Steve Nash: Making Everyone Better

Anyone who knows NBA basketball understands that players don’t so much as break a sweat until (best case scenario) late in the second quarter. Last night’s Golden State Warriors vs. the Phoenix Suns was no exception. Unfortunately for Warriors fans, it was no contest. The Suns led most of the game by 20+ points. Consequently, I did what any basketball fan should do: watch one player and one player only—Steve Nash.

Along with my former colleague and friend Kevin, I joined the Santa Clara Alumni Association before the game to sit courtside. Nash is SCU’s most successful athletic alum. He came out to hear 50+ people sing "Happy Birthday" as he completed his pregame warm-up.

As we celebrated Nash’s special day, I realized he is eight days older than me. I stared at the two-time MVP, in total awe. At 6’3” and with little to no body fat, his size is far from intimidating. His 37 years of age have by no means slowed him down. Despite the Suns’ significant lead, Nash didn’t have a sub until late in the fourth quarter. And when he finally came out of the game, he must lie on his back—because of spondylolisthesis. It would seem likely that this medical condition, which causes muscle tightness and back pain, would prevent Nash from returning to the game or regular play. Not true. When the Warriors finally brought the game within ten points in the fourth quarter, Nash stretched and was ready to return.

Fans know that he has led the league in assists, that his free throw percentage is in the 90s, that his work ethic is insane and that he truly is a great point guard, but if there is one thing I think everyone should know about this future Hall of Famer, it’s this: Steve Nash makes everyone on his team better.

Nash has incredible vision. Nash gets the ball to his teammates with precise passing and accurate timing. Little flash and lots of hustle, he sees the hole, he finds the gap to move the ball to his teammates first and to himself second. I must say, I haven’t seen that many bounce passes in a game since I coached a sixth-grade girls’ team in South Louisiana. But Nash is a master of the fundamentals--he executes, he lets his teammates play to their gifts and their position. I won’t say he’s selfless—he takes his fair share of shots—and I still don’t think he’s God (see my least favorite posting of all time) but I realized as I saw him play, I was a witness to greatness.

For all intensive purposes, last night’s game at Oracle Arena was a sleeper. But watching Steve Nash as intentionally as I did make me wonder—Are there people in our community, family, or workplaces who, like Steve Nash, make everyone better? I am surrounded by people I look up to and admire. Others inspire me. I even know folks who challenge my way of thinking and my lifestyle for the better. But can I identify a person who makes everyone around them better? Can you? I have coached enough teams and taught enough students to know, albeit rare when you meet a person who makes everyone better, you never forget them nor their impact. Watch them, see what they do, learn from them. They make the game of life so much more interesting.

Steve Nash, you inspire me as a teacher to work hard, to use my off-season to improve. Your discipline on and off the court has reaped rewards. I want to find a way to make others around me their very best by your example. This is what Jesus did. Maybe you are god…

Photo Credits
Warriors vs. Suns
SCU
With Hill and Carter
Nashty Smiles

The Family That Plays Together...

Patrick Peyton, C.S.C., a Holy Cross priest, founder of the post-World War II prayer movement called, "Family Rosary Crusade" made famous the slogan “the family that prays together stays together.” I believe in the power of prayer. Even in today’s fast paced world, it is tremendously accessible for families—from grace before meals, nighttime prayers and weekly Mass to the rosary. I also believe in the power of play. I don’t think it’s sacrilegious for me to say “the family that plays together stays together.”

And by play, I may play sports. Sports at any level can build community, and the family is by no means an exception. Shared athletic endeavors from an annual Thanksgiving Turkey Trot or Turkey Bowl (shout out to the Davis-McLaughlin clan!) to a summer vacation that includes water skiing, snorkeling or river rafting creates lasting memories, a lot of laughs and a healthy endorphin release.

Fortunately our society places great emphasis on the value of physical fitness at every life stage! Never before have men and women, boys and girls have had so many opportunities for organized play. Women and men’s soccer, volleyball and basketball leagues, single sex and co-ed abound. One cannot pass through Golden Gate Park without notice of a running group or training group for a charitable cause. But my hope is that families rather than a collection of individuals could form their own team, find their own way to play sports—from competitive to recreational, parent to child, or a healthy sibling rivalry.

