Pep Talk: "We'll Never Get Booed For The Effort!"

The featured speakers had offered many pearls of wisdom but this one stood out: “Even when you stink, it looks like you’re trying.”

That statement drew a roar from the crowd gathered for the 2014 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremonies for the Raytown, MO., school district. Bobby Dernier, a standout major league outfielder and 1984 National League Gold Glove recipient, was the orator. Legendary baseball play-by-play announcer Harry Carey had offered the encouragement to the Cubs’ center fielder years ago.

Dernier, who played ten years in the major leagues with the Phillies and Cubs, had that wise gem dropped in his lap while sitting in the bar of a Montreal hotel. The slick-fielding, fleet-of-foot, keeper-of-the-outfield-grass was locked in an 0-15 batting slump. Carey ended his unintentional pep talk with, “You’ll never get booed at home with that spirit.”

The 57-year-old father of four and grandpa to six also shared other baseball stories that in reality, are wonderful metaphors for life. “You can fail seven straight times but then get three straight hits. 3 out of 10 in baseball is really good. You have to learn to persevere.” Amen to that buddy.

Honored as a “CUB Legend” earlier this year at ceremonies in Chicago saluting 100 years of baseball at the franchise’s historic home, Wrigley Field, Dernier continues active in the game through mentoring aspiring ballplayers. Not known for power, one of Dernier’s career highlights was leading off the 1984 National League Championship series with a homer against the San Diego Padres. Great moments aside, it was a humble beginning in professional baseball for this life-long friend. Back in the late 1970‘s Dernier’s signing bonus with the Philadelphia organization was only $1,500. The road to the big leagues had many twists and turns.

He had to learn to persevere. Mission accomplished. It’s the truth behind success in baseball, business, relationships, fitness or whatever endeavor. Most often, it’s those who somehow, someway, muster the resilience to keep trying even when, Carey’s words, “We stink.”

There were many reminders of key ingredients to success from other inductees on this day. Dr. George C. Gibson, a graduate of Raytown High School in 1963 - there are two high schools in the district, Raytown and Raytown South -  offered: “My experience growing up in this community taught me the value of serving others and always seeking new frontiers to grow as a person.” 

The father of three went on from high school to the Air Force Academy, distinguished himself in a long military career and now runs a thriving technology company while mentoring small business owners. The lessons the former collegiate football player - offensive lineman for the Air Force Falcons - learned in his youth, “serve and seek”, remain with him today.

Where might it be time for us to serve and seek? If you happen to be reading this and live in Denver, how about Victory’s “A Stronger Cord” (ASC) project? ASC needs fitness-minded, dependable and productive men. Our first target market is the Mile High City’s homeless male population. ASC surrounds these men, in workouts, with quality dudes in trying to rebuild shattered social networks. Families have disowned these wounded men, employers have fired them and these men, addicted to drugs and alcohol, have been associating with unsavory characters. ASC envelopes participants with a platoon of high-character men. The ultimate goal is to re-engage this isolated population with families, jobs and communities.

A Stronger Cord needs a cadre of men with a spirit like Gibson’s. Those willing to serve and seek. It starts with the workout.

On this special day six women and men were honored as the school district’s tenth Hall of Fame class. Another was Amber J. Lawson. A 1990 graduate of Raytown South - “Sexy and mighty, the class of 1990!” - Lawson has earned great acclaim in the entertainment world. Based in Los Angeles, the University of Missouri graduate is a producer and entrepreneur who currently programs and produces on-line content. A graduate of Chicago’s infamous “Second City” comedy theatre is best known as founder and CEO of Comedy Gives Back. She offered thanks to one particular teacher who believed in Lawson when Lawson didn’t: “Miss Sidens encouraged my talents to blossom. I picked up tools that gave me access to thinking anything is possible.”

This week, let’s take a cue from three Hall of Famers: Be open to instruction and believe in ourselves; possess a mindset of service to others while seeking new frontiers and, last but certainly not least, even when we stink, keep trying.

