Читать книгу A Legacy Unrivaled. The Story of John Gagliardi онлайн

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Al Jirele played on John’s very first Saint John’s team in 1953. “Shortly after practice began that August, we were timed while running wind sprints. This skinny guy who looked like a student manager remarked, ‘Way to run, kid!’ I couldn’t believe it when I found out he was the head coach. A few days before the opening game of the season, we were running a punt return drill, pitting the varsity against us freshmen. No one touched me as I ran for my very life! When I headed back to the freshmen group at the other end of the field, I saw John running up to me at a good clip. As he patted me on the back, he asked, ‘Where did you learn to run like that?’

“John had affirmed something that I possessed, an attribute, a talent. My response was an immediate explosion of self-confidence, of being accepted, of wanting more than ever to succeed, of feeling convinced that I could do it. John recognized, praised, and uplifted his football players and in so doing proclaimed us to be worthy. He ignited both our physical and emotional strengths, those which he could see while we could not. How wonderful the whole world would be if all people would affirm the good things they see in others, whenever and wherever they see it. John did, and we should as well.”