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Stories on Integrity
WINNERS AND WINNERS
As a high school coach, I did all I could to help my boys win their games. I rooted as hard for victory as they did. A dramatic incident, however, following a game in which I officiated as a referee, changed my perspective on victories and defeats. I was refereeing a league championship basketball game in New Rochelle, New York, between New Rochelle and Yonkers High. New Rochelle was coached by Dan O'Brian, Yonkers by Les Beck.
The gym was crowded to capacity, and the volume of noise made it impossible to hear. The game was well played and closely contested. Yonkers was leading by one point as I glanced at the clock and discovered there were but 30 seconds left to play. Yonkers, in possession of the ball passed off - shot - missed. New Rochelle recovered - pushed the ball up court - shot. The ball rolled tantalizingly around the rim and off. The fans shrieked. New Rochelle, the home team, recovered the ball, and tapped it in for what looked like victory. The tumult was deafening. I glanced at the clock and saw that the game was over. I hadn't heard the final buzzer because of the noise. I checked with the other official, but he could not help me. Still seeking help in this bedlam, I approached the timekeeper, a young man of 17 or so. He said, "Mr. Covino, the buzzer went off as the ball rolled off the rim, before the final tap-in was made."
I was in the unenviable position of having to tell Coach O' Brien the sad news. "Dan," I said, "time ran out before the final basket was tapped in. Yonkers won the game."
His face clouded over. The young timekeeper came up. He said, "I'm sorry, Dad. The time ran out before the final basket."
Suddenly, like the sun coming out from behind a cloud, Coach O' Brian's face lit up. He said, "That's okay, Joe. You did what you had to do. "I'm proud of you."
Turning to me, he said, "Al, I want you to meet my son, Joe." The two of them then walked off the court together, the coach's arm around his son's shoulder.
--Al Covino--
The Swimsuit
Morning. Yuck! Even though there were only a few more days of school left, it sure was hard getting there.
The weather had been great all week, and besides the only thing going on a school was graduation practice. It wasn't just me, either. All of my senior friends had a bad case of "Senioritis". We really were struggling those last few days.
At school my friends devised a plan. "After lunch lets all go over to the outdoor pool and catch some sun," they chimed in. "We're not doing anything in class anyway," they agreed.
What they said made sense, and after all, we had already turned in our books in English anyway. When the bell rang for lunch we all went and jumped in my car. As I waited in the car while they each went in to get their suits, I wondered to myself, "Why am I doing this?" But then I concluded what could it hurt? School was almost out for the year anyway.
We pulled up to my house and I quickly ran inside to get my suit. I reached into my drawer and pulled out my light lavender swimsuit. "Lavender. Purple. Integrity," I said to myself. How could I sluff school and go down to the pool wearing this swimsuit? All the things I had been taught in my mutual came back slamming me in the face. Right then I knew I couldn't do it. I turned to my friends who were waiting impatiently for me.
"Listen you guys, I can't go swimming right now," I told my friends. "If you want to wait till after school I'd love to go, but right now I can't." My lavender swimsuit reminded me of how I should act at all times, and in all things, and in all places.
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