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'5 more minutes'
Coach Wright, or 'Coach' as we used to call him, was my College Coach at the University of Arizona where I studied and competed for 5 years. He had a huge influence in my coaching career and in turn, my life.
Coach was one of the most positive, enthusiastic people I have ever met. His piercing blue eyes would dance with energy and zest for life, and it was infectious. In his company you couldn't help but be lifted up and inspired. Coach had a severely disabled son, and I sometimes wondered if he had a deeper appreciation of the simple pleasures in life because William may not have had that opportunity to experience them in the way we might.
Most days after practice, coach would want a 'hit' a few balls himself. He didn't move too well, but when he was in position, boy could he 'hit 'em heavy' as he loved to say. 'C'mon MJ, just 5 minutes', and I would drag my tired limbs back onto the court. 5 minutes would turn to 10, and then 10 to 20, until I would appeal to him that I had to get home to study. '5 more', he’d reply immediately feeding in another ball that would keep me pinned to the baseline.
And again, 5 minutes would turn to 10, and 10 to twenty until more often than not, we had been out there for a full hour. But you know, I loved every minute of it because Coach would take such delight in the game, such delight in hitting a 'real heavy one'.
What did I truly learn from him? Love what you do – embrace it and have a passion for it. Coach was a former lawyer in LA before he went into full time coaching, and as a result he always urged us if at all possible to earn a living doing what we loved...whatever that might be.
'C'mon, just five more minutes'.
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