Tuesday, March 17, 2009

A BIT OF LUCK AND CHANCE

Hi folks....
Training has been sporatic this week for the Fools 50K race in less than 3 weeks. I feel I have enough of a base, but I am not really familiar with the course, so I hope to check it out in the next week or so. I just have not been as consistent with my training but offer no excuses. I will get it together.

Work has been really crazy with MAC Tourney hoops, the March Madness and the new Browns regime signing just about everyone who ever played for the Jets. I fully expect Emerson Boozer (real name, not made up) to join the team.

Since today is St. Patricks day, I figured a little story about, chance..about luck and about how its wild how things work out for some people. One might say theres a grand plan..others could say things just worked out this way.

The man was on the rebound from a coaching job where it was alleged he uttered a racial slur. Disgraced he returned home and looked for a job. His resume was pretty impressive, but, hey a racial slur is something that never goes away, right?? He didn't expect to get a college job but he felt safe in his home town and was coaching a parochial school that had a tremendous core of kids. One of the kids was incredibly talented and precocious...way beyond his years. Scouts thought the kid would one day be a star. So the coach guided the talented team and watched the young star blossom. He soon got a job as an assistant coach at the local University. The young star and his buddies won 3 State Titles and the young star headed to the pros.

Now, in the year 2009, as the head coach of the University, he guided his team to the finals of the league tourney. Incredibly the team no one thought could win it all...did..and the coach was cutting down the nets. But in the back of his mind, he knew how the chance teaming up with the young star and his buddies was a big reason why he was about to take his team to The Big Dance.
He brought up the fact that it was his teams 23rd win..and that it had been 23 years since they had been in the Big Dance and how it was ironic, because the young star he coached in high school, the one kid who in a short professional span had achieved worldwide fame and stardom also wore number 23 on his uniform. The coach stated this right after the game and he spoke further about it with yours truly on Monday Morning.

Keith Dambrot, Akron University coach felt the reason he was so successful after such shame was because of the kid, now a man...LeBron James. It was James, a black inner city kid from Akron who helped the short white middle aged coach get back on his professional feet. It is James who supplies gear and shoes for the school and is their biggest fan and it is Dambrot, who has never forgotten how chance or fate or luck brought him in contact with a talent who is not only a game changer..but apparently in this mans words...a life changer.

We all need second chances. Folks, I don't make this up.
Happy Training!!! Life's a Blast

13 comments:

Wes said...

Great story JT! Well told :-)

The Lazy Triathlete said...

Great Story. Thanks for sharing. So, tell us oh great one of the sports--Is Lebron as a good guy as he appears?

ONEHOURIRONMAN said...

You know JT, you could give up your blogging job and become a writer!

triguyjt said...

Wes...thanks alot..sorry I've been a stranger..
Lazy Triathlete--yes, hes a real good kid (he's only 24, he just seems alot older, haha)
IronBob.. thanks alot...I'm already too ugly for T.V. but they still put up with me...haha

Shannon said...

too ugly for T.V.??????

You have to know your a cutie-pie, right? Your a great writer my friend! Great story.

Missy said...

Too ugly for tv, pffft, whatevah!!!;) Great story. I'm all for second chances, even third if the timing is right...sometimes we all need a leg up.

Marci said...

Nice little story JT :) Thanks for sharing :)

Marcy said...

That IS a great story :-) Thanks JT!

Ohhhh and stop with you're too ugly for tv ;-)

Benson said...

That is a really great story.
Now we know the rest of the story.

BreeWee said...

Oh I love this, thanks for sharing! Love that last sentence too, still laughing at the truth in your humor (we all need second chances, I don't make this up), that is hilarious!

Lebron James, mmmmm good! don't know much about hoops but I can watch him... ha ha!

Trishie said...

Great story ! I LOVE MARCH MADNESS! go terps ! (I have them in the Elite 8, which I think is a wee bit generous ;))

Rainmaker said...

Great story - thanks for sharing it. Always learn interesting things from you.

Christine said...

What a story! We played against lebron in high school. Hes really an amazing athlete!d