OLD GUARD, NEW GENERAL

OLD GUARD, NEW GENERAL

By Andy Weddington

Monday, 07 March 2022

Ability may get you to the top, but it takes character to keep you there. - John Wooden 

There was a basketball game in our area Saturday evening.

The court mere miles from our home, and the game televised.

I did not attend nor watch for not knowing there was a game.

Yesterday morning, during coffee, I watched the post-game interview with the winning team's head coach. 

And have been mulling it over.

Home team and favored Duke's Blue Devils beaten by UNC's Tarheels.

There is a difference between losing and being beat; it's too bad there's not a B column -  W L B T. 

And this a longtime heated rivalry of neighbor schools I remember to my youth in the mid '60s. Then, as now, it divides neighbors, and families. Some manage to remain friends. 

Admittedly, in those days I was a Tarheel fan. Dick Grubar, Larry Miller (#44, I remember because I had a Carolina blue sweatshirt turned into a jersey using black magic marker), and Charlie Scott first come to mind. Charlie Scott. Color barrier breaker. Another commentary, someday. 

In the late '80's/early '90's a young man by the name of Hubert Davis, on the trail broke by Charlie Scott, played guard for the Tarheels. 

Hubert Davis was a great player. 

After an exceptional career in the NBA and study of the college game from court-side chair as an assistant at UNC, Davis was tapped to be head coach of the Tarheels; something else I was not aware of until yesterday morning.

What struck me during the post-game interview has little to do with basketball and nothing to do with UNC beating Duke.

Hubert Davis is a leader. 

It just so happens he was a great basketball player at the guard position. And it just so happens he's proving to be a great head coach. 

How did UNC beat Duke? That's essentially what the reporters asked.

Coach Davis calmly cited Proverbs 4:25 (Let your eyes look straight ahead), and laid out what his team had to do ...

"Plant your feet. Stand your ground. Fight!"

He repeated his winning strategy several times during the interview.

In Marine speak ...

"Plant your feet" --> Honor

"Stand your ground" --> Courage

"Fight" --> Commitment

Hubert Davis may be an old guard but he's now a new general. 

And there's many an actual general, old and not, who ought watch and learn from General Davis: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdZKDK045Js [Note: For whatever reason, link does not work all the time. If not, Google Hubert Davis Duke post-game interview.]

I've met a lot of generals (and admirals). Some friends.  

But of today's lot no stranger comes to mind as wanting to meet more than General Davis; he seems all Marine.