Notre Dame Magazine: Spring 2022 Sports and Spirituality Review: Postcards to Alma Mater

In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed a bill that designated the second Sunday in May as Mother's Day. Mother's Day is that special day when we honor and remember those women in our lives who have made God's love for us a reality. They brought us into this world, loved us, and helped shape us as we live our lives. Thank you, Mom!

My alma mater holds a unique place in the history of this unofficial national holiday. As noted by the Notre Dame Alumni Association, "In 1904, Frank Herring, an alumnus and administrator of the University, observed a class of students sending penny postcards to their mothers. Inspired, he spent the next decade advocating for a day of recognition" for moms. It became a holiday 10 years later, and Herring is still recognized as one of its founders. Go Irish!

It should come as no surprise that a University dedicated to Our Lady made some sort of an impact on this special day. From the gilded statue of the Blessed Mother who overlooks the campus to the song that concludes student gatherings, alumni mass, and even football games—the Alma Mater—the Mother of Jesus, Notre Dame is much more than the name of the school. She is patroness of the University. She is tender, strong and true. She is our Morning Star and guiding light. 

I refer to Notre Dame as my Alma Mater with reverence, respect an affection. I know those from hundreds of other schools do the same. The term is an allegorical Latin phrase used to identify a school, college or university that one formerly attended, or graduated from. The phrase is translated as "nourishing mother," suggesting that a school provides intellectual nourishment to her students. But Notre Dame offered me much more than nourishment of the mind. The word in Spanish for soul is "alma." How fitting. ND "shaped my heart and soul, too.

One way Notre Dame has continued to nourish my heart and mind is through FaithND and Notre Dame Magazine. Since 2019, I have posted a Sports and Spirituality review of each seasonal addition of ND Mag. I have enjoyed reading the printed word looking for stories of sport, spiritual lessons, and the symbiosis of the two.

The Spring 2022 issue features Our Lady of the Snite—a stucco with polychrome statue that has stood at the entrance of Notre Dame's art museum for decades. Created by Jacopo Sansovino, this "500-year-old Madonna and Child received a meticulous makeover for its move to Raclin-Murphy," the on-campus museum to come.

Many of the stories in this issue are spiritual such as:

• Reading coffee with...Vera Profit: Speak no evil,
• Partners in Truth: It's time to convert the debate between science and faith into a dialogue of mutual enrichment,
• The Power that Preserves the Peace and
• Advocate of the Last Resort: Bill Rayna '56 is one of the few who has acted on the biblical call to visit those in prison and so do for Jesus by doing the least among us.

Each one offers tremendous insight and is of timely import. Thank you editors! Few have a sports leaning, and that's okay! Here is what you may want to check out.

Domers in the News

• Bryant Young '94 (football) and Shannon Boxx '99 (soccer) or should I write "American football and football," have both earned their sports highest awards. 
• Boo Corrigan '90 the AD at North Carolina State has been named chair of the College Football Playoff selection committee and
• Sports media celebs Mike Golic '85 and Jessica Smetana '16 have teamed up for a Draftings video podcast

Indeed, Notre Dame alumni are making an impact on professional sports.

Photographic Memories by Margaret Fosmoe '85

"They were the emails, texts and Instagram images of their day. Starting at the dawn of the 20th century, a postcard craze swept America." Check out how many of them feature Notre Dame football! As a rower, I can't help but love the crew on St. Joseph's Lake.

While I was on campus during Spring Break, I had a chance to send a penny card from the Alumni Office, so I did. My mom and my dad made it possible for me to attend Notre Dame, Carondelet High School and Saint Mary's grade school. My mom in particular wanted her children to have a Catholic education. On that postcard, I had a chance to thank her once again for the love and support she has given to me. Truly she has made God's love a reality in my own life...and so have hundreds of women I have met at and through Notre Dame.

Who would have thought that a penny postcard and an observant teacher could prompt a day like today! To moms, grandmoms, Godmothers, foster moms, stepmoms—thank you. ENJOY!

