Excellence and Summitt

For the past few years of coaching young people, I have almost exclusively coached young ladies. Something that even male coaches ruefully note is the relative lack of female coaches in our sport at the youth level.

It is hardly restricted to youth soccer. You see the same in high school, college and the pros. It seems guys corner the market on coaching and training opportunities. And, while the situation is changing, there is much to be done in the matter of encouraging and retaining female role models in coaching. My organization has actively and tangibly worked to bridge any gender gaps.

I am not trying to talk myself out of a job; I just feel that there is definite value in finding female role models for young ladies to emulate.

When news surfaced recently that the venerable Pat Summitt, championship coach of the Tennessee Lady Vols, is battling a form of early onset Alzheimer's disease, the entire sports world gasped. Scratch that. Everyone gasped.

See, you don't need to be a sports fan to know Coach Summitt. Her scowl is legendary, and her glare strikes fear into friends and foes alike. But beneath that ferocity lies a history of excellence that is hard to ignore. Check how many of her students either have degrees or are working towards one. Here's a hint: if expressing the number as a percentage, you'd have to use three digits.

Ask her players, past and present, about her and they talk about a coach who is not scared to push them to succeed. A coach who would not accept 90%. She does things right, doesn't take shortcuts, and her methods make us all rest soundly in the assurance that good triumphs over evil in the long-run.

I'm saying a prayer for Coach Summitt... for selfish reasons. You see, she isn't just a role model to young ladies; she is a role model to me.

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People I dislike: Katherine Wolfe.

If you need a dose of inspiration, or wanna read about an old-fashioned hero that lives today, head over and read about Katherine Arnold Wolfe.

Beyond being a woman with untold courage, she managed to survive a life-threatening stroke. This wife and mother also fought to re-learn skills that she lost after the stroke.

People that are braver than me make me feel small. Katherine Wolfe makes me feel refreshingly minute, and it is a privilege to write about her. Every now and then, we meet or read about powerful beings that only wear human flesh. Katherine is one of them.

I am grateful God gave me an opportunity to read about her.

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Reflection.

Couple of things on my mind, that may or may not make you throw rocks at me:

• I admit I have to get myself in shape, even as I squarely place the blame on people like Cass and Jen... people I blame for not yelling at me.
• One of my players called me a softie. This angers me, because it goes against my self-described street rep. It also angers me because she might be right. Drat.
• I can barely beat my 7 yr-old and 4 yr-old in Wii baseball anymore, and, in any case, I then feel like I need Tommy John surgery.
• I was the oldest attendant at my brother's wedding last week. Hurray for getting old.
• Yes, I admit it openly. I like Tim Tebow.
• My wife says I am getting crankier in my old] age, and that makes me cranky.
• I think one of my youth may be hitting the Bible more than me, and this shames me.
• The next time I see my kid brother flaunt his Android-powered HTC EVO (a phone which I am waiting on, I will take it and bash him over the head with it. So there.
• I find myself referring to "urban dictionaries" more often.
• I googled myself last month. Twice.
  

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People I Dislike: Kimberly Thompson

When it comes to life, the toughest thing sometimes is just living. It takes a deep immersion in faith to get to a point where you can do it well, and do it with an "overall" smile.

Some folks do it better than others. And this is one reason I dislike 180 pal Kimberly Thompson.

Kimmie (who she is to me) is a special kind of person... she makes me question why I would ever stay glum. She has this thing about her that makes me ashamed to be down.

So, why do I dislike Kimmie? Too many reasons to count. Here are a few:

- When asked about her outlook on life, she answers with: "To sound incredibly cliche, life is what you make of it." I don't like people who can get profound points across so concisely.

- When you ask her how she finds a way to be positive, she comes back with: "By knowing that I serve a God who is faithful, and ultimately everything will work together for for my good." Since I sometimes struggle with this, you can see how she gets on my nerves.

- You get the same grounded answer when you ask her what biblical verses she uses to anchor herself: "'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' is always a good pick-me-up."

