SportsLeader Athlete Rebecca Dussault Wins Multiple Titles

Coaches,

I am extremely honored to possibly introduce you to Rebecca Dussault, one of the very first SportsLeader Women athletes. She is a wife, mother and ski racer. A tremendous woman of faith and virtue. She was kind enough to share this testimony with us. Her husband Sharbel also very professionally chronicled her latest achievements.

Rebecca is an amazing example of putting life in perspective. There is much to learn here from her. As many of you know - our girls program is getting underway.


Influence for Life, a Chronicle of Being Coached

There’s a precious reality which lies within each of us and it is our ability to be formed, to develop into something over time. Coaching is a large part of that character formation. The year’s in which this happens is largely the early part of our life when we are informational sponges. The information we receive is then translated into emotion and rationale. Things which are said, seen or heard stay with us for a lifetime and are a huge influence as to who we will become.

Coaches therefore have a huge responsibility when it comes to training their athletes. They have the power to impart confidence or discouragement in each encounter. Even if a coach doesn’t really believe you’ll be the best one day they still need to guide you along a path of improvement such that you may reach your goals of a perfect race or game. They have to realize that athletes have their own set of performance markers which guide their actions.

I think to achieve the level of perfection that an athlete would like attain the coach needs to act as a facilitator coaching the “whole person.” By that I mean attending to the many faceted human body, mind and soul which make us who we are.

In my early years of ski racing I specifically had a coach who desired to understand things about me which motivated and encouraged me as well as things which dampened my spirit and added stress to my life. Therefore she (gender is not necessarily of importance) was able to take me to exciting new levels in my sport. She had respect for my unique qualities like my catholicity, family commitments, my health, schooling, and life goals. Let’s just face it; we don’t all come from the same mold. I was as unique as the next athlete and deserved to be known. She was very approachable and good at communicating. She also had knowledge of the journey because she herself had been a three time Olympian in ski racing. I felt confident in having her help with my athletic formation.

Later on I was named to the US Ski Team and was being coached by the newly appointed women’s coach. I felt that due to his history of men coaching men, and given his relative inexperience with coaching the women, that we were immediately on different pages. There were aspects which were helpful but the whole coach/athlete relationship remained on the field so to speak. He never cared to get to know who I was and what made me tick. Being merely concerned about my physical accomplishments regardless of my mental, emotional and spiritual state was a plan which didn’t get us far. Therefore, in this case it ended up causing tension. When I eventually over-trained on his training plan I realized later that never was the communication and mutual understanding what it should have been. In the end, as his concern was only single planed, it led to my failure on the season. He never saw any of the red flags I raised and just spurred me on. I was tired and sick and wished other elements in our coach/athlete relationship and been present which had previously contributed to my success. Overall, it was a good learning experience I’ll be keeping with me. I now glean the best attributes from each coaching personality involved in my life making a collage of wisdom.

February 2010-
2 World Championship Titles!
7 SuperTour Wins!
1 Birkebeiner Victory!

By Sharbel Dussault
February 28th, 2010

All I can say is wow! What determination, will power, perseverance and strength! When my wife decides that she is going to win she rarely comes up short. She has an amazing ability to overcome and once she sets her mind and heart on a goal there is no looking back.

For Rebecca Dussault of Gunnison, CO the season started with dreams of her second Olympics. She had spent the summer months training, racing and building up her base for the grueling events of winter racing and hopefully a return to the Games. As we all know, the Olympics did not happen this go around for reasons we may never know. But that hasn’t stopped Rebecca from racing her back-up plan. The month of February has been nothing short of Olympic caliber with better than Olympic results for Rebecca. From the victory in Norway at the Winter Triathlon World Championships to her repeat victory at the American Birkiebiener in Telemark, WI this has truly been an Olympics Rebecca will never forget. Put in the mix two other victories from races held on the streets of Madison around the capital building and you get an amazing win streak of 8 races from the beginning of February.

Yesterday in Hayward, WI Rebecca captured, for the 2nd time in as many years, the most prestigious marathon ski race victory on North American soil, the American Birkebeiner! This was the 37th year the race has been held. It is known as a challenging and beautiful course and for it’s history leading back 800 years ago in Norway. This year there were roughly 10000 people who participated in the Birkie ski events.

The week leading into the race Rebecca had been battling an upper respiratory infection that laid her out for the whole week. She arrived in Hayward after winning two races in downtown Madison, WI and knew it was going to be an uphill battle to get healthy enough to race let alone to win!

I being the husband of Rebecca, get to experience the situation as an insider. The ups and downs, preparation, doubts and determination that make Rebecca the elite athlete that she is. Her all out assault and focus is unbelievable. Even though she doubted whether she was going to be ready to race I knew deep down that if she got out and started the race she was not going to lose. That’s just the kind of athlete she is. She wanted to win so bad. She is carrying the family right now and did not want to disappoint.

The race unfolded on one of the best Birkie days that people can remember in a long time. Cool but not freezing temperatures greeted the racers early in the morning with blue sky up above. A perfect cross country freeway had been prepared by no less than six snowcats that had groomed the 12” solid base of snow into perfect corduroy 30 feet wide for the length of the course.

With Rebecca’s race starting at 8:27 in the morning, we were all up early. Rebecca met her team at 6:30 to catch the bus to the start while the boys and I made our way out towards the beginning of the race course. We set-up our cameras and positioned ourselves, waiting for the race to unfold. First the elite men came by which pressed in the first tracks on the amazing course as it winds itself up and down through the woods for 50k or 31 miles.

Next came the elite women with Rebecca towards the front. In a race of this length you will rarely see an single racer lead from start to finish. There is a lot of strategy and teamwork that goes into play as the race progresses. Similar to road bike racing, it takes a little less energy if you are behind someone who is breaking the air in front of you. Rebecca’s experience and smart racing strategy is another reason for her success. She has learned how to control the race, to lift the tempo which can put other racers into difficulty, to reserve her energy for a sprint finish and knowing the right time to make a break and go for the win!

