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www.mybaycity.com November 17, 2006
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Hey . . . Coach Zappone . . . Coach Vince Zappone!

Thanks for the memories . . . Thanks for 1961 . . .

November 17, 2006       Leave a Comment
By: O. J. Cunningham

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The recent chin-bopping "flap" concerning Bobby Knight and one of his Texas Tech basketball players brought back fond sports memories (for me) of 1961 at St. James High School.

Back in '61, I was the center on the St. James football team the went 7-2 . . . a forward on the St. James basketball team that went something like 19-4 and a catcher/pitcher on the St James baseball team that lost only 2 or 3 games that year. Each team won the coveted Valley Parochial League Championship that year for St. James.

The one thing that those teams had in common was the coaching of Vince Zappone. The discipline of Bobby Knight is "old school." I can't say it's "OK" in 2006. But in 1961, Vince Zappone's coaching style and discipline went hand-in-hand. In fact, coaching without disciple was unheard of in the 60's. Successful coaches like Zappone, Lefty Franz and Elmer Engle were well known for their "in your face" physical style of disciplined coaching styles.

Every day at practice, Coach Zappone worked to make us better players. He yelled. He taunted. He intimidated. He challenged us to be better than we ever thought we could be.

"Cunningham," he would scream at me at the top of his voice. "Get rid of the slide rule. Stop thinking out there. REACT!!"

During one basketball practice session, I remember Coach Zappone forcefully taking me by the jersey and dragging me through the "Continuity." (Continuity was the name of our offensive scheme). "Is this so hard?" He yelled each time as he dragged me from position to position. "Is this so hard to understand," he screamed rhetorically? Even as I type that today, in 2006 . . . some forty-five years after the last time I heard it . . . I can only smile. Coach Zappone helped me grow up. He taught me commitment and discipline. He taught me to "care" about the results of my effort.

I knew Coach Zappone cared about me and my friends - his players. He worked hard at his coaching. In turn, he expected us to work hard at our game too. Coach Zappone made us winners as 16-year old kids in high school so that we might be winners as adults.

My dad loved St. James. My dad adored Vince Zappone. He enjoyed the games and the competition. He enjoyed watching his kid on the playing field. My dad came to every game. He was always in the same spot in the gym or on the sidelines. He was always someplace where I could easily find him. Knowing that my dad cared, made me care too.

Having Vince Zappone for a coach made me a better person. Having the dad I had, made me a better person. Both my dad and my high school coach had discipline in common.

So it was a warm fuzzy moment for me, after reading about Bobby Knight, when I Googled "Vince Zappone" and found the following news story . . .

October 26, 2006 . . . Vince Zappone Field

Chaminade-Madonna College Preparatory School, 500 Chaminade Dr., Hollywood, Florida will honor longtime football coach Vince Zappone by naming the football field for him.

The ceremony will be at halftime of the Oct. 27 game, followed by a recognition dinner.

Zappone, who coached the Chaminade Lions from 1965 to 1992, counts among his former players past Miami Dolphins coach Don Shula, Shula's son David Shula -- who coached for the Cincinnati Bengals -- and ESPN broadcaster Chris Meyers. Tickets for dinner and game cost $50. Call 954-989-5150, ext. 164.

I'd like my name to be on this list of former players. I wish I could have been there, at the recognition banquet . . . to shake his hand. Thanks Coach Zappone. Thanks for 1961.

Makes me wonder what the big "flap" about Bobby Knight is all about . . . (smile) . . .

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