This letter made it's way to me and I felt compelled to share it with everyone I know. This isn't just a Jayhawk story...or a story about Bill Self...it's a human story about a man named Chuck...and one that hits very close to home as I lost my dad to cancer when he was just 46 years old.
Tom Wilbur graciously gave me permission to share this and I encourage you to take the time to read it. THIS is what makes life worth living. THIS is what it means to be a good friend. THIS is how a small gesture can make a real difference in people's lives.
Keep Rockin and Chalkin,
Mic
Demonstrating The Walk
By Tom Wilbur
Legendary basketball coach John Wooden has always said, “"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
Kansas basketball coach Bill Self has always impressed me as being a guy of sound character. Family man. Community minded. Leader. Successful basketball coach. Today, one of my fraternity brothers, Steve Purdy, called to tell me a story that solidified my impressions of Coach Bill Self, and I thought it worth sharing.
A little background—as a young man, I grew up in a household that was crimson and blue—my parents went to KU, I had grandparents that went to KU—and so, yeah, it was pretty well engrained in my soul. I played basketball at Salina Central here in Kansas and had some success--- playing alongside some tremendous teammates---basketball was something I truly loved. In the summer, I would work odd jobs to earn enough money to go to Ted Owens Jayhawk Basketball Camp. And that was a great thrill, as well. I met guys like JoJo White, and other NBA players who had attended Kansas who would work the Camp during the summer—as well as kids from all over the United States.
Completing my high school career, I decided to head to KU. I wasn’t good enough to get a full ride scholarship at Kansas, and didn’t really want to play small college ball, so I thought I’d join a fraternity (Phi Gamma Delta) and just go to school in Lawrence. It came to enrollment time, and fraternity brother Steve Purdy told me that they were having tryouts for the KU basketball squad, and that I should come along with him—to see if we could make the team as walk-ons. So I decided to give it a try.
45 guys showed up for three spots and when they posted names on the bulletin board outside the locker room, Steve and I had both made the squad. We were officially Jayhawks. Coach Owens called me up to the office to congratulate me, and welcomed me to the team—and politely mentioned it might be a good idea for Steve and me to get haircuts (hey, it was the early 70’s). So Steve and I found the only barber in Lawrence open on a Monday, and we got crew cuts-- eliminating the hair locks that formerly touched our shoulders. We would have done anything to be part of the team—and we were pumped.
You have to know Steve Purdy to understand as a fraternity brother (or in that case--- a real brother) why you would want him on your team. He is one of a kind—loyal like the mutt you had as a kid—and one of the most fun guys you will ever meet. He’s built for fun and has a lot of energy. That was kind of a good and bad thing in college, but man, I love him just the way he is. Its guys like Steve that still keep our pledge class corresponding now some 30 years out of college.
The next day, we went to check in and that’s when I learned that Steve Purdy’s brother, Chuck Purdy, was the team manager.
Chuck was great as a manager, and checked us out our shoes, and issued us our reversible Jayhawk jerseys—one side crimson, one side blue. The words Kansas were printed across our chests, and walking into Allen Field House as a player for the first time, was like a dream. Chuck would always have an encouraging word for us as we made our way toward the court—where Assistant Coach Sam Miranda was waiting for us like a bulldog--- as he began to put us through our paces, and whip us into shape.
We young Jayhawks would be required to learn the plays of incoming teams, so that the varsity group could prepare for the next game. I was a scrub, and loved it. Tom Kivisto was the on-court leader of the team, and I played with every day with guys like Danny Knight, Randy Canfield, Rick Suttle, Dale Greenlee, Tommy Smith, and Brady Morningstar’s Dad—Roger Morningstar.
Chuck Purdy was always there. Helping us with equipment. Keeping our stuff clean for the next day. He was a terrific manager. He was, in point of fact, our only manager. And this story is about Chuck.
Fast forward to today—as Chuck approaches his 58th birthday. Steve called to tell me this afternoon that Chuck has been fighting cancer for awhile. He’s had it for five or six years and he has fought the good fight—but even with lots of chemo, and radiation, the cancer has just migrated to his liver. Chuck probably doesn’t have long to live.
