Column

Everybody loves a winner! It’s hard not to root for the good guys and what better good guys than an all-boys Catholic high school. Bob Ladouceur taught at De La Salle High School. He also coached football. But more than that, he raised up men. With a 151—yes 151 game winning streak—the Spartans seemed unstoppable. Inspired by a true story, When the Game Stands Tall is the remarkable journey of a legendary coach who took De Le Salle High School from obscurity to stardom, shattering all records for any American sport.

This home-grown story played out on a local football field for 12 straight seasons. When the streak is broken because tragedy strikes the team, Coach Lad must teach his players, and the entire town, that it’s not about how far you fall, but how you get back up.

James Caviezel plays Bob Ladouceur with incredible insight into the man (maybe he ended up with a little divine guidance after hanging on a cross in Passion of the Christ). Caviezel is a truly amazing actor, whether he’s playing Jesus (I can’t imagine trying out for that role) or the lead in the hit TV show, Person of Interest. I personally think they couldn’t have found a better Coach Lad. The real Bob Ladouceur and his Assistant Coach, Terry Eidson, even did cameos as what else, coaches, in the movie.

College coaching jobs were dangled in front of the coach but for more than twelve years his commitment was to teaching kids how to find their own self-worth. When asked by a reporter how long the streak can last his comment was, “Winning games is doable; teaching kids to win in life is the goal. Winning games was never the goal.”

He focused on “the Perfect Effort” and reliability. His belief? Every great team needs leaders to cut the path and followers who will make it wider.

The pressure of failure is oppressive, but that’s where true leadership shines. Every Spartan team member for 12 years had to, or got to, live with the “not on my watch” mentality and then, in one earth shattering moment the streak was gone, but more tragically, so was the life an endeared teammate.

I truly enjoyed this movie. It was well acted but more importantly it was chocked full of life lessons for young and old. This is definitely a must see for football fans and families. As always I welcome your comments at chastings@rockcliff.com.

2015…Seriously? Clichés and me have a real love hate relationship, but time really does fly. The sprint to the end of the year has always left an indelible mark on me. Starting with the time honored tradition of giving thanks in November, then carrying that into December where we prove our thanks with gifts and gatherings (and oddly ugly sweaters) then January brings the warm, damp towel to drag across the surface of the year, wiping it clean to start again.

I have never been one to look too far in the future without realizing how I got to the present, so this month I would like to take a moment to adjust the rear view and recognize just how we got here.

In August of 2012 I was offered (I kind of begged) the opportunity to write for Eric and ALIVE Magazine. At the time, I was head long into my career, which had me traveling the globe, so naturally I thought it would be a travel article. I rapidly realized that not only was Harry Hubinger doing a smashing job on his Stamps In My Passport, but also we had oddly gone to many of the same places. Not wanting to squander the opportunity, I settled on the only other thing I knew at the time…restaurants. But I had no desire to write about food. I was going to suggest places based on their behind-the-scenes attributes that create return customers. A peek behind the scenes that I knew too well as a restaurant manager. Never a bad review. The places I didn’t agree with simply didn’t make the cut. Here then, is where we are today:

My Go-To’s:
If we need a patio and people we love, you can find us at Norms..always. Unless it is pizza night, then we will be at Jules!

Family:
There are places that are nestled in my heart for the rest of my time on this earth. Forbes Mill heads up the pack as my primary family, Incontro took me in and are the finest people I have ever known and Mi Casa is, well, my home!

Tip-Of-The-Cap:
What would memories be without a few fallen heroes? A few places are no longer with us but left their mark. The cowboy biscuits and gravy that started it all at Iron Horse Café (my first article) is now a Mexican restaurant, owned by an employee of IHC. Best in Show Hot Dogs had an ownership dispute. One guy took the cart and one took the truck, never to be heard from again. Pho Saigon is now Pho-Something Else and still very good, but not the original that fed me my first meal home from Africa.

Top of Their Game:
Rodney Worth wrote the foreword for my book What Seems To Be the Problem and promptly opened up two more restaurants. I can’t wait to see what’s next for him. Denicas is my wife’s finding, and the connection I made with her is real. Hopefully we work together one day (stay tuned). Yannis Greek Taverna is the finest Mediterranean food I have ever had, and you know I love Greek! Fudruckers is still the best business model I have ever found, even though my meat intake has slowed down. Sakura (Tony) will always be “our” sushi place, but your allowed to go…I guess. And I will never stop loving the salad bar at Round Table in Alamo.

Deli:
I found out I eat a lot of sandwiches. Ikes blew my mind with their menu and back-story, Brass Bear will always be family, but my latest discovery is Gary at Slow G’s. He cares about what goes into your body and it shows!

I won’t even mention the road trips we took, but I certainly hope there are many more of them.

Happy New Year Loyal Followers! I appreciate you all!

It is now 2015. It does not flow trippingly across the tongue like 1915, does it? Few of us (including me) were around in 1915. Let’s take a look at it.

1. A World’s Fair was held that year. Where?

2. A pitcher made his baseball debut that year and hit a home-run in his first start. Who was he?

3. A famous movie made its debut that year. What was it?

4. U. S. entrance in WWI was precipitated by German’s sinking what liner that year?

5. Who was our president in 1915?

6. Alexander Graham Bell made a phone call to Thomas Watson that year. From where to where?