Photo Credits
Our Lady of the Snite
Bryant Young
Alma Mater
ND Postcard

Mother Angelica and Pau Gasol Walk Into a Bar....Those Who Love Us Tell The Truth

Mother's Day prompts a tornado of tender tributes to the women we call "Mom." It is touching to read the life lessons credited to the women who undertake the most important job in the world. For example, my mom has taught me a truth about truth. She always says, “The truth shouldn’t hurt.” She’s right, it shouldn’t. However, quite often the truth does hurt. And yet, if it’s true, it’s true. Mom!!!

During my virtual spring cleaning, I rediscovered a tribute to a spiritual mother, Mother Angelica. This joyful, humorous, and loving Franciscan Sister, died on Easter Sunday, 2016. It is fitting that this holy woman who built EWTN, a world-wide Catholic cable television network, in 1981 was able to rejoice with the Lord and all the saints and angels in heaven on this great Feast Day. 

Her legacy lives on. Perhaps you remember Mother for her unique voice—it called us to trust in the Lord. Maybe you abide by her “everyday spirituality,” one born of a practical faith, that reminded us when we put our gifts at the service of the Lord we can do amazing things. Her wit and wisdom are the stuff of many popular quotations. One popular quote resonates with the words of my mom. 

She said, "those who tell the Truth love you. Those who tell you what you want to hear love themselves."

Yes, the truth can be hard to hear. It’s hard to admit our failings. Life is difficult; each one of us is fallen and lives in need of God’s grace. Sometimes it’s easier to live the lie, or worse, let those we love live it.

When someone has the courage to share the truth, it’s tempting to become defensive.We might write them off, shouldering resentment and blame for their words or insight. However, their act ought to be viewed as one of love.

We need the truth in the same way that we need God. Gandhi said, “God is truth and truth is God.” Those who speak it share God’s word. What a powerful message! There is much food for thought.

Truth about truth is what I found in yet another article from that pile. In "Swan Song: Pau Gasol says goodbye to retiring Kobe Bryant," the two time NBA Champion wrote 

We didn’t hang out that much off the court, but toward the end we had several meals one-on-one, and we would reminisce. When I was deciding whether to leave the Lakers in 2014, he came to my house in Redondo Beach. He said he wanted me to stay in L.A. and battle with him and finish our careers together. Those were his words. I told him I was in a place where I needed a change in my heart. I needed a change of air. It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, telling him, “I’m deciding not to play with you anymore.” 

I signed with the Bulls because I wanted to put myself in position to win another title. I haven’t been able to do that. I miss him a lot. I miss his presence. I miss that attitude. Not many players have it.  

The White Swan, the Black Swan, all of that, it didn’t upset me. It didn’t frustrate me. It showed he cared about me. It was tough love. He was challenging me because he expected more from me. When somebody cares about you, that’s when they challenge you. When they don’t care about you, they ignore you. That’s when you should worry.

What I take from this tribute is that Gasol and Bryant were much more than just teammates. I see them as true friends. They were both able to be truthful with one another, one challenging the other with a spirit of love and excellence. The truth didn't hurt—but the loss still does.

Pau Gasol also wrote "An Open Letter About Female Coaches" that reveals another important truth, that has shaped his view of the world. As written in the Players Tribune, he said, 

I grew up just outside of Barcelona, a child of two highly successful professionals. My father was a nurse and my mother was a doctor. 

I remember how people would often mistake my father as the doctor and my mom as the nurse — it happened more often than it should have, in my mind. To me, that my mother was a successful doctor … this was just the norm. And don’t get me wrong: I admired my dad’s hard work and job as well. But I grew up knowing that my mom got into a more rigorous school and program, and thus she had the more prominent job. That wasn’t weird, or a judgment in any direction. It was just the truth. And we never really thought twice about it. 

I can only imagine the life lessons his mom offered by her example and teachings. No doubt, that perspective is but one significant reason Gasol is so supportive of female coaches, especially in the NBA. 

