On this Father's Day, there was more than a standard meet and greet for Coach John Calipari on Georgetown's campus.
More than a dozen members of Team Focus spent part of their afternoon listening to the much-loved coach talk candidly about his faith and family. They also heard why he thinks Team Focus is so great for many young men.
"I like to tell these young people they're not alone in this," Calipari explained following the event. "That they're not the only ones in this situation."
Team Focus is a year-round community initiative for young men ages 10-18 who don't have a father-figure. Calipari made the commitment to get involved as soon as he arrived in Kentucky to his longtime friend, Mike Gottfried. Gottfried is a former coach and ESPN Analyst, who started Team Focus in 2000.
"He said 'It's about boys who are without a father,' and I said 'I'm in. Tell me what I need to do to help,'" Calipari said. "We started this chapter. We're starting small, but we're going to try and do the same thing throughout the state."
Charles Bynum, a Team Focus Participant said "I really appreciate that he's helped us at the camp and that he came in to talk to us."
Bynum says he's been with Team Focus for two years and it's helped him a lot. He says he's gladly taking some fatherly advice from championship-winning coach because Cal demonstrated his lesson to each young man on Georgetown's campus today.
"Just help everybody," Bynum explained. "Try to make someone feel special every day. I'll do that."
Gottfried started Team Focus in 2000. It is based in Alabama.
Enter your number for a chance to win great prizes! Message and data rates may apply
|