I am always encouraging people to value their relationships and to accomplish whatever our purpose is in life. I dont think there in any question about this.

However, there is another group of people that you have met in some way as you have journeyed through your life. They are talented or famous or both. They give us a renewed sense of what is possible. Some we have only met once. Others have gone in and out of our lives along the way.

My point is that because the encounters are relatively brief, we tend to lose the experience of being related or just forget about our good fortune. How about a walk with me down my memory lane? I am sure you will want to do the same for yourself.

The first person that comes to mind is Bill Sharman, the Boston Celtic Hall of Famer. I was 12 or 13 years old and Bill was playing softball for my uncle, Arlen Stadmiller, on a team from Porterville, California. They played in one of the best fast pitch leagues in the country. Our paths crossed many times after that and we actually became friends. What he didnt know was that he was my model for being an athlete.

There were, of course, people from the world of athletics that I played with and against but in this piece I want to honor a more random group. Some are sports figures and some are not. This list of people is random in nature although somewhat chronological. Mostly it is just how they come to mind. It is just a list.

THE LIST

CORNELIUS œDUTCH WARMERDAM”The greatest pole vaulter of his era. Teacher and Coach at Fresno State University. A most unassuming guy.

JOHN BURTON”Did army basic training with this man who became one of the most influential politicians in the State of California. A regular guy that I played basketball against in college as well.

HARRY REID”Yes, that Harry Reid. The U.S. senator who leads the Democratic members of the Senate. A young Las Vegas attorney who I met while coaching at UNLV.

PAUL LAXALT”Governor of Nevada and a powerful presidential advisor. From my UNLV days.

KENNY GUINN”Governor of Nevada. We competed against each other in high school. A coaching colleague and friend.

MOSHA DYAN”Israeli military hero. Shook hands with him during pre-game ceremonies before a basketball game in Tel Aviv between my team (Alvik, Stockholm, Sweden) and Maccabi Tel Aviv. Before a packed house, we shook hands at mid-court. Even though he is short in stature, he is a powerful presence, eye patch and all.

BILL COSBY”Worked out in our gym (UNLV) when performing in Las Vegas. Great sports fan and regular guy.

SHECKY GREENE”Played with him in several fund-raising games for Las Vegas schools. One of the funniest guys of all times.

BRUCE NORDSTROM”Sports fan and the driving force behind the Nordstrom department store chain.

DICK BOUSHA”College and AAU All-American. President of Vickers Petroleumin in Wichita, Kansas. He was my 1960 Olympic Trials roommate.

WERNER ERHARD”The MAN where transformational work is concerned. I am honored to call him a friend.

TIM GALWEY”Author, The Inner Game of Tennis and other Inner Game books. One of the most read sports authors of all time. Best one-n-one performance coach ever.

PREMA ELVIN”Educator and model for womens leadership, especially black women.

TAL BRODY”All-American basketball player at the University of Illinois and a national hero in Israel. A most generous human being.

There are those I have missed and for that I apologize. My list is missing some women but that is mostly due to my relationships with them dont seem to be random or chance meetings. I am just a guy doing my thing and these people showed up in my life. Lets call it œgood luck.

Cant close without a reference for the future. Heres my BUCKET LIST:

PRESIDENT OBAMA”Lets talk a little basketball
GARTH BROOKS”Why, country music, of course
QUEEN LATIFAH”Lets talk about women
MORGAN FREEMAN”Racism is still an important topic
HELEN MIRREN”Her secrets to getting older so gracefully

Have a great day!!

Check lulu.com or Vervante.com for Coach Todds latest book, œThe Art of Losing