a sacred promise
From the series: "STAND OUT IN THE CROWD"
by Frank Allocco, Sr.
Series Introduction
Some eye opening basketball statistics:
The beauty of sports is not in becoming a great player, it is the learning of valuable Life Skills that will serve players throughout their lives. If we look beyond the focus of winning and achieving success, the arena of competition is one of the finest classrooms a young player could ever have.
Some eye opening basketball statistics:
- 2.9% of high school players will play college basketball.
- Less than 1 in 75, or 1.3 percent of NCAA Seniors will be drafted by an NBA Team.
- About 3 in 10,000 players (0.03 percent) of high school seniors will eventually be drafted by an NBA team.
The beauty of sports is not in becoming a great player, it is the learning of valuable Life Skills that will serve players throughout their lives. If we look beyond the focus of winning and achieving success, the arena of competition is one of the finest classrooms a young player could ever have.
The cancellation of March Madness brought an abrupt end to the season for many elementary, high school, and college players who sadly missed their opportunity for the challenge of the playoffs and a chance to create memories with their teammates. As I thought of the disappointment faced by so many, I fondly recalled the “Men of March” mindset that called us to compete and motivated the young men in our basketball programs at Northgate and De La Salle High Schools.
The concluding days of each season prompted a robust rebirth with the arrival of the postseason’s call to greatness. The culmination of every open gym, summer league game and practice had pointed to the deciding days in March and the fulfillment of our goals was now within our reach. Our spirited and finely tuned practices saw heightened energy and effort as motivational music filled the gym and former players returned to wish us well, urging us to “make it happen.” So many traditions were passed down through time: inspirational signs, encouraging visits, playoff music, and exhilarating pregame warmups. Every “ritual” had its role, but none stood more importantly than the “Chapel Services” conducted at De La Salle.
The concluding days of each season prompted a robust rebirth with the arrival of the postseason’s call to greatness. The culmination of every open gym, summer league game and practice had pointed to the deciding days in March and the fulfillment of our goals was now within our reach. Our spirited and finely tuned practices saw heightened energy and effort as motivational music filled the gym and former players returned to wish us well, urging us to “make it happen.” So many traditions were passed down through time: inspirational signs, encouraging visits, playoff music, and exhilarating pregame warmups. Every “ritual” had its role, but none stood more importantly than the “Chapel Services” conducted at De La Salle.
Our spirited and finely tuned practices saw heightened energy and effort as motivational music filled the gym and former players returned to wish us well, urging us to “make it happen.”
Prior to our Friday night games, our varsity team would assemble and walk across the courtyard, pensively climbing the stairs toward an awaiting second story classroom. We respectively entered the darkened room and encircled the bright red candle that flickered in the center, gently illuminating the cramped space. It’s tiny flame and weaving smoke mesmerized the gathering space, summoning us to join together in love and reflection. After opening words of support from each coach, our players shared poems, songs, movie clips, or stories from their past that had a special meaning and significance to them. This spiritual ritual was cumbersome at its introduction but became our deepest connection defining the development of the soul of our team. It swiftly became a treasured part of the experience of being a De La Salle Basketball Player.
I have countless memories of these special nights, but none as powerful as our
“chapel” meeting prior to our North Coast Section game vs. Saint Joseph of Notre Dame, a perennial Northern California powerhouse. With the biggest game of their careers before them, the players sat thoughtfully in the shadows of reflection. The silence was slowly broken as the young men began to share their loving expressions of shared dreams, life experiences, and their total commitment to each other. Their tone was confident, but realistic, knowing that a loss in the Sectional Semi-Finals would mean the end of their season. After years of competing and growing together, they knew that this meeting could be the final time they would share this sacred time together.
I have countless memories of these special nights, but none as powerful as our
“chapel” meeting prior to our North Coast Section game vs. Saint Joseph of Notre Dame, a perennial Northern California powerhouse. With the biggest game of their careers before them, the players sat thoughtfully in the shadows of reflection. The silence was slowly broken as the young men began to share their loving expressions of shared dreams, life experiences, and their total commitment to each other. Their tone was confident, but realistic, knowing that a loss in the Sectional Semi-Finals would mean the end of their season. After years of competing and growing together, they knew that this meeting could be the final time they would share this sacred time together.
After opening words of support from each coach, our players shared poems, songs, movie clips, or stories from their past that had a special meaning and significance to them. This spiritual ritual was cumbersome at its introduction but became our deepest connection defining the development of the soul of our team.
