In my years of being around the game of basketball I have been able to see some amazing moments, games and people, but this past weekend was a very special time.
My college coach, Don Meyer, was awarded the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. At a dinner the night before the 2010 enshrinement ceremonies he received his highly regarded award.
http://www.nba.com/video/channels/hall_of_fame/2010/08/12/20100812_dinner_meyer.nba/index.html
During the enshrinement ceremonies the following evening they recognized him once again. On a night that Karl Malone, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Buss (owner of the Los Angeles Lakers), the 1992 Dream team, the 1960 Olympic team gold medal team (that featured Jerry Lucas, Oscar Robertson and Jerry West) and others were being honored Coach Meyer was mentioned along with the best of the best.
Anyone that has had the chance to play for Coach Meyer, work with coach, attend his camps or clinics, watch one of his DVD’s is aware of his passion for the game. Also, anyone that has been around coach knows that he belongs to be mentioned with the best of the best. For those of us that were privileged to play for coach we knew we were playing for someone special. Did we know that he would one day be in the Hall of Fame? Maybe we did and maybe we didn’t. What we did know was he was different than any other coach we ever had or would ever have again. There was no denying he was unique. His attention to detail is legendary. His obsession with the game is well known. His thirst for learning never is quenched. His desire to teach is unmatched by anyone else. He had the gift to teach and inspire and he used his gift. Karl Malone said in his own acceptance speech last Friday night while being inducted to the Hall of Fame class of 2010, “It was never about me.” Coach Meyer was the same way as Karl Malone. It was never about him.
Some people are given a gift and never use the gift God has handed them. They go through life complaining about not having this or that when they have the chance to use the gift right where they are. Coach took a job at David Lipscomb College in the 1970’s when it was decent job and turned it into a power. He turned it into something special. There were a lot of things he could have let derail him along his career, but he stayed focused and kept using his talents and gifts.
What a deserving moment for a deserving coach. He served the game and he served other people. He made sure to teach and show people how to serve others. If you weren’t serving the game and weren’t serving others what good were you doing? That seemed to be a motto he instilled into those that were around him for any period of time. He had and has no tolerance for selfishness.
When it as announced he was getting an award into the Hall of Fame I immediately made plans to go. I have a friend and alum that has been very good to our program, Thomas Jackson. I called him right away and told him to reserve the weekend. Once I got him on board I knew I couldn’t go and not take my son, Hadley. I had no idea what to expect of the weekend and never having been to the Hall of Fame we were all excited. So the three of us went and were able to have an incredible weekend and I will tell you about some of the people we were able to meet in another email. I can also show you some pictures, but my son has to show me how to get them onto my computer. I could only get this one of Coach Meyer, Hadley and myself.
It was my calling card during the weekend to tell NBA guys that I was there because of Coach Meyer. The NBA coaches I talked to know of Coach Meyer. Jerry Sloan and Hubie Brown were just a couple of coaches that spoke well of coach and his accomplishments.
Not too often in life do you get to play for a Hall of Fame coach. I consider myself one of the fortunate ones. A thrill for players that played for coach at Hamline, Lipscomb and Northern State to see our coach on such a stage with so many other major contributors to the game of basketball. It was fitting and well deserved to a man that has poured his life into this game and other people.
Coach has used his talent well. He has tried to get every ounce out of what God has given him. Coach gets the key to life. He knows how to pour himself into something. What he can do he does as well as he can. So many people walk through life without utilizing the talent that has been given to them. They fret and worry about what they don’t have. I’m afraid as a society we have become too focused on what we don’t have instead of what we do have. We need to think of ways to get every bit out of what we have to give. You may come across someone in your life that can pour what they have into something by using the talent they have. It may be they do it so well it’s natural. That is the way it supposed to happen. It is not forced or fake. It’s natural and fits like a glove. My prayer is that how we all use the talents God has given us. Don’t look for the things that are not on your plate, but see the great things in life you do have.
