Page 118 - How to Drive the Bottom Line with People

Built to Serve

Walt McAlexander, our team statistician and a man I
admired and respected, could not contain himself.

“You know, Dan,” he said, “it’s impossible to
calculate your earned-run average if you don’t get
anyone out.” Even I had to laugh.

s I sit here today and reflect on that experi-
A ence, I am mindful not of the pain of the per-
formance, but of the humor reflected in Coach Hays’s

perspective. He knew, of course, an incalculable
earned-run average was not ideal, but, more impor-
94
= tant, he knew it was not the end of the world.

Following this performance and a number of others
marked by a penchant for walking batters, I returned
to Houston and worked on a new pitch. Returning to
Lubbock the next season, I quickly sought Coach Hays.
“I learned a new pitch,” I excitedly told him.

“What is it, a strike?” Hays countered.
Humor helped Hays always keep the perspective
that Lubbock Christian’s vision is about providing stu-

dents with developmental growth in academics, spir-
ituality, character, and leadership. Having a low
earned-run average is conspicuously missing from the
list. I got the loss that day against Texas A&M, but I