Phil Martelli is the Associate Head Coach of Michigan’s Basketball Team. Over the weekend, he was interviewed and asked the question, “What was the best team that you ever coached? He immediately referred to his 2003-2004 basketball team at St. Joseph’s University. They had an undefeated season of 27-0, was ranked number 1 in the nation at one point in the season, and made it through the final 8 of the NCAA Tournament.
There was a celebration of the 20th anniversary of this team that was held at a local country club that was put on by Martelli and his wife, Judy. It included support staff, media, and former players as well as anyone associated with the team. Martelli was Naismith Coach of the Year.
Jameer Nelson was his superstar.
Martelli was quite moved by how many people were following his team around the country. The whole Philadelphia area embraced the team as their own. Martelli believes that it was one of the best teams to come out of the Philadelphia area including the dynasty that Jay Wright had at Villanova.
But it was what Martelli said in the interview in today’s Inquirer that caught my eye and my attitude.
“What this team did and I’ve had others do this, is this team reached the zenith of their abilities, and, looking at myself in the way they were coached, they had nothing left.” Martelli added, “So when people say, “Aren’t you disappointed that you didn’t go to the Final Four?” Yea, I was devastated. But I always think that the measure of a coach is the day after their last game. And if they say they gave me everything that they had, and I gave them everything that I had, I could walk away with saying that, for myself personally, was it the best team I’ve ever coached? Yes!
It was not unusual after a bitter defeat for members of an EA team stop by my office to check in with me to just talk about the game and the difficult loss. People sometimes forget that the loss hurts as bad for adolescents as it does for the loser of the Final Four or Super Bowl. My question was always one that I applied to myself as well, “Did you leave everything that you had on the court or playing field? That is the only criterion that you should apply to a difficult loss.” More to the point, adolescence get that and once they say “yes” they can move forward.
But there is something more that makes Martelli and his team special. It is something that I and others will never forget.
People know that St. Joseph’s University and EA had a close relationship. We were literally neighbors and sold our Merion Campus to them so that they could expand their educational reach. I received a call from one of the Jesuit brothers that they had run out of worship space for their Sunday evening worship with students and other members of their community. It was not unusual for them to have 500 at their Sunday worship service. They asked if they could worship in our Chapel which did not have Sunday services so that we weren’t competing with local parishes. I thought that was a great idea. For two years they worshipped in our space until their new chapel was built.
One of the things that was left out of the Inquirer article was the reason that Martelli and the team were embraced by so many. Martelli inconvenienced himself for others. When he made the final 8, I called him to ask if he would talk to our community about character and how his team achieved such an accomplishment. I had his cellphone number and called him as his plane was just landing at the Philly airport after a game. He had one question, “What time is your chapel service?” I told him. He said, “Rev, I will be there!” This was probably the most sleep deprived, exciting morning of his life. I knew the EA community would love having him speak to them.
He arrived 10 minutes before the service and gave a compelling address to our school. When people inconvenience themselves for others, you remember what they have to say. Coach Martelli’s theme was “Don’t give up your long-term goals for short term pleasure.”
Most people in general understand the question, “Did you leave anything on the court or field?”
They also understand the power of having others inconvenience themselves for others. If you inconvenience yourself for me, you will have a friend for life.
These two attributes that defined Martelli and his best team ever would serve all of us better to remember in life!
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