I have two photographs on the wall near the front door of my home. In