Dear dad/coach,
I want to say thank you. as vague as that seems, let me explain. Thank you for bringing me into this world, and seeing the greatness in me from that very first moment. Thank you for buying me my first pair of Jordan's, my first basketball, and teaching me my first lessons about hard work, dedication, and commitment. Thank you for teaching me the game of basketball; how to shoot, dribble, and the spin move (which as my favorite. And most importantly, thank you for not being upset when I decided my heart wasn’t in it. I wanted to try something else, and you fully supported me.
I definitely have to thank you for getting me through high school. For telling me my freshmen year, when I decided to start playing volleyball, that my clock was already ticking. Time was of the essence, and I had a lot of work to put in if I wanted to get a college scholarship. You drilled it into my head that it wasn’t going to be easy, but if I wanted it that bad, I would achieve it. You pushed me past my limits and ran me into the ground. If I wasn’t in school, I was in the gym. You showed me no mercy and didn’t care how tired I was, you made me keep going. For the longest time I hated it. And for a while, it even made me hate you. I hated working out with you for the longest time. But then the day came for my clock to stop ticking. Just like you warned me, high school went by in the blink of an eye. And before I knew it, I was committed. And then I moved out. I was finally on my own, taking your lessons with me to play at the collegiate level you prepared me for. I never realized how important those lessons were until I was at my first college practice, the first time I had to compete with someone other than myself.
And because of you, I am where I am, and who I am, today. And that is why you want to say thank you. For teaching me what potential is and what it really means to work hard for something. For all the times you woke me up at 6 in the morning on either a school day or the weekends to go lift or run. For never letting me go to parties just to keep me out of trouble. For being the voice in the back of my head when I play telling me to keep pushing and never give up. For always telling me I was good, but I could always get better. Even though you’re always busy, especially during football season, thank you for always busting your butt to come to my games. It didn’t matter if it was the last set or the last point of the whole match, you were always there. Thank you for all the years of the yelling and screaming because now I can handle anything. Thank you for making me a coachable athlete and, even though I hate to admit it, always being right.
And most importantly, thank you for being a GREAT coach. Even though I’m not one of your players, you always pushed me as hard as you push them. You cared about my game just as much as theirs. If I could go back, I wouldn't change a thing. Thank you for passing on your passion to me. And your love. I promised I would make you proud. And I will.
Thank you Dad
Love,
Dallas
Go navy beat army
