1. 1200 words or less
2. Must be inspiring and uplifting
Dear Coach,
I am a former athlete, current youth coach, and network talk show host. I have a soft spot in my heart for sports. Make that a passion.
Prior to joining Fox News Channel and becoming the co-host of Fox & Friends, cable television's highest-rated morning show, I worked in broadcast sports journalism at the national sports network NEWSPORT TV, WLIG-TV in New York, KHSC-TV in Ontario, Calif. and XTRA-AM, an all-sports radio network.
I am also a best-selling author. In my 2004 book, The Games Do Count, 73 famous Americans, including Presidents Gerald Ford, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush, Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, related their experiences to me as young student-athletes and how those experiences shaped their lives and helped them achieve their extraordinary success in what was to become their life's work. The Games Do Count was a New York Times Top 15 best-seller for eight weeks and a Top 30 best-seller for 15 weeks, and has sold over 200,000 copies to date.
I have developed a relationship with the NHSCA and asked their assistance in collecting some grass roots stories. I was the keynote speaker at the 2005 NHSCA High School Senior Nationals Wrestling Championships and Convention banquet. Recently, I sat down with NHSCA Director of Communications Rob Sherrill for a candid interview that can be viewed on nhsca.com.
I am looking to include grass roots greats in this next book. Not just great
wins but great moments on the sandlot fields hometown gyms to go along side
the great games and impact games with greats Like Jim Brown and Arnold Palmer,
Steve Young and Mike Modano. I am not just interested in the high school coach
that was 790 and 2, but moments on the field that taught him how to lead a
program to 790 wins. Sometimes the best stories are about the mistakes made
in the game or at practice, so a temper tantrum that costs a team the game
could really work. The intro will let us know how important the man or women
is and then the moment(s) they share will deliver the impact in a Reader's
Digest fashion. Parcells talking about Mickey Corcoran makes me want to talk
to his former hoops coach not just Parcells. I will also push the subject
to share how they use the moment to serve them today.
The Name of the Book is "Its How You Play the Game" and I already
started on the process. Mixed in with some grass roots stories will be histories
athletes from Teddy Roosevelt to Gene Kelly to George Patton. Its a pretty
big project and my aim is to show that there is no difference between Joe
Montana and you. Ok he's loaded, but you both are in the same spot now and
I think he would the first to say you have impacted more lives. By the way
Montana is going in the book. He and Steve Young still do not get along.
When I started thinking about writing a book, I realized the entire coaching profession has many experiences and interesting stories. The NHSCA is stepping up to assist in collecting theses stories throughout the country.
All submissions will be reviewed and the top stories will be edited and submitted to the publisher. The authors of the top stories will receive a complimentary signed book. You and your school will be listed and credited for your story, if accepted.
Please complete and return the form below at your earliest convenience as well as your story. Also, please share this information with other coaches at your school. I thank you in advance for your assistance and participation.
Sincerely,
Brian Kilmeade
Please email to kilmeade@foxnews.com or mail to Brian Kilmeade, Fox News, 1211 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10036
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