getting to play much in his time at UCLA, this tall pleasant fellow spoke of his admiration for Wooden and all that he stood and how the ideals he learned in college served him well once he was out on his own.

Indeed, this guy that I met had several leadership careers and had basically gotten his complete retirement taken care of financially at least, as he put it, “until I’m 90.” He said he really hadn’t plannedbeyond that, though I was struck by his accomplishments in business and charitable organizations.

On the way home from Florida last week, I thought a lot about the impact athletic coaches can have on their players. The truly best coaches, I believe, exert an influence on their former athletes that last a lifetime, or at least they should.

Lots of folks consider John Wooden, the UCLA coach I mentioned earlier who retired in 1975, the greatest athletic coach who ever lived. While I may tend to argue that Arkansas track coach John McDonnell might have a possible edge on Wooden, I would still consider Wooden’s basketball coaching prowess legendary. Besides the records and national titles achieved by Wooden, he also left a legacy of teaching that applied as much to life as it did to sports.

Wooden came up with a pyramid of success, a belief system that if applied and followed, would almost certainly lead theadherent to a better place.

Wooden described success as “a peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to become the best of which you are capable.”

Wooden taught that the bedrock of successful people was having lives that developed industriousness, loyalty, cooperation and enthusiasm while also developing lasting friendships. Wooden believed those traits would lead to better self-control, alertness and intentness, while giving people the ability to initiate action.

The second level of the pyramid would embolden people to reach a high level of physical fitness and skill while fostering a deep team spirit. Having attained those attributes would then give people the poise and confidence needed to achieve the highest levels of success.

Wooden, a man whose quotations can and do fill books, once told his charges that each player had to “perform at your bestwhen your best is required. Your best is required every day.”

While being a sports fan in general, I am particularly partial to sports where character plays a role in success, where dedication and determination can offset deficits in talent and what some call “luck.”

While not as famous as Wooden, there are still many coaches on all levels and areas of life that carry a part of his message to their players or participants. When you recognize them, respect and support them because they are the kind of coaches who truly make sports worthwhile.

Fayetteville game scratched

It was learned this week that Fayetteville has backed out of its agreement to compete with the Blackhawks in their annual preseason scrimmage.

Set to take place the Monday before Spirit Night Friday, the Bulldogs opted to scrimmage 4A power Pulaski Academy instead. Pulaski is the overwhelming favorite to winthe class 4A state title this season, as pundits believe that the era of Shiloh football dominance has ended.

“We have been working hard all summer,” head coach Tony Travis said, “and we have played a bunch of 7 on 7s so it isn’t like we are not getting ready for the season. We will be OK and I think we are going to have a good season. I know we are head and shoulders better than we were last year, but being better doesn’t always translate to more wins.”

While the ’Hawks bring back one of the most seasoned teams in the 4A-1 this season, the squad was hurt last summer with the departure of Joe Adams, a junior receiver who will play this fall for the Rogers Mountaineers.

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Editor’s note: John McGee is the art teacher at Pea Ridge elementary schools, coaches elementary track and writes a regular sports column for The Times. He can be contacted through The Times at prtnews@ nwaonline.com.

Sports, Pages 8 on 08/10/2011