Great stories of sacrifice, hard work, competitiveness and dedication. While I proudly competed for Winter Haven and was very fortunate to have a great coach my Junior and Senior year, A.L. (Buck) Dawson, I always felt a strong kinship with Coach Haley and the Largo crew, and especially Basil Magee. To say your competitors and mentors have a strong influence on your life and success is an understatement. Those who knew me well, knew that I was not a good loser, cocky, arrogant and prone to fits of rage if things were not going well; I was just a spoiled brat. (Largo grad and my teammate at Florida, Bart Sellers will probably attest to my poor behavior at times.)
However, when I competed against Largo and specifically against Basil, it’s almost as if I was competing for Coach Haley. And if you know Coach Haley, I believe he had a low-tolerance for prima-donnas.
Coach Haley along with Coach Dawson brought out the best sportsmanship traits in me. And judging from the legacy Coach Haley has built at Largo, the athletes he mentored have been served well through his guidance, discipline and heart-felt love.
Regardless of the result, it was an honor and privilege to compete against Largo, and especially Basil.