FINDING
THE
OPEN
MAN Directly after the Washington Bullets/Wizards won the NBA World Championship (1977-78), I joined the team as mentor/chaplain for the team for 20 seasons -- available to be a sounding board for the players of the team, some in upper management, members of the coaching staff, and also players from other teams. The biggest miracle? I somehow survived 6 Coaches, including 3 General Managers! And you know what new coaches do at the pro level. Traditionally, they clear the deck and bring in their own people. That's their prerogative. But, for some reason, each of them kept me on as a part of the team:
COACHES: 1). Dick Motta 2). Gene Shue
3). Kevin Loughery 4). Wes Unseld 5). Jim
Lyman 6). Bernie Bickerstaff Their individual and collective kindness -- including the owner, Abe Pollin...and the players and their families -- over a span of 20 seasons is truly a miracle to me. And I have no idea why each one allowed me to continue to do what I did for the players, their families, the staff and more. A continuity of service and goodwill. For that I am grateful to everyone...
To my knowledge, I was one of the first 2-3 team chaplains in the history of the NBA. How I became chaplain during the heyday of Kevin Porter, Elvin Hayes, Kevin Grevey, Bernard King, Wes Unseld, Jeff Ruland, Rick Mahorn, John Lucas, Chris Webber, Mitch Kupchak, and Manute Bol is another story -- soon to be the subject of a new book. At 25 years of age -- looking no older than 16 years -- I quickly learned how to do the basics. Duties involved team meetings before every home game, counseling, studying with the players, golfing, hanging out, spending time together discussing top-of-mind issues, helping new players and their wives feel welcome and a part of a new team culture, keeping in touch with their parents, and so much more.
Not long ago I was asked
to speak about my experiences at the AOL headquarters (Dulles,
VA), with about 150+
executives and other business leaders in attendance. The response was
excellent.
Over the years I have shared vignettes about my life with players at the pro level to illustrate a point. But this was the first time -- some 35 years after I had started -- that I made an entire presentation titled: "Business Wisdom & Life Lessons from an NBA Chaplain." Here's the first segment from that presentation. PART ONE:
What Does an NBA Chaplain Do? (10 min)
The feedback from that event was so compelling that I am now working on a book, tentatively titled: "LOOKING FOR THE OPEN MAN: The Surprising Benefits of Unselfishness" -- still working on it...hopefully published soon.
I have already interviewed well over
50-55 people for this book (e.g. Del Harris, Pat Williams, Mark
Eaton, Kevin Porter, Claude Terry, Kevin Grevey, Phil Chenier, Brent
Price, Bob Ferry, Helen Carpenter, Mayce Webber, Jerry Colangelo, Al
Egg, Monica Wright [WNBA], Bill Alexson, Pete
Babcock, John Jenkins, Kevin Harvey, Tony Evans, Chris Broussard [ESPN],
Harry Swayne [NFL], Rod Hairston, John Tolson, and many more...)
The book will be addressing the various topics ranging from how the chaplaincy program started in the NBA and the 77/78 NBA Championship to stress at the pro level, emotional intelligence, James Naismith...the inventor of God's game, dealing with anger, head games, race relations, living for God on and off the court, diversity, lessons learned off the court that weren’t learned on the court, remembering players who have already left us (Wayman Tisdale, Dan Roundfield, Manute Bol, etc.), addressing the concept of Selfaholics Anonymous, and so much more. Call me if you would like to read the first two chapters of the book (cell: 410-991-9718).
The book will also provide a message from
retired players to the current crop of players -- "Poise in the
Noise" -- as well as practical
lessons from sports that can be applied to anyone in business,
relationships, and everyday life.
NOTE: During my tenure as team chaplain I would occasionally bring friends and acquaintances with me to the arena. I never allowed cameras, asking for autographs, or "How's the weather up there?" comments in the back area of the arena because any of that kind of stuff would have harmed my relationship with the players. That's why I have a limited number of pictures from the old days as chaplain for the team. However, there were some DC/Baltimore newspapers and other media outlets throughout the USA and Canada that wanted to do articles or human-interest stories for TV.
