San Antonio's, already legendary coach, Greg Popovich will be inducted into Basketball's Hall of Fame this Saturday. I just finished reading a lengthy and well written article in The Athletic that sums up Coach Pop's life and career. It's great read. It begins with Pop's motto as a coach and human being: Get Over Yourself. As a retired high school teacher, it is an aphorism that should be engraved above he entrance of every high school in the nation and above the entrance to the White House. It should be part of every wedding ceremony and opening statement of every CEO at the beginning of every board meeting. It should be every minister's first words to his or her congregation. And very mornings whisper as one rises in the morning to start one's day.
Coach Popovich goes into the BAsketball Hall of Fame having long ago gotten over himself. But those of us who have enjoyed watching his teams will never get over him and what he has meant to basketball and his county.
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Can anybody be mor petty than Donald Trump Tweeting or whatever he doe about how happy he was that our women's national soccer team lost in the FIFA World Cup? And why was that? Because the team includes Megan Rapinoe, a lesbian and a hero of previous teams who has been critical of Trump while he was president. Trump could certainly benefit from Popovich's advice to get over himself.
Trump's motto is: If you go after me, I'll come after you. Living with that motto, it's no wonder his soul is so dark.
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From Trump to a much happier subject: Congrats to Eric Bieniemy, starting his firs season as the Jets Offensive Coordinator. My guess is the Chiefs are going to miss his presence. I'm not sure if I'm correct, but I'd bet Coach Eric's last name Bieniemy originated from the French, bien ami, perhaps somewhere around Lousiana. Bien Ami means beloved friend. Stuff like that doesn't translate to the rough and tumble of NFL football, but I've always imagined Coach Andy Reed and Erica Bieniemy after retiring sitting in rocking chairs side by side on a front porch with a cold brew in their hands and a plate of pork ribs balanced on their large bellies, talking football and remembering their good old days together.
Onward and downward: Long time QB of the Packers and now the QB of the Jets, Aaron Rodgers, could stand getting over himself. I still can't get over his anti-vax stance, which in my opinion was all about how his health was more important than his teammates' health.
Onward and upward: Jimmy G, new QB of the Raiders, wins the first game against his old team the 49ers. You read it first here.
POPOVITCH HAIKU by Tom Meschery
One thousand
wins
And one loss keeps you awake
Staring into the abyss
1 comment:
Dear Mr. Meschery, I just hit “pause” on the Bill Walton series “The Luckiest Man in the World,” because I heard a voice that took me right back to my seat in AP English in R (?) Hall at Reno High School. Seeing and hearing you just now brought me tremendous joy. As I have just started my 19th year as a social studies teacher, a letter you wrote me hangs proudly on my classroom wall. In this letter, you decipher the true meaning of the word “defeat.” You gave me this letter after my team had just lost in the state championship my senior year. I reference the letter often with my students, and it has traveled across the country with me. After almost teaching for two decades, I know that words form former students mean so very much. Mr. Meschery, you will never know the impact you made on me personally and professionally! I can still recite the prologue to the Canterbury Tales in an old English accent; I recall “There is no Frigate like a Book.” And, I remember your yearning for students to wear formal attire to classes. My class period, late in our senior year, did just that! Thank you for your wisdom, your kindness, and your all-around awesomeness. Wishing you much health and happiness. Melissa Padgett (Reno High, ‘00)
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