Our starting center was Jaime Sanchez, a mountain of a man raised in the inner streets of Oakland, California. Jaime was one of my favorite players, a young person who overcame the countless challenges presented in the unstable environment of his youth. The demands of our program were sometimes overwhelming for this gentle giant as he struggled with the discipline and conditioning required to compete at the highest level of high school basketball. After an amazing junior season in which he earned Co-Most Valuable Player recognition in our league, he worked diligently in the offseason to prepare for his final year. Throughout the fall, his attitude seemed distant. He appeared uncertain and unwilling to embrace the higher expectations after his special season of a year ago. His passion for the game was waning, but after several heartfelt conversations, he reluctantly returned to play his senior year, citing his love and dedication to our staff and to his teammates. His devotion for our team overcame his hesitancy and became the driving force that enabled him to embrace the grueling challenges of his final season.
Jaime’s teammate and best friend, Gus Argenal, was an amazing competitor, a young man with a totally different story. A doctor’s son, he was raised in the beautiful suburban hills of Lafayette, California. Gus had all of the advantages of a secure and stable environment, but he played like a man possessed. He was the heart and soul of our program and was the embodiment of the values our program exemplified. Regardless of their alternate realities, Gus and Jaime were inseparable and it was only fitting that they shared MVP honors their junior year despite the fact that Gus averaged less than six points per game. His ability to lead and his desire to defend made him a special player who still stands as one of the greatest defenders and competitors I have ever coached.
Jaime and Gus led the way into our “Chapel Service” and sat side by side as their teammates filed in and assumed their positions around the gathering flame. Following protocol, our underclassmen spoke first with one sharing the song “Will You Remember Me?” by Sarah McLachlan. Next up, a movie clip of “Braveheart,” and then a reading of the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. With the commitment ceremony coming to a close, the circle turned their attention to our four seniors who reverently shared their thoughts on their Spartan Basketball experience.
Jaime’s teammate and best friend, Gus Argenal, was an amazing competitor, a young man with a totally different story. A doctor’s son, he was raised in the beautiful suburban hills of Lafayette, California. Gus had all of the advantages of a secure and stable environment, but he played like a man possessed. He was the heart and soul of our program and was the embodiment of the values our program exemplified. Regardless of their alternate realities, Gus and Jaime were inseparable and it was only fitting that they shared MVP honors their junior year despite the fact that Gus averaged less than six points per game. His ability to lead and his desire to defend made him a special player who still stands as one of the greatest defenders and competitors I have ever coached.
Jaime and Gus led the way into our “Chapel Service” and sat side by side as their teammates filed in and assumed their positions around the gathering flame. Following protocol, our underclassmen spoke first with one sharing the song “Will You Remember Me?” by Sarah McLachlan. Next up, a movie clip of “Braveheart,” and then a reading of the poem “If” by Rudyard Kipling. With the commitment ceremony coming to a close, the circle turned their attention to our four seniors who reverently shared their thoughts on their Spartan Basketball experience.
With his voice shaking with emotion, he promised that tonight would see him giving every ounce of his energy to help us succeed. He was determined and ready to create memories and cherish every second of the dwindling minutes of his senior year.
Captain Gus spoke about the amazing journey he experienced in his final year at De La Salle. He referenced the hard work, sacrifice, and the total commitment he and his teammates made to a new coaching staff just eighteen months earlier. He thanked his friends for their support and their love. He spoke of almost ten years of competing with many of these same teammates at Excel Camp and in AAU Basketball, growing together, learning the lessons, developing their chemistry both on and off the court. With his voice shaking with emotion, he promised that tonight would see him giving every ounce of his energy to help us succeed. He was determined and ready to create memories and cherish every second of the dwindling minutes of his senior year.
Jaime Sanchez concluded the ceremony as he quietly thanked his teammates for an amazing two-year ride. He talked slowly and happily of the many years they shared on the hardwood. He talked about his early season hesitation to totally commit to this journey. He expressed his gratitude for the support he was given by his coaches and the staff as he dealt with his uncertainty. He professed that the sacrifice was well worth the rewards, citing his development as a person and the fact that we were on the brink of a North Coast Championship Title. He concluded his heartfelt remarks by turning to Gus, his favorite teammate, and proclaimed:
“Gus, I have played basketball with you since we were eight years old and I have loved every second of being your teammate. You are like a brother to me and I want you to know that I will have your back for the rest of our lives. I will do anything for you, and I promise that I will never let you down.”
Jaime Sanchez concluded the ceremony as he quietly thanked his teammates for an amazing two-year ride. He talked slowly and happily of the many years they shared on the hardwood. He talked about his early season hesitation to totally commit to this journey. He expressed his gratitude for the support he was given by his coaches and the staff as he dealt with his uncertainty. He professed that the sacrifice was well worth the rewards, citing his development as a person and the fact that we were on the brink of a North Coast Championship Title. He concluded his heartfelt remarks by turning to Gus, his favorite teammate, and proclaimed:
“Gus, I have played basketball with you since we were eight years old and I have loved every second of being your teammate. You are like a brother to me and I want you to know that I will have your back for the rest of our lives. I will do anything for you, and I promise that I will never let you down.”
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