Fortunately, one need not look far to find role models in this capacity. The recently appointed head coach of the San Francisco Forty-Niners, Jim Harbaugh can and should consult his older brother John, head coach of the Baltimore Ravens for advice about how to succeed in the NFL. They are the first pair of brothers to serve as head coaches during the same season in NFL history, but they aren’t the only brothers who face one another on the gridiron.

I look at Peyton and Eli Manning and wonder how those two spent their days as kids. When the Colts and Giants played each other during the regular season, the media had a heyday promoting a “Manning showdown.” As exciting as it was to watch brother versus brother, Peyton’s refusal to be interviewed after the game made quite an impression. His team, the Colts won. He knew what the press wanted to talk about, yet it did not trump his love and respect for Eli. You should always respect your opponent and when the enemy is your sibling, winning and losing although important, is different.

I think back to my own childhood. My sister and I swam on the same swim team for 6 years. We both hold fond memories of summers at the pool. At the age of 13 my dad signed me up for tennis lessons. He says my love for the game brought him out of “tennis retirement.” I saw my dad in an entirely new way when I played tennis with him. He was a great sportsman. He helped me improve and yet he stayed true to his game when we sparred. My parents continually told me “tennis is a sport of a lifetime.” I’m grateful it is, like golf or bowling. I know I can look forward to playing the game in new and different capacities as I age, hopefully with children of my own.

A blog, Families.com writes, “I believe families who pray with each other stay together because there is unity happening. God is being glorified and recognized. Not only is there a bonding time with your family, but I believe a spiritual covering as well. I believe the same can be said of families who play together.”

Pope Benedict XVI said “Sport, especially for the young, and when practiced with passion and within careful ethical boundaries, becomes a training ground for sound physical development, a school of both human and spiritual values, and a privileged means of personal growth and interaction with society.” What better way than sports for parents to model virtue? Recreation can be a precious bonding time. And when we succeed, meet our goals and have fun unity happens. What better way to glorify and recognize God? Parents and children, brothers and sisters—play ball!

Photo Credits
Manning Family
3 Harbaughs
Manning Boys
Peyton and Eli
Pope Plays Like a Champion

Like Kim Clijsters, What Do We Inherit From Our Parents?

I have to admit I am slightly fascinated by Kim Clijsters, the 2011 female winner of the Australian Open. For one she is professional tennis player and the fact that she is also a mother makes her story that much more compelling. She joins a slim demographic—women who have met athletic success after pregnancy. This year, Kim wore a green dress to honor Evonne Goolagong Cawley—an Australian Aboriginal woman who also won the Open as a mom. Considering Goolagong’s roots and what she overcame, her story rivals Kim’s.

And yet, the Aussies love Clijsters as if she were their own. She is still affectionately nicknamed “Aussie Kim.” She almost was! Clijsters lived in Australia when was engaged to fellow tennis pro, Lleyton Hewitt. When their relationship ended, she returned home where she met professional basketball player, Brian Lynch. Lynch, an American by way the Jersey Shore (my Jersey Shore—Belmar!) played hoops at Villanova before playing for many teams in several European countries.

I won’t mince words here. Lleyton Hewitt is one good-looking guy. Good for her and yet Clijsters ended up with a great guy; a man who was willing to renounce his career so their family could be together. It is both unusual and understandable. Furthermore, in her post match interview, she said her nanny would have to work later that night because she had to rest for her championship match. Awesome.

And as interesting as her story is today, so is her background. Kim Clijsters is the daughter of a international soccer star, Lei Clijsters, and Els Vandecaetsbeek, a former Belgian gymnastics champion. Clijsters’ performance on the tennis court reveals those roots. She has incredible strength and endurance; the shots she reaches is amazing. Clijsters says that she inherited a soccer player’s legs from her father and a gymnast's flexibility from her mother. Watch for no less than five minutes and she will nearly do the splits to return a ball. She recovers with ease.

I hope we all recognize what gifts we have received from our parents. I have my dad’s acute memory and my mother’s ability to actively listen. I would like to suggest however that the greatest gift a parent can give their child isn’t only their virtues, an education, athletic opportunities, or music, art, or dance classes. It is their witness of faith, a community of faith and roots in a faith tradition. What greater gift than to raise one’s child with faith.

It has been an awesome privilege to see my friends become parents; what makes an individual more selfless? And yet a number have decided not to have their children baptized. Others have opted not to raise their child in the Catholic Church or any other religious community. They do not want to force their beliefs on their children. They want their son or daughter to choose faith for themselves.