I am grateful to my mom for the example and values she has instilled in me. I love talking to her on the phone, literally everyday and hearing the truth!

I have to believe this might the first article to ever combine Mother Angelica with Pau Gasol. I suppose if they two were to walk into a bar, we know not what they would talk about but we can guess it would be characterized by truth. Vero?!

Photo Credits
Pau and family
Mother Angelica

A Mother's Day Tribute of a Different Kind: Remembering a XC Parent

It was fun to notice the many way even the sports world caught on to honoring the special women we know as "mom" on this Mother's Day. NBA Cares ran ads during the play-off games of LeBron James, Stephen Curry and other post-season players with the women who had a big hand in getting them there—their moms. A special feature during "The Players Championship" at TPC Sawgrass included pre-recorded interviews of golfers with their moms. The 2015 champion, Rickie Fowler and his mother laughed about the fact in spite of his success, he still knows who is boss. Even Sports Illustrated ran a compelling piece "Look at Me Now: Sorry Dads—Maternal Figures are Dominant in the NBA." And with this blog posting I would like to offer one of my own. 

As a high school teacher, I don't get to know that many parents all that often. For one, I have over 100 students and four classes, and students have six or seven other teachers. Furthermore, high school is a time for adolescents to learn to advocate for themselves—for their grades, opportunities, letters of recommendation, playing time and for the next step—college. Usually, parents only step in when and as needed (but not always!). While I meet a lot of parents at Back to School night, the evening is a fast paced "meet and greet." And the four years of high school somehow fly by way too fast. Before you know it, a student and his/her family has come and gone.

As a coach, I have come to see that in high school sports, parents can be a mixed blessing. Many are supportive with offering to help in any way they can. Thank God for these parents! They feed us, they help other kids with transportation, they maintain respectful boundaries and want to see their son or daughter succeed competitively, socially, emotionally, and more. However, others can be difficult. Questions about why our line-up is the way it is, why something can't be different or what they expect out of their child can be challenging. Some sports have it worse. Issues like cuts or playing time abound. Unfortunately, nothing's that simple, is it?

Regardless, coaching cross country and crew has afforded me the opportunity to meet many wonderful people. I have met moms and dads who are unbelievably generous, fun and interesting. A few have even become friends. I feel so blessed to have met some great parents who I admire and respect. One of those is Margaret Smith.

The eldest of her two daughters, Erin ran cross country for four years and served as a team captain. I remember meeting Margaret at an invitational early in the season during Erin's freshman year. In a short amount of time, Erin had made some big improvements. We were all very excited about her progress, but honestly, we were a little surprised. And when I say "we," I mean Erin herself, her mom, her teammates and her coaches. That being said, I could tell that Margaret was thrilled to see her daughter in this capacity. When Erin was asked to train with the varsity girls at the end of her freshman year, no one was more excited and supportive than Erin's mom. She never overstepped any boundaries. She checked in with us as needed and always showed up on time, with a smile and a presence that said "if you want to talk, I am here to listen."

The girls cross country coaches and I were delighted we would have another Smith this past fall, when Shannon joined our team. That incredible Smith smile can't be mistaken just anywhere. Margaret came to us with that same look of "I'm here to help in anyway I can." She was happy to be present for another era in SI girls cross country. She wanted Shannon to have her own experience in the sport and again, she supported her daughter in the best way she could.

Because I believe in the Communion of Saints, I believe Margaret can and will continue to do that, but, it will be in a much different context. Margaret Smith died on Thursday morning in a car crash; she was 49 years old. She was driving with her husband and two children in their SUV on Highway I-5 to Southern California to pick up Erin.

The counselors at school informed the cross country coaches of this tragedy early that morning. Our team has been informally meeting and will be formally meeting to support Shannon, Erin and their family. 

