Lead...For God's Sake

Last night I went to a men’s dinner at Johnson Ferry Baptist. They have it once a month, but this was the first time my friend Lee had gone. He got our friend Reid to go as well. Will’s girlfriend’s grandfather was there, a long-time JFBC member. About fifty attended: about 15 older men and the rest between 35 and 50. BBQ beef, baked beans, new potato salad, cole slaw, hushpuppies, toasted Italian bread, brownies, and peanut butter cookies…cooked up in the JF kitchen, not catered. Real good for church food.

The speaker was Todd Gongwer, an Indianan who wrote the book Lead…For God’s Sake. Shorter than me, he played basketball at a small college in Florida, then coached at small D2 colleges in Indiana. Later he tried the franchise restaurant business, and all along the way has tried to become an expert on leadership. Read over 400 books on the subject. His book was recommended by Lou Holtz and Urban Meyer. The Ohio State head coach read the book during a low time in his live, and became friends with Gongwer. The book is a fictional story about a basketball coach who learns leadership skills.    

Missed most of last’s night series opening win over the Pirates. Heard about the White Bear’s game-winning home run on the AJC.com gametracker. Fredi said Blake DeWitt would’ve been the emergency catcher. With all the struggles that Simmons and others have had trying to sacrifice bunt, that recent clutch bunt DeWitt laid down was a dandy. Don’t know who the emergency catcher will be when Freeman comes back next week. Not having one would put a damper on pinch-hitting opportunities for Gattis, except Evan will be in the lineup most of the time. http://capitolavenueclub.com had a favorable offensive statistical synopsis.

Having Phil Jackson coach the Hawks would be a dream situation. Read where he was disappointed that the Lakers didn’t re-hire him, but he took too long trying to make up his mind. I’m interested to see if Joe Johnson flops in the playoffs for the Nets, like he did with the Hawks.