Making Friends with the Dead - Collis, Roosevelt, and Summitt

Making friends with the dead extends our reach for 'personal advisors' or 'Personal Board of Directors'. If we 'know' Abraham Lincoln, then ask, "what would Lincoln say?" As a reminder, he observed, "I learn something from everyone I meet. From most people I learn what not to do."

They don't have to be volleyball experts. Don't abandon family, mentors, or the living. Without plunging into culture wars, I have a few suggestions:

Richard 'Dick' Collis. Dick was a longtime member of "the Back Row Boys" supporting Melrose sports. He helped found the Melrose High School Athletic Hall of Fame and was inducted as a contributor. Remember how he lived, "THINK." 

T - make it true

H - be helpful

I - inspire

N - ask is it necessary?

K - be kind

In his later years, he talked about getting a tattoo. I don't think he did. How much of his wisdom came from working at MIT? When someone asked the Dalai Lama the source of his wisdom, he answered that he enjoyed access to leaders around the world. 

Eleanor Roosevelt, former First Lady. I profiled Eleanor Roosevelt here. Two points to reiterate:

• "Reach out and try to help those who are less fortunate."
• "Every political woman should develop a skin as thick as a rhinoceros hide."

Find role models. Celebrities can be role models, but many non-celebrity women deserve your attention. The "Lessons in Herstory" app profiles renowned women. 

How could we know when women have real equality? When they routinely get selected for jobs and leadership positions not solely on qualifications but on patronage, friendship, and connections - the way many men are. 

Pat Summitt, former Tennessee women's basketball coach. What characterized Summitt? Toughness. Competitiveness. 

If John Wooden is known for his "Pyramid of Success," then Summitt is known for her 'Definite Dozen'. She believed foremost in outworking competitors. Her rivalry both in recruiting and in coaching against Geno Auriemma was legendary. She recruited and developed numerous great players. 

She tolerated no nonsense. When she learned players were out partying late, she called a 6 A.M. practice for "Four Corners." She set up trash barrels at each court corner and had players, many hungover, run until they puked into the barrels. That stopped the partying. 

Her list of accomplishments was legendary, including eight national championships. Her best known book was Reach for the Summitt. 

Develop lists of values, stories, mentors, and 'dead friends' throughout life. Be eclectic and choose their best qualities. 

Lagniappe. Repost? Ralph Labella talked about "nicey, nicey" at practice. Fuggedaboutit. Regardless of whether you're a starter, reserve, or JV player seeking advancement, go hard, go 'full tilt, full time'. Make your teammate better and challenge them to make you better.  

Lagniappe 2. The interest in Melrose volleyball is high. The first day of volleyball camp had 67 girls.