The kids and I leap-frogged the race as it made its way from Telemark to Hayward. There are various little back roads that people can access the race course so we would get to one spot on the course and wait for the race to come flying by and then we would jump in the car and drive to the next viewing spot. We were able to catch Rebecca at 3 different places along the course and still make it to the finish to see her come across the line victorious! Wow! It was not a sprint finish like last year as Rebecca was able to gap the group of 4 that had been racing with her for almost 42k. When she decided to go no one could match the pace. In the end Rebecca set a new course record in 2 hours, 18 minutes and 18 seconds.

Immediately upon crossing the finish line Rebecca was swarmed by reporters with cameras and micro phones. Each throwing questions at Rebecca who was still in tears and utterly exhausted. All I could hear her say was “Thank you Jesus, thank you Jesus”! After they gave her a little room and got her out of the finishing shoot they did get a few more words out of her. Mainly she was so thankful to be able to pull off another Birkie victory under such trying circumstances.

Now as the Olympics come to a close so does Rebecca’s race schedule for February. She will be resting and training in Gunnison for a couple weeks before heading to northern Maine for the 30k National Championship race and the last 3 SuperTour races.

Thanks for all the support, kind words and emails. They mean a lot to Rebecca and us as a family.

Until next time, get out there and enjoy life and make the best of every opportunity!

God Bless,
Sharbel and family

The Dussaultskis
Rebecca
Sharbel
Tabor
Simeon


“To live without faith, without a patrimony to defend, without a steady struggle for truth, that is not living, but merely existing; we must never just "exist".

Blessed Pier Giorgio Frassati

www.dussaultskis.com

Off Season Ski Weekend

How about an off-season retreat to forge your coaches and players in virtue and leadership. Think outside the box. Here is an example. If you would like some help let us know. This is a faith-based example. You can have a virtue-based one as well.

1,000 Jars of Peanut Butter

Drew Page of Paris High School Football recently did SportsLeader very proud. He and some friends of his decided that they wanted to help the people in Haiti. Their solution: Peanut Butter.

Drew took it upon himself to approach local businesses in his hometown of Paris Kentucky and ask them if he could put up a poster and some crates to collect peanut butter for the victims of the earthquake. 7 businesses said go for it. He then went home with his brother and enlisted his help to make posters and gather some stuff to get the job done. After 4 hours they brought the materials to the businesses and less than one month later ... they collected 1,000 jars of peanut butter.

Drew said, "Every night I would pray that the Lord would make this work. He answered my prayers."

Together with his friends from other towns they collected a total of 10,000 jars ... all being delivered to the Red Cross for them to ship to Haiti.

Coaches - sometimes it is easy to get discouraged ... thinking that "my kids just don't get it ..." Well as you can see - Drew got it!

God bless, Lou

HS Football Player Testimony at Chicago Bears SportsLeader Event

Coach Tom Nelson of Nazareth Academy in Chicago introduces Mike Williams to give his testimony to a group of coaches on how SportsLeader has helped him. Mike was a Senior Linebacker this past season, 2009, and is looking forward to playing college football.

Caring For Your Players Not Using Them

Coach Chris Willertz shares that he cares about his players whether or not they wrestle well - that his purpose is to help them become great men. He is not there to use them.

Coaches Speak at Conquest

Dave Wirth and Todd Naumann, football coaches at Covington Catholic High School spoke to a local Conquest club about virtue, obedience and prayer.

Sophomore Defensive End Testimony

Coaches,

The below testimony lifted my spirits more than I can tell. Striving to transform the culture of sports is tough at times but this is the reason why we sacrifice, why we coach, why we work with young men.

I invite you to ask yourself: How many young men on my team could/would write the same?

Another coach finished an email to a friend of mine with this quote. It speaks volumes.

"If better is possible, good is not enough." - Anonymous

God bless, Lou


Lou,
I wanted to forward the letter from Nick Koehn who was impacted by SportsLeader this past season. I am including a photo of our SportsLeader commitment last August where Nick is located in top row second from right. Feel free to spread his testimony.
Doc

Life Changing Commitment
Before my sophomore football season at Nazareth, I was an unguided and unpleasant teenage boy. I was more then often argumentative with my parents. I was sometimes rude to people and judged them on the music they listened to, the way they dressed, or the people they called their friends.

I had little interest in helping people less fortunate then me. I had been continuously chipping away at the relationships that I had formed with my sister because of a few grudges that I held against her from the holiday season almost an entire year before. When a teammate of mine told me that a little humility could go a long way for me during my freshman year I remember telling him with hate in my voice, "kiss my (blank)."

Above all, I hadn't been to church in probably 3 to 4 years. I acted as though God didn't exist. I was angry at almost everyone all the time for no reason.

With the introduction of the SportsLeader program at Nazareth, and the assistance of a coaching staff devoted to the development of young boys to men of love and integrity, I have truly changed my life.

Before the season I filled out a goal sheet and challenged myself to become a better person as a part of the SportsLeader program. I wrote down that I wanted to set up a charitable event at my school with my teammates to raise money for wounded soldiers coming back form Iraq and Afghanistan. Though the process hit multiple speed bumps, I eventually got it done with the help of my coaches and teammates. By the end of the fund raiser my team had collected nearly 800 dollars to go directly to the wounded warrior project.

Aside from fulfilling my goal of raising money for our country's veterans, I met my goal of rebuilding the relationship with my sister which I had single-handedly destroyed. Not only have my sister and I rebuilt our relationship, but I am going to go spend a weekend with her in Washington D.C. in two weeks, just the two of us.

I am extremely proud of the person that I have become since the time before my sophomore football season. Though I have meet or exceeded many of the goals that I crafted for myself through the SportsLeader program, the accomplishment I am most proud of is my spiritual growth. Before I attended Nazareth I had never gone to church unless my grandmother dragged me. After this football season I found myself not only talking to God more often everyday, but I go to church almost every Sunday by myself.

