DEAN JACKSON

we both are easily distracted – when the alarm sounds we hustle out the door so we can leave and have time to spare at the bus stop about eight minutes away with a slow walk. n’t know if she looked at the bus number, either way she knew. Like clockwork, the right bus, the regular driver, comes zooming up the street we see it coming, n’t slow down or won’t slow down to see the way the wind is blowing.

You know there are some friends who speak the truth even if you don’t like it. He has given me advice I didn’t like – a lot. You can’t love someone if you don’t speak the truth. You don’t love them, if you aren’t speaking the truth.

Earlier this season, Dallas  Mavericks owner Mark Cuban -a  maverick in his own right – arbitrarily put the brakes on playing the Star Spangled  Banner before NBA games at American Airlines Arena. He said things like the National anthem police was out  of control and that American’s didn’t start their work day with the National Anthem. The notion, he implied, was insulting to have the national anthem played, because the song didn’t represent the values of everyone in the league or at the game. With NBA teams now in the process of welcoming fans back into their arenas, all teams will play the national anthem in keeping with longstanding league policy.

It’s good-spirited, decent people like Billy King who stand in the gap. You see Woodlan people love you like family. Folks who love you like you are, stubborn enough to speak the truth and happy to knock you on your butt. It’s how legendary coaches like Leland Etzler, Ed Delong and Gay Martin in quiet and not so quiet ways won championships – by building character.