There IS a Difference

Yesterday, I mentioned former Jacksonville basketball player, Andy Kaufmann and his uncanny ability to score points. Kaufmann, undoubtedly was the best scorer I coached in a 37-year coaching career; his all time #2 ranking in the IHSA boys' basketball history attest to that conclusion.


Interestingly, Kaufmann was NOT the best shooter I coached. Let me explain. Several years ago, I was watching a basketball contest between Jacksonville high and Alton high school at the Meijers Winter Classic hosted by Chatham-Glenwood high school. During half-time, longtime but now retired sports' writer, Steve Porter of the Alton Telegraph approached me with the question: "Who was the best shooter you coached during your career, Andy Kaufmann or Ricardo 'Dick' Brown," he asked. (Brown played for me at Edwardsville high school in the mid-1970's). The sports' writer seemed a bit surprised when I said Brown was the best shooter but Kaufmann was the best scorer. When I explained the difference between scorer and shooter, Porter was satisfied.


Here is that explanation: Andy was a big strong-bodied high school player who could, and often did, muscle his way to the interior shoot score and get fouled and then convert the free throw. He would also shoot, miss, rebound, shoot again and get fouled then make the free throw. That is truly a scoring machine. Stop and do the the stat numbers. Andy went on to have an outstanding career at the U of  I.


Dick Brown was a super quick, stop and pull-up in the blink of an eye and pop a 22' jump shot. He was impossible to stop in the open court transition. Brown went on after his graduation from Edwardsville high school to play one year along side Robert Parish at Centenay and completed his college career at Pepperdine University. Brown then played professionally for the Philippine National Team.

We Easily 'See' How Others Could Do Better

In Matthew 7:3 and Luke 6:42, Jesus asks the question, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in our brother's eye when you yourself fail to see the plank in your own eye?" There are many more references by Christ, which calls us to NOT judge others. My grandfather, E.V. Bennett reminded his wife and daughters to 'tend to your own knitting.' I have often reminded others that it is very easy to coach the other guy's team. It is equally easy to raise his children and manicure his lawn.


I was blessed with some the opportunity to coach some talented basketball players. One such player was Andy Kaufmann (Jacksonville high school) 1985-to-1988. Andy lead the State three (3) consecutive seasons as top individual scorer with 32 Points Per Game. Today (2014) Kaufmann remains the IHSA boys' basketball second all-time individual scorer behind Charlie 'Chico' Vaughn of Tamms, Illinois.




Andy scored 50 points in a game on two occasions; this tied the individual Jacksonville scoring mark held jointly by Francine Blackburn (1980). The tied record caused many JHS fans to ask me why I didn't allow Andy to break the record. The answer is a simple straight forward 'deal;' I never gave the matter a first or second thought! In those particular games when Kaufmann scored his fifty (50) points, I thought about the following: (1) Do we have this game won, (2) Can I get more reserves into the contest; those players who practice as hard as Kaufmann but play much less, (3) If I leave Kaufmann in to get sixty (60) points should I keep the other four starters in the game so they might elevate their scoring averages and (4) what goes around comes around...how is my coaching colleague, sitting on the other bench, going to pick up the pieces for his team next Monday at his practice????


Therefore, I coached my own team, making those tougher decisions in the arena, and ignored those who thought they wanted to coach on Friday and Saturday nights; they could 'tend to their own knittin.' This scenario plays out in all walks of life...don't you ever ask why don't the talk show critic-pundits don't run for public office and why don't those sport analysts get out from behind the microphone and grab a coaching whistle?




I'll just bet that Tonto once said to his 'second-guessing tribesman, "Walk a mile in my moccasins before you rip-the-mask-off-the-old Lone Ranger.""

Sometimes Must Ignore The People You Love

Saturday past, my wife and I traveled to Mason City, Illinois to join the friends and family of Nash Shawgo to celebrate his 80th birthday. Nash and Darlene Shawgo have been dear friends of the Roustios since 1964. Nash was one of many 'crazy' Mason City "Huskies" basketball fans. Nash operated an appliance store and drove a propane gas truck. Once when the winter roads of Mason County were snow-covered and impossible in an auto, Nash drove the young and 'anal' Coach Roustio to Havana (16 Miles away) to scout a game.



