Just this past Friday night in small town in eastern South Dakota, my football fantasies came true on the slightly browning grass of a local football field. I’ll get to the specifics of that in just a bit.
But first, readers who follow this column know I often write about my five sons. I’m so grateful my kids are active and involved. We’ve done soccer, baseball, track, cross country, basketball, golf, band, choir, quiz bowl, theater and well, you get the idea. I’ve also been exceptionally fortunate that three of my sons enjoyed playing the game of football. I like football. A lot.
Son number four, currently a senior, is athletic enough that he starts at defensive end and is the starting fullback on offense. I’m not gonna lie, when he gets a sack, or makes a fantastic tackle, I love it. But when he makes a block that opens a hole for another running back, that’s a thing of beauty. And every so often the fullback turns into a one-man wrecking crew, running the ball vertically, grinding out with power those needed yards.
A few weeks back, my son was called on multiple times during a long drive toward the end zone. He ran, he caught a pass for a long gain, then he ran some more. He essentially brought the team to the 2-yard-line. I can’t lie, I silently prayed… “Give it to him again. Please let him score.”
But his number wasn’t called. Instead he paved the way for another to score. His buddy remarked during a film viewing a few days later, “You carried us over 40 yards and then they gave me the ball for the score!” They chuckled a bit and my son truly didn’t mind not getting the touchdown. In fact, he jokingly suggested it would be good if he didn’t score all season, as that would make for a good story to tell. But the dad in me, the fan in me, while trying to live vicariously through my son, was REALLY, REALLY, REALLY hoping he’d get a touchdown.
On Friday night, after many carries on another of those long drives, he finally got his number called. I’m not going to confirm or deny this, but there may have been a particularly exuberant father in the stands who may or may not have made a fool of himself dancing around when his son broke through that line for the score. Dad fantasy: realized! Spectacular!
Ok, I’m a football nut, so sue me! I’m fascinated by the fact that teams at the NFL level can stack themselves with high-priced talent and for reasons unknown, that team can still be pretty much terrible.
On the flipside, teams can scrape the waiver wires, pick up undrafted free agents and/or guys who were supposed to have washed out of the NFL, and turn themselves into winners. Maybe not Super Bowl winners, but winners nonetheless.
It’s really a remarkable thing. And to me it demonstrates the power and possibility of strong relationships. When you put a team together, with good people invested and passionate about winning, you can do remarkable things.
Such is the case for the team at NASGW. Every year I grow new levels of appreciation for the men and women who help to make our Expo possible and a new respect for the team making the NASGW Expo a “can’t miss” event for our members.
A successful show doesn’t happen by accident. It happens with a lot of hard-work, extra hours, recovering from failures and sometimes just trudging through the mud to close in on the goal line. It’s humbling, because I work with what I consider the best team in the association business. I’d put our team up against any.
And at the end of the day, we come together to try and win the day for you, our members and supporters. We want you to come to the show and get business done and we try to provide an incredible environment for that to happen. If I’m being honest though, I most especially hope you enjoy yourself. If you foster and grow friendships, and if fun and relaxation can ride shotgun to your important business meetings, that will make me smile.
So get that business done. It’s why we’re here. But also, enjoy the game a bit too, and try to leave Pittsburgh feeling rejuvenated and energetic about the coming sales season and for what’s in store for 2019.
We have a great show planned for you. Now it’s up to you to get the touchdown. I promise, I’ll try to contain myself when I see it happen.
Welcome to Pittsburgh and have a fantastic week during the 45th NASGW Expo and Annual Meeting!
Until next time,
Kenyon Gleason
President, NASGW