So Steve and Chuck have made up a “bucket list” for Chuck—you know, those important things to do before Chuck transitions from this life to the next.
On the list--- Chuck wanted to go back to visit KU and see some guys from the team…. so his old pals Tommy Smith and Roger Morningstar set up a time, and they brought Chuck down to Lawrence from South Dakota. They met and had lunch at “The Wheel”—one of our old stomping grounds at KU. They were about halfway through lunch, and who walks in? It was KU basketball Coach Bill Self. They had a great little visit and Coach Self invited Chuck to come sit in on practice. First came the tour of the new facilities, and then Chuck, Roger, and Tommy settled in to watch the team at work.
Chuck’s cell phone rang, and on the other end, was Coach Ted Owens. Coach Owens had heard from one of the players that Chuck was on campus, and wanted to check on how he was doing. They had a great discussion, and Coach Owens wished him the best.
About midway through practice, a voice called up to the stands, “Hey Chuck! Chuck! Why don’t you come down here?” It was Coach Self, motioning him down. Chuck happily obliged as Coach Self introduced Chuck to each of the team members—telling them Chuck was the one manager of our team, back when one manager did it all. (Today, there are over a dozen managers at KU). Coach Self asked Chuck to say a few words about what he was going through, and to give the players some words to live by. Chuck spoke to things like “never giving up” and “rising to the challenge”—and spent about 30 minutes in the middle of practice with the team, as the squad listened on.
As Chuck finished speaking, he looked around, and noticed that the team had dropped to a knee, and with heads bowed, someone began to lift Chuck and his battle with cancer up in prayer—as the entire Jayhawk team, the managers, and coaching staff prayed together for him. It had to be a very special moment for Chuck.
You see, Chuck is part of the legacy of Kansas basketball—but he’s a very real person. And this team was demonstrating its walk--- in the decision they made to be involved with collegiate athletics, in playing ball at Kansas, and in affiliating with Coach Bill Self. It’s clearly a relationship that goes well past being a basketball player. It’s very much about who you will be--- and how you will conduct yourself in life. It’s top down stuff, and it’s not done for the cameras, for the press, or for show—but it comes from the heart.
It’s also about developing character, and it’s something Bill Self demonstrates in his walk, as he leads by example. This will be a great Kansas team to watch, as they compete, and further as they grow into men, and then head out into the world. I’m guessing (I believe correctly) that regardless of the number of hoops they make, or line drills they run while players at Kansas, they’ll be better people for their experience under a coach like Self—a guy who cares about people first—a proven leader and a great person.
Chuck Purdy called Steve on the road home from Lawrence and spoke to him for about an hour as to what this visit had meant to him. Steve could hear it in Chuck’s voice—it had been an incredible day in Chuck’s life, and he was thankful for the support and love from everyone who had taken time for him.
Kudos to Coach Self and the Jayhawk team for recognizing what’s really important in life, and good luck this season. Winning may be the goal, but it’s the journeys in life which define true success. There’s no doubt that this journey will have its set of highs and lows—but traveling the road ahead, with character and integrity, will always lead upward—regardless of the W’s and L’s.
And to Chuck—from everyone you selflessly helped each day---and from everyone who is part of the KU family--- we send our thoughts and our prayers your way.
God’s blessings to you.
Hang in there, bud.
Tom Wilbur
Chairman/Co-CEO
BANK VI
2020 South Ohio
Salina, Kansas 67401
tomw@banksix.com
Passion - Commitment - History
Demonstrating the Walk, by Tom Wilbur
Are you ready for some football?
Sitting here on a rainy summer Sunday morning and thinking about this upcoming Kansas Jayhawk football season.
There are few places that I'd rather be on a cool, fall day than in Lawrence, KS on gameday. I love the sights, smells, sounds, the children playing on the hill, everyone in their favorite Jayhawk gear, the cold beverages, the buffet spreads.....I love it all and it reminds me of just how great life can be when you slow down to appreciate it.
