Thoughts For The Day From Papa ‘a

Good Morning All!

On this day in 1910, my favorite sports coach of all-time, John Wooden, was born.  His “Pyramid Of Success” is something that everyone should read.  He was a man of integrity and a great mentor to his players.  In my estimation, might I say he is the greatest coach in the history of sport.  Here’s to John Wooden and all coaches like him!

Here’s to Justin Hayward of “The Moody Blues” fame, who turns 73 today and to clothes designer Ralph Lauren, who is 80 today!  Happy Birthday to you both!

Speaking of milestones, here’s to the first Black American to be elected Mayor of the City of Montgomery, Alabama!  Steven Reed, a probate judge and graduate of Morehouse College (the alma mater of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.) was elected mayor of Montgomery in a non-partisan election held on October 8th.  He received 67% of the vote.  Even with all of our country’s trials and tribulations, we’ve come a long way from the beginnings of the civil rights movement of the 1950s & 1960s.  It’s remarkable that the first capitol city of the Confederacy would have a black mayor.  Congratulations of Mayor Reed and I wish him every success!

Speaking of another milestone, we’ll be celebrating the first birthday of our grandson, Izaak, later this month.  He sure has brought a lot of joy into our family.  I think he may be left-handed, as he is learning to through balls around now and he seems to favor the left hand…just a guess on my part!  I love how he scoots around the house and how he tucks one of his legs underneath his body when he takes a break from exploring in rapid motion.  It’s hard to keep up with him!

Speaking of grandchildren, I’ve been enjoying watching a video clip of my grandson Bobby, who attended a recent Seattle Sounders soccer game in Seattle.  My daughter Andy took the video of him celebrating a goal made by one of the Sounders players.  It’s really something to see…the best part is when he puffs his cheeks and then proceeds to flex his arm and then seeing him watch his biceps as he cheers for his team.  What a hoot!

Speaking of football, I came across the 1969 Topps Football Card for Jacque MacKinnon, a San Diego Charger star who was born in 1938 in Dover, New Jersey.  He played for Dover High School and went on to play for Colgate University.  He has the distinction of being the last player selected in the 1961 NFL Draft (280th pick overall) and the only player in NFL history who was named an All-Star (in 1966 & 1968) who had been picked last in a NFL Draft.  His football card says that he was “One of the few players in pro football who can play at guard, tackle, fullback or tight end.  The latter position seems to agree most with Jacque (pronounced Jack).”  He was selected in the 1961 NFL Draft by the Phildelphia Eagles, but opted to sign with the AFL San Diego Chargers to play as a fullback, but was moved to the tight end position in 1966 to take advantage of his blocking and receiving skills.  Charger Head Coach Sid Gillman employed MacKinnon with Dave Kocourek in the first “twin tight end” formation seen in professional football.  He was on the Chargers’ 1963 AFL Championship team along with legendary Charger players Lance Alworth and John Hadl.  In 1970 Jacque was traded to the Green Bay Packers in exchange for a future draft pick, but he refused to report and instead opted to retire.  Later that year, he signed as a free agent with the Oakland Raiders.  In 1974 he signed with the Southern California Sun in the World Football League (WFL) to play tight end.  Jacque was out of football when he died in a tragic accident in 1975.  After fleeing the scene of a car accident and apparently drunk, he jumped over a wall at a construction site, fell some 30 feet and died of a head injury caused by the fall.  Jacque was subsequently named to the San Diego Chargers Hall of Fame and Ring of Honor…

As I was reading about Jacque MacKinnon’s tragic death, I came across an article talking about John Thompson joining the NFL expansion Seattle Seahawks in 1975, the year before their inaugural season (1976).  John was a high school classmate of my mom at South Bend High School in South Bend, Washington.  After working in the athletic department at the University of Washington, John became the director of the NFL’s labor negotiating team before he was hired as the Seahawk’s first general manager.  He served in that capacity until 1982.  My mom has always spoken very highly of John Thompson.  Evidently, mom used to visit him when he suffered a childhood ailment that kept him away from school.  John always remembered that and asked my mom to a dance at the University of Washington while he was a student there.  How about that?

 

Have you ever wondered if what you believe in is something for which it is worth suffering persecution?  That was a question I wrestled with last night at our church, as I attended a showing of a film talking about various forms of persecution that believers in Jesus suffer in many parts of the world.  It was pretty convicting, as I thought to myself…would I really be willing to sacrifice everything…my life, the lives of my family for my belief in the Creator of the Universe and in his son Jesus.  It seems to be easier for us to take risks in sharing what Jesus means to us here in this country, but would we be willing to take those same risks if it was a matter of life and death?  It was amazing to see what has transpired in places where believers are severely persecuted…God works to change lives in what seems to be hard places & situations.  Well, it’s definitely worth it to contemplate if what you believe in is worth persecution…That’s the real test of the strength of one’s beliefs, it seems to me…

 

Here are some thoughts for the day:

“I believe in God.  I believe in doing the right thing.  I believe in helping people if I can.”

—Ralph Lauren, American clothing designer

 

“My songs form a kind of biography or diary of my life as they are about people I have loved and people I only knew in my heart, places I have seen only for a moment and places I have lived all my life.”

—Justin Hayward, British musician and member of “The Moody Blues”

 

My favorite singer/songwriter, Gordon Lightfoot, like me is a fan of mid 19th century songwriter Stephen Foster (“Beautiful Dreamer” among many other songs).  The following song is entitled “Your Love’s Return (Song For Stephen Foster)”:

 

“Come to the door my pretty one…Put on your rings and precious things

Hide all our tears as best you can…Try to recall what used to be.

 

Roses are waiting for dew drops to fall…Climbing your windows and walls

Bells in the steeple are ringing, singing…Listen to them talk about your love’s return.

 

Let me come in my pretty one…And try to undo what I have done

For I must be forgiven now…I will not lose what I have won.

 

Roses are waiting for dew drops to fall…Climbing your windows and walls

Leaves in the garden are falling, calling…Listen to them talk about your love’s return…”

 

Here’s to a great Monday and lots of love always!

Press on,

Papa ‘a (Dad, Uncle Mark, etc.)