Published: June 12, 2007 10:54 pm            

VALVANO: Happy to be with my new teammates

Last week, I told you about the many lessons I learned during the experience of kicking in an actual Arena League Game for the Louisville Fire.

As a promotional event, the owner of the Fire and former Indianapolis Colt Will Wolford and I suited up for a game, the plan being for him to snap the ball for the first extra point, which I would kick. As it happened, I actually got to try two kicks, one very late with the Fire leading in addition to the first one.

Many of you pointed out I didn’t mention how those kicks turned out. The first one hit the crossbar, the second one hit the upright.

So, 0-for-2, technically.

But in fairness there is much more to the story, and the reason I learned so much during the week.

I mentioned some of those things last week — how hard working and proud the guys who play for the Fire are, what great leadership they have in head coach Tommy Johnson and how gifted these athletes really are.

But I learned a few other things that are worth noting for all of us.

The holder in all of this was a young man named Nate Green. He plays defensive back for the Fire. He played on teams in college that played in the national small college (NAIA) championship game all four years, winning two of them.

He is a quiet young man, small really, and tough as nails. Since he was the holder for this promotional kick, he did more interviews than normal, we had him on our radio show, and people correctly were impressed with his achievements.

They affirmed for him how exceptional a player he is, and what a fine career he has had.

What was the result of that?

In the game that week, he intercepted two passes, almost picked off two more and seemed to be all over the field.

Keep in mind Arena Football is very weighted for the offense. It is not unusual for teams to score all but one or two possessions in a half, or even game.

This young man got two turnovers himself and led a defense that gave up only one score in the first eight possessions of the game.

The lesson?

People respond powerfully to the thought that those around them believe in them, and hold them in high regard. I wrote a book about that trait in my brother Jim, called “The Gifts of Jimmy V” and it really is about that one gift.

It’s the ability to bring the best out in people by simply reminding them we think they have good things in them.

It certainly happened with Nate Green, who played up to the high regard in which he was reminded he was held.

The Louisville Fire probably played their best game of the year that night, and I asked both Tommy and Will — since they are far better qualified than I — if they thought the players seemed especially fired up. They both agreed and then expressed the same thought.

They both believed the team saw how hard Will and I were working in the lead up to the game and felt we were showing them great respect with that effort.

Coach Johnson thinks they responded to the energy and enthusiasm Will and I had. While they may have simply been being polite, the fact that they said the same things independent of each other, and as Tommy pointed out, that the players wanted me to try another one late in the game, spoke to the “unifying” effect our little input helped generate.

Don’t get me wrong. I certainly am not trying to make my contribution or Will’s more than it was.

I played two plays, Will one. It was what it was.

But if you have ever coached, like I did, or have kids, like I do, and you tell them, hey, the team is only a reflection of every player’s attitude and effort, then you needed to see that week to see how true it really is.

I can’t imagine any player on any team whose tangible contributions could be less than mine for the Fire. But the way the team responded to the enthusiasm and effort that Will and I put forth was exciting to see.

It made it a very special experience.

I also learned about the media, and it makes me take them — me included — to task.

We need to remind ourselves that there are great people and great stories all over the place.

The Fire are loaded with them.

There are those who criticize the media saying it is impossible for the good stories to get a lick of attention. But that if an obscure player does something bizarre, the media will talk and write about it feverishly.

There is bad news in the world to be sure, but I am going to consciously make an effort to find those interesting, exceptional people who walk among us each day.

There were funny moments, too.

The week before the game Will told me to just relax, that they often don’t even rush on extra points. He also pointed out that the kicker in Arena Football has more time than his outdoor counterpart. And that the owner of the Alabama team was a good guy and he probably wouldn’t have his guys going crazy.

I said “Really? Well, that’s reassuring. Is that what you would do as an owner?”

Will said, “Heck no. I’d have a $100 bounty out for any of my guys who hit you.”

When we got to the line of scrimmage, Will adjusted the ball before getting ready to snap it.

An Alabama defensive lineman said, “Hey! Leave the ball alone … you can’t touch it.” To which his teammate said of Wolford, “Man, leave him alone. He played in the league,” to which the first guy said, “I don’t give a (expletive) where he played, leave the (expletive) ball alone.”

It is a little coarser language than in our local bocce league.

The guy then tried to take Will’s head off as soon as the ball was snapped, but Will is a wily old vet. He ducked and the guy sailed past him.

It might explain why the snap was a tad short though, and forced me to kick off of only one step instead of three. But hey, that’s my teammate.

They didn’t throw me under the bus for my miss, and I certainly won’t for a snap that’s not perfect.

In fact, not only didn’t they not throw me under the bus, Tony Stallings, one of the team’s stars, who scored four touchdowns, said to me after every one, “We’re gonna get you back out there again V. We’re gonna get you another chance.”

And they did with a remarkable effort.

After it was over, I thanked them all and was flattered that they insist I come back. Some said they want to do it again, but I know not to wear out a welcome. I will be back to root for them, visit with them and maybe kick a few in practice with David Hendricks, the fine kicker who I now call a friend.

I will never forget it. But more than that, I won’t forget all the lessons I learned from a great group of people.

Will always talks about having a team with class and character. He does and I was — and am — still proud.

They were my teammates even if just for a week.

Bob Valvano lives in Sellersburg and can be reached via e-mail at bobvshow@yahoo.com. He is a former college basketball coach and current radio show host on ESPN Radio.

        

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