My next goal after the football season was to make a heartfelt and humble confession. Just two weeks ago I faced my fear and gathered the courage to tell God that I am truly sorry for the sins that I have been committing regularly for over six years. Now I find myself in relationship with my Lord that I never thought I could achieve but I could only dream of.

In the last eight months I have been reborn in many ways. My parents continuously tell me about how proud they are of the man I am becoming. I am friendly and respect everyone that I meet now even if they don't respect me. I have set up a foundation to help the men and women that defend our country. I have participated in a soup kitchen and I have signed up for three more dates in the next month. I have rebuilt a loving relationship with my sister that will continue for the rest of our lives. I don't have a single enemy on my football team or in my community.

Each and every goal that I have set for myself and achieved is a direct representation of what the SportsLeader program has done for me. It has taught me to be a man of charity, humility, determination, courage, integrity, and love. Without the coaching staff that has helped me form my path to becoming a man I wouldn't be where I am at today.

Without the SportsLeader program I would probably be the same lying, cheating, argumentative, deceiving, cocky, uncaring, rude, selfish, egotistical, grudge holding, unpleasant, unguided, football player telling my teammate to, "kiss my (blank)," that I was before my sophomore football season. I owe my success entirely to this program, my coaches, my parents, my teammates, and God.
Sincerely,
Nick Koehn

SportsLeader and Moeller Wrestling

Coaches,

Another awesome event. Archbishop Moeller High School's wrestling team hosted a Father - Senior Son singlet night, with an interesting twist.

The event was a complete surprise for the 8 Seniors. They also had no idea that their head coach, Jeff Gaier, had a new personalized wrestling singlet for each of them - that was designed by one of the Seniors - but they had thought that it was all forgotten ...

They had their normal practice Friday night from 3-5. After practice each coach is invited to give some remarks. One coach mentioned how proud he was of Jake Corrill, a Senior wrestler. That the previous night after the wrestling dual meet, he was picking up trash and cleaning the gym ... it was an away meet. An interesting point to note is that Jake, and his teammate Pierce Harger, were featured on the cover of ESPN's Rise magazine ... humility and service.

Coach Gaier told the Seniors to not go howe, to be in the locker room at 6. The Dads all arrived to the school and went to a classroom to avoid being seen. We chatted with the Dads a bit about affirming their sons ...

At 6 we walked into the locker room. Coach said some words and invited all the Dads to come in ... the guys were pretty intrigued by this point ... The coaches affirmed the players and then each one of the Dads told their sons how proud they were of them, that they loved them ... and pulled the surprise singlet out. I've never seen wrestlers so excited to see a singlet before (smile).

God bless, Lou


(From Assistant Coach and Moeller House System Director)
Lou, i was very pleased with Friday night. Personally, it was a highlight of my season. I think it really helped 1 struggling wrestler of ours as well.
Ed

Father Son Event

American Samoa: Football Island

Jan. 17, 2010
American Samoa: Football Island
Scott Pelley Reports on Why More NFL Players Come from This Tiny Group of Islands Than from Any Other Place in America

(CBS) There's a small community that produces more players for the NFL than anyplace else in America. It isn't in Texas, or Florida or Oklahoma. In fact, it's as far from the foundations of football as you can get.

Call it "Football Island" - American Samoa, a rock in the distant South Pacific.

From an island of just 65,000 people, there are more than 30 players of Samoan descent in the NFL and more than 200 playing Division I college ball. That's like 30 current NFL players coming out of Sparks, Nev., or Gastonia, N.C. 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley traveled 8,000 miles to American Samoa and found a people and traditions so perfectly suited to America's game - it's as if they'd been waiting centuries for football to come ashore.

In American Samoa, a football team warms up with the Haka War Dance - something that's been passed down for ages to teach agility to warriors of size and strength.

What coach doesn't wish he'd thought of that first? It turns out the South Pacific was raising football talent before there was football.

While Pelley was there, the island was getting set for its version of the Super Bowl - the High School Championship.

After a winning season, 16-year-old quarterback Tavita Neemia would lead the Samoana High School Sharks. His coach, Pepine Lauvoa, has a roster that mainland schools dream about.

"They’re soft spoken, they’re gentle," he told Pelley of his players. “But when they put on their equipment, they just become monsters. And they just want to go out and hit and hit and hit."

One 16-year-old player told Pelley he's 6 feet 5 inches tall. Another, 17 years old, said he's 6 foot 4 and a half.

"It looks like you’ve been hitting cars with this thing," Pelley said, holding a beaten-up football helmet, eliciting laughter from the players.

In the last five years alone, the island's six high schools have produced 10 NFL linemen. It's estimated that a boy born to Samoan parents is 56 times more likely to get into the NFL than any other kid in America.

The Samoan people are big. And big is beautiful, according to Togiola Tulafono, the governor of American Samoa.

Tulafono said it's not just size that makes the Samoans such great football players. His people come from a farming culture that prizes hard work, reverence and discipline. And he thinks that's why scouts and coaches are pulling out their atlases.

"I’m afraid most Americans back on the mainland would be hard pressed to pick this place out on a map," Pelley said.

"Yeah, it's not very visible," Tulafono agreed.

"It is a small dot on a big ocean."

"It is, it is," he responded. But nowadays Google helps a lot."

American Samoa is a paradise - clear seas and 80 degrees most of the time. It's a land that roared out of the Pacific in a volcanic eruption. Nearly 5,000 miles from California and way past Hawaii, it's the only inhabited American possession south of the Equator. Of the seven islands in the chain, the largest is just over 19 miles, end to end.

It was back in 1899 that the U.S. Navy sailed into this harbor and figured that it was perfect for refueling ships. The islands have been American ever since.

