From the first day I could recall anything, he was there......not the most affectionate guy but...he was there.....he was there for my first day at school. He was there for my confirmation, first communion, etc. A night I will always remember when he was there - I was 6 years old, being treated for a nasty head cut in a hospital emergency room (I was begging my mom to go outside and play one last time, sitting at the top of our basement steps and I leaned a little too far and tumbled down the steps to the bottom where the back of my head found a paint-covered cinder block. Maybe why I've been accused by some of having a hard head.). I was as scared as any 6-year old would be in that situation until I heard whispered in my ear, "Don't worry, I'm here!......He was there for to teach me how to catch and hit a baseball, throw a football, shoot a basketball, mow a lawn, drive a car, etc. He was there supporting me through all of my relationship mistakes. Never second-guessed me, although he could....and maybe should have..:). After my last one went awry after a bunch of years, not too long ago, he was there, calling me offering encouragement. He was right - the best was yet to come and I met her 7 years ago. He taught me the meaning of loyalty and obedience; what a little "elbow grease", as he called it, would do for me. He taught me NEVER to quit on anything, especially myself. He was tough and somewhat hard to please but he was the most generous individual I'd ever known. He would help anyone in trouble, whether he knew them or not.
Today, I am one of the fortunate ones who, at my age, get to spend a day with him. My Dad.....if I turn out to be half the person he's been, I'm good! My Dad - THEE man in my life! Please remember yours today.....whether he is here or not....believe he is always "here" for you.
Saturday, June 18, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Is Our Life A Numbers Game?
It's been awhile since we've talked. Count on these to be a little more frequent from here on. Thanks for your patience, in the meantime.
By now, you should know that I'm a huge sports fan and, at different times during my career, I did some work for various sports teams. My most memorable "stint" was with the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks in their pre-Mark Cuban days. I have a longer history with Mr. Cuban being his very first ever web streaming client. KLIF, Dallas, started it all for him......so, was there any question as to whom I was rooting for in the NBA Finals? It's still takes me back just a bit when I precede the Mavericks name with "NBA Champion". I was there when 15-20 wins in an 80-game season was more than the norm than an aberration. I saw when this team started builidng itself. Above that, I saw the philosophy they were beginning to build on - the philosophy that got them a championship - teamwork! No one player was above any other. Every one had a role and a backup role and they all were integral part of an improbable championship run. Before his ownership, Mark Cuban exexmplified that with the way he treated his web clients and carried that over to his team.
The Mavs' coach, Rick Carlisle, spoke of success versus fulfillment after the big win. Each player achieved some level of success in the league and their careers up to that point but none were able to fulfill that ultimate dream until this past Sunday. They went up against a Miami Heat franchise with two (maybe three) of the most talented players in the NBA today against one aging star and 11 other "spare parts". What ensued was a "star" who looked at more of himself as part of a bigger team framework going against three all-stars who hadn't figured out how to reach the mountain top as a unit.
The Dallas Mavericks fulfilled their ultimate dream by relying on each other through the good and bad times. They believed in each other. They leaned on one another. They had confidence and each other's ability knwoing , if one player was out of step another would step up. They believed in the fulfillment. "Strength in numbers" is what one player epitomized as the ultimate reason for the Mavericks' win.
Thetre is no question that we can learn from this event with our jobs, our friends, our family, our faith! We can't do any of this alone. NONE of it. Yes, we will experience individual success but that only happens for that moment in time. Our ultimate fulfillment depends on how we build our relationships over time and how we incorporate tjem into our life. If we approached our lives as the Dallas Mavericks approached an NBA Championship, all uf us......we may see the world around us as God meant it be when he put it all together. There's definitely "Strength in Numbers".
By now, you should know that I'm a huge sports fan and, at different times during my career, I did some work for various sports teams. My most memorable "stint" was with the NBA Champion Dallas Mavericks in their pre-Mark Cuban days. I have a longer history with Mr. Cuban being his very first ever web streaming client. KLIF, Dallas, started it all for him......so, was there any question as to whom I was rooting for in the NBA Finals? It's still takes me back just a bit when I precede the Mavericks name with "NBA Champion". I was there when 15-20 wins in an 80-game season was more than the norm than an aberration. I saw when this team started builidng itself. Above that, I saw the philosophy they were beginning to build on - the philosophy that got them a championship - teamwork! No one player was above any other. Every one had a role and a backup role and they all were integral part of an improbable championship run. Before his ownership, Mark Cuban exexmplified that with the way he treated his web clients and carried that over to his team.
The Mavs' coach, Rick Carlisle, spoke of success versus fulfillment after the big win. Each player achieved some level of success in the league and their careers up to that point but none were able to fulfill that ultimate dream until this past Sunday. They went up against a Miami Heat franchise with two (maybe three) of the most talented players in the NBA today against one aging star and 11 other "spare parts". What ensued was a "star" who looked at more of himself as part of a bigger team framework going against three all-stars who hadn't figured out how to reach the mountain top as a unit.
The Dallas Mavericks fulfilled their ultimate dream by relying on each other through the good and bad times. They believed in each other. They leaned on one another. They had confidence and each other's ability knwoing , if one player was out of step another would step up. They believed in the fulfillment. "Strength in numbers" is what one player epitomized as the ultimate reason for the Mavericks' win.
Thetre is no question that we can learn from this event with our jobs, our friends, our family, our faith! We can't do any of this alone. NONE of it. Yes, we will experience individual success but that only happens for that moment in time. Our ultimate fulfillment depends on how we build our relationships over time and how we incorporate tjem into our life. If we approached our lives as the Dallas Mavericks approached an NBA Championship, all uf us......we may see the world around us as God meant it be when he put it all together. There's definitely "Strength in Numbers".
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