THOSE DARNED ACORNS

03/02/2012

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Every year I tell the team my “acorn” story:

Growing up in Redondo Beach, California, there many Eucalyptus trees. We had a giant one in our backyard.  It was so big and shady that no grass would grow under it. Eucalyptus trees drop a large nut I called acorns. They were about the size of a thumb and they were scattered all over our backyard.

When I entered Junior High school I really got serious about being a good basketball player. Unlike today in the era of Club Sport etc. I had to find a place to play.  So my dad put up a backboard and hoop on our garage which was in our backyard.  I was thrilled to have a place to dribble and shoot.  One big problem… “those darned acorns” – hundreds of them constantly dropping off that huge old Eucalyptus tree.  Before I practiced I had the dreary task of sweeping them up.  At first I would spend several minutes sweeping them up so I would have a nice smooth dirt surface to play on.  However after a while,  I got tired of the sweep up part so I skipped it leaving the acorns there.  I just went out and dribbled and shot with the acorns on the ground which obviously interfered with any smooth ability to dribble.

One day all while playing shooting hoops with some other kids on the playground I realized something.  My dribbling was getting much better.  I was becoming the best little dribbler of all my classmates. The reason?  It had to be “those darned acorns.” I had learned to constantly adjust my hand to compensate for the slight changes in how the ball bounced back up to me after it hit an acorn. Having to deal with this hardship had, in the end, made me a better player.

Years later after I had accepted Christ and began to study His Word I came across Romans 5:3 where God tells us to rejoice in our affliction because affliction produces endurance, endurance produces character etc..  All of sudden I remembered “those darned acorns” again.  All the time what I thought was a nuisance had made me better and  I went on to play  basketball at Long Beach State.  And what was one of the main reasons I made it?  I was known as a really good point guard who could dribble past most of my opponents.

Do you have any of “those darned acorns” in your life right now?  I hope so!

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A FINAL HUG...

11/13/2011

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COACH JIM HARRIS - THE LEGACY HE LEAVES...

Coach Jim Harris began to leave his legacy in my life when we were fellow teammates at what was then known as Long Beach State.  A couple of years behind me, he came onto Coach Perry's team with eager eyes and well-honed skills...hoops were his world.

After graduating and taking my first coaching job in Orange County,  Jim and I re-connected.  We now had wives and families who also became acquainted at summer league basketball games in the Huntington Beach High School gymnasium...Jim as a referee and me as a coach.  It wasn't long until the subject of teaching and coaching came up and the legacy of Jim Harris the basketball coach began.  He became intent on completing his education in order to teach and coach and that is exactly what he did.  Gunning for the goal he pounded head-long down the court of college to obtain his degree...and it worked.

Degree in hand, it was time for student teaching ...there was no time to waste  Coach Harris' growing family required a teaching position ... fast!  Coach Harris' legacy took the first shot at Fountain Valley High School where he was offered a "this-never-happens" summer school student teaching position. Doing this he would be ready to launch into his first paid teaching assignment in the fall accompanied by a basketball coaching position of course.

The first quarter of Coach Harris' basketball coaching career came quickly.  I was not only his college teammate but was now the head basketball coach at FVHS and Jim was the perfect coach for our freshman team. His transition into what was to become nearly 700 career wins took off at the first buzzer and mushroomed into winning 60+ games in his first three years coaching.  It was magic...we shared like coaching techniques, like family interests, like faith practices and a friendship that would transcend a career of competition.  His impact on young men, who are now grandfathers, has left the mark of love for family and basketball on their lives ... I know, they have told me.

Through the years our teams met on the courts of Orange County...most of the wins going to Coach Harris.  But our families met on the courts of our backyards, of ski and snow trips and of celebrations in our homes. The legacy he leaves began on a court but ends in my heart and the hearts of all those players, coaches, parents, and friends that he touched with his kind smile.

The final buzzer rang for my friend, Jim Harris, on the court of this life.  But his legacy lingers through the lives of all he touched...leaving behind a life of love and entering heaven's eternal place of love. 

Thank you, Jim...I love you.

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    Author

    Dave Brown is the husband of Sportmoms and More author, Janet Brown.  A career basketball coach for 46 years, he has shared his faith  with players, parents, fellow coaches, family and friends.  His quiet strength is evident as he  boldy and faithfully has led many hard working and disciplined teams to often unexpected victories.  Here he shares his life both on and off  the bench in his quest to serve the Lord through athletics and glorify Him with his life. 

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