I have no idea how we can support two young women who have lost their mother, but part of me thinks it has something to do with the image that I carry of her in my heart. She is a parent I got to know because she showed up for their meets, one who was ready to talk, listen or ask questions when needed. I see her standing beside the cross country trail—smiling, fully present, open and warm. 

On Mother's Day, we honor and celebrate the women who gave us life. But we are tasked with remembering them too. When MLK was killed RFK shared these words"

He said, "My favorite poem, my—my favorite poet was Aeschylus. And he once wrote:

Even in our sleep, pain which cannot forget

falls drop by drop upon the heart,

until, in our own despair,

against our will,

comes wisdom

through the awful grace of God."

The awful grace of God in this instance has reminded me of what we already know—every day is a gift. And so too is the meeting of another person who leaves a legacy on the cross country trail—of her children and her warm, kind presence.

A cross country race comes to an end; there is always a finish line. But I truly believe life is different. Death is not the end, but an invitation to something much different. I hope and pray the love that Margaret and her family had for one another can find some small strength for the journey in that belief. 

REQUIESCAT IN PACE

Photo Credits
Steph and Mom
Rickie and Mom
RFK

Kevin Durant Helps Us to Recognize What Mother's Day is Really About

In his first NBA Most Valuable Player Award acceptance speech, Oklahoma City Thunder Forward Kevin Durant individually thanked every one of his teammates for helping him get there. I would personally like to thank KDTrey5 for handing me a perfect Mother's Day Sports & Spirituality posting.

People have asked me if I have seen his speech every day since it was awarded on Tuesday, May 13. 2014 (I've always thought its interesting that the NBA gives the award during the playoffs...long before the championship game). If you have seen it, you know why they ask. If you haven't, stop reading now and check it out.

The full speech, which is nearly 30 minutes features an emotional Durant who fights back tears as he shares a powerful message (that resonate with the words of Ryan Vogelsong and the movie Field of Dreams in the previous posting). Durant said 

I had so much help, so many people believe in me when I didn’t believe in myself. So many people doubted me and motivated me every single day to be who I am. I failed so many times and got back up. I been through the toughest times with my family, but I’m still standing.

And the person that believed in him from the start is the same person he said is the "read MVP"—his mother—Wanda Pratt. The 7-footer said to her,

I don’t think you know what you did. You had my brother when you were 18 years old. Three years later, I came out. The odds were stacked against us, single parent with two boys by the time you were 21 years old. Everybody told us we weren’t supposed to be here.

Pratt who received a standing ovation from the crowd said in an interview with the Washington Post "I would not allow him to quit. There were times when he wanted to quit, but he couldn’t quit in the middle of a season. You had to finish what you started. And I told him he would have to do something — a different sport, whatever he was interested in. There had to be an activity outside of home. But, once you become dedicated to something, there’s a process you have to follow through." 

Her son said she did much more than that. 

You made us believe. Kept us off the street. Put clothes on our backs, food on the table. When you didn't eat, you made sure we ate. You sacrificed for us. 

When something good happens to you, I don't know about your guys, but I tend to look back to what brought me here.

My goal wasn’t to get my son to the NBA; my goal was to push my son toward his dream.

Although what brought Kevin Durant to where he is today is much, much different and frankly a lot harder than the road many of us travel, the person who gets us there isn't. For many of us, that person is our mom.  

My mom made sacrifices for my brother, sister and for me. She continues to do so today. She believed in us; she has never made me question that belief. She wouldn't allow me to quit the important stuff (oh and she never let us stay home from school *sick* either). She is my MVP. I celebrate her today and the other mothers living and those with the Lord, birth, adopted, formal and informal. Thank you for your undying love and support on the journey to get us to achieving our dreams.

Credits
Excerpt from the speech, New York Post
Photo Credits. 

Emotional KDTrey5

Wanda Pratt

Bubba Watson: Honoring Three Women on Mother's Day

Noticeably absent from The Players Championship, Bubba Watson is celebrating Mother’s Day in a very special way this year.  The 2012 Masters champion announced his decision not to play at TPC Sawgrass via Twitter.  He wrote

I've decided to pull out of the Players. I need to spend more time with Caleb and Angie, plan to take at least a month off."

