There was a slight hiccup in our plans for last night’s 25th annual Daily Times/Exelon All-Delco Athletic Awards Banquet.
And yes, it is hard to believe it has been a quarter of century that we have been gathering Delco’s best and brightest student athletes for a singular night of honor.
I never get tired of attending this event. I can assure you it’s rare for someone who does what I do for a living to sit in a room of almost 600 people, all of whom have nothing but nice things to say about the newspaper.
Our scheduled speaker, Sixers assistant coach Aaron McKie, had a last-minute scheduling conflict and could not attend, so we had to settle for a substitute.
That would be Sixers head coach Doug Collins.
Lucky us.
Collins, the man who more than anyone else was singularly responsible for turning around the city’s moribund pro hoops franchise, dazzled the collection of high school stars.
And one grizzled editor.
He was warm, and welcoming, and looked like he was genuinely happy to be there. Make no mistake, Doug Collins is the real deal.
He regaled the kids with a recap of his career, noting that he did not start on his high school basketball team until he was a senior.
He also offered two excellent pieces of advice to these kids. First, show up and be on time. You'd be amazed at how many people - especially young people - don't quite grasp that concept.
And also when you get knocked down, make sure you get back up. It’s OK to fail, he told this collection of young people who have very rarely tasted defeat, so long as you get back up again and get back in the game.
It struck me as the perfect lesson for a very special group of high school athletes.
Collins knows a little bit about getting up off the canvas. From his struggles to make it in high school, he went on to become a member of the infamous U.S. men’s Olympic team that lost a gold medal to the Soviet Union team in what is very likely the most controversial basketball team ever played. He saw his pro career cut short by injury at a very young age. He has been fired three different times.
And each time he got back up.
Listen well, kids.
Many thanks, coach, for a making what is always a special night just a bit more so this year.
And yes, it is hard to believe it has been a quarter of century that we have been gathering Delco’s best and brightest student athletes for a singular night of honor.
I never get tired of attending this event. I can assure you it’s rare for someone who does what I do for a living to sit in a room of almost 600 people, all of whom have nothing but nice things to say about the newspaper.
Our scheduled speaker, Sixers assistant coach Aaron McKie, had a last-minute scheduling conflict and could not attend, so we had to settle for a substitute.
That would be Sixers head coach Doug Collins.
Lucky us.
Collins, the man who more than anyone else was singularly responsible for turning around the city’s moribund pro hoops franchise, dazzled the collection of high school stars.
And one grizzled editor.
He was warm, and welcoming, and looked like he was genuinely happy to be there. Make no mistake, Doug Collins is the real deal.
He regaled the kids with a recap of his career, noting that he did not start on his high school basketball team until he was a senior.
He also offered two excellent pieces of advice to these kids. First, show up and be on time. You'd be amazed at how many people - especially young people - don't quite grasp that concept.
And also when you get knocked down, make sure you get back up. It’s OK to fail, he told this collection of young people who have very rarely tasted defeat, so long as you get back up again and get back in the game.
It struck me as the perfect lesson for a very special group of high school athletes.
Collins knows a little bit about getting up off the canvas. From his struggles to make it in high school, he went on to become a member of the infamous U.S. men’s Olympic team that lost a gold medal to the Soviet Union team in what is very likely the most controversial basketball team ever played. He saw his pro career cut short by injury at a very young age. He has been fired three different times.
And each time he got back up.
Listen well, kids.
Many thanks, coach, for a making what is always a special night just a bit more so this year.
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