Trust me, we’ll never get booed at home, or anywhere else, for the effort.

Pep Talk: "Get On Your Horse And Ride!"

“Hey this is pretty cool,” was an initial thought and comment to a revelation. Speaking at the very same time you’re thinking can be a dangerous occupation. It can lead to totally dumb statements. Been there many times. However, I don’t think that was the case during a recent Friday morning phone call with Patsy Sue Perry, my mother. I offered, “It’s the Alpha and the Omega.”

The feisty 79-year-old agreed. I love our weekly early morning chats that occur while I’m driving to Platoon. Mom and son have lively debates about many topics. We often take different stances when discussing pertinent issues. Not this time. Nope. While I was driving to meet up with a bunch of knuckleheads and challenge one another to grow stronger in spirit we were united. With contentment oozing from the voice tone, Patsy Sue muttered, “I can’t wait to go home.”

We were discussing a pending move to St. Joseph, Missouri. Located about 60 miles north of Kansas City. The city sits right along the rolling waters of the MIssouri River as it winds southward toward a connection with the Kansas River.  At that confluence, the “Big Muddy” makes a sharp 90-degree turn and heads east toward St. Louis and a meeting with the Mississippi River.

Growing up, your sports-crazy scribe spent a ton of time in St. Joe. My parents were each from the “Home of the Pony Express.” There’s a majestic statue downtown that tells the history of the infamous mail-carrying system that had dudes galloping horses through hostile territory from the Heartland, over the Rockies and to the West Coast in the late 1800’s. Brave men. Mom and dad grew up there and had many family members still living there. I spent lots of my childhood there playing with cousins and hanging out with uncles, aunts and grandparents. Good memories.

Now in the twilight of her interesting journey, the woman who gave me life is going back home to an active and vibrant community where she lived before moving to the Kansas City-area about five years ago. In fact, the mother of four is moving back into the very same high-rise community. Five years later, updated nicely and still populated with many of Patsy Sue’s buddies. It’s like the prodigal daughter is returning. When we walk into the place - right across the street from the Pony Express statue - mom’s greeted like a rock star.

Within easy walking distance are trappings desired in the golden years: a senior citizen’s center, medical facility, library, restaurants, bars, schools, post office and other important services I’m forgetting while writing. Oh, and there’s a couple of more powerful pulls to Patsy Sue heading back home: the nearby two houses where she grew up.

On a recent drive around the St. Joe neighborhood smack dab in its downtown area, we drove past each dwelling. I felt like the Morgan Freeman in “Driving Miss Daisy.” It was a sleepy Saturday morning in a town hard hit by the changing economics of America. Key industries long ago departed. The downtown streets were quiet. I would pull up in front of the house and mom would start sharing memories. It was moving.

So mom’s going home to where it all began. It’s the “Alpha and Omega” mentioned earlier that inspired this Pep Talk. Returning to roots with a cadre of services nearby, friends at beckon call and a spirit that seems to be upbeat about the possibilities. She’s excited about the future, rarely a bad thing for any of us, right?

But it takes guts. Moving at any age is a pain in the butt. Mom’s doing it again. A new frontier on an old and familiar spot. Heart warming. The mother who always kept my youth-league uniforms clean and organized is putting fear aside and allowing wonderment to win. There’s a clear vision of the future. It is promising.

I hope and pray it becomes everything she desires. What’s your vision of the future? Is it clear? Promising? I sure hope so. If not, dare to dream of something different and take immediate action. Be like the brave mail carriers depicted in the impressive statue in downtown St. Joseph, Missouri. Or, be like my mom. Get on your horse and ride!

Pep Talk: "Harvested Fruits And Goosebumps Too"

“Hey Mark,” joked the sharp-looking lady. “You got the priorities out of order. First and foremost, we like to have fun!”