This Jayhawk season begins with a lot of promise and expectations, with Todd Reesing, Jake Sharp, and Kerry Meier entering their senior seasons, with hopes that Dezmon Briscoe will have the best season a KU wide receiver has ever had, with a defense that should be more stout, with more depth at every position than KU has had for quite some time.
My plan this year is to enjoy the ride, one game at a time. Of course I hope for a Big 12 North Championship, a Big 12 Championship, record-breaking seasons for Reesing, Meier, Briscoe, Sharp and others....but I also realize that sometimes things don't turn out the way we want. So instead of getting hyped up for what might be, I'm going to thoroughly enjoy what is.
I enter the season with optimism partnered with a building enthusiasm of simply being in an environment that feels like I'm reconnecting with a best friend.
Are you ready for some football? I know I am.
Keep Rockin' and Chalkin',
Mic
My take on Mike Anderson, MU
On Mike Anderson....
I like him.
He's a good guy.
He's a quiet guy.
He doesn't draw attention to himself, positively or negatively.
He does his job and he does it well.
He isn't arrogant.
He doesn't have red-headed step child disease.
He doesn't feel like he or his team are constantly getting screwed.
He seems ethical and moral.
In other words, he doesn't fit the typical MU mold which is why they were VERY slow to accept him or even care about him or his basketball team. I think the Paige was only sold out for the last 5 or 6 games of the year....and this was THE BEST SEASON IN THEIR HISTORY.
One can only hope that Mike Anderson raises the game of the average ignorant Missouri fan and illustrates to them what it means to be professional, what it means to have class, what it means to "act like you've been there before", and to not get caught up in obsessing over the younger, hotter, sexier team across the border.
Hey, a guy can dream, right?
From the Sweet 16 to Spring Football Practice
As we look at this year's Sweet 16 Kansas Jayhawk team, I think we were all thrilled with how the season played out with the team winning the Big 12, Cole and Sherron on the All Big 12 team, Sherron as a 2nd team All American, and Bill Self as the National Coach of the year. It was frustrating to lose to Michigan State when we were up by as many as 13 and up 5 with 3 minutes to go. We had the game in our hands and Sherron had used up all of his playmaking ability in this tournament. It definitely was sad and frustrating to see the rest of the team fail for the 3rd time in the tournament to rally around Sherron and Cole. It really highlighted, if we're honest with ourselves, just how young this team was and how we had a couple of guys (Morningstar and Reed) that are, at best, 12-15 minutes a game type guys that were asked to do a lot more because of Mario Little's injury and lack of development as the season wore on. Our young guys pretty much hit a wall and never really were able to take it to that next level, however they got tremendous experience this year that bodes very well for next year and following years. With, in my estimation, both Sherron and Cole coming back, and a recruiting class that includes 7-footer Jeff Withey (transfer from Arizona), guard Elijah Johnson, 6'8 stud Thomas Robinson and very likely soon to be announced big-time player Lance Stephenson, the future looks very bright for another National Championship-caliber team next year.
Now it's time to focus our attention to Spring Football practice and what looks to be a very promising year for the gridiron version of the Jayhawks.
Keep Rockin and Chalkin,
Mic
My concerns going into the NCAA Tournament
Our players are pissed right now. Self is pissed right now. They are going to be practicing their asses off the next couple of days. Their pride is hurt. They are embarrassed. They are humiliated.
All of those things bode well for KU and don't bode well for our opponent in the first round of the NCAAs, which is why I'm not worried about THAT game.
But what I am worried about is our SECOND game.
The same scenario played out when KU got humiliated in Lubbock, bounced back against Texas, and then got comfortable/cocky and got their asses handed to them by Baylor.
So will this team learn from their mistakes or make the same mistakes again? The answer to that question will be the difference between a 2nd round loss and a run to the Sweet 16 or possibly beyond.
