LITTLE ROCK — First was a call from someone I’ve known for years, Jamie Kuhn, who actually postponed her honeymoon in 1984 to play in one of my softball tournaments.
Jamie and Jaynie Bailey, for whom my daughter Whitney used to baby-sit, were having dinner and their conversation turned to the state soccer tournament and a concern the school their daughters attend might not get a fair shake.
Then came the text from Jane Yokum after her son’s Little Rock Catholic team won state.
Those are the kinds of moms who should be celebrated every day, not just once a year.
Granted, sometimes it is dads, sometimes moms,sometimes both.
This happened to be three very loving and devoted moms. There was never any doubt their motives were good, the care of their children. In fact, they are supermoms.
Those communications, along with this being Mother’s Day, got me to thinking about moms of high-profile athletes who have been great role models in the lives of their children, as well as all the children who played with or against their children.
In this world of perspiring arts where sportsmanship seems to have gone missing and the theme is win and win by as much as you can, several ladies immediately came to mind.
Ladies I’ve never heard yell at an official.
Never complain about the coaching.
Never make a scene.
And always found a way to be encouraging without getting in the spotlight.
I don’t mean to leave anyone out like A.J. Burnett or Cliff Lee, but there are a lot of moms I’ve never met, and some I have met that stand out such as Annette Fisher, mother of Los Angeles Lakers point guard Derek Fisher; Bettye Williamson, motherof former NBA standout and current head coach at Central Arkansas, Corliss Williamson; Diane Johnson, mother of Atlanta Hawks standout Joe Johnson, and Linda Andrews, whose sons Shawn and Stacy have or are playing in the NFL.
No doubt all those ladies, and many more, will hear from their sons today, because each played a major role in their child’s life by displaying character and discipline that was founded in love and care. And always having time to listen.
Today, Annette is immersed in her church and community, working behind the scenes to raise money and improve circumstances. When her son was coming out of Parkview High with only twoscholarship offers, she was the one who offered the advice to outwork everyone.
Bettye once grounded her son when he was in the eighth grade, forcing him to miss a basketball game because he had brought home a grade on a test that was not satisfactory.
Years ago, Diane found out someone was raising money for her family (money they never received) and the hardworking mom was mortified and put that person offlimits.
(All three volunteer every year to work at the Real Deal in the Rock to give back to basketball.)
Linda worked double shifts in a factory in Camden to provide for her three sons (the oldest is in the military).
When those sons weredrafted by professional teams and moved away, they did so without a posse or hangers-on. Mom found a family member to go with them for a year to help with the transition to living the pro athlete life in a pro city.
Not all moms can have sons who play in the NBA or NFL or major leagues, but all moms can be supportive without being controlling, loving without using guilt and a personal cheerleader without seeking attention.
Those are a few examples of supermoms, and there are many more in our great state just like the ladies who called or texted last week. It is all about investing time in your son or daughter’s life.
That pays the greatest dividends.
Sports, Pages 27 on 05/09/2010