db: To Casey Ashley – postscript

You, my friend, are the champion of a sport that belongs to thousands of people, be gentle with your championship, be gentle with their sport.

Editor’s note: db wrote an open letter to Casey Ashley before the Classic began. Here is his postscript.

(Lessons My Father Never Gave Me)

“Talent is God given, be humble.”

My father never told me, the statues, don’t make the champion.

My father never told me, hoisting the trophy above your head isn’t the end, it is only the beginning.

My father never told me, winning does not make you a champion.

Winning, makes you a winner.

It is what you do after the win, that makes you a champion.

The heart of a champion is not found on a shelf, but in a soul.

Set free your champion soul.

“Fame is man-given, be grateful.”

My father never told me, it takes a crowd to make a champion.

You, my friend, are the champion of a sport that belongs to thousands of people, be gentle with your championship, be gentle with their sport.

Carry this sport to those who know it, carry this sport to those who don’t.

Hand it off better than it was given to you.

My father never told me, the best amongst us always win for others.

My father never told me, tears count more than claps.

Tears for a champion, the most precious water on earth.

Those who cry happy for your win are those who love you, be gentle with them, be a champion for them.

“Conceit is self given, be careful.”

My father never told me, be the man you don’t see in the mirror.

Be the man your soul whispers.

Be the man who will make champions out of others.

Be the champion, on and off the water.

Be the champion that all champions will be measured against.

My father never told me, I was his champion.

My aunt told me for him, told me, I did what he couldn’t, became what he didn’t.

My father never told me that, had he, I would have told him he was wrong.

I would have told him, that as a child, when he held me, he was the only champion I needed.

Be the only champion your son, Troy needs.

In the end, it is the only championship, that matters.

db

“Talent is God given, be humble. Fame is man-given, be grateful. Conceit is self given, be careful.”
Coach John Wooden
10 National Men’s Basketball Championships in 12 years at UCLA
6 times Coach of the Year