The birthday party gathering numbered well over 200 hundred people and there was more than a few 'old-time' basketball fans who were kind enough to stop by and visit with their coach of some fifty-years ago. One local fan ask me what games I recall most from the Mason City days. I told him that one game, which comes to mind was a game my "Huskies" played at Tremont during the 1965-66 season. The game established an IHSA scoring record at the time. When the dust settled, the scoreboard read: Mason City- 114 Tremont-89.



Former Mason City athlete, Ken Bracey, who graduated from that high school in 1956 and went on to play professional baseball told me the following story: (Bracey went to the local barber shop the Saturday morning after the Friday 114-to-89, Mason City victory over the Tremont "Turks." He stopped by my house after his haircut and was laughing. He suggested that I not go get a haircut THAT day because the locals were 'cooking-me' about giving up 89 points. Understand...the Coach who preceded me and was there for several years was successful but his teams would win 50-to-25.



I made a mental note that day: "Coach to your team's strengths and ignore the 'fanatics' sitting in the bleachers. I left Mason City after three years. I was blessed with some great kids and outstanding players during that tenure. Those teams tallied 62 wins against 14 losses; won two conference championships; two county championships and two IHSA Regional tournaments. Mason City was a wonderful moment-in-time for a rookie coach and the Shawgo's were wonderful friends.


Really now; stop and consider...50 points over 25 points and 114 points over 89 points IS the SAME point differential but as the 'late' Ricky Nelson sang: "You can't please everyone...so you might as well please yourself."

Doctor Doctor

During my journey, I have served on several advisory boards. Each appointment held opportunities to learn more about 'the process' and influence change. I enjoyed the experiences. There was four (4) different Illinois High School Association advisory board assignments each with an specific focus and all with the mission to identify problems and offer solutions. I served the IHSA on the Boys' Basketball Advisory Board, the  Athletics Directors' Advisory Board, the Legislative Commission and two years as the IHSA National Liaison to the American Sport Education Program; a program designed to certify non-educators as 'coaches.'

Recently, my wife and I accepted the invitation to serve on the Springfield Clinic's 'Patient Advisory Board. Our second meeting is coming up January 17.  I am 'feeling' my way with this medical-service-opinion-committee membership.

At the first meeting, I weighed in on the obvious lack of cooperation between the two Decatur Hospitals; Decatur Memorial and St. Mary's. Everyone in attendance shook heads in agreement and the liaison person taking notes to report back to the "Doctors" wrote every thing down...I am sure nothing will change because our two hospitals 'see' competition equating to monetary gain...take THAT customers!

This next meeting, I intend to broach the subject of doctor-patient contact. In the 1940's I saw my family doctor on three occasions: (1) office appointment, (2) house call or (3) Friday night at the local high school basketball game. Today, I 'see' my doctor if I make an appointment, although that ain't a given because I might be ushered to the 'Physician's Assistant' instead. Note: Through the years, I MUST SEE the Doctor before he would prescribe medication. Now there is a 'new' Doctor-Patient relationship-contact on the horizon: 'Doctor-on-Demand.' You bet! I can now use my iPhone to transmit a photo of my sore throat to the Doc and he will prescribe meds...are you shittin' me?

I will have several question to ask at this next meeting but the ultimate question requires a two-part answer...
Does Doctor-on-Demand improve patient service and lower medical costs? You all care to guess?!

I must be careful with the manner in which I pose these questions; I wish not to upset the 'medicine-man... and cause an angry attitude that could play out during my next rectal exam.

Re-Packaging Yesterday

"...And if you're willing to play the game, it's comin' around again...' As I listened to Carly's voice singing the greatest love song lyrics ever, the 'Itsy Bitsy Spider,' I realize things in my early- life are coming around again. When I was a young boy growing up in East St. Louis, it seemed as if every street corner either had a Church, tavern or grocery store, which meant that nearby was either a preacher, priest, drunk or butcher. The neighborhood Church, tavern and grocery store were staples in our lives. My people were grocery store folks. My grandmother, Mammy operated a grocery store for years and later she held court at her dry goods store.

Aunt Irene and Uncle Bud Hughes took over the grocery store when Mammy opted for dry goods. I had another great Uncle Harry Hood that operated a corner grocery store on Peoria Road (Springfield). Those little neighborhood stores carried the many needed staples and fresh meats for families who depended on these nearby availabilities since many families had no automobiles; people walked to the corner store, tavern and Church.

