PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE FALL 2000

Then and Now

By Dr. Greg Shepard
Published: Fall 2000
For Coaches Over Forty: Remember when you were younger, way back in the 50's and 60's? Let's take a look at how times have changed: Then: Long Hair Now: Longing for hair; Then: A keg Now: An EKG; Then: Moving to California because it's cool Now: Moving to California because it's hot; Then: Watching John Glenn's historic flight with your parents Now: Watching John Glenn's historic flight with your kids; Then: Trying to look like Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor Now: Trying not to look like Marlon Brando and Elizabeth Taylor; Then: The President's struggle with Fidel Now: The President's struggle with fidelity; Then: The Grateful Dead Now: Dr. Kevorkian; Then: Getting out to a new, hip joint Now: Getting a new hip joint.

Tiger Nutrition is stronger than ever. We have again been able to reduce the cost for our Tiger Nutrition Products. See pages 64-65. Roger Freeborn, head football coach at Estacada High School in Oregon, reports that Josh Thompson listened closely at their BFS Clinic. He then weighed over 340 pounds. He came down to 269 and says, “I'm on my way down to 210.” One of Coach Freeborn's assistant coaches started out at over 400 pounds has now lost 100 pounds! Congratulations!

Don't listen to people who discredit your dream or idea. Here is something to think about: “There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home,” said Ken Olson, president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corp. in 1977. “I think there may be a world wide market for maybe five computers,” said Thomas Watson, chairman of IBM in 1943. “The concept is interesting and well-formed, but in order to earn more than a ‘C,’ the idea must be feasible,” said a Yale professor in response to Fred Smith's paper proposing reliable overnight delivery service. (Smith went on to found Federal Express) This was told to Mrs. Fields, “A cookie store is a bad idea. Besides, the market research reports say Americans like crispy cookies, not soft and chewy cookies like you make.” Decca Recording in 1982 told the Beatles, “We don't like your sound, and guitar music is on the way out.”

Be A Dream Keeper with your athletes. Very few of your athletes will ever make the big time in pro sports, but they can all make the big time somewhere else. Keep the dream alive! I was deeply moved by a letter we received from Mike Jackson, a 15-year old boy from Palm Springs. I thought about how our job is more than X's and O's. Our job is to help all athletes play the song they came on earth to play. Here is part of Mike's letter, “I have been doing your BFS Set-Rep Logbook and have improved a great deal. It has helped with football, baseball and track. I have broken personal records. I usually ran the forty in about 5.1 or 5.2 but now I can run a 4.8 forty. My bench has gone from 135 to 155, my box squat from 225 to 315, my power clean from 85 to 125 pounds. I weigh 150 and am 6-0 tall. I am just saying thank you very much for helping me increase my endurance and for motivating me to push it harder.”

Thank you Mike. You made my day. You're an eleven. You can make the big time somewhere!

Dr. Greg Shepard

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