Saint Patrick's Day is a special day for me for a number of reasons. Many of us forget why the Feast day of the Patron Saint of Ireland should be celebrated in the first place, and frankly, that's ok. Regardless of what March 17th means to you, here are a few things this day reminds me of... in no particular order.

1. My Grandfather

On March 17, 1997, one of the greatest human beings on earth lost his battle with lymphoma. My grandfather, James Henry Rawe Senior,  passed away on St. Patrick's Day. Out of all the many lessons he taught me, this one stood out to me.

Adversity doesn't build character; it reveals it

If you ever want to know who your go to guys are as a coach, all you need to do is look at your team when things aren't going well. I am not talking about immediately after a loss. Everyone should be pissed after a loss. I am talking about immediately after a turnover, or putting the go ahead run on base, or missing the front end of a 1and1, or fouling the 3-point shooter. Look at the players after the opposing team makes a big play, big hit, or big shot. How those players react can tell you a lot about who they are as players and as people in general. Those negative plays may not magically transform them into the "go-to" players you are looking for, but it will give you an indication as a coach what players you will be able to consistently count on.

Baseball at Alton Field in Beechview
I grew up in the South Hills of Pittsburgh and played football since I was 8 years old for the Brookline Knights. My grandfather was a baseball legend in Pittsburgh and lived in Beechview most of his life after moving from the North Side. He starting coaching in 1947, mostly 16-20 year olds. Guys from all over the city wanted to play for my grandpap. At the time I thought it was because he was one of the best ever. Whether he was or wasn't, it didn't really matter much. His team won the AAABA championship in 1965. Other that that, his need or want to coach for any other reason but to help young men was the only motivation he needed. He wanted to help them be

Better baseball players, and
better young men.

Isn't that why someone coaches? I wish it were.

Alton field was a baseball field and park on the top of a hill near Beechwood elementary. By the time it was named after my grandfather, Jim Rawe Field, it already started to feel the wear and tear of lack of use combined with lack of upkeep. It was really sad to see. Back when I was younger, Alton Field was alive with College kids playing summer baseball, pick-up games on the basketball courts, and little kids on the playground. My mom and aunt used to sell pop for 5cents a piece when they were my age during the games. My grandfather still payed kids to shag foul balls that flew over the right field fence. A dollar a ball was the going rate at the time I was a bat boy for him. For my labor, he would pay for half of my registration for Jack Lambert's Football Camp.

Games started at 1pm, but I remember driving around the city of Pittsburgh to pick up kids from Hazelwood, Crafton, wherever, starting at 8am since he had to line the field himself. If they wanted to play for my Pap, he would go pick them up. I didn't realize until I got older that they all wanted to play for him because they all got a fair shot and would be better when they went back to school.

What do you do when shit goes south?
It's funny how your mind can forget entire games and remember exact details of others. Maybe because I got promoted to doing the books along with my batboy duties that I remember this particular game. I can't remember who exactly we were playing but I do remember the situation.

We were the home team and it was the top of the 9th. We were up by one run with one runner on 2nd or 3rd (I can't remember which). Winning run was at the plate and late into the count, this dude hits a jack over the right center field fence which was considerably shorter than left.

As you could imagine, their whole bench went crazy, as they should, they just took the lead by a run. We still had another half inning to bat since we were the home team, nevertheless, out whole team was deflated. out guys couldn't help but put their heads down and literally stare at the dirt whether they were in the field or in the dugout. Everyone but my pap, apparently.

After the high fives were finished, their next batter approached the plate. Our closer had his head down as he got another ball from the umpire. My pap, who was usually sitting with hsi legs crossed (like old guys do) or standing with both hands in his back pockets (like old guys do). He walked toward the 3rd base line looked at our dejected pitcher and said, "Throw the ball to first." He looked confused, as did most of us, but obliged. When our first baseman caught the ball with his foot on first. The next thing we heard was, "the runner is out."

The kid missed first base while admiring his homerun.

Apparently with two outs no runner can score on a force out even when it was a dead ball. This is sometimes referred to the 4th out. Regardless, game over.

Gaining some strength from the Terrible Towel through osmosis

I may not of realized it as the time but my grandpap taught me something that day. When everyone was either enjoying the success or pouting about the failure; he kept his head up and watched. As hard as it was, watching a routine play like your opponent rounding a the bases after a 2-run bomb seems redundant and just unnecessary. As much as "a next pitch mentality" is a needed attribute for a mental game like baseball, dealing with negative plays head-on is something all successful coaches and athletes do.