It was a parting shot at what had been a wonderful luncheon with the Buffalo Belles. It’s a women’s booster club for University of Colorado athletics. This simple dude from Missouri was recently blessed to deliver a Pep Talk to the ladies at their kickoff luncheon. The group was founded in 1970 and continues to thrive. The ladies are a hoot.

In a former life, as a sportscaster at KCNC-TV in Denver, I had the pleasure of being “The Buff Guy” for the station. For almost 20 years, a lucky dude was embedded inside a football program that enjoyed much success from 1988-2005, including a 1990 national championship and a 2001 Big 12 Championship. I hosted the coaches’ shows of Bill McCartney, Rick Neuheisel and Gary Barnett. I’m still close to many players, coaches and their families of the era.

Back in the day, I also hung out often with the Buffalo Belles. There are no bigger CU fans than these women. We were always at the games together, them cheering and me reporting.

We had a grand time over lunch with a theme centered on three wonderful attributes of the group of cool gals: They are united in support of the university’s student/athletes, coaches and staff; they are die-hard fans willing to “fight to the finish” in rooting for the Buffs and as mentioned earlier, they love to have fun along the way.

Can you imagine? How many “teams” would benefit it they had a booster club behind them that was united, unwavering in support, and enjoyable? Home? Work? Neighborhood? Church? Non-profit? School? Dang, where could I sign up for a gig like that? It’s real easy to talk about the importance of that terrific trio - unity, support and fun - but far more difficult to execute. Life gets in the way of our best laid plans, right?

Emotions still stir when sharing the “One Heart Beat” story from the 1989 Colorado Buffaloes’ football team. I use it often when speaking about the importance of unity. It was cool to tell the story to a crowd that included many who had experienced the moment as well.

There was a light mist falling from the sky that late September day in Seattle, Washington. Husky Stadium on the University of Washington campus was jammed. It was one of the weekend’s best college football matchups: Undefeated Colorado on the road against coach Don James’ Huskies.

The media build up before the game centered on the Buffs mental state. A week before, in an incredibly emotional service, the team had said goodbye to its captain, leader and quarterback, Sal Aunese. The senior had been diagnosed with stomach cancer in the Spring of 1989 and succumbed quickly. Everyone wondered how the Buffs would react. Would it be such an emotional drain that victory on the road against a quality team in a hostile environment would be too much to expect?

Right before kickoff, the public address announcer asked the sell-out crowd to rise for a moment of silence in honor of the 21-year-old who left behind an infant son from a relationship with the head coach’s daughter. From a journalistic standpoint, really from any viewpoint, it was compelling stuff. As soon as the crowd rose, each and every member of the Colorado football family knelt on one knee and pointed skyward in honor of its fallen comrade.

Folks, while writing about this moment that transpired a quarter century ago, it still gives me goose bumps. I’ll never forget standing on that field with the light mist falling and thinking, “It’s like tears coming down from heaven for this team.”

How did the Buffs react? Well, they went out there and just kicked the Huskies’ butts. The team went on to win every regular season game, rose to #1 in the country and played for the national championship against the Lou Holtz-coached Notre Dame Fighting Irish. At the Orange Bowl that year the Buffs lost a chance to win the school’s first national championship in a game they should have won.

The 1989 Colorado Buffaloes motto throughout the year? In honor of Aunese? One Heart Beat.

Everybody checked their individual agendas at the door. Egos were not welcome. Behind Aunese’s replacement at quarterback, Darian Hagan, and a host of talented athletes who would later play in the NFL, these young men put together what was arguably the greatest season in school history. The Buffs did share a national championship the following year with Georgia Tech, but it was not without controversy, considering one of their wins was the now infamous “Fifth-Down Fiasco” at Mizzou.

United. One heart beat. It worked for a football team. It will work for us. Join a group this week and be like the Buffalo Belles. Pour heart and soul into the effort with unity, support and fun. It will not be easy. It will require great sacrifice. But the fruits harvested will sweeten our lives forever, and probably give you goose bumps too.