"The Players is one of the best weeks of the year but bonding with my son and wife is what it is all about right now."

"Sorry to disappoint fans but the Players has one of the best fields all year, tourney is more than fine without me."

Instead of competing to win a tourney with the largest purse in golf, my guess is that Bubba will be honoring three very special women. 

At first it seemed strange to me to see a 6’4” 33-year old professional athlete hugging and crying with his mom upon his victory.  Read a little bit about Bubba Watson’s life however and you’ll soon come to realize he never would have gotten there without her.

Giving thanks to his mom and dad, the article, Hooray for Bubba Watson, a real champ who wears pink reveals

“My parents said if you work hard at golf and practice and you keep showing us effort, we’ll make sure you have everything you need to play golf and perform. So my mom had a paper route at — probably my 10th-grade year. It’s hard to talk about. … I don’t like to talk about it," he said, choking up. “She worked hard to support me and show me the ways that I should support my family and my kids to come, as many sacrifices as her and my dad made. It was just hard.

Molly Watson’s sacrifice and humility is inspiring.  It is one of many reasons moms deserve loving recognition today.

2. His wife Angie. As many people know, the Watson’s adopted their son Caleb just two weeks before the Masters.  What they don’t know are the many challenges they faced to become parents.

Angie told Bubba from the start of their relationship that she would not be able to have children.  The illness and death of Watson's father, Gerry kept them from attempting to adopt until the winter of 2011–12. And one week prior to the adoption of their one-month old son, the adoption of an infant girl fell through in the final moment. 

I am sure many couples seeking to adopt are not surprised by the Watson’s plight.  I hope however they take comfort in the end result.  Two children were given life: that little girl and their little boy.  Bubba's choice to be with his wife and son on this day should be of no surprise.

3. His son’s birth mother. 
Unfortunately, I believe too many people in America today equate “choice” with abortion.  I wish that choice leaned toward the question of how best to raise a child.  Should I keep the child myself?  Can I raise him or her?  Do I have the community and support to help me do this?  If I can’t raise the child, can the father?  Will another family be able to give my child what I cannot? 

It’s easy to say that Watsons are grateful that Caleb’s birth mother chose life.  The beauty is that countless others are as well—Molly Watson, Caleb’s future friends and even his daddy’s fans.

The three women in Bubba Watson’s life demonstrate that motherhood is not without tremendous sacrifice and selflessness. Christians can look to their example as well as that of Mary to contemplate the spirituality of motherhood. 

Mary raised her son knowing of the pain and suffering he would endure. She encouraged him at the wedding feast of Cana to exercise his divinity.  She stood at his cross as He gave his life for us.  She met with the apostles in their fear and conferred with the Holy Spirit.  And she was raised in glory, body and soul into heaven to forever be with God the father, creator and source of all life and love.

Today let us honor our heavenly and spiritual mother Mary, and the women who have given us life and loved us in the way that only a mother can. Their spirituality is worth contemplating.

Photo Credits
Watson Family
Bubba and Son
Molly and Bubba

Moms and Running: Two Great Assets

Watching the PBS video “Buffet and Gates Go Back to School” I was struck by Warren Buffet’s advice “The most important investment you can make is in yourself." In light of Mother’s Day, his words seem out of context. Mothers make tremendous sacrifices for their children; they are paragons of unselfishness. Any mother with young children knows it can be very difficult to invest in oneself. And yet, I think he’s right. He added, “The best asset is your own self.” How does this claim hold true on a day like Mother’s Day? I think running gives an answer.