Take Home Point
Giving up that homerun did not build anyone's character on our team that day. No one's. But, once that ball left the yard (or even when it left the bat), the quality of character was on display all over that field.

Dealing with Adversity

Successful coaches, athletes, and people usually become that way due to how they are able to understand and learn from the negative things that happen. There are a few ways that enable coaches and athletes to rise above the one impending factor that all people have to deal with at one time or another... Adversity.

photo courtesy Brett Comstock 2010

Tips on Dealing with Adversity

1. Get the whole picture. Understand everything about the situation. Remember, like Brian Cain has said; everything is not good or bad, it always good an bad. Usually, it is never as bad or as good as originally perceived. Put things in your perspective.

Ex: You didn't get the internship at DI University. But when looking at all the factors, you were told you had a great interview but you didn't have enough experience. You have a definite place to start.

2. Ask Why. This is a necessary step in learning and improving. On top of the initial question, asking why needs to happen multiple times and need concrete answers. Keep in mind, that there is going to be adversity that happens that is out of your control and the reasons why will escape you. The simple fact that there is not a

Ex: You missed a squat. Why?
You fell forward. Why?
Your hips rose faster than your hips. Why?
Posterior Chain is week, etc.

Sounds borderline childish, but it is necessary for the next step.

3. Action Plan. I know, this is a corny cliche, but it is the final step in a process of ultimately getting better. Things went wrong and taking steps to address this issue will help deal with flushing the negativity out of your system.

Ex: Tested horribly in the vertical jump test. After putting everything into perspective (Step 1: 8 months post ACL surgery) and identifying why it went wrong (Step 2: lack of posterior chain strength, neuromuscular control, and hip mobility); a plan of action would be to increase strength, add more jump specific training and soft-tissue work on the hip flexors.

Not saying this is the best plan of action for this example, but a concrete plan nonetheless.

Regardless of endeavor, dealing with adversity is something we will all deal with constantly. Who you deal with it could define you.

Dedicated to James Henry Rawe Sr.

2. Traditional Irish Music

I grew up on Irish Music. My mom would play it all the time and I became partial to Tommmy Makem and The Clancy Brothers, The WolfTonnes, and The Chieftains especially. This music always reminded me of my grandfather and it is only fitting that he chose St' Patricks Day to make his grand entrance into heaven. Here are just a few of my favorite songs. Enjoy.

11. Traveling Doctor's Shop

10. Johnson's Motor Car

9. Finnegan's Wake

8. Haul Away Joe

7. The Patriot Game

6. Highland Paddy

5. South Australia

4. Whelan's Frolics (Jig)

3. O'Sullivan's March

2. The Parting Glass

1. Oro Se Do Bheatha Bhaile

3. March Madness

Here are some must-hear interviews from some of the best basketball strength coaches in the country.

Interview with Todd Hammer - Robert Morris University
Interview with Shawn Windle - Indiana Pacers
Interview with Megan Young - Auburn University
Interview with Ryan Horn - Wake Forrest University
Interview with Jay DeMayo - University of Richmond
Interview with Cory Schlesinger - University of Alabama Birmingham

4. The Breastplate of Saint Patrick

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.
I arise today
Through the strength of Christ's birth with His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion with His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection with His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.
I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In the obedience of angels,
In the service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In the predictions of prophets,
In the preaching of apostles,
In the faith of confessors,
In the innocence of holy virgins,
In the deeds of righteous men.
I arise today, through
The strength of heaven,
The light of the sun,
The radiance of the moon,
The splendor of fire,
The speed of lightning,
The swiftness of wind,
The depth of the sea,
The stability of the earth,
The firmness of rock.
I arise today, through
God's strength to pilot me,
God's might to uphold me,
God's wisdom to guide me,
God's eye to look before me,
God's ear to hear me,
God's word to speak for me,
God's hand to guard me,
God's shield to protect me,
God's host to save me
From snares of devils,
From temptation of vices,
From everyone who shall wish me ill,
afar and near.
I summon today
All these powers between me and those evils,
Against every cruel and merciless power
that may oppose my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of witches and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man's body and soul;
Christ to shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that there may come to me an abundance of reward.
Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.