Some 28 years later he's still inspired by Kivisto's greatness

Quick -- can you name the last five Heisman Trophy winners? How about the last five World Series champions?

Didn't think so. But I'm pretty sure you can readily recall more than a few teachers and coaches who inspired you and had a profound influence on your life -- no matter how long ago it was.

For Paul Parks, that difference-maker was Ernie Kivisto, the legendary, Hall of Fame basketball coach whose fun-and-gun style of play -- and effusive personality -- brought a uniqueness to high school sports not seen before or since.

Parks was a short, white guy who couldn't run very fast and certainly couldn't slam dunk, let alone touch the rim. "But I loved basketball," he said, "and I knew Ernie was going to be a legend. I wanted to be a part of history."

So Parks became the team manager. For nearly three years in the mid-70s, he provided towels and water for the players, folded uniforms and worked at Ernie's side.

Today, nearly 32 years later, Parks -- a successful rock-and-roll concert photographer in San Diego -- is still impacted by those formative times three decades ago. It's yet another reminder that high school sports aren't just played for four years. They are played out for a lifetime. In many different ways, they shape who young people become. And keep shaping them.

Kivisto was head coach at East Aurora from 1967-82 and compiled a gaudy 312-99 record. He passed away in 2003 at age 81. But more than a quarter of a century since he last coached, Kivisto remains a defining symbol for Aurora basketball -- and for Parks.

Kivisto used to pick up Parks in the early morning each day. Those rides often traversed the east side, with Kivisto pulling up to players' homes and knocking on doors to make sure they'd get to school and/or practice.

After all, this was a guy who had "12+7+4" stitched on his red coaching shirts, the measure of devotion he expected toward basketball from his players -- 12 months a year, 7 days a week, 4 hours a day. He advised his players to sleep with a basketball. And to keep them in good health, Ernie often provided oranges and loaves and bread at practice.

A whirlwind of exuberance, Ernie made crazy characters look boring in comparison.

Ernie was a Hoosier legend as well. Just recently, Parks had the opportunity in San Diego to speak backstage at an awards banquet with Bobby Knight. As the former Indiana coach raved about Kivisto's historical impact on prep basketball in Illinois, Parks was reminded of a recollection involving the Hoosier state and one of Ernie's frequent trips to Notre Dame.

"Coach was a guest of Digger Phelps and was being honored at halftime," Parks said. "After the game we (East Aurora's team and coaches) all loaded into a bus to go visit some high schools amid the farm fields (in Indiana) to demonstrate some practice drills for the players.

"I'll never forget the looks on those kids' faces when a bus load of 'brothers' pulled up to their school and rolled into their gym to teach them."

Their looks were probably similar to those "strangers" who packed East Aurora's gym to near-capacity in that era; fans with no connection to the program -- or even the community -- showing up on game nights to watch Kivisto's teams.

"I remember so many cigar-chomping, suit-wearing businessmen who would show up to see those teams play," Parks said. "They wanted to see these players dunk.

"It was pretty spectacular to see a guy like Tracy LeSure -- who was only about 6-feet tall with a big afro -- take off from the foul line, arm outstretched, and slam the ball. It was like watching Michael Jordan before there was Michael Jordan."

Fans always filed in early to see the Tomcats' pregame warmup "show," a ritual that included every team member spinning a basketball on his fingertip -- Harlem Globetrotters style. Even Parks and his fellow managers were required to perfect that skill and join the scene.

It was part of Kivisto's practices every day -- and it produced the intended effect on game night, with equal parts itimidation and distraction. "The looks on our opponents' faces were priceless," Parks said.

Kivisto's flair for the dramatic wasn't appreciated by all, however -- particularly those who felt East's habit of scoring 100 points or more was a case of Ernie's enthusiasm going too far.

A typical pep talk from Kivisto went something like this: "Listen up, boys! The more you shoot, the more we score, the more we win. Now get out there and get me 100."

The perception was that of a flamboyant coach and his showboating teams running up scores. But Ernie was full-throttle and passionate about everything. He owed no apologies for his whirlwind approach to his pursuits.

And besides, Parks says, those big scoring nights were often the byproduct of ... defense! (Yes, defense).

"You wouldn't know this unless you were at practice every day like I was, but ... Ernie never taught the players to shoot," Parks said. "The only time players practiced shooting was during shoot-arounds before or after practice.

"All two hours of practice each day were spent on defense. That's why they scored 100 points in so many games -- because they were spectacular on defense. They were so good at stealing the ball, blocking shots and causing turnovers that they'd get so many possessions in a game and couldn't help but score.

"What are you supposed to do? Try not to score? Ernie always said scoring will come, so why spend time practicing it?"

Unconventional, to be sure. Just like Ernie Kivisto. And, as Parks can attest, someone whose infectious influence and crazy wisdom still have a presence after all these years.