Wooden's Wisdom - Volume 10 | Issue 499 |
Craig Impelman Speaking | Championship Coaches | Champion's Leadership Library Login | |
"THE GREATEST GIFT" (BILL RUSSELL PART 5) In Bill Russell's 13 years in the NBA (1956-69) his Boston Celtics won 11 championships. For the last two championships (1968 and 1969) he was the player-coach. Sports Illustrated named him "the greatest team player in history."
Although his mother, Katie, passed away when he was twelve, she still lives in his heart and mind. In his book, Russell Rules which he wrote with David Falkner, Coach Russell, discusses his mother's influence:
"My mother taught me to stand up for myself, to use my brainpower on my own behalf. She followed me around from day to day even though she wasn't there. Wherever I went, she accompanied me even though she was somewhere else.
One day, when I was twelve, she became ill and was taken to the hospital. A week later she died, a complete and overwhelming shock. But even then, more strongly than ever, she stayed with me—in my thoughts, my goals, my aspirations. She appeared to me in dreams. Sometimes she was just an image; other times she talked to me as though she were there in the room with me, counseling me, advising me.
Try to do the best at whatever you do, respect all people, even ones you don't like, acknowledge the common humanity you share with everyone.
Her teachings remained with me when she was not around. Nothing would have worked if I had perceived her as simply an authority, a lawgiver. She got into my life and stayed there because she had the power to make herself invisible so that I might all the while focus on my own life, on what I had to do to become responsible for my success. I have often wondered what it was that gave her the power of invisibility, and the only meaningful conclusion I have come to is that it was love. The power of her love for me was that strong."
The greatest gift we can give is to have a positive influence on the thinking and heart of someone else long after we are gone. All it takes is love.
Who will you influence?
Yours in Coaching, Craig Impelman
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Under The Skin Of Women and Men Did you ever sit down and talk with women or men Edgar Albert Guest (1881-1959)
*With the greatest of respect for Mr. Guest I replaced “Men” with “Women and Men” to make this poem meaningful to my Granddaughter Emi who I hope will read this one day and share with her brother Carter. – Craig Impelman 6/6/2021
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