I don’t have lots of real heroes. I respect plenty of people
I know and know of. But, when it comes to an overwhelming desire to thoroughly
emulate a person’s actions and philosophies that I consider to be truly great,
the sentiment is felt for but a handful of people.
I have differing degrees of fanaticism for plenty of
celebrities – from being a die-hard Parrothead devotee of Jimmy Buffett to
faithfully following PGA pro Bob Estes on Twitter; from striving for the
on-stage excellence of Tom Hanks to jogging to the clever sounds of Will Smith.
Politically, I lean to the teachings of Ronald Reagan and the ideas of Glenn
Beck. Historical figures like Patrick Henry and Davy Crockett helped shape my
perspectives. There are astronauts, athletes, entrepreneurs, giants of industry
and servants of our nation that I consider more than praiseworthy. Compiling a
list of those of whom I am a fan would take more time than I have and would
inevitably be incomplete.
My heroes, though, are few. When I think of those who have
had a profound positive influence on who I am, only a few names come to mind. I
will quite possibly save those names for other posts, except one.
Dean Smith.
This hero of mine died Saturday night in Chapel Hill, North
Carolina, leaving a remarkable legacy both on and off the basketball court. And
while you can find a plethora of kind words and heart-felt reflections about
Coach Smith from those who were much closer to the man than I, you are invited
to take a moment to see the impact this coaching legend had on my life – a life
he never really touched directly.
I have always avidly loved the game of basketball. As a
child I could be found most any afternoon banking a blue rubber ball off of a
plywood backboard into a net-less hoop. I would play for hours every day no
matter the weather or time. As I grew older my love for the game only deepened.
I spent summer afternoons running pick-up games inside the YMCA while most of
my buds were out in the pool. On high school Friday nights, my friends and I would
badger the coach to open the gym, eschewing date nights for hoops nights, much
to the chagrin of the females in our class. This love escorted me through college
where I transitioned from player to student-assistant coach. On many a night,
I’d turn to a lone goal in the arena for a personal escape from the rigors of
college. I had the privilege of coaching my son and daughter in youth leagues
for eight years, the joys of watching them grow and develop a love of the game
and all it has to offer far outweighing the many successes we had. I can’t
imagine my life without basketball and look forward to my next chance to hit
the court, no matter the capacity.
I developed a love for the University of North Carolina
Tarheels soon after I discovered basketball and have been a fan ever since. I
remember wearing my drawstring on the outside of my shorts – Dudley Bradley
style, learning Sam Perkins’ signature baby hook, admiring the work ethic of
Eric Montross, and, of course, trying every gliding move of His Airness,
himself, Michael Jordan. Early on, I noticed how every player would acknowledge
his teammate for a good pass, how each player coming into the game handed off
his towel to the player he was replacing, getting information from that player
on who to guard, how the team always huddled at the foul line before a free
throw. They passed the ball well, shot the ball well, and played tenacious
defense, which led to many transition points. Although there always seemed to
be stars and superstars on the team, no one took the credit or coveted the
spotlight. As a matter of fact, the players seemed to always point to their
teammates, and especially Coach Smith, when giving credit for their success. It
didn’t take long for me to figure out through all the years of watching the
‘Heels play ball, through their many ups and very few downs, there was always
one constant, one common thread – Coach Smith.
Coach Smith was a creative innovator and organizer. He was a
father figure for his players and created a family-like environment at his
program. He established a simple way to approach basketball and life – the
Carolina Way. This method is founded in unselfishness, hard work, and
intelligence. The team concept drove his program. No one was bigger than the
team and the team always came before the player. There was a joke circulating
years ago after Michael Jordan had reached superstardom in the NBA that the
only man to hold Jordan under 20 points a game was Dean Smith. Coach Smith
placed immeasurable value on effort, stressing that effort was one of the
aspects of basketball every player could control. That was not an area in which
he was willing to lose. Practice was his classroom and he may have had no equal
in effectively teaching fundamentals. Coach Smith knew that practice was where
games were won and lost. Constant execution of those fundamentals would usually
determine success and would allow his teams to perform better than any I can
remember in late-game or time-constrained situations. Coach Smith could
orchestrate almost miraculous outcomes on the court, which would not have been
possible without his approach to practice.
He didn’t tear down players and build them back as he
wanted. Instead, Coach Smith would focus on a player’s strengths, honing those
skills he already displayed and using them to benefit the team. Then, he would
encourage the player to improve in those areas in which he was weaker in an
attempt to create a better total player. But more importantly, Smith also
helped create better human beings.
Amazingly, Dean Smith carried his philosophy from the court
into his players’ lives and, as a result, into the lives of people worldwide. His
message of loyalty and selflessness perfectly accompanied his values on decency
and humility when he taught about human relationships. He was not afraid to take a stand for the
causes in which he believed, but he respected the rights of those who opposed
his views. I didn’t agree with all of Coach Smith’s liberal beliefs, but I
always admired his willingness to humbly defend his viewpoints. I also
appreciated his acceptance of those who saw things differently.
Throughout the years, as I studied coaching and coaches,
Dean Smith’s philosophies began having a profound influence on me. I started
employing his values into my coaching, teaching, and life in general. As his
career was winding down, my appreciation and respect continued to grow. I
still, today, refer often to Coach Smith’s teachings, although I’ve
internalized much of what I’ve found to be applicable in my life.
Dean Smith’s legacy spans globally and pours out from the
basketball court into most facets of life. The lessons he taught make me want utilize
my gifts to the best of my abilities in the situations I’ve been given and to
be a better person. If that is not heroic, I don’t know what is.
Thanks, Coach.