The Samoan people aren't exactly American citizens. They can't vote for president - but, on the other hand, they don't pay income taxes either. The capital, Pago Pago, has an American feel. Flag Day is the most important holiday and there's a tradition of sending kids into the U.S. military. But for all its beauty, American Samoa is not blessed with wealth. For the most part, Samoans make a living canning tuna. Two-thirds of the people are below the poverty level.

Tavita Neemia, the quarterback for the Sharks, has a typical family. His mom works at the cannery, and he'll need a scholarship to go to college. He and Coach Lauvoa make the most of what they have.

The high school football field, which Lauvao called the "Field of Champions," is short, rocky and unlined. The team doesn't have a locker room or a weight room, either. And yet three NFL players have come out of his school.

"How are you turning out NFL football players?" Pelley asked Lauvao.

"Determination," he responded.

Voc-Tech High School has one player in the NFL. But Coach Ethan Lake has no practice field at all, and no locker room. A rusted shipping container is the storeroom for his varsity team's busted, antiquated equipment.

"Everything that’s in here, that we have gotten here in American Samoa, is actually donated," Lake said. "It’s second-hand equipment. And it's actually equipment that would never be allowed to be used in the States."

"Coach, if you used some of this gear back in the States, you’d get sued," Pelley remarked.

For all its success, American Samoa has never had youth football until this year.

The NFL and USA Football are helping to start the program. But all of the players that came before started playing in high school.

It seems they do well despite the adversity. But getting cut up on lava rock and playing in sneakers without equipment are the keys to their success. Samoans are born big, but the island makes them tough.

This is a place where kids use machetes to do their chores. Come to think of it, its a place where kids do chores. Seventeen-year-old Aiulua Fanene does a day's work before school, under the direction of his father, David.

"He's cooking in this house. He's cleaning in this house. That is something that kids back on the mainland would not believe if they didn't see it," Pelley told David Fanene.

"That’s how he’s been brought up. Discipline…Obedience should be involved in this house and I am expecting my children to obey us," he said.

Aiulua stands 6 feet 5 inches tall and weighs 280 pounds. Arizona and Oregon State are offering him scholarships. One day, he hopes to follow in the cleats of his brother, Jonathan Fenene, the defensive lineman for the Cincinnati Bengals.

"When you sent him to Cincinnati, did you give him any advice on how to live and how to play football?" Pelley asked Fanene.

"Well, I told him once you put on your football equipment, automatically you turn into a lion, turn into a lion that’s chasing a deer to eat," he laughed. "You know what I mean.”

"Play like a lion, but be a humble man," Pelley remarked.

"Be a humble man," Fanene agreed.

While humble, the Fanenes know the rewards of NFL success. Football has been very good to the family - Jonathan built them a spacious home back on the island.

From an island where the average income is a little over $4,000 a year, Jonathan Fanene is making more than $1 million in Cincinnati. Paul Brown Stadium, where the Bengals play, would seat everyone back in American Samoa, with 1,000 seats to spare.

"With the talent that we have, we have to take pride of it," Jonathan told Pelley. "Especially when you have the opportunity to come to the mainland, you got to take advantage of it."

Fanene is a defensive end in a breakout season with six sacks and even a touchdown. He's one of two Samoan-born players on the team, along with Domata Peko.

"The combination of size, and ability and speed, you know, that’s kind of hard to find. Big dudes that can have nimble feet, you know, and are able to run and go sideline to sideline," Peko said.

The NFL's "Sunday Samoans" are hard to miss, with their vowel-laden names and trademark hair. The most famous is Pittsburgh Steelers all-pro safety Troy Polamalu. Born in California to Samoan parents, his name is on two Super Bowl trophies.

"What if there were 120 million Samoans, you know? How many Samoans would there then there be in the NFL?" Polamalu quipped.

"If there were 120 million Samoans, it might be the National Samoan Football League," Pelley told the football star.

Polamalu laughed. "That would be interesting, yeah."

He may well be the most versatile defensive player in the league - smart, fast and a hell of a hitter.

To a kid growing up in Samoa, Polamalu told Pelley, football is a "meal ticket."

"Just like any marginalized ethnic group, you know, if you don't make it to the NFL, what do you have to go back to?" he asked.

In addition to a meal ticket, the sport also provides an education. A lot of Samoans would never go to college if it wasn't for a scholarship with football.

"That’s the beautiful thing about football," Polamalu continued. "It’s allowed us to get an education. Football is something that comes naturally to us.”

Football has never been more important to the island than right now, because this season there's been more than the usual trouble in paradise. The island may lose its tuna industry. One cannery, Chicken of the Sea, has left. And because the U.S. Congress wanted to help Samoa by imposing American minimum wage, Governor Tulafono is worried that the last cannery, Starkist, could look to other shores.

Tulafono said that some economists have estimated that 80 percent of the Samoan economy is wrapped up in tuna canneries.

"Eighty percent of everything that goes on around here," he stressed, "is dependent on the prescence of the canneries."

And they just lost one of those canneries on Sept. 30.

"What does that mean to you?" Pelley asked.

"Devastation," Tulafono sighed.

In the fall, there was natural devastation, too. The day before that cannery closed, the island was struck by an earthquake that led to something much worse.

When the shaking stopped, people traveling on one of the roads overlooking the ocean could see the water moving back to sea, and a few of them knew what was coming next.

It was a tsunami - the devastation recorded on a security camera until the power went out. The wave pushed inland for a mile, killing 34 people and washing away entire villages.

"When I heard the village that got hit, the first thing that came through my mind was my football players," Lauvao said. "And then, I found out 13 of my kids either lose their home or home damaged by the tsunami."

One of his kids who was hit by the disaster was quarterback Tavita Neemia. His home was damaged by the earthquake. With about eight weeks to go before the championship game, some thought they should cancel the season, but Governor Tulafono decided that football would cheer everybody up.

Nameeia's school, the Samoana High School Sharks, prepared to play the championship favorite Tafuna High School, featuring Aiulua Fenene. But in another blow in a cruel season, Nameeia's father died suddenly, just weeks after the tsunami. They decided the game would go on, but it was postponed to later in that day so that Nameeia could bury his dad.

