Legendary Penn St. football coach Joe Paterno passed away the other day at the age of 85. The official cause of death is listed as lung cancer, but we know better. Coach Paterno really died of a broken heart and a broken spirit.
He raised more money and school awareness than any person in PSU's history. Simply, Joe Paterno put Penn St on the map. Coach Paterno was Penn St. Then the allegations of misconduct and inappropriate behavior by a former coach, and the end came swiftly and brutally. All the hard work, sweat, and toil and the Penn St legacy was instantly crushed by the alleged actions of one man. The accusations dealt a devastating blow to Coach Paterno, the university, and the Penn St. community. The man that gave his life to Penn St, 60 years with the university, lost his will to live.
The work of a lifetime seemingly undone in a moment. Life can be cruel and unfair. We all have our opinions about what Coach Paterno knew and how he should have acted, but should a poor decision or lapse in judgement undo a lifetime of good. Can a lifetime's work of service and sacrifice be compromised and forgotten so quickly and harshly.
I'm certain history will remember Joe Paterno in a favorable light, with the fondness and recognition of his tremendous contributions to the university, college football, and the community at large. In time the loving, enduring spirit of Joe Paterno will help renew and heal Penn St. And before long, we will hear the chants reverberating again around State College and the rest of the country
WE ARE PENN STATE!
And the legendary coach will smile
for he deserves a rest
rest easy Coach
All is forgiven.
All the Best,
Coach K
Tom Kaufmann
tkaufmanncoaching.com
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Thursday, January 26, 2012
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
My Friend Dave - Running Safety
With the Giants winning an exciting championship game against the 49ers and headed to another Superbowl against the Patriots, my thoughts turned to one of my best friends Dave Rothbloom.
Dave was the biggest Giants fan in the world, one of his many passions. He was from NJ and I being from Philly would naturally talk sports and bust each others chops about the games and our teams. The Giants are very successful having won several championships while the Eagles fans continue to wallow in futility. He would come to the office after a game and ramble on about "Big Blue" this and "Big Blue" that and I sat there and took it with a big smile on my face. That was 10 years ago and I remember the times we spent together as some of the best times and I treasure his friendship.
Dave passed away in his early 30's while he was out running one snowy morning several years back. He was a marathoner that would run 50 miles per week and was out on the road constantly. The snow was falling that day and the driver never saw Dave. I got the call that he was hit by a car and in the hospital, thinking he just broke a leg, I just shook my head and then the words came, "Tom, Dave is in really bad shape we don't know if he's going to make it". Before I could get in the car and go the hospital two hours away, I got the news that Dave was gone. I stood looking out the window in disbelief not knowing what to feel or what to do. I was stunned and I stood there and just sobbed. I cried for Dave and his lovely wife and two young children, and I cried for selfish reasons too, I just lost my best buddy.
What was so ironic, is that he was a fitness and health NUT! He would eat only the healthiest foods. He was considered heavy for marathon racing, so he changed his diet, and dropped 20 pounds to improve his times. He had a passion for running and would run and train daily. He inspired me and others to start running and to train and eat better. I'm happy to say that I completed a marathon because of Dave, something I thought I could never do. You know how men are, especially friends, they rarely express their emotions. I never told Dave how much I loved him, how much he meant to me, and how much I miss him.
In honor of my friend Dave, please be careful when running or biking on the road especially in today's world of texting and distracted driving. Better to go to a track or train off road. And more importantly tell everyone in your life how important they are to you and how much you love and appreciate them. You never know when you'll get the chance again.
Dave once said, "Tom if you knew what went into a hot dog, you would never eat it". In memory of him I have not had a hot dog in over 15 years. As the Giants and Patriots prepare for the superbowl, I think of Dave smiling down from heaven at me and saying "Go Big Blue"
All the Best,
Coach K
Tom Kaufmann
Dave was the biggest Giants fan in the world, one of his many passions. He was from NJ and I being from Philly would naturally talk sports and bust each others chops about the games and our teams. The Giants are very successful having won several championships while the Eagles fans continue to wallow in futility. He would come to the office after a game and ramble on about "Big Blue" this and "Big Blue" that and I sat there and took it with a big smile on my face. That was 10 years ago and I remember the times we spent together as some of the best times and I treasure his friendship.
