“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
Last week we
lost a good one. For those of you who did not have the pleasure of
saying you knew Leroy Winfield – Lee, or Coach Win – then I feel
for you. You missed out. You missed out on having one of the most
interesting, positive and proud people you could ever imagine. He
was a mentor without equal, as well as some kind of basketball
coach.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>While I was sad that he passed last Friday, I am excited that he has a new coaching assignment that requires his attention in a higher place. If Wilt Chamberlain is in need of how to finger roll or shoot free throws, no worries; Coach Win will get it straightened out. If Len Bias is struggling with his defense against Pistol Pete Maravich, Lee will have a word with him. John Wooden now is looking down his bench at his top assistant, and there sits Coach Win. That team just got better because Coach Win is now in the house.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Lee Winfield was a slight man – 6’2” 180 lbs. after a big dinner – who made himself into a basketball player. With few offers after a tour at Sumner, Coach Win honed his skills at what is now Missouri Baptist until he attended North Texas State where he became a Division II All American. Drafted 32nd overall, Coach Winfield played seven years in the NBA. Known to be a tenacious defender and exceptional leaper, Lee Winfield found a place in the NBA in an era when no prisoners were taken.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>While basketball was a passion for Lee, teaching was a bigger accomplishment as he was an exceptional coach. He could teach the game where anyone would understand it. A man who did not have a negative bone in his body, Lee Winfield would teach anyone, anytime, anywhere. He always wanted to help someone be better and would never accept the credit. He’d just flash that million dollar smile when you played some defense.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>There was another side to Lee Winfield that we all knew. One word: style. Lee Winfield was a man of the ‘70s. Big ‘fros parted down the middle, double-knit slacks and sport jackets and a stylish brim could always be found on Lee Winfield, long after the ‘70s.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Once as assistant coach at Saint Louis University with Rich Grawer, the Billikens were playing at Duke. The Blue Devil fans were known to be merciless on the opponents before a game. If they saw one flaw, it was on. That night Coach Win decided he was going to break out one of his signature sport jackets to be accompanied by his traditional bow tie. “Loud” would be an understatement. The Duke fans got rolling before the game.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>One side of Cameron Indoor Stadium chanted, “Where did you get that jacket?” The other side responded with, “And that bow tie?” Coach Win smiled and said to me in that smooth, Barry White voice, “It’s obvious that they have money here but no idea of what style is all about.”
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>That was Coach Win – John Shaft, only Lee Winfield could dunk after the age of 50. I am not sure if Shaft had it like that. Yes, Lee Winfield could dunk as a senior, and the players he coached would marvel if not be put to shame.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>I will also remember what sort of father he was to son Julian and daughter Lezlie. When Julian was on track to be the next local phenom, Lee did a better job of shutting him down than any opponent when Julian did not excel in the classroom. He took Julian off the team, hence depriving Cardinal Ritter of their first state championship. In the end, everyone was better off.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>For daughter, Lezlie he encouraged her to play a game that was at the time considered for the boys. Funny thing is after Lee worked with her game a bit, she could guard most boys in town.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>He was a father, he was a man, he was a mentor, he was a friend to all. His style will not be forgotten.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Faulk in the Hall
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>Jerry Rice, Emmit Smith were first-ballot NFL Hall of Fame players. They now have company, as Marshall Faulk and Deion Sanders made it on their first try. Faulk belongs for his brain alone. God decided to give a skill set unlike no other. He knew everyone else’s assignment as well as his. He knew talent when he saw it, and he had vision on the field unlike any peer. He will be hard to duplicate, on or off the field.
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>No Charles Haley?
“margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>While I thought the selection committee did a commendable job this year, I have my doubts about their intentions to recognize a player’s accomplishments. Each year the name Charles Haley comes up, and each year he gets passed over. There is not a player walking the planet that has been on five Super Bowl championship teams that is not in the Hall of Fame. As a matter of fact there is no player with more rings than Charles Haley, and yet he sits on the outside of Canton.
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>We are not talking about a holder for field goal attempts. We are talking about a guy who in 169 games has 100 sacks. We are also talking about a guy who is bipolar and has displayed some lewd and disconcerting behavior. For that, Haley has been omitted for the Hall of Fame.
“margin-bottom: 5.25pt; line-height: normal; background: white;”>
“font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: Verdana; mso-fareast-font-family:” lang=”EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>So
“mso-bidi-font-style: normal;”>now play?
“font-size: 10.0pt; line-height: 115%; font-family: Verdana;” lang= “EN-US” xml:lang=”EN-US”>