"This kid is the leader on the team. And this kid has heart," Lauvao said of his quarterback.

Hours after the funeral, the Samoana Sharks and Tafuna High met for the last game of the season. Nameeia connected early and jumped out to a surprise 7-0 lead. The rest of the game was a contest of all-Samoan defensive lines. Ultimately, the Sharks won 7-6, their first championship win in 11 years.

When the clock struck zero, Lavuao looked for his quarterback, who was crying and hugging other teammates.

"I told him, 'This is for you. Your father is looking down on you, and he's very proud of you.' And I gave him a hug."

Nameeia responded, through tears, "I love you, coach."

That moment revealed the real reason why a community of 65,000 has so many players in the NFL. Turn's out it's not the size - it's the heart.

To Uganda or Bust - 8 yr old's amazing act

To Uganda or Bust - Regnum Christi

How an 8-year-old boy’s resolve made it possible for an African Legionary to visit his family.

Nate's first fundraiser, a candy sale, raised ten dollars in a week. By Br Russell Ward, LC My name is Br Russell Ward, and I am studying to be a missionary priest with the Legionaries of Christ in Cheshire, CT. As much as I would like to be the hero of this story, I have to humbly admit that the part I had to play was very little. You see, I come from a family of seven children; I happen to be the oldest. Well, my youngest brother who is eight is quite a character. His name is Nathan, but we all call him Nate. Nothing extraordinary at first glance, but it is what lies within that is amazing. My family came to visit me for a few days one summer. After Mass one morning, all the brothers were walking out of the chapel, and Nate was pointing at a few of them and asking me who they were. He pointed to the only African brother in our community, Br Otti Okello from Uganda, and asked me who he was. “That’s Br Otti,” I Br Otti Okello, LC said. “He’s from Africa.” “That’s far away isn’t it?” he asked. “Yeah, pretty far away.” “Does he ever get to go home like you?” “Well, he hasn’t been home for a long time. I think it costs a lot of money to fly to Africa.” “I can get the money for him,” Nate replied. “I don’t know, Nate. That is a lot of money.” “How much?” “Maybe around a thousand dollars.” “I think I can get it.” That was the end of our short discussion, and the visit with my family went on. By the time they left, I had forgotten entirely about the conversation with Nate. When my family called a few weeks later, I realized that though I had forgotten about Br Otti, Nate had not; in fact, he was really on fire about raising the money for him. My whole family was telling me about how Nate was going around with my two younger sisters, Molly and Maria, selling Tootsie Rolls that my grandma would give them. He sold them for over a dollar a piece. Though the price was outrageous, Nate’s plea was irresistible, and many bought the Tootsie Rolls. By the end of the week he had around ten dollars. I was amazed, but then again, what was ten dollars when he needed a thousand? But Nate wasn’t satisfied with ten dollars, and Tootsie Rolls weren’t working fast enough. He then tried a lemonade stand which didn’t Br Russell Ward, LC, with his 6 siblings. Nate is just right of Br Russell. work any better. Yet he kept trying, now getting the leftovers from the church coffee hour and selling those. He also received a check for a hundred dollars from my Aunt Julie. By the time my family called the next month, he had around a hundred and fifty dollars. Amazing progress for sure, but still a far cry from a thousand. Nate then asked the parish priest, Fr Steve, to announce his plan during Mass one day and to take a second collection. Nate brought in three hundred more dollars. Going to another parish, he took advantage of a rummage sale to host a bake sale of his own, and made another hundred which made for a total of five hundred and fifty dollars. He was already more than halfway and only a month and a half had passed. At this point, the story had spread and, marveling at the courage and generosity of this eight year old, people began to send him money by mail. Soon he was up to eight hundred dollars. A 4th of July refreshment stand, together with a few other events, brought in another three hundred, and Nate had over a thousand dollars within a few months. My family had been sending me updates by mail, and I couldn’t believe that Nate had actually done it. With every letter it seemed that Nate had made a hundred dollars more. In three months he raised more money than I’ve had in my whole life. Perhaps when I was eight, I could have raised six bucks for myself to get a video game, but Nate had raised fifteen hundred dollars Uganda's location in Africa. for someone else, someone he didn’t even know. After he had the money, my family asked me what to do; I had little clue what to do next. I told them to get in touch with Br Otti’s superiors since he had moved on to the center of philosophy in New York. That is what they did, and after a month or so Br Otti gave me a call. “Br Russell, I hear your little brother has done something amazing for me.” “Yeah. Can you believe that? I don’t know how he did it, but are you going to be able to go home?” “Of course. I will be visiting for a couple of weeks in December. You know, I always loved to study physics, but I wished I had studied better the art of practical physics which your Nate has mastered, that is, the physics of charity.” Well, there you go. This is what an eight year old can do when he sees the needs of another and doesn’t let any obstacles get in his way. *** Br Otti went home for his family visit before Christmas.

7 Tips on Raising Boys

#1 The greatest gift you can give your children is a great marriage

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjPsBVA38v0

#2, Reasonable expectations:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1wg4Kiv8Ws

#3 Unity and Justice

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWphGJ-UvSw

#4 Necessary Space

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsiDSIJKw0k

#5 Delicate Love and a Sense of Humor

http://www.youtube.com/user/WeeklyGospelVideos#p/u/6/Tf0KBYS8ggA

#6 Hard Work, Discipline and a Spirit of Perfection

http://www.youtube.com/user/WeeklyGospelVideos#p/u/4/WKe4MOhjWXU

#7 A Man of God

http://www.youtube.com/user/WeeklyGospelVideos#p/u/2/AR5dgmPSOkE

Ronald Powell - Put God First, MVP

Texas FB Players and Prayer

http://rivals.yahoo.com/ncaa/football/news?slug=jn-texasreligion010610&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. – The Texas Longhorns will storm onto the Rose Bowl field Thursday and attempt to win their fifth national championship.