Even with all this, I was willing to give Kimmie a pass. The answer to my last question pretty much sealed the deal and put her squarely in the "Dislike" category:

- What do you think of Karen Byrne? "She is awesomeness and you know it!!!!" She really used 4 exclamation marks.

Whatever.

On a more lucid day, I could talk about how wonderful it is to communicate with someone with such an undisguised love for God. I'd say how cool it is to have an instant prayer partner, and how Kimmie is an inspirational friend that I hold dear.

But, that last answer bothers me, and so I simply won't say that stuff.

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Hate to wait...

I am not big on waiting. I was a preemie at birth, and ever since then, patience has never been my strong suit.

That is why this simple, short blog post from Amanda Sims speaks to me. It's also a reason she has made my "People I dislike..." shortlist. Stay tuned for that...

Thanks, A!

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People I dislike: Karen Byrne

I really, really dislike Karen Byrne, and the reasons are almost too many to list. I will do my best. It is my duty.

- I know it is hard to believe, but Karen is the nicest person I know. She really is an angel. This bothers me. I have tried VERY hard to find a mean bone in her, and can't find one. Why? This annoys me.

- She takes delight in being a true witness. No hidden hanky-panky for her; she is sold out in her beliefs, and wears her faith without shame.

- When you ask Karen a question, she doesn't try to get overly philosophical; she doesn't force flowery language. She simply takes you back to the Bible. She forces and inspires me to do the same. Whatever.

- Even when we argue (often, and usually her fault) on Twitter and during life group, she gets biblical. Once, instead of telling me to shut up, she used a bible verse. Seriously? How do you counter that? I don't like people who are so clearly smarter than me.

- My wife likes her, making me a minority in my own home as well as the cyber-world. No explanation needed.

- When you ask her tough questions, you know what Byrnie does? You guessed right... she takes it to the scripture. She makes you think. What is your outlook on life, Byrnie? There is always someone who needs something. Open your eyes, see their need and meet it. In two sentences, she forces me to confront my own selfishness. I want to fight her.

What is your favorite verse, B? My favorite verse lately is Isaiah 43:1 (love the whole chapter). But now, this is what the Lord says-- he who created you, o Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel; "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine." I think deep down we all have a desire to belong - to know that we fit in somewhere. This verse reminds me that I belong to the Father. And, there's something beautiful when someone you love calls you by name.

Why do you believe in God, Karen? There is evidence of God all around us, if we just look for it. Creation screams of the existence of a Creator. The way the universe is laid out cannot be by chance. I can't watch a child sleep or a baby cry or birds build a nest or a lion prowling for dinner without thinking that the beauty in those things must come from God. I also know I am different since having started a relationship with him through his Son, who died because I broke God's heart.


Seriously... this is what she throws at you, forcing you to contemplate stuff. A-L-L the T-I-M-E.

- She lives in Michigan. And doesn't complain about the weather, further making me analyze my own whining.

- She writes one of the best blogs I have ever had the privilege of reading.

I could go on and on, and use up bandwith explaining why she is on my dislike list. Suffice to say that I absolutely refuse to admit that she is blessing in our lives, a precious friend, and someone I have an immense amount of respect for.

No, I won't say any of that. I dislike her. A lot.

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People I dislike: Derek Turner

I dislike Derek Turner... for a few reasons:

- Derek is truly one of the most sincere people I know. You really want to see that your pastor is a bit insincere. As my pastor, Derek abjectly fails here.

- Derek has looked pain and horror in the eye and come out with a closer relationship with God. He continually makes me feel like I can deal with the petty things in my life with more joy. This makes me mad.

- Derek truly loves people. He reaches out regardless of how it makes him look. Again, he makes me shine the light on my own life. Not cool.

- Derek was a phenomenal soccer goalkeeper at ORU. Now I have nothing to boast about.

- Derek uses a BlackBerry, and references the Bible from it. See previous bullet.

- When asked about Diversity, Derek's answer is, "What Would Love Do?"

Whatever. I truly dislike this guy.

Derek Turner is Pastor at The Branch Family Church in Charlotte, NC.

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