From Sandlot to Super Bowl: A Similar Experience

From the Sandlot to the Super Bowl, the feelings are not much different.

Eleven years ago, I was talking with Ned Yost about parenting, coaching, teaching and all of the things we do. He said something one day that I had a hard time agreeing with or understanding right off the bat. He said, “at every level of sports, the emotions, feelings and fundamentals are all the same.”

I thought, “That’s not possible.” How can the feelings of the Super Bowl, World Series and all of that big league stuff be equal to that of a seven-year-old granddaughter’s basketball game?

Well, last week, I found that out.

On the same weekend Patrick Mahomes led a comeback win against Tennessee to send the Chiefs to the Super Bowl, my granddaughter Naomi made her first basket. An eight-footer, banked it right off the backboard. It was her first game…ever. Actually, she had never even practiced and had just found a basketball team. The first time she caught a pass, she ran with it. A great official took a few seconds to explain to her that she needed to dribble. His smile was amazing and his advice was received with a smile. Her coach only yells, “Shoot the ball!” I am not a basketball coach. All I had ever heard a basketball coach yell was “Pass the ball!” Well, his team out-shot the other team and they won 24-20. His team, his strategy. They won. They were happy.

The next day, Patrick cheers and wills the Chiefs to a victory over an extremely talented and experienced team, the Tennessee Titans. Down 17 to 7, he never lets them get down — throwing dead on passes all over the field. He takes off on a touchdown run for the ages, flashes his amazing smile and credits his teammates never giving up and they win. His team, his strategy, they win, they are happy.

In both circumstances, the coaches had a game-plan. From eight-year-olds to Andy Reid, just like Ned said, “at every level, it’s all the same.” He was right.

Of course, there is only one Super Bowl a year. It’s been 50 years since the Chiefs have been in one. With 11 grandchildren, there is close to 10 games a week-end.

As we have watched Patrick handle the pressure, he never quits believing, he is having fun, full of grace, always deflects credit to his teammates, stresses the value of his coaches game-plan, understands the importance of the moment and is full of humility.

He learned that in the sandlot.

His dad was a major league pitcher. No doubt, he taught him to throw from every “angle” possible. Growing up in a big league atmosphere, he has a big league approach. His mom was right there. She has always kept him focused on his faith, being thankful for everything God has given him and encouraged him to always be humble in everything.

Patrick is certainly a wonderful young man and certainly one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. But he is grounded in what he was taught. He is doing it right and it is a wonderful experience.

So, to encourage you, parents, coaches, grandparents caretakers, teachers…hold on to this thought.

Never get tired of doing the right thing. Teach your children to play the game and live life to the best of your ability. Nobody knows all there is to know about the game. Teach them to shoot or pass, teach them to never quit. Just teach them what you know and want them to learn. You only have a little time to get this done. Do it in a positive, fun way and they will remember you for the rest of their lives.

Go Chiefs. Go Liberty Second Grade Girls Basketball.