This year college basketball lost a giant of the sport. Pat Summitt was the legendary coach of the Tennessee Lady Volunteers. Her impact on the sport of women’s basketball is enormous. At her retirement she boasted a record of 1,098 wins, 8 national championships, 18 Final Four appearances, and a 100% graduation rate of the players who played their full eligibility at Tennessee. Coach Summitt is truly one of the greatest coaches, both on and off the court, that basketball has ever seen.
After the passing of Pat Summitt there were many news stories highlighting her life. One of the things that I heard about this amazing coach was her commitment to writing letters. Pat Summitt was a busy coach in a demanding sport, but she took the time to hand write letters to so many of the people that she came into contact with throughout her day. She wrote letters of encouragement and Thank You cards on a daily basis. Amy Voepel, from ESPN, writes, “Summitt was an all-time champion when it came to composing thank-you cards and notes of encouragement…It was partly thanks to her impeccable manners and partly her genuine desire to communicate and inspire.”
Pat Summitt’s influence on both basketball and the people she encountered is impossible to measure. Her influence is truly a positive influence. She was able to extend her positive influence through the simple act of writing. Pat Summitt wrote players, recruits, opposing coaches and so many others during her life.
As I learned more about this legendary coach I was reminded just how deep an impact a hand written note can have on a person or a situation. So many in the sport of basketball have stated how meaningful it was to receive a letter from her. Taking time to sit down and write a note of encouragement or to express gratitude is truly an act of kindness we all have time for. I hope today you will take a moment to write a thank-you letter or a letter of encouragement to someone you know. It is an act of kindness that truly makes a difference. –Rev. Keith King, Online Campus Pastor
