Put me in Coach

 

Former Dallas Mavericks Coach Avery Johnson inspires Cougars

 

 

                   By JOSELYN ROMERO

 

 

 

Avery Johnson came to BA October 8th during 6th period to speak and motivate the student body. Coach Avery asked that the aisles remain open so that he might move about the BA auditorium freely. He did plenty of that as he paced up and down the aisles, dove into the crowd to ask questions and even climbed up on a seat to make a point.

 

Johnson encouraged students to realize their opportunities and make the most of them. He encouraged the crowd to join him in a positive chant.

 

 “Say it with me”, he yelled, “This is the best time of my life and I’m going to enjoy it,” he yelled.

 

The Cougar crowd eagerly joined in and filled the auditorium with the raucous chant.

 

Coach Avery turned his attention to what he referred to as “the super student”.  Avery urged students to to walk in to class with pride, greet their teachers with a smile and have a positive attitude. These things, he said, can better prepare students to learn.

 

 Johnson then moved his remarks toward students who don’t do anything in school, are involved with drugs and skip school. He compared these unsuccessful students to parked cars.

 

“Don’t hang around parked cars,” he said. “Hang with super friends. Don’t hang out with losers.”
 

The former Mavs coach urged BA students to take care of business now, not to procrastinate.

 

“You can pay now and play later or play now and pay later,“ he warned.

 

Johnson made his point by using his own family as an example.

 

“My daughter paid now and played later. She was always on point, but my son was the opposite,” he said.

 

His daughter, he said, would always be on time when it came to curfew but his son would come after his curfew. He gave many personal and professional examples but the overall message was that we all matter and can do anything we want with the right attitude.

 

Student reaction to Johnson’s speech was positive and many students could be seen listening intently to the advice from the former NBA player and coach.

 

Junior Vanessa M was typical of many in crowd who found Johnson’s remarks important and inspiring.

 

“His words touched me. It was right when I needed to hear them. He inspired me to do better than what I am,” she said.

 

10.10.14