Such logic is unclear to me. Parents choose just about everything for their kids—schools, extracurricular activities, neighborhoods, opportunities and more. Why wouldn’t they choose to cultivate and nurture relationship with God in a formal, intentional way?

In his book “The Jesuit Guide to (Almost) Everything,” James Martin says “the benefits of walking along the path of belief are clear: faith gives meaning to both the joys and struggles of life. Faith in God means that you know you are never alone. You know and are known. Life in a worshiping community provides companionship. During times of hardship, faith is an anchor. And Christianity holds out the promise of life beyond this earthly one.” What a beautiful way to think of our journey. Indeed, parents are with their children at the start of this journey, yet no one but God alone can accompany us every step of the way.

The recent feast day of Saints Timothy and Titus reminded me of the role of not only our parents, but our ancestors and those in our Christian family have in forming our faith. The three New Testament pastoral letters attributed to Paul—Titus, 1 Timothy, and 2 Timothy reveal a close, mentor-like relationship between these men. Titus and Timothy are portrayed as recipients of the Gospel through Paul's preaching. Because of their relationship with St. Paul and the way the Gospel took root in their hearts, they too spread the “good news.”

But Paul alone did not shape Timothy’s great faith. Timothy's mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, converts to Christianity long before him, are praised for the sincerity of their faith that now lives on in their grandson and son. 2 Timothy 1:5, reminds us that the most valuable gift we can pass on to the next generation is our witness of faith.

Timothy grew to become one of Paul's dearest friends and collaborators in mission, as would Titus, whom Paul refers to as “my true son in our common faith” (Titus 1:4). In his “Ignatian Thought of the Day” Sean Lynch writes, “Both became bishops of the early Church, and both shared the gospel with the next generation of Christians, who labored to keep the vision and message of the Lord Jesus Christ alive.”

The Church teaches that every generation needs to be evangelized and that Christian parents are the primary educators in faith. Moms and dads, grandparents, uncles and aunts, have their role in leading the next generation to discover the richness and vitality of faith. And what an awesome responsibility that is. Love and life, soul and salvation are the very stuff we seek to model, share and discover with the young.

Clijsters ended up pursuing a sport that neither or her parents played professionally, but the obviously exposed their daughter to the wide world of sports. She wouldn’t be where she is today had they not.

And as for her own family, whether they know it or not, Kim Clijsters and her husband Brian Lynch have already given their daughter Jada so much. The have given the example in their commitment to family. Clijsters has proven that a female athlete can remain competitive after pregnancy. She has won three grand slam titles since Jada was born, she is tied with Margaret Smith Court for the most titles by a mother on tour. I hope all of these great gifts are underscored by the gift of faith.

Photo Credits
Clijsters with Jada
Clijsters a gymnast
Sts. Timothy & Titus
Clijsters-Lynch Family

Li Na: Puts Tennis in High Def On Her Own....

Pope Benedict XVI said “Life not illuminated by faith is blind.” I know he’s right. Because of faith, I see the world differently. Catholics hold a “sacramental” view of the world. It “sees” the divine in the human, the infinite in the finite, the spiritual in the material, the eternal in the historical (Richard McBrien). We are called to see God in all things. All reality can and is imbued with God’s grace. What a beautiful outlook!

I have to admit I also see things much differently since Christmas. My roommate got a 42” flat screen television. I am stating the obvious when I report just how great it is to watch sports in high definition on such a massive screen. It has only intensified the experience of watching professional tennis. I see just how much topspin or slice players place on the ball; the angle and intensity of the first serve is even more pronounced. I have always been a vocal fan, but my new-found vision has prompted me to yell, “what were you thinking?” more than once. At times, I have had to leave the room because I cannot take the intensity of several matches. Regardless, I have enjoyed watching the 2011 Australian Open even more because of my media enhanced experience.

One does not need a large “high def” television however to see there is something different about the #9 ranked woman in the world, Li Na.

For one, she has a sizable tattoo of a rose on her chest. In fact, it has been the subject of much discussion in China, where few women sport tattoos. She is a fierce competitor on the court; I would describe her as a stern, strong player. According to the BBC article Rise of Chinese tennis rebel Li Na, “her performance at the Australian Open has been described as very "gelivable" - a Chinglish word coined by young people to mean brilliant.”

She is the first person from China to make it to the finals of a grand slam tournament. Everyone wonders how many youngsters will seek to follow in her footsteps, how many girls have been inspired by her feat?