But first, they’ll take time to pray.

Jordan Shipley hands teammates like Hunter Lawrence a handwritten bible verse before each practice.

Not just a handful of players or even a large group. If the season-long tradition continues, each and every member of Texas’ team will trot into the end zone and bow their heads a few moments toward kickoff.

“It’s not something that gets talked about a lot,” receiver Jordan Shipley said, “but there are a lot of believers on this team. It’s awesome to be a part of. I really think it’s made a difference in how we’ve played this year.”

Religion in football is certainly nothing new. For years athletes have pointed toward the heavens following a touchdown, knelt in prayer at midfield after the final horn and offered praise during postgame interviews.

What makes the Longhorns unique is the quantity of players who are so open and passionate about their relationship with Christ.

Kicker Hunter Lawrence, for instance, looks forward to the handwritten Bible verse he receives from Shipley before each practice. Offensive lineman Tray Allen, punter John Gold and standout defenders Sam and Emmanuel Acho went on a mission trip to Nigeria last summer, and center Chris Hall is among the many Longhorns players who can quote scriptures as well as their playbook.

Hall – the son of a pastor – was basically holding court during a media session earlier this week as he recalled the summer night in his dorm room when he accepted Christ.

“I cried out to the Lord,” Hall said, “and I told him two things. I told him, ‘Lord, I hate my life. I hate living for myself.’ I felt like ‘self’ characterized everything I did. And then I told him, ‘Lord, I want you to love me, and I want to love you.’

“When I did that, something happened that night, brother, that I’ve never experienced before. It’s changed me for the rest of my life. I haven’t been the same since. The Lord Jesus came to live within my human spirit. Everything has been so much sweeter. The grass is just greener, brother. Knowing the Lord just makes everything so much more enjoyable.”

Hall paused.

“Including football,” he said.

No player is suggesting that the Longhorns have won games solely because of their faith. Instead it’s the positive outlook and attitude brought on by their religion that leads to more productive practices – and an inner peace during games.

“It’s unbelievable,” Texas head coach Mack Brown said. “When you’re in a state school you can’t push religion, but we have FCA [Fellowship of Christian Athletes]. We have chapels. We allow our team to choose whether or not they want to do those things. We don’t push it, but there’s a real strong [religious] influence on this team.

“I think it’s one of the reasons we’re here.”

Indeed, Texas wouldn’t even be playing in Thursday’s championship game against Alabama had Lawrence not booted a 46-yard field goal as time expired against Nebraska. Shortly before he lined up for the kick – which gave Texas a 13-12 victory – Lawrence listened as Shipley, his holder, recited Jeremiah 17:7.

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him,” Shipley said.

Lawrence smiled when recalling the story a month later.

“After that moment,” he said, “I knew I was going to make it.”

Lawrence said he had a good relationship with Christ when he enrolled at Texas. But he said it has strengthened significantly because of players such as Shipley, Hall and quarterback Colt McCoy.

“Their faith is very strong,” Lawrence said. “They have a really positive influence on a lot of the guys on the team, especially the younger ones.”

Players said the general public has no idea how big of a part religion plays in many of the Longhorns’ daily routine.

“Some of it is more in a hidden way,” Hall said. “You’d almost have to have an all-access pass to see it. We pray together at a regular time each day. We’ll get together in hotel rooms and talk and get into the words [of the Bible]. Lots of things.”

Not all the Longhorns’ actions go unnoticed.

Hunter Lawrence heard his holder recite a bible verse before kicking the game-winning field goal in the Big 12 title game.


Attendance at Wednesday night FCA meetings can often be overwhelming, players said. And each Friday before home games, a group of Longhorns visit children at a local hospital.

Offensive lineman Adam Ulatoski spent time last summer building a house for a less fortunate family through Habitats for Humanity while McCoy went on a mission trip to Peru for the second straight year.

As often as he can, Shipley speaks to various high school groups and church youth groups in and around Austin. Shipley said his faith went to a new level during his first two years at Texas, when injuries kept him off the field.

“It was tough,” Shipley said, “but it allowed me to figure out who I was away from football. I did a lot of soul searching and developed my faith. Now that’s my motivation for every game. I try to use the pedestal I’ve been given to glorify God.

“With kids, it’s just showing them that you can represent Christ by being successful at what you do and by having an impact on people. I think there’s a reason we’re all here. That’s to Glorify Him. Everything I do, that’s my main purpose.”

The demand for Shipley is high, but Texas officials said no player is as sought after as McCoy, who sometimes receives as many as 10 speaking requests a day. Things got so out of hand a year ago that offensive coordinator Greg Davis called McCoy’s father, Brad.

“It’s becoming too much,” Davis told him. “I need you to help me convince him to slow down a bit.”

McCoy may have scaled things back, but sometimes even the smallest things end up influencing both fans and strangers. Shipley and McCoy, for instance, hardly ever miss a Sunday service at Westover Hills Church of Christ.

A few years ago, Brad McCoy received a call from one of the church’s members. It was the morning after Texas had lost to Kansas State in Manhattan – a game in which McCoy had suffered a pinched nerve in his neck.

“This man called, and he was crying,” Brad McCoy said. “He told me, ‘Coach McCoy, I’ve got to tell you, I’ve never seen anything like your son. I was sitting in church this morning when Colt walked in. He was a little late, but here was there, all beat up.

“I know he couldn’t have gotten home from Kansas before 3 or 4 a.m., but he was there for that 9 a.m. service. My little boy saw that. I just want you to know that that was the biggest impression anyone will ever make on my 10-year-old.’”

Brad McCoy paused.

“You hear that about your son,” he said, “and you can’t help but be proud.”

Win or lose Thursday, a lot of other Longhorns parents should feel the same way.

Jason King is a college football and basketball writer for Yahoo! Sports.