All that aside, I can't believe how flat KU came out yesterday and I think, based on the quotes I've read, that Bill Self is absolutely disgusted with the lack of effort/energy his team played with yesterday, especially defensively.
I get that these guys were thinking they were better than they were...and then Texas Tech totally embarrassed them. But their memories must be pretty short to put up such a sad effort just a week after that debacle.
I would attribute a large portion of that to youth, but Sherron and Cole definitely have to shoulder the blame too. I've been somewhat down on Cole for awhile in that, when Sherron struggles, Cole doesn't take over. He needs to DEMAND the ball and not just say after the game "our guards just have to work to get the ball inside". Quit being so nice, Cole. Get pissed off. DEMAND the ball and take some pressure off of Sherron. If you don't, your season is going to come to an end sooner rather than later.
KU-Texas: Big 12 Champions for the 5th Consecutive Time!
What a great way to spend a day, hanging out with one of my best friends in Lawrence, eating some pre-game BBQ at Bigg's BBQ, and then taking in yet another great KU-Texas game. The Jayhawks come back from down 14 and win by 10, clinching SOLE POSSESSION of first place in the Big 12 and wrapping up their 5th consecutive Big 12 Championship. Sorry OU and MU. Get in the back of the line. Again.
Now it's on to the Big 12 Tournament and then the NCAA Tournament....This is hands down the best time of the year for college basketball fans. Let's hope the Jayhawks make some noise in the postseason.
Keep Rockin and Chalkin,
Mic
DETOX: KU-TEXAS TECH
I'm assuming some of you are like me and have tried or are trying to process what happened last night in the KU-Texas Tech game. Here are my thoughts, in no particular order. Let the healing begin and, as always, we will....
Keep Rockin and Chalkin,
Mic
THE BAD NEWS
*KU literally played their worst game of the season and one of the worst ever under Bill Self. From KUSports.com: "KU suffered what is believed to be the fourth-worst loss in coach Bill Self’s six years at KU. KU lost by 25 to Texas in 2006, 21 to Villanova in 2005, 20 to Oklahoma State in 2004 and 19 to Nebraska in 2004."
*Texas Tech literally played their best game of the season. Of Tech's 3-pt shooting, Self said: “Playing H-O-R-S-E, 15-of-27 is pretty acceptable. Cause that’s what they were playing. If defended, 15 of 27 is unbelievable. It’s as good as a team can shoot."
*Sherron Collins arguably played the worst game of his KU career. 3-of-19 from the field and 1-for-10 from 3-pt. range. KUSports.com's Tom Keegan said it best: "Collins regressed to the days when he trusted himself far more than he trusted teammates. When Collins is on, he’s all-world and makes everybody better. When he’s not, he’s the last to know it."
*Jake Voskuil of Texas Tech literally played the best game of his career. He had a career high 35 points on 9 of 14 shooting from 3-pt. range.
*Cole Aldrich summed it up best: "We couldn’t buy a shot, and they couldn’t miss. I missed shots tonight I make 99 percent of the time. It was really frustrating all the way around.”
*It's hard to win on the road in the Big 12, even vs. Texas Tech, especially on Senior Night. Strange things happen to teams and players on Senior Night.
*Bill Self Quotes of Note:
---"I really believe that maybe we read our press clippings."
---"Yeah, I'm ecstatic," Self deadpanned. "I said congratulations we won the league and got beat by 19. It's pretty remarkable a team that played this poorly tonight could go 13-2 in the league."
---"I didn't think we had that emotional edge when (you know) this team will come out and beat your butt if we aren't right."
---“Our whole team collectively played very very poor. All around, coaching, execution, everything was poor,” Self said. “They whipped us in every capacity.”
*Technical fouls on Bill Self and Marcus Morris. Dumb...and Dumber.
THE GOOD NEWS
*KU has won 5 consecutive Big 12 titles and 9 of the 13 Big 12's titles since the league was formed. No other team IN THE COUNTRY can say that.