In the interview after her defeat of Caroline Wozniacki, the number one player in the world, she had the Aussies eating out of the palm of her hand. She told fans, in English, that she did not sleep well because her husband was snoring all night long. Her husband, Jiang Shan, also happens to be her coach. One can fire their coach, but their spouse? It is truly a unique relationship, and so are its roots. Li proposed marriage to him on Valentine’s Day in 2005 with a box of chocolates.

It’s a good thing that Li has the support of her husband for she confided that her mother does not watch her play; she gets too nervous. Her husband however advises her to “Relax, he say. Just enjoy the tennis. I was like, How? I was playing on the court. I mean, just before I come to the court, he always like say, Okay come on. Relax.”

I love his advice. I know he’s right. Li Na has already overcome major cultural expectations and barriers. She left the national team in 2004. Her extroverted personality shines through--thanks in large part to the fact that her English is so strong, what a testimony to her!

Indeed "relax and enjoy." And good luck as you play Kim Clijsters in tonight's final. After all, that’s what we get to do from the comfort of our own homes, 42” screen and all...or not.

Photo Credits
Li Na
Li Na serving
Li with her husband & coach

Australia Day + Australian Open = A G'day

Do kids still have pen pals? Thanks to technology, one can be in touch with anyone, anytime, anywhere. This wasn’t always true. The landline and the written word held their domain; Pacific Bell/AT&T and the United States Post Office had power. Thus, from fifth though eighth grade, my primary education of Australia wasn’t through world history class, Men at Work music videos or even Crocodile Dundee, it was through my pen pal Katie.

Katie sent stickers, postcards and trinkets from her homeland. Anything she sent was cool; it was from “Down Under.” I loved receiving the stamped letters with Par Avion next to their attractive flag. I learned about more this continent than just koalas, kangaroos and other marsupials. The greatest lesson she taught me was her understanding of her ethnic heritage.

Ask any American his or her ethnic background and if they’re like me, they have it down to percentage points. I am 50% Irish, 35% German (even though my surname hijacks the other components of my identity) 15% French—très bien! I’ve even been told I am a tiny bit Swiss (but that math—or maths in Australia—doesn’t add up, does it?). When I asked Katie about her family’s history, she said “well, I’m half Irish and half Scottish, but really, I’m 100% Aussie.”

Even at the age of 12, I understood she had a sense of pride that was distinct, that was nationalistic. I know that what makes our country so unique is that we are comprised of so many different cultures but so is Australia. When will we recognize that we are Americans in the way that Katie saw herself as Australian?

And today is the perfect day to raise this question because—January 26 for all Aussies, is Australia Day. Simply put, it celebrates all things Aussie–first landings, first settlement, first meat pie eaten, or the first game of backyard cricket ever played. In actuality, the official national day of Australia commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove in 1788 and the proclamation at that time of British sovereignty over the eastern seaboard of New Holland.

As I was watching the Australian Open last night, the announcer—former pro and pro-coach Darren Cahill reminded everyone of the holiday. A novel component of watching the tournament, which takes place at Flinders Park in Melbourne, is that all activity is 20 hours ahead of us. I saw Andy Murray defeat on Australia Day –only it was 10:00 p.m. last night, January 25 here in the States.

The Australian Open captures a tiny slice of what makes Australia the special place it is. This island continent is rich with natural beauty and resources. I have heard people raise the question What has Australia done? What have they achieved? and What impact have they made on the world? But I have always believed its greatest resource is its people.

 

Capture but 20 minutes of any match and you will find evidence to prove Australians love sports. They love life. The tourney is remarkably well attended and the crowd is incredibly vocal. They take to their own, this year that meant Lleyton Hewitt or back in the day, my personal favorite—the serve and volley sensation Pat Cash. But what is equally endearing is who they embrace as their own For example, Aussies love and still do gentleman and two-time champion Stefan Edberg so much that the tournament's logo is the distinctive serve of the Swede.

I like to hold an innocuous debate—Is God’s greatest creation in humanity or in nature? It wasn’t until I went to Yosemite that nature ever gave humanity a run for the money. I do believe however that the Aussies with their love of: life, cold beer, the outdoors, and their country lean the argument toward humanity. I need to visit Australia, preferably during the Open to end this debate.

Thank you Lord for diversity of culture and people throughout the world, especially the Aussies. Cheers!

Photo Credits
Flag Map
Australia Day