This 1940's generation engaged in other less sophisticated activities.  Most families sat together in living rooms every evening staring at a large console radio that challenged listeners' imaginations as they attempted to figure out what Fibber McGee & Molly really looked like, just  how big was 'The Fat Man' and would 'Gangbusters' ever have a story episode about our own, East St. Louis' gangster, Frank 'Buster' Wortman.

Today, our dry good needs are met by Jo Ann's Fabrics, the gasoline (filling) station won't pump but they do offer some donuts / bakery products, pizza, bread and milk. If this gas-station-convenient store fails to offer all 'corner' needs just across the street on another corner is either Dollar General, Family Dollar or Dollar Tree. Like I said, it's comin' around again.'

Good Player; Good Coach & Good Laugh

Johnny Orr died December 31, 2013; he was 86-years old. Orr spent a lifetime on the basketball courts. He played on the Taylorville high school 1944 basketball team, which was the first ever undefeated IHSA State Champions with a 45-0 record. Orr later played at Beloit College and played professional basketball. Most of his basketball years found Johnny Orr on the sidelines 'coaching.' He had tenure stints at UMASS, University of Michigan and Iowa State, which totaled 27 head coaching years.

I first met Johnny Orr in the late 1970's. I was coaching basketball at Jacksonville high school and I conducted a Saturday morning 30-minute Sport Show on WLDS radio (Jacksonville). I often taped interviews with sport personalities for later play on my program. Orr was speaking at the annual 7-UP Basketball Coaches Clinic in St. Louis; I was in attendance and picked a time to interview Orr. Stating the obvious, Johnny Orr was a most colorful individual. He was engaging, charismatic, edgy with his humor and a good guy.

Before I began my Orr-interview, Johnny shared with me that his family lived in Jacksonville for a time before moving back to Taylorville.  It was an interesting story and it hinted about what might have been had the Orr family remained in Jacksonville. Johnny recalled fondly one teacher from South Jacksonville grade school.

Before beginning the interview-taping with Michigan Coach Orr, I checked the volume levels on my cassette recorder. The recorder had microphone and cord that plugged into a connection jacket on the recorder. This connection was 'problematic;' the plug often fell out of the recorder's receptacle hole. I thought I was all set up and began my 'introduction' saying, "I am delighted to have the opportunity to visit with Illinois basketball legend and current coach of the Michigan Wolverines; a gentleman with Jacksonville connections, Johnny Orr." Johnny said, "It's a pleasure to visit with you Mel but before we continue, is the end of that microphone cord suppose to be in my ass or yours?"

Many years later, my wife and attended ceremonies at Taylorville high school when that school retired Johnny Orr's uniform number. Johnny and I visited that night and had another laugh about the interview line he delivered some thirty years earlier.

Thanks for the memories, Johnny; rest in peace.

A New Year's Note

Tomorrow, I will send the following note to my grandchildren:

Hey Guys and Gals: Please read this note aloud before throwing it away...Thanks, Boompa

I am certain that you will be like most others; you will want to be happy during your life. That said, I must tell you that your current happiness is a myth, which is predicated on your parents provisions. There comes a time when IT (happiness) is ON YOU!

You can get to happy land if...
* Respect your Father but embrace your Mother as your greatest gift.
* Wish to understand before wishing to be understood.
* Recognize 'dangers' of loving unconditionally; then love unconditionally.
* Remember that most people go to their grave never knowing their mission...find and embrace your mission.
* Happiness finds all who serve others.
* Hold a passion for living.
* Avoid fads.
* Fear of Failure will rob you of joy.
* Feedback ONLY happens when you share.
* Know that which you control and that which you do not control; you both control and OWN your responses.
* Know the difference between... 'I WISH...I WILL.'
* Avoid cynicism.
* Beware of 'Can't!'
* Always question who "THEY" are.
* Come to understand the difference between worth and esteem.
* BUILD
* LOVE
* You will have a better chance to be more pleasant than smarter than others.
* If you believe 'things are getting worse' THEN find out what made THINGS  BETTER yesteryear.
* Before you 'Get-it-Right,' you may have to admit you were wrong.