One of my more interesting side jobs was to serve as a “wrangler” at the 2009 Nike Women’s Marathon. It was my responsibility to make sure that the race winner knew where to go upon completing her 26.2-mile victory. She couldn’t leave my sight; I had to “wrangle” her to the awards stand, away from the press and the crowd as needed. This job meant that I stood and waited at the finish line for over an hour. In that time of anticipation, I was a witness to some remarkable feats and legendary people. Distance running greats Joan Benoit and Kara Goucher, both sponsored by Nike waited beside me to congratulate the winner. I was struck by how tiny Benoit was. I thought this woman who is all of “a buck five” on the scale won the first Olympic gold medal for the women’s marathon in 1984?! Kara Goucher could not have been more regal, articulate and beautiful. What great role models for young women. The winner of the women’s half marathon was too.

Carrie Dimoff of Portland, OR won the 13.1 journey without any competition in a time of 1:25:26. She was congratulated and interviewed at the finish. She wasn’t even winded. She was smiling from ear to ear and laughing (must have been that runner’s high). She commented on her tactics for running well and when asked, “Is there anything else you’d like to say?” she responded, “Yes, I’d like to dedicate this race to my son. He was born in May and we’ve been running together a lot. He got me here.” 

I did the math. This woman had endured pregnancy and labor just five months earlier. And now she won the world’s largest all-women’s marathon and half marathon. 

Moms are so inspiring. So is running. To run is to invest in oneself—both physically and mentally. Running may be hard on the knees, but it good for the heart, weight management, bone density and all around endorphin release. When solo, running clears my mind. I am able to reflect on my day or work through problems, I think of lesson plans, and I dream. 

The mental health benefits are also social benefits. Running side by side with a friend is a gift. Perhaps it’s because you're both looking ahead but it seems to me that when I run with a friend, the most intimate of topics are revealed. It's funny, I don’t know how many times I have said “those 5 miles just flew by.” And running with a group can be silly or it can be silent. 

Although it’s rare, I love when I join a small pack of girls on my team and we complete a challenging run without words; all we hear are our footsteps and our breathing.

I’m glad so many moms who are both every day runners and serious competitors are investing in themselves. And these moms are easy to find. For example, in 2007 British runner Paula Radcliffe won the New York Marathon less than 10 months after giving birth. 2008 Olympian Kara Goucher competed in the 2011 Boston Marathon, where she ran a personal best for a fifth place finish in the women's division; she gave birth to her son Colt in September 2010. On the other end of the spectrum, at the age of 60 my beloved Aunt Wendy competed in her first marathon in Eugene in 2010. 

She was supported by her daughter, my cousin Amy who ran the last 6 miles with her (and this is after Amy, a great athlete, completed the half marathon), her husband/my uncle Jay and her eldest daughter/my cousin Jodi and me at the finish. To see my Aunt Wendy complete the 26.2 journey on Hayward Field smiling, exuberant and healthy was a privilege. It was an inspiring, humbling, awesome feat! Because of my health, it also was my last official race. I could not have asked for a better one, I wouldn’t go out any other way. I cherish memories from that race and that day.

On this Mother’s Day, I have been thinking about the significance of the example our mother’s give us. I think when a mom is a runner, she gives a great example to her children of self-discipline and the importance of physical fitness, challenging oneself, reaching goals and having fun. Personally, I believe mothers are the best examples of God's love here on earth (not all, but a whole lot!). They feed and nurture us from the very moment of our being. They possess a healing power like no other. They are our cheerleaders and a model of selflessness. I hope on this day and many others we can give our moms more time and encouragement to invest in themselves. For when they do-- be it in running, their friendships and so forth, we all benefit. We may be our own best asset, but I think my mom is too.

Mother's Day Prayer by Gaynell Bordes Cronin
I love you, Mom.
I love your aliveness, your joy in living, your understanding, your giving.
And what I love best of all is that you love me.
God of all Mothers, thank you for my mom! 

—From the book Friend Jesus: Prayers for Children

Photo Credits Aunt Wendy, Amy and I/Wendy at the finish taken by Jodi Herchold! Goucher, Benoit and Nike Women's Winner Paula Radcliffe