I asked the players only a few times in two decades if they would
grant permission for a reporter and photographer to be a part of
the pre-game chapel experience. Below are a few pictures from some of those articles. But before you see those images, take a look at pictures from the 40th anniversary of the Bullets winning the NBA championship...March 2018.
Could've heard a pin drop. Speaking in a packed gym about "bullying" to well over 1,500 students...Gastonia, NC. When you contact me, ask why I have the Shaq shoe in my hand.
Having a blast with a bunch of company owners and CEOs in the AOL auditorium...Dulles, VA.
31 YEARS LATER -- Officiating Amanda Grevey's wedding, September
12th, 2015 (Kevin and Sandy' daughter).
Who's Speaking At
Your Next Event?
_____________________________________________________________________ "Business Wisdom & Life Lessons from an NBA Chaplain"
With Elvin Hayes, re-connecting at an event in 2017. We hadn't seen
each other in decades!
78/79
 (logo
used from 1974-1987) -------------------------------------------
COACH: Dick Motta....(GM, Bob Ferry)
42...Greg Ballard, 45...Phil Chenier, 40...Dave Corzine,
10...Bob Dandridge, 35...Kevin Grevey, 11...Elvin Hayes,
14...Tom Henderson, 15...Charles Johnson, 25...Mitch Kupchak,
22...Roger Phegley, 1...Kevin Porter, 41...Wes Unseld,
32...Larry Wright.
79/80
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COACH: Dick Motta....(GM, Bob Ferry)
20...Gus Bailey, 42...Greg Ballard, 12...Ron Behagen, 4...Lawrence Boston, 45...Phil Chenier, 33...Jim Cleamons, 40...Dave Corzine, 10...Bob Dandridge, 35...Kevin Grevey, 11...Elvin Hayes, 25...Mitch Kupchak, 4...Steve Malovic, 22...Roger Phegley, 1...Kevin Porter, 41...Wes Unseld, 23...John Williamson, 32...Larry Wright. 80/81 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- COACH: Gene Shue....(GM, Bob Ferry)
42...Greg Ballard, 33...Dave Britton, 4...Lewis brown,
34...Austin Carr, 22...Don Collins, 10...Bob Dandridge,
35...Kevin Grevey, 11...Elvin Hayes, 25...Mitch Kupchak,
44...Rick Mahorn, 14...Wes Matthews, 33...Andre McCarter,
22...Keith McCord, 1...Kevin Porter, 20...Anthony Roberts,
12...Carlos Terry, 41...Wes Unseld, 23...John Williamson.
81/82
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COACH: Gene Shue....(GM, Bob Ferry)
42...Greg Ballard, 9...Jim Chones, 22...Don Collins, 23...Charles Davis, 35...Kevin Grevey, 24...Spencer Haywood, 14...Brad Holland, 15...Frank Johnson, 5...John Lucas, 44...Rick Mahorn, 43...Jeff Ruland, 12...Carlos Terry, 20...Gary Witts.
82/83
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COACH: Gene Shue....(GM, Bob Ferry)
42...Greg Ballard, 34...Billy Ray Bates, 40...Dave Batton,
22...Don Collins, 4...Joe Cooper, 32...Chubby Cox, 23...Charles
Davis, 35...Kevin Grevey, 24...Spencer Haywood, 15...Frank
Johnson, 31...Joe Kopicki, 50...Steve Lingenfelter, 5...John
Lucas, 44...Rick Mahorn, 1...Kevin Porter, 43...Jeff Ruland,
14...Ricky Sobers, 12...Carlos Terry, 13...Bryan Warrick.
83/84
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COACH: Gene Shue....(GM, Bob Ferry)
42...Greg Ballard, 23...Charles Davis, 25...Darren Daye,
30...Mike Gibson, 15...Frank Johnson, 31...Joe Kopicki,
44...Rick Mahorn, 24...Jeff Malone, 54...Tom McMillen, 43...Jeff
Ruland, 32...DeWayne Scales, 14...Ricky Sobers, 13...Bryan
Warrick, 7...Michael Wilson.
