Coach Flip Naumburg's Journal

Friday, December 8, 2006

OH WHAT A NIGHT

We had a most wonderful banquet tonight, no thanks to my public speaking efforts.  I did better at the HOF induction ceremony in September. I guess if I had to pick one to flub it would be this one, not that one. So it was all-good as they say. 

Anyway there was a strong family vibe in that room tonight.  I am very pleased. 

I hope the economic bottom lines don't look too bad. The buffet was big and bawdy, just like us. It was a good looking celebration.

THE BEST LAID PLANS CAN LAY AN EGG

One of the things I wanted to have happen tonight was that I wanted to introduce our workout guru, Brian Neiswinder, and tell the assembled throng how much he and what he does with us means to our team.  I had selfish, ulterior motives, too, because I planned for him (Brian) to get up and speak.   I wanted him to tell them all about how much they do in the next month while no one 'official' is there to push them can make a HUGE difference to our new team, and blah, blah.  Meanwhile I have it in my mind that the parents are all there busily taking notes and subsequently will be getting "Johnny" out of bed at 7:30 to run twelve miles each day of semester break.

Even if that fantasy could have come true, you have to introduce the guy, YOU IDIOT.  Definitely a "MY BAD" there.   I had him on my paper. 

Plus, I wanted Brian to really know how much he means to us, yet he's the one I forgot.  Doctor can you help me please.

BAD MIKEY

Apparently trouble began with the 'free range' disco sized, old skul microphone I carried and used while I spoke tonight.  Usually in these types of situations there is a tiny mike clipped on to me somewhere, letting my hands be free, so I was not ready for this radical change.  Consequently, when I removed my glasses to read, and yes that is correct, I remove my glasses to read, then I couldn't be heard or it was muffled because I was moving the mike around.  Also I guess I was gesturing with the microphone as well, which had my director, Alex, in a Type A frenzy, and he couldn't wait to tell me what I did wrong after I was done.

THAT'S NOT ALL….FOLKS

We gave some awards out, and of course I froze on the first name because of course I had only written down his first name, plus I could barely see the paper for the microphone as it was.  I do know the boy's name.  That is not the point.  After all, I wrote my wife's name down on the paper I carried in Denver for the HOF speech.  I didn't need it that night, thank you very much, but it was there in case.

DO TELL

Then, as is tradition, we gave out game balls to individuals who were excellent in the games we had won (6), which was not enough by the way, but probably made for a shorter/better speech from yours truly.  On one game ball presentation my 'style' didn't serve me well as I made it sound like Campbell Diebolt was getting a game ball when I was really only mentioning that he had an outstanding game, but the actual ball would be going to…. Some other guy.  And that was I guess an awkward moment.  I'm not actually sure because I simply plowed on in spite of it all.

THE BOTTOM LINE

There was much love in the room tonight.  My plan succeeded in that I think this event helps for our family to spill over into all the families of the players in a special way, and that feels good to me, and I'm thinking it felt pretty damn good to everyone else there as well.

There was a great role call of players, as in pretty much full metal attendance.  I sold this dinner in a way that said if you were not there, then you were not really going to be one of us.

Okay, Iraq boy came to dinner.  How can I make that situation permanent?  I have a feeling that if he can free things up to make playing for us as his #1 that it can be a harbinger of other favorable firsts to follow.

It really is time to move on.  Good night.

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