*Sherron Collins: "We got knocked off our high horse. I think if we lost we needed one like this. We were feeling pretty good about ourselves. We have to get back to work and try to win it outright on Saturday.” (This is a GOOD thing for this team and for Sherron, who I think was one of the people Self was referring to when he said "I really believe that maybe we read our press clippings." Texas Tech player Jake Voskuil also commented about a quote from Sherron Collins earlier this week about celebrating a conference title in an opponent's lockerroom and that got Texas Tech fired up. Sherron should know better.)
*KNOW THIS: As Sherron Collins goes, so goes this Jayhawk team. PERIOD. He is very much like Todd Reesing is for the football team. There are other players that are important and make contributions, but Sherron (and Reesing) are the engines of their teams. If the engine is sputtering, the whole car breaks down. I told a friend of mine yesterday that Sherron had been playing great, but I felt that he was due a bad game or two before the season was over. Last night was one of those games. I have to believe that if and when KU loses in the NCAA Tournament, that will be the second time that Sherron doesn't play well.
*Not far behind Sherron is Cole Aldrich. If he's in foul trouble, KU is in big trouble. Period. They don't rebound well when Cole is on the bench and the inside presence virtually disappears. If Sherron is the engine, Cole is the tires.
*KU senior Matt Kleinmann and sophomore Tyrel Reed were named to the first-team Academic All-Big 12 basketball team. Cole Aldrich is on the second team.
*Matt Kleinmann is believed to be the first player to ever be on 5 conference championship teams (He redshirted one season). Pretty friggin' cool for a walk on.
*Self is PISSED right now, which means the players will be PISSED and focused on Saturday vs. Texas. A humbled Jayhawk team is a dangerous Jayhawk team. Always has been, always will be.
*Cole Aldrich and Tyshawn Taylor's injuries appear to be minor: “I jammed my left big toe when I hit the floor. It’s fine,” said Taylor. Cole Aldrich, who has been wearing a boot on his left foot of late, sprained his right ankle late. “It’s fine. It’s another little thing. I’ll get treatment and be back on it,” Aldrich said.
*If you want the truest definition of this year's team, listen to Bill Self: "We’re a good team that can play great.”
*No matter what happens the rest of the way, this team has already surpassed the expectations of any logical Jayhawk fan. I started the season just hoping to make it to the NCAA Tournament. I had ZERO expectation of KU winning the conference.
*Even in "rebuilding" years such as this one, where KU replaced 8 players and all 5 starters, our conference opponents' fan bases still feel the need to have white outs, black outs, purple outs, yellow outs and to rush the floor when they beat us. No other team in the conference comes close to garnering that kind of respect/envy.
*P.S.--On a side note, I am thrilled with all things Jayhawk right now. My only fear is that the NBA will come calling and Bill Self will answer. As some of you may know, Self's good buddy is the GM of the San Antonio Spurs. If you've noticed, Self has NEVER (ala Roy Williams) said that he would finish his career at KU. He has also never said unequivocably that he doesn't want to coach in the NBA. Unfortunately I think the idea is more than just an unfounded fear. The current coach at Oregon State, Craig Robinson, randomly had this to say the other day (I pulled this from KUSports.com) when asked if he'd ever leave Oregon State: “Of course, if somebody said Bill Self has decided to go pro and Kansas wants you, you have to say, ‘OK, let me talk to them’ ... you know what I mean? But I’m not (looking) ... it would be hard for me to keep hopping around.” Pretty sure Coach Robinson didn't magically pull that example out of thin air.
Anderson Family Football Complex Photos
KU had an open house tonight (Wednesday) of their $31 million dollar football complex, located just outside of Memorial Stadium. It is very impressive and Coach Mangino tells me his new plush office is much nicer than his old office, which was, in his words " a sweatbox". He also said that he doesn't get to enjoy his 60 inch plasma tv in his office that much because he's "got a lot of work to do". All in all, it was a great night and KU fans should be proud of this complex. It is DEFINITELY going to help in recruiting.
Keep Rockin and Chalkin!
-Mic
http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=wb94q1i.70t6xinu&x=0&y=dzztzy&localeid=en_US
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