Steelers Troy Polamalu and his relationship with God, prayer, life

Colt McCoy Interview After Championship

Coaches,

Just in case you didn't stay up last night till the very end ... Colt McCoy gave this interview on the field after the BCS National Championship game ... He was injured early and was not able to play ...

I cannot say enough about the class of this young man. His perspective ... You should show this to every single one of your players - especially - the injured ones.

Warrior Wrestlers Start Shovel-Ready Service Project

Got another inspiring phone call from a coach. Chris Willertz went on a men's retreat a few weeks back and ever since he had been thinking of a creative way to get this wrestlers involved with some community service. The inspiration came: Shovels.

The wrestlers will keep the shovels at the end of the season as a “legacy.” Willertz said the shovel is “a reminder that this is what I’m supposed to do. This is what wrestling is all about—being a man and helping others out.”

Below is an article that appeared in a local paper.

Coaches - BE CREATIVE!

God bless, Lou

http://rodeo.cincinnati.com/getlocal/gpstory.aspx?id=100143&sid=160221

Warrior Wrestlers Start Shovel-Ready Service Project
Contributed By Teresa Cleary | Winton Woods Schools Communications Department

The Winton Woods High School wrestling team is armed with shovels and ready for the next snow day to help out by shoveling snow for free in their neighborhoods. Coach Chris Willertz said the team received a lot of support for their Adopt-a-Warrior program to help wrestlers with pay-to-play fees, but “didn’t get a lot of people who needed work done” in exchange for their donation. So Willertz is creating another community service opportunity for his team with the help of Winton Woods Board of Education Vice-President Tim Cleary.

“I thought it’d be a great idea to make community service part of their jobs as Warrior wrestlers,” said Willertz. On days when it snows, he’s asking his team to shovel their own driveways and then shovel their neighbors’ driveways. “I want the neighbors to know a Warrior wrestler lives in their neighborhood.”

Cleary donated 40 shovels to the wrestlers to help make sure the work gets done. “The Board and I support the team’s mission of community service and being outwardly-focused by helping others,” said Cleary.

The next snow day will start a new tradition for Willertz and his team. “We’ll shovel in the morning, practice at noon, and then go out and play,” he said.

The wrestlers will keep the shovels at the end of the season as a “legacy.” Willertz said the shovel is “a reminder that this is what I’m supposed to do. This is what wrestling is all about—being a man and helping others out.”

Craig Rutherford wins award for Humanitarian efforts

Jerry Rutherford, head football coach at Eastwood High School in Northern Ohio, shared a very proud moment with me this morning. His son Craig won the Humanitarian Award over Christmas break.

Craig is a senior long snapper on the Bowling Green State University football team, a math major who graduated in 3.5 years, who is now pursuing careers in teaching and coaching.

...

Rutherford wins award for Humanitarian efforts
By Sean Shapiro

BOISE — Throughout his four years at BG, Craig Rutherford has silently flown under the radar.

But, that all changed Monday evening at the US Bank Humanitarian Awards Dinner when the senior long snapper was honored for his efforts off the field and in the classroom.

The award, given to one player from each team partaking in the Humanitarian Bowl, is based on three aspects, on field performance, community involvement and academics.

“I think they were looking for someone who has done some community service in the Bowling Green area,” Rutherford said. “That’s something I’ve always tried to do. I really enjoy helping people, it’s one of the things I enjoy in life.”

To say Rutherford enjoys helping people is an understatement, as he has demonstrated himself as an asset to the community over the past four seasons.

Recently, Rutherford visited with a BG cross country runner who had suffered from heat stroke after being asked by coach Dave Clawson.
While his visit with a BG cross county runner came after a suggestion from his coach, Rutherford has also gone out of his way individually to make a difference in the community.

“I got a note last year, it was a senior citizen who was in a local home. Wanting to thank me for sending Craig Rutherford over there to visit with them, and I had no idea what they were talking about,” Clawson said.

In addition to his visits to local seniors and a fellow BG athlete, Rutherford has also been heavily involved BGSU’s Dance Marathon for the Children’s Miracle Network.

Academically Rutherford has set a strong example for the rest of his teammates as well, maintaining a 4.0 Grade Point Average while not only playing football, but also student teaching before graduating earlier this December.

“We have actually had parents of the students he is student teaching call us and asking how they can purchase tickets, because they said what Bowling Green football is about we need to go watch you guys play,” Clawson said.

Rutherford found out about the award earlier this week, after representatives from the Humanitarian Bowl interviewed his teammates about his on and off field accomplishments.

While Rutherford was the award recipient for BG, Idaho wide receiver Max Komar was also acknowledged for his efforts. Komar, a former walk-on, has not only helped the community in Idaho but has also traveled to Mississippi to help struggling families after hurricanes Katrina and Ike.

“Giving a helping hand in and around the community really impacts peoples lives in a positive way, being able to go down to Mississippi and see what those families have gone through, I learned you really can’t take things for granted in life,” Komar said.

Komar certainly hasn’t taken anything for granted, taking the most of his opportunities this season, making 62 catches for 1062 yards and 10 touchdowns this season.

While Komar and Rutherford walked away with trophies at Monday night’s award ceremony, the biggest trophy was still resting on the table, waiting to be awarded to Humanitarian Bowl Champion after Wednesday’s contest.

...

The University of Idaho Vandals scored a two-point conversion with four seconds remaining to beat the Bowling Green State University Falcons, 43-42, in the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl, providing the highest-scoring contest in the Bowl’s 13-year history. The game featured 990-yards of total offense with three lead-changes in the fourth quarter, providing an exciting finish for the spirited crowd of more than 26,700.

The Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl is the only bowl game in the United States that has humanity in its brand. The Bowl recognizes the positive impact teams, coaches and student-athletes have in their communities and their leadership roles in promoting humanitarian efforts.

Dungy defines a winning life

Dungy defines a winning life

By COURTNEY CAIRNS PASTOR

Published: December 31, 2009

TAMPA - Practice hard and play to win, but keep the competition in perspective.