Dave passed away in his early 30's while he was out running one snowy morning several years back. He was a marathoner that would run 50 miles per week and was out on the road constantly. The snow was falling that day and the driver never saw Dave. I got the call that he was hit by a car and in the hospital, thinking he just broke a leg, I just shook my head and then the words came, "Tom, Dave is in really bad shape we don't know if he's going to make it". Before I could get in the car and go the hospital two hours away, I got the news that Dave was gone. I stood looking out the window in disbelief not knowing what to feel or what to do. I was stunned and I stood there and just sobbed. I cried for Dave and his lovely wife and two young children, and I cried for selfish reasons too, I just lost my best buddy.
What was so ironic, is that he was a fitness and health NUT! He would eat only the healthiest foods. He was considered heavy for marathon racing, so he changed his diet, and dropped 20 pounds to improve his times. He had a passion for running and would run and train daily. He inspired me and others to start running and to train and eat better. I'm happy to say that I completed a marathon because of Dave, something I thought I could never do. You know how men are, especially friends, they rarely express their emotions. I never told Dave how much I loved him, how much he meant to me, and how much I miss him.
In honor of my friend Dave, please be careful when running or biking on the road especially in today's world of texting and distracted driving. Better to go to a track or train off road. And more importantly tell everyone in your life how important they are to you and how much you love and appreciate them. You never know when you'll get the chance again.
Dave once said, "Tom if you knew what went into a hot dog, you would never eat it". In memory of him I have not had a hot dog in over 15 years. As the Giants and Patriots prepare for the superbowl, I think of Dave smiling down from heaven at me and saying "Go Big Blue"
All the Best,
Coach K
Tom Kaufmann
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Quote of The Day
If you want to accomplish something you must first expect it from yourself - Wayne Dyer
Practice loving yourself and others every day. Let your love grow, the more love in your life, the happier and contented you will be. Loves leads to peace, joy, and understanding. Share your love even to those that you think don't want it or need it, give it away, it comes back multiplied. Remember it doesn't cost a thing to think or say a word of kindness or love, or to simply smile, or show understanding with a compassionate glance. Be generous with your Love
"The easy way to get what you want is to help enough people get what they want" - Zig Ziglar
"I spent half my life worrying about things that never happened" - Mark Twain
"Don't spend your time arguing with stupid people, it only drags you down to their level where they have more experience" - Mark Twain
"In all thy getting, get understanding" - Proverbs
"It is not the critic who counts...but the man who is in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat" - Teddy Roosevelt
"There is a soul force in the universe, which, if we permit it will flow through us and produce miraculous results." - Gandhi
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" - Buddha
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein
"The greatest wealth is health" - Virgil
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be" - Lao Tzu
"There is nothing stronger than gentleness" - Abraham Lincoln
"When one advances confidently in the direction of his dream, and endeavors to live the life they have imagined, they will meet with success unexpected in common hours - Henry David Thoreau
"Into each life a little rain must fall" - From the poem Rainy Day Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come" - Victor Hugo
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" - John F. Kennedy
"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation" - Aristotle
"My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete" - Jesus
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Everyone can understand adversity, but to really test a man's character give him power" - Abraham Lincoln
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two Impostors just the same; Yours is the Earth and everything that is in it" - Rudyard Kipling
"The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother" - John Wooden
"Whe
I
Practice loving yourself and others every day. Let your love grow, the more love in your life, the happier and contented you will be. Loves leads to peace, joy, and understanding. Share your love even to those that you think don't want it or need it, give it away, it comes back multiplied. Remember it doesn't cost a thing to think or say a word of kindness or love, or to simply smile, or show understanding with a compassionate glance. Be generous with your Love
"The easy way to get what you want is to help enough people get what they want" - Zig Ziglar
"I spent half my life worrying about things that never happened" - Mark Twain
"Don't spend your time arguing with stupid people, it only drags you down to their level where they have more experience" - Mark Twain
"In all thy getting, get understanding" - Proverbs
