For five years my way of giving back to my community has been to coach High School tennis. I have often said it is the most rewarding three months of my year. My teams have always done well, but this year we have done exceptionally well. 
Last week and for the first time since 1999, both the boys and girls Dr Phillips High School teams won the Metro Conference Titles – going through the season unbeaten against Metro competition.
Yesterday we went out for the second day of a two-day tournament and both of my teams won the District Championships as well – something that hasn’t happened since 1997.
The women amassed a huge 19 point total out of a possible 21 and secured the Lines One, Three, Four and both Doubles Lines Championships. These kids have so much heart and work for each other as well. One of my girls has been struggling with a knee injury all year. Despite that she was the one who played a three hour match and ultimately it was her result that secured the championship.
While the women dominated, the men did something truly remarkable. They didn’t lose a single match over the two days and won all seven Line Championships, returning the maximum score of 21.
Now they head to the Regional Semi Finals, but no matter what happens in those matches, we will be sending four players directly to the State Championships.
I always find it interesting when the President speaks of community service. He always seems to talk about it in a way that suggests people will be compelled to do it and punished in some way if they don’t. That is not the REAL America. The REAL America consists of hundreds of thousands of people each day giving back to their community because they want to. Because they know it’s the right thing to do. Because they want to help their fellow citizens. We don’t need to be compelled to do anything – and frankly it would mean less if we were.
If you are looking for a way to give back to your community, I strongly recommend coaching High School sports. It’s hard work; time consuming but as I already said, the most rewarding part of my year each and every year.
GO PANTHERS!
If you would like to comment on this blog, you can do so by e-mailing me at simontalkshow@gmail.com
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Daniel Webster will announce today that he is running for the United States Congress in District 8 against controversial first term Democrat, Alan Grayson. This decision has been a long time coming and is in fact a reversal from an announcement he made back in October when he said he would not run.
