A poem dedicated to those heroic enough to coach and mentor others.

First Coach First

Hector, the Specter, Piña colada

You are man enough

To let a bunch of little girls

Make a sing-song rhyme

Of your name.

You are man enough

To stand on the third-base line,

Toes pointed in,

Arms out like a kite

Flapping like a bird,

Signing pint-sized kids

To relax and swing away.

You are man enough

To show what good leadership

Really looks like,

A soft-spoken smile well-heard.

You are man enough

To be humble 

and coach first base first,

because that is where kids

must learn to run

first.

You are man enough

To care only about teamwork

And sportsmanship.

Trusting that these make winning records,

and letting others take credit

for your leadership.

You are man enough

To shape coal into a softball diamond,

Encouraging more than one All-American

Girl All-star to bloom.

But most of all,

You are man enough

To inspire people.