Coach: Should I or shouldn't I? You should. (The final column)

Approximately eight years ago, more on a whim than anything else, I decided to contact the editor of the Glenview Lantern paper - The Century 22 publication that preceded the one you are reading now.

My offer was to see if I could write one column or article.

I wasn't sure if I should even make the contact, as I really hadn't done much writing previously. But as my other careers were winding down, I did start to think it might be something that I would enjoy.

The editor at the time, who didn't know me at all, said "sure, write something up and we will see if we can print it."

They did, and after that first one, came another and then another, and gradually over time I was writing a regular column.

I ended out writing more than 250 columns over a five-year-plus time period for The Lantern.

Never underestimate the power of that one "take a chance" phone call.

After that publication closed down during the pandemic, the writing gig appeared to be over. But soon after I learned, and was glad to hear, that the well-established and highly respected Daily Herald publications were coming to town with a brand new Glenview and Northbrook edition.

"Great!" I thought. "We will still have a local paper for our two towns."

I thought to myself, "Well, I am sure they have their own writers, but maybe I will contact them just to see if they are interested." I debated back and forth if it was even worth it or the right thing to do, but, like the first time, I decided to make the pitch.

The new editors at the Herald were not really sure who I was or where I was coming from, but they were looking for maybe just one quick article and were nice enough to give me a shot.

It turned into a lot of "shots" - 147 to be exact, in column form over two-plus years. And now (sadly) this final one.

Realizing, though, that if I would have gone the safer route and not even made the first inquiry, I never would have had the opportunity.

If you are thinking, should I or shouldn't I? Almost always, the answer is: You should.

As long as it is not immoral or illegal - make that call, write that note, talk to that person, go for that job, try out for that team, join that club ... you get the idea.

Go for it. No regrets.

I have written before about how, for me, one of the more transformational moments in my life came to fruition via a strange twist from one of my greatest disappointments.

Getting cut from the sophomore basketball team at New Trier High School was devastating for me. I had always dreamed of playing high school basketball, and now that dream ended - suddenly - with the deafening sound of a piece of paper taped on the wall without my name on it.

Following this crash and burn, I went into full-scale teenage depression. After a couple weeks finding my "comeback mode," I somehow came up with the idea of maybe calling the local park district to see if they needed any youth basketball coaches. I was only 16 at the time and had never really worked with kids in any capacity, but I thought it might be something I would enjoy and it would at least help cure my basketball hangover.

I wasn't sure if I should make the call, wasn't really sure if they would let a "kid" coach when all the other teams had dads coaching. But, as luck would have it, they did have one team still in need of a coach. I jumped in cold turkey, not really knowing what I was getting into. But the experience ignited something within me - a passion and love for coaching and working with kids that has lasted over 40 years!

A life-changing experience that wouldn't have happened if I didn't take a chance, pull the trigger and make that one call.

Writing for the Herald has been an absolute pleasure. Finding out about the great people of Northbrook and Glenview and the many wonderful programs and stories in these two towns even more of a pleasure.

The columns over the years have taken me to all corners of our towns' sports and recreation spectrum. From high school sports teams, to kids programs, to individual inspirational stories, retired coaches, ex-athletes now doing great things, unique programs, funny stories, not-so-funny stories, stories of wonderful people who have passed away (John Davis, Jim Wolter, Steve Eich, Mama Glass, Tom Richardson come to mind), silly advice columns, bad poems, stories on custodians, equipment personnel, sports bars, and then really off-the-beaten-track topics like the geese on our playing fields, and Squirrel Appreciation Day (don't ask). We ran the gamut through these columns and then some.

Just for the record: The most responses received on any columns I wrote probably were my shout out and plea to school marching bands (more music, more marching, less theatrics), and the one regarding Glenbrook South taking down all the plaques of all-conference athletes in their athletic corridors.

The toughest and most emotional one to write? Easy. No contest. The story of what I then called "the toughest competitor" this town has ever seen - One Tuff Cookie, Sam Cipolla. The talented Titan athlete who in her first year in college was suddenly diagnosed with a rare form of cancer that eventually took her life. But what a fight she gave. One Tuff Cookie was her byline and she lived up to that and then some as she inspired so many here in the town of Glenview. You can still read her amazing posts through the entire ordeal at http://1tuffcookie.blogspot.com.

A heartfelt thanks to everybody at the Herald who allowed me the space to "do my thing" with this column, but more importantly gave our two towns a great newspaper with outstanding local coverage. It was much appreciated by many!

A particular shout out to Dave Oberhelman, who took on the near herculean task of covering everything from politics, to special events to sports, and did so traveling quite a distance from his own hometown, somehow ingratiating himself into our community and making Glenview and Northbrook his second home.

Finally, sticking with the theme of this final column ... if anyone out there might be thinking about starting a new paper in town? One that covers the local scene as well as the Herald and their fine writers did?

If you or your company is thinking, should we do this? Should we even think about starting another publication here in town? Trust me - you should.

Final thought? All of the best, to all of our readers.

• I will have a new book coming out in November. The book is called "The Sports Section" and will include some unique takes, sports observations and ideas on myriad topics from basketball and bowling to football and dodgeball - and just about everything else in between. Email me at jcsportsandtees@aol.com for book release information and to get on the list for a possible newsletter I may be writing to continue with more columns.