84/85
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COACH: Gene Shue....(GM, Bob Ferry)
42...Greg Ballard, 22...Dudley Bradley, 22...Don Collins,
23...Charles Davis, 25...Darren Daye, 15...Frank Johnson,
23...Charles Jones, 44...Rick Mahorn, 24...Jeff Malone, 54...Tom
McMillen, 11...Cliff Robinson, 43...Jeff Ruland, 32...Tom
Sewell, 1...Gus Williams, 3...Guy Willams.
85/86
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COACH: Kevin Loughery....(GM, Bob Ferry)
10...Manute Bol, 22...Dudley Bradley, 25...Darren Daye, 21...Kenny Green, 7...Claude Gregory, 15...Frank Johnson, 31...George Johnson, 23...Charles Jones, 24...Jeff Malone, 3...Kevin McKenna, 54...Tom McMillen, 2...Perry Ross, 4...Cliff Robinson, 5...Dan Roundfield, 43...Jeff Ruland, 2...Ennis Whatley, 20...Freeman Williams, 1...Gus Williams, 32...Leon Wood.
86/87
 (logo
used from 1987-1997)
-------------------------------------------
COACH: Kevin Loughery....(GM, Bob Ferry)
14...Michael Adams, 10...Manute Bol, 33...Terry Catledge,
12...Darwin Cook, 15...Frank Johnson, 44...Anthony Jones,
23...Charles Jones, 24...Jeff Malone, 4...Moses Malone, 42...Jay
Murphy, 25...Mike O'Koren, 5...Dan Roundfield, 31...Jay Vincent,
2...Ennis Whatley, 34...John Williams.
87/88
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
COACH: Kevin Loughery....(GM, Bob Ferry)
31...Mark Alarie, 1...Muggsy Bogues, 10...Manute Bol, 33...Terry
Catledge, 20...Steve Colter, 15...Frank Johnson, 23...Charles
Jones, 30...Bernard King, 24...Jeff Malone, 4...Moses Malone,
42...Jay Murphy, 5...Darrell Walker, 34...John Williams.
88/89
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COACH: Wes Unseld....(GM, Bob Ferry)
31...Mark Alarie, 33...Terry Catledge, 20...Steve Colter, 21...Ledell
Eackles, 22...Dave Feitl, 44...Harvey Grant, 23...Charles Jones,
51...Charles Jones, 30...Bernard King, 24...Jeff Malone,
3...Dominic Pressley, 5...Darrell Walker, 34...John Williams.
89/90
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COACH: Wes Unseld....(GM, Bob Ferry)
31...Mark Alarie, 20...Steve Colter, 21...Ledell Eackles,
44...Harvey Grant, 12...Tom Hammonds, 23...Charles Jones,
30...Bernard King, 24...Jeff Malone, 13...Doug Roth, 50...Melvin
Turpin, 5...Darrell Walker, 34...John Williams.
90/91
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COACH: Wes Unseld....(GM, Bob Ferry)
31...Mark Alarie, 21...Ledell Eackles, 43...Pervis Ellison,
14...A.J. English, 42...Greg Foster, 44...Harvey Grant, 12...Tom
Hammonds, 32...Byron Irvin, 23...Charles Jones, 30...Bernard
King, 2...Larry Robinson, 22...Clinton Smith, 5...Darrell
Walker, 34...John Williams, 3...Haywoode Workman.
91/92
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COACH: Wes Unseld....(GM, John Nash)
10...Michael Adams, 3...Rex Chapman, 21...Ledell Eackles, 43...Pervis Ellison, 14...A.J. English, 42...Greg Foster, 44...Harvey Grant, 12...Tom Hammonds, 23...Charles Jones, 15...Albert King, 50...Ralph Sampson, 22...LaBradford Smith, 33...Larry Stewart, 35...Derek Strong, 1...Andre Turner, 55...David Wingate.
