In the Presence of.............

Greatness, Part 2. Take out your time machines and go way back to the early eighties...on a

warm Spring day in April out on the practice field at Tulane University upon completion of their Spring Game a group of coaches in attendance at the Tulane Coaching Clinic head through a line for some boiled crawfish and beer. I sauntered over toward some chairs to sit down and participate in devouring the crawdads and knocking back a brew or two. It just so happens that I ended sitting next to two of the legends of football in St. Tammany. Coach Jack Salter and Coach Sid Theriot, still a young coach, full of vim and vigor (or b. s. some would say) I poked fun at the two "statesman" coaches with a query..."Tell coaches which one of you invented the huddle?"... obviously referring to and making fun of their age. It was my good fortune that they both gave a hearty laugh and needled one another as to who it might actually be.



Truth be told, I was blessed that day to be in the presence of greatness...the greatness of these two gentlemen coaches. I have previously chronicled Coach Jack Salter's place in Covington history, St. Tammany history, and Lousiana coaching history. He is among the greats.



Today though I had the opportunity to interview Coach Sid Theriot of Mandeville High School.

This man started the program at MHS in 1967. He did so from literally scratch. The School Board had hired the right man as he had some prior experience in building a program (Houma Junior High). What the school board didn't know and would over the years find out is that they got not only a Coach, but, a teacher (one student claimed that Coach Theriot was the only teacher that could teach me Math), a father figure, a mentor, a family man and much more.



Here are some of the things his former players said about him:

"He instilled a work ethic and discipline in every one of us"

"We game him our all, because we respected him,

"

Don't Quote Me....

Quote Michael Wilbon on today's PTI - "We are creating a nation of Whimps"

Peace Upon You

More Coffee beans....

Some more random coffee filtered observations…working at Starbucks would be great for a “Goth type”, no need to buy special clothes as they all dress in black! Except you gotta have one of those green aprons…I’d like one myself…who doesn’t want to be a Barista?

I also have observed that people can’t start or is it end work without stopping in for some “hip” joe. With every kinda car available rolling through the drive thru window line...Work trucks, Police vehicles, Old wrecks, and even Cadillac Escalades.

People hold meetings at Starbucks! All kinds of clubs and organizations! You don’t need a board room when you got Starbucks. That way there is no host and you have to pay for your own refreshments. And you can suck up their air conditioned, brilliant!

Viva Starbucks
Peace Upon You

Coffee Grounds....

I have been watching Starbucks recently...I should say the people in Starbucks...there is a lot going on in a Starbuck Coffee shop. They have people doing business...like interviewing people...checking work email...sending out work email...making calls...flat out doing work.

Then they have students studying and talking and talking and studying. They have regular and decaf people talking and drinking coffee.

Starbucks is the "safe" place to meet your online hook-up for the first introductory, we don't have to go any farther than this date, or how fast can we go back to your place date.

The world is going on inside of Starbucks. Hell, they invented there own freaking language...Tall, Grande, and Venti. WTF happened to Small, Medium and freaking Large? It is a "cool" place to go to and see all kinds of celebs and wannabe celebs. I just go there for coffee, but, I must admit I am paying more attention these days.

As to the coffee it can be addicting, I needed an Intervention just to get me from drinking a cinnamon or gingerbread or pumpkin latte' over and over again. Thankfully I went to SA and followed their 12 step program and back on my feet. But, I had to confess that after lunch one day I had a Chocolate something or other that literally tasted like a liquid dessert. Awesome, but, I fessed up, no more for me. Until I give in again. I'm sorry!

There are like lots of different coffees and teas they sell and a million ways to order them and they will take your money over and over again. I feel better fessing up.

Next time you go to Starbucks check the people out and see if you can figure out what they are doing there (besides drinking coffee), you never know maybe your neighbor and some woman who is not his wife will be up in Starbucks trying to make nicey nice.

Viva Starbucks.

Peace Upon You

Hitting the WALL...

I ran smack dab into it today...The proverbial wall...2 weeks of not being able to talk has taken its mental toll (insert joke here) on me. I've got a dry erase board I can write on...can't write fast enough or people can't read my writing...FRUSTRATING. How about mouthing the words or using gestures...sure, like ANYONE will understand...Cindy can read my lips (somewhat)...but it is still FRUSTRATING. Try texting, chatting, and email...no matter how you put it, it never comes out the same way you would have said it and therefore...something is lost in the TRANSLATION...FRUSTRATING. ARRRRGGGGGHH!

For those people struggling with vocal issues...God Bless You and keep you Sane.

Viva Cindy Jean

Peace Upon You