As I watched our Canadian Paralympic cycling team compete, it reminded me of one of our time-honoured traditions of cycling. Since the '70s our cyclists have worn the gorgeous blue and white jersey with a large red maple leaf on the upper arm.
I fell in love with that jersey as a young cyclist with a passion for competing in cycling and an all-around love of cycling. Especially when the athlete I admired the most, Jocelyn Lovell, wore it representing Canada on the world cycling stage. Lovell won multiple Canadian championships, was Pan American champion, Commonwealth champion and had a string of victories in international competition. He excelled at both track and road racing.
All I wanted to see was Lovell (in that jersey) compete at the 1976 Olympics in Montreal in his specialty — the 1,000-metre time trial. It was one of the most anticipated sporting events of my youth. Lovell did not medal, but his ride inspired me and many others. I had been following his career for years before that and he was the type of racer I appreciated watching. In '74 I was already.
I was doing a ton of training miles a week but realized after watching him I had to work so much harder. I was so at peace on that highway all alone. Lovell's dedication and work ethic helped me try and improve my cycling skills.
I tried like crazy to get one of those Canada cycling jerseys but the best I could do was snag a red and white one.
To this day I still follow the world of bike racing, especially the world's and Olympics.
Having been involved in team sports all the time, cycling opened up a totally different dimension for me.
In 1983 Lovell's career was cut short when he was hit on a training ride and paralyzed. He would later show the tenacious drive he displayed when racing when he started and managed the Jocelyn Lovell Foundation, which was set up for spinal cord research.
Lovell remained a champion until he died in 2016.
Deservedly he is a Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and Canadian Cycling Hall inductee.
By the time you read this Meghan Mahon and her goalball teammates will have played their final game in Paris. After an awesome run to the quarterfinals they will now play in the fifth/sixth placement game. (Canada won 1-0 over Japan to take fifth place. It's the highest Canada has placed since 2004, when the team won its second consecutive Paralympic gold medal.)
I used to absolutely hate this time of year when I was coaching. It was before the days of spring tryouts and you were in the midst of picking your team and had to make a number of cuts. It's a tough time for kids, parents and coaches alike. Unless you have 60 or 70 kids at tryouts, you and your staff should be talking to the kids you release. The kids should know why they didn't make it and also it's a chance to provide encouragement for the future and offer means of improvement. Posting a list just seems kind of cold to me.
Is it a hard thing to do? Of course it is. But it's also part of the learning experience for coaches and kids alike and can be a valuable tool in development and growth. Many coaches who speak with the kids individually will tell you they receive a lot of calls thanking them for taking the time to speak face-to-face with their child. I don't know if they will exceed the ones telling you you're an idiot but they are a nice call to get. When people know you care and take the time to be upfront with the athletes, it can only enhance your credibility as a coach.
I used to tell this story all the time at the clinics or courses I taught. We had a boy that did not make our team. When I was talking to him and explained why he did not make it and what he could do to improve his chances next season he responded. "Thanks Mr. Mulryan. But I have to tell you one thing. I am going to work so hard this year on my game that when I come back next year there will be no way you can't pick me."
Think he made it? Why do you think I keep telling the story.?
On a lighter note about picking a team, I recently had lunch with a former player who lives far from Timmins now. (I'm going to call him Jethro.)
The subject came up about when he was trying out. Myself, Jethro and Mrs. Mulryan all started to laugh because we knew the story that was about to come. Some other friends at the lunch with us did not know the story so we clued them in. A little background. I did not sign my team as we realized guys were going to make it. I signed everyone together after the last night of cuts. (And after I/we spoke individually to those cuts.) With just the 18 or 19 players who would be on the team left at the rink, we would bring them down to our dressing room. So Jethro is one of the players invited down to the room and I announce ... "Take a good look around the room. These are your teammates for this year's Timmins Majors Hockey Club. Congratulations on a successful camp. You've all made the team." A hand goes up. It's Jethro. "Me too?" he asks And for one of the few times in my life, I missed my chance.
I should have said, "Oh crap, who let Jethro in here?" But I didn't and informed him yes him too. The whole room burst out laughing and we all still get a good laugh about it years later.
Anyway, good luck to all the kids trying out and coaches selecting for this year.
Later skater.
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