Fridays with Mac: "Magnificent Mentors"

While barging into Bill McCartney’s home off the sixth-tee box of a nice Northwest Denver suburban course, your scribe’s mind was totally focused on golf. There was news to be shared with the Hall of Fame football coach and extraordinary exhorter of others.

“Billy Mac from Hackensack,” was the opening statement. “Don’t even bother getting up. I got a good story for you.” The only coach to ever lead the Colorado Buffaloes to a national football title, as usual, didn’t listen. The 81-year-old, despite battling Alzheimer’s, still has plenty of spring in his step. Dressed head-to-toe in “Golden Buffaloes” gear, Coach Mac charged toward me bellowing, “Southpaw (I’m left-handed) give me the scoop.” As the Michigan native settled back into his comfy chair with golf, as usual, on the television given it was an early Friday afternoon, I began the tale.

It centers on Raytown, Missouri. The community were I grew up. Suburb of Kansas City. Sports fans, especially Denver Broncos’ fans, know of Arrowhead Stadium. Denver has’t won there forever. A loud and raucous NFL venue. A sea of red-clad fans. Reminds me of Buff games in Lincoln, Nebraska against the Cornhuskers. As the “Buff Guy” for CBSDenver, I’d always stand in awe on the sidelines scanning the crowd and think, “Impressive. These folks really love their Huskers.” Same thing in Kansas City. Kauffman Stadium, where the Royals play is right next door, all part of the Truman Sports Complex. That complex sits at the intersection of Kansas City, Raytown and Independence. Our nation’s 33rd president, Harry Truman is from Independence.

Anyway, Raytown was a wonderful community to grow up as a child crazy about athletics. We had all necessary resources to succeed. Youth sports were abundant and inexpensive. The middle school and high school programs rock solid. Participants like this ol’ jock were blessed with resources and passion from the community. We had great coaches. Volunteers taking time to mentor young athletes about sports and the incredible life lessons we learn through competition: embracing the importance of teamwork, perseverance and hard work. That cord of three strands is not easily broken and a great foundation to achieving goals and overcoming challenges far beyond sports.

The kids of Raytown today don’t have such luck. The community has changed. More poverty, familial dysfunction and other unfortunate stuff. Good fortune would have it in 2013, I was blessed to be inducted into the school district’s Hall of Fame. Through that humbling honor, a friendship was born with the, recently retired, district superintendent, Allan Markley. Great dude, passionate about education and a big sports fan. He loves to play golf too.

Long ago we talked about the lack of resources for today’s kiddos and decided to throw a golf tournament each summer to raise money for youth activities - sports, art, music, field trips - for the 8,000 kids in the district. “Hey McIntosh,” Markley said right before this year’s tournament, “We’ve raised closed to $250,000 the past decade or so.” It’s making a difference. Right on.

After this year’s tournament (always Friday before Father’s Day) was complete, a special moment at the after-party. Al Maddox (pictured) was presented with the Joe Herndon community service award. This incredible guy coached kids for more than 60 years. Wife Donna and Al had three sons, all like brothers to me, and were always there for youth growing up in Raytown. The Maddox home was always open and always challenging us to, Coach Mac’s words, embrace, “Good, better and best, never let it rest. Till our good is better and our better is our best.” Al and Donna did that for me and hundreds, if not thousands, of other sports-crazed kiddos. This couple influenced a lot of lives, mine included.

McCartney was absorbing this musing and about to leap from his comfy chair. “Billy Mac,” I snorted from the couch, “You and Al Maddox are kindred spirits. Each has ‘fresh fire’ to exhort others to go beyond their perceived limits.”

McCartney, smiling broadly, quickly countered, “Wrong arm (another nickname), some of us were born to coach!” Amen. “Alle B” and “Billy Mac.” Magnificent mentors for sports and life!