"Run to win," former Buccaneers coach Tony Dungy told players Wednesday morning at a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast, quoting from the Bible.

"Don't win the game and lose your soul," Dungy said.

Players and staff from the Auburn and Northwestern football teams, competing in the Outback Bowl on Friday, joined high school athletes, business leaders and community members at the Hyatt Regency Tampadowntown for the annual breakfast. Coaches and athletes prayed together and shared the role faith has played in their lives.

In his 31-year NFL career, Dungy's teams reached the playoffs 21 times. He won the Super Bowl twice - as a safety with the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1979 and as coach of the Indianapolis Colts in 2007. That means his teams came up short 19 times - some in heartbreaking losses - he told a crowd of more than 600.

When asked how he rebounded, Dungy recalled what Steelers coach Chuck Noll told him as a rookie: Welcome to the NFL. It's a great game, but it's just a game.

Even the most successful athletes can fall. Just look at Tiger Woods and Michael Vick, Dungy said.

Dungy said he does not know Woods, whose image has been tarnished by infidelity, but he served as a mentor to Vick, who returned to the field this year after serving time in prison for dog fighting. Dungy said he asked the star quarterback where God was in his life when he signed a $130-million contract with the Atlanta Falcons and his jersey was flying off the shelves.

Vick said he had been raised to believe in God and that he had prayed to play in the NFL. After he made it, he stopped praying.

"I said, 'Mike, what you realize now is you were asking for the wrong thing,'" Dungy said. "He was running the wrong race."

Vick now makes far less money playing for the Philadelphia Eagles and is not the marquee quarterback he used to be, but he's happier than ever, Dungy said.

Dungy also said he was praying for Urban Meyer, who recently announced he was taking a leave of absence after coaching the University of Florida to two national football championships.

Hearing Dungy refer to those three men's struggles was a tearjerker, said Stephanie Waiters, who works for Palmetto First Baptist Church in Manatee County.

Waiters set out at 5:30 a.m. with 25 Palmetto High School football, volleyball, basketball and soccer players to hear Dungy. She said Dungy inspired them to keep trying, even if they lose the big games.

Dungy praised Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald and Auburn coach Gene Chizik for the balance they strike.

"They coach hard. They coach to win. They develop winners," Dungy said. "But they develop men in the right way."

Northwestern wide receiver Andrew Brewer, who has been active in expanding Northwestern's Fellowship of Christian Athletes chapter, said he tries to keep things in perspective.

"Football is something we all do and we all enjoy," he told the crowd before Dungy's speech. "But it's not who I am. I'm a man of God and a man of Christ."

3000 - Part 3

3000 Part 2 - Final Talk

3000 - Wrestling and Leadership

Coaches,

Right before Christmas, Chris Willertz, the head wrestling coach at Winton Woods High School, offered a great leadership opportunity to his wrestlers. It has become a tradition with his program and it is voluntary.

It consists of 3 days, 1,000 reps each day - hence the title 3,000.

The reps are of a whole different slew of exercises ranging from running, wrestling take downs, spins, slams, lifts ... you get the picture. 25 young men completed the arduous journey and will be rewarded with a special Under Armour shirt.

Along the course of the ordeal, Chris constantly spoke of manhood, willpower, virtue, going above and beyond, embracing the sacrifice ... he painted everyone's face with war paint, they are the Warriors, (he painted mine too - that was a first) ...

3 wrestlers were awarded the Virtue=Strength shirt for their testimony and extreme effort.

It is amazing to see Chris building this program at his high school with virtually no money, no support - no anything.

We currently have 21 short videos posted on YouTube by now.

Here below are 3 video links for 3000 (all are around 2 minutes)

3000 Part 1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2cLPbcGkF5Y&feature=channel

3000 Part 2 - Final Talk - 1st part

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9z5Ebjd5ISk&feature=channel

3000 Part 3 - Final Talk - 2nd part

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8GUaJH2PCM

Tim Tebow Eye Black Verses

Coaches,

I pray that you are having a wonderful and fruitful CHRISTmas season and are off to a great New Year.

Here below are the verses Tim Tebow has worn on his eye black over the past two seasons.

For the National Championship game last year close to 94 MILLION people searched for John 3:16 on Google within 24 hours of the game. It was the most searched for item. This continued for most of this year as well. Google Trends shows the top searched items every day - and whenever Florida played - you could find Tebow's eye black verse in the top 5 every single week.

The impact YOU and YOUR PLAYERS can have on others is staggering. I pray that you and your coaching staff really soaks this in - and it realizes it 100%. You CAN help change the world.

God bless, Lou

www.sportsleader.org
http://www.youtube.com/user/SportsLeaderUSA

2008

Regular season: Philippians 4:13 — "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

BCS championship game: John 3:16 — "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life."

2009

Sept. 5 vs. Charleston Southern: Proverbs 3: 5-6 — "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths."

Sept. 12 vs. Troy: Mark 8:36 — "For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?"

Sept. 19 vs. Tennessee: Romans 8:28 — "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."

Sept. 26 at Kentucky: Isaiah 40:31 — "But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

Oct. 10 at LSU: Thessalonians 5:18 — "Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Oct. 17 vs. Arkansas: Psalms 23:1 — "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want."

Oct. 24 at Mississippi State: Ephesians 4:32 — "And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you."

Oct. 31 vs. Georgia: Philippians 4:6-7 — "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

Nov. 7 vs. Vanderbilt: Colossians 3:23 — "And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."

Nov. 14 at South Carolina: Joshua 1:8-9 — "This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success. Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LordLORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest."

Nov. 21 vs. Florida International: Romans 1:16 — "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

Nov. 28 vs. Florida State: Hebrews 12: 1-2 — "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."

SEC championship game, Dec. 5 vs. Alabama: John 16:33 — "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

Sugar Bowl, January 1, 2010: Ephesians 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.