92/93
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COACH: Wes Unseld....(GM, John Nash)
42...Mark Acres, 10...Michael Adams, 15...Steve Burtt, 3...Rex Chapman, 13...Chris Corchiani, 43...Pervis Ellison, 42...Greg Foster, 44...Harvey Grant, 24...Tom Gugliotta, 32...Byron Irvin, 2...Buck Johnson, 23...Charles Jones, 34...Don MacLean, 50...Alan Ogg, 14...Doug Overton, 20...Brent Price, 5...Larry Robinson, 22...LaBradford Smith, 33...Larry Stewart.
93/94
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COACH: Wes Unseld....(GM, John Nash)
10...Michael Adams, 35...Ron Anderson, 4...Manute Bol,
32...Mitchell Butler, 3...Rex Chapman, 40...Calbert Cheaney,
50...Marty Conton, 00...Kevin Duckworth, 43...Pervis Ellison,
4...Andrew Gazet, 24...Tom Gugliotta, 42...Tito Horford,
34...Don MacLean, 77...Gheorghe Muresan, 14...Doug Overton, 4.
Gerald Paddio, 20...Brent Price, 22...LaBradford Smith,
33...Larry Stewart, 15...Kenny Walker.
94/95
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COACH: Jim Lynam....(GM, John Nash)
32...Mitchell Butler, 3...Rex Chapman, 40...Calbert Cheaney,
00...Kevin Duckworth, 24...Tom Gugliotta, 5...Juwan Howard,
34...Don MacLean, 22...Jim McIlvaine, 77...Gheorghe Muresan,
31...Brian Oliver, 20...Brent Price, 14...Doug Overton,
4...Scott Skiles, 33...Larry Stewart, 21...Anthony Tucker,
15...Kenny Walker, 2...Chris Webber.
95/96
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COACH: Jim Lynam....(GM, John Nash)
32...Mitchell Butler, 40...Calbert Cheaney, 34...Michael Curry,
21...Ledell Eackles, 1...Greg Grant, 5...Juwan Howard, 23...Tim
Legler, 42...Cedric Lewis, 55...Bob McCann, 22...Jim McIlvaine,
77...Gheorghe Muresan, 14...Robert Pack, 54...Mike Peplowski,
20...Brent Price, 15...Mark Price, 12...Kevin Pritchard,
34...Bob Thornton, 30...Rasheed Wallace, 2...Chris Webber,
42...Jeff Webster, 12...Chris Whitney.
96/97
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COACH: Jim Lynam....(GM, Wes Unseld)
50...Ashraf Amaya, 40...Calbert Cheaney, 22...Matt Fish, 44...Harvey Grant, 5...Juwan Howard, 32...Jaren Jackson, 23...Tim Legler, 77...Gheorghe Muresan, 35...Tracy Murray, 15...Gaylon Nickerson, 1...Rod Strickland, 30...Ben Wallace, 2...Chris Webber, 12...Chris Whitney, 43...Lorenzo Williams.
97/98
 (logo
used from 1997-now) ---------------------------------------------
COACH: Bernie Bickerstaff....(GM, Wes Unseld)40...Calbert Cheaney, 52...Terry Davis, 21...Ledell Eackles, 44...Harvey Grant, 31...Darvin Ham, 5...Juwan Howard, 23...Tim Legler, 3...Lawrence Moten, 35...Tracy Murray, 33...Jimmy Oliver, 2...God Shammgod, 1...Rod Strickland, 30...Ben Wallace, 2...Chris Webber, 12...Chris Whitney, 43...Lorenzo Williams.
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Dr.
Joel Freeman served as mentor/chaplain for "Business Wisdom & Life Lessons from an NBA Chaplain" AVAILABLE TO SPEAK AT YOUR ORGANIZATION private line: 410.991.9718
The Bullets / Wizards Logo Museum NBAchaplain.com
"washington bullets -- washington wizards -- nba -- national basketball association -- Chicago Zephyrs -- Baltimore Bullets -- Wes Unseld" |
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