"It is not the critic who counts...but the man who is in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes up short again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming, but who know the great enthusiasms, the great devotions, who spends himself for a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement and who at worst if he fails, fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who knew neither victory nor defeat" - Teddy Roosevelt
"There is a soul force in the universe, which, if we permit it will flow through us and produce miraculous results." - Gandhi
"When the student is ready, the teacher will appear" - Buddha
"Imagination is more important than knowledge" - Albert Einstein
"The greatest wealth is health" - Virgil
"When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be" - Lao Tzu
"There is nothing stronger than gentleness" - Abraham Lincoln
"When one advances confidently in the direction of his dream, and endeavors to live the life they have imagined, they will meet with success unexpected in common hours - Henry David Thoreau
"Into each life a little rain must fall" - From the poem Rainy Day Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
"There is nothing more powerful than an idea whose time has come" - Victor Hugo
"Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country" - John F. Kennedy
"Where your talents and the needs of the world cross, there lies your vocation" - Aristotle
"My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete" - Jesus
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
"Everyone can understand adversity, but to really test a man's character give him power" - Abraham Lincoln
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs and blaming it on you. If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster and treat those two Impostors just the same; Yours is the Earth and everything that is in it" - Rudyard Kipling
"The best thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother" - John Wooden
"Whe
I
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
You've Got A Friend - Find A Mentor
You've Got A Friend
We all need family, friends, coaches, someone, anyone that will support us on our journey. We need someone in our corner, that has our back, someone that will be there when we stumble, to catch us when we fall.
Our goals and dreams are precious. We are each unique and have special talents to share with the world. We must remember that and keep at it even when life beats us down. I had some very special people in my life that took me in and supported me during a challenging time, and I was grateful and able to repay the favor. I'm always looking for supportive people to help me improve.
There are plenty of people, too many, that will tell us it can't be done. That we aren't good enough. That are dreams are crazy. These people are often well intentioned but also misguided. The great achievers have to over come self doubt and all those doubters. That's OK. We need to tune those folks out. And not in a mean or angry way but just with the acknowledgement that they don't understand and we need to keep moving forward.
There are people that will support you, guide you, help you, nurture, and love you unconditionally. They are out there. FIND THEM! Ask them for help. If you can't find one, look to history there's plenty of excellent role models that were seeking to accomplish their own dreams, some that may be similar to yours. A good mentor or friend wants to help you achieve your dreams.
The great Toy Story movie was built on the simple principle of friendship between the boy Andy and his toys Woody and Buzz. A main part of the movie's success was the theme song by Randy Newman "You've Got A Friend In Me".
Here's to reaching your dreams. And remember
You've Got a Friend in Me
All the Best,
Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com
We all need family, friends, coaches, someone, anyone that will support us on our journey. We need someone in our corner, that has our back, someone that will be there when we stumble, to catch us when we fall.
Our goals and dreams are precious. We are each unique and have special talents to share with the world. We must remember that and keep at it even when life beats us down. I had some very special people in my life that took me in and supported me during a challenging time, and I was grateful and able to repay the favor. I'm always looking for supportive people to help me improve.
There are plenty of people, too many, that will tell us it can't be done. That we aren't good enough. That are dreams are crazy. These people are often well intentioned but also misguided. The great achievers have to over come self doubt and all those doubters. That's OK. We need to tune those folks out. And not in a mean or angry way but just with the acknowledgement that they don't understand and we need to keep moving forward.
There are people that will support you, guide you, help you, nurture, and love you unconditionally. They are out there. FIND THEM! Ask them for help. If you can't find one, look to history there's plenty of excellent role models that were seeking to accomplish their own dreams, some that may be similar to yours. A good mentor or friend wants to help you achieve your dreams.
The great Toy Story movie was built on the simple principle of friendship between the boy Andy and his toys Woody and Buzz. A main part of the movie's success was the theme song by Randy Newman "You've Got A Friend In Me".
Here's to reaching your dreams. And remember
You've Got a Friend in Me
All the Best,
Tom Kaufmann
Coach K
tkaufmanncoaching.com
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