In a time where multimillion-dollar contracts are the norm
and reality television endorsements are more commonplace, it seems that
athletes look beyond the basics of life.
I’m not saying that all teams should take a retreat to Luckenbach
with Waylon, Willie and the boys, but there are simple ideals that every person
should follow through with from day to day.
Courtesy, kindness, citizenship, patriotism and respect are
simple words, but often hard to uphold. Luckily, the Garland Lions Club keeps
these ideals at the forefront, and the Texas Rangers Baseball Club also strives
to show that athletes are among the ranks of caring citizens, as well.
Last Thursday, Dale Petroskey, the executive vice president
for marketing with the Texas Rangers, met with the Garland Lions and chatted
about baseball, the Rangers and most of all, about the community involvement of
the team.
Sure, people were interested in the upcoming 20-year-old
phenom Elvis Andrus and learning about Nolan Ryan’s new scheme to improve the
Rangers’ notoriously bad pitching staff, but Petroskey wanted to stress what
goes on outside the lines for these ballplayers.
Names like Michael Young, Josh Hamilton and Kevin Millwood
may be all over the front pages, but their volunteerism, donations and
citizenship may only get a couple of inches in a footnote at the bottom of the
agate page. These ball players have gone above and beyond the call of duty of
trotting out on the field and playing nine innings.
In high school, I was a member of the Key Club and National
Honors Society, but I never understood the power of volunteering and offering a
hand. I used it as something that would build a resume for college, because
people told me the more extracurricular involvement I had, the more solid a
candidate I would become when I talk to college recruitment representatives.
I wish I understood more back then. There is a rewarding
feeling of helping others and being admired for more than what one can do as a
public figure.
Petroskey showed how to go out of his way to meet and
interact with the Garland Lions Club. Instead of working from his office at
Rangers Ballpark, thereby forcing the club to come to him, he went to an IHOP
in Garland to
meet the men and join them for a cozy lunch.
Simple actions like that are remembered.
In this week’s neighborsgo,
we see other acts of care and compassion shown by those who are volunteering
their time for the good of others. Click here and you will find a story about
three Scout leaders who have donated more than 1,900 hours of volunteer time to
others. Their efforts earned them a national award from former President George
W. Bush.
Remember to send those stories, photos and videos our way at
neighborsgo.com and you could find yourself in an upcoming issue of neighborsgo.
(more)
