Scott Whitlock, 49, whose Kennesaw State softball teams won two national titles, taught them how to give back through the inspiration of basketball legend Roger Kaiser, 73.
I grew up in Bostwick, Ga. and everyone in Georgia knew what Roger did and how good he was. He graduated from Georgia Tech the year I was born, and by the time I came up, he was such a coaching success at West Georgia and Life University, with all the national championships.
About 15 years ago, while coaching at KSU, I needed to buy T-shirts. The vendor was Chip Kaiser, Roger’s son. We became friends, and Chip introduced me to Roger. Winners like to be around winners, and I was attracted to him so I could become a better coach.
We’re very close. We have dinner once a week and talk daily. Roger sits at my games and tells me what I did wrong. He’s a very blunt critic.
Roger’s granddaughter, Chip’s daughter Alexis, was born seven years ago with cerebral palsy. We’ve puttered around with how to bring more awareness to these kids with such bright minds trapped in bad bodies.
Roger started a golf tournament. After playing in it, I thought, “Scott, do something. You’ve got a platform, people and opportunity.” That’s how Lexi’s Day was born.
For four seasons now, we’ve picked one spring game and donated all profits from the gate, concessions and a special pregame meal to the Alexis Kaiser Foundation.
That money helps with the extraordinary costs for Lexi and other kids like her. Lexi’s a triplet, and wants to do what her brother and sister do, so at the 2010 Lexi’s Day, we got her a special bicycle.
Our team (28-27 last season) has been through a tough transition into NCAA Division I. It’s important for us, regardless of our record or this transition, to fully appreciate that each of us has the potential to be someone’s hero.
My players see how interacting with kids like Lexi makes a difference. At the last Lexi’s Day, when we gave 8-year-old Damian Boyd a special bicycle, everyone was bawling for the right reason. Not out of sympathy, but because they could see that we can normalize life for people who bravely deal every day with disabilities like CP.
Next spring, we’ll have Lexi’s Day when we play Georgia Tech, Roger’s alma mater. We’re two different sports, two different generations, representing different metro colleges. We’ve found something common to be committed to.
Lexi thinks of Roger as Grandpa, but she calls me Coach. That makes me laugh, and takes me to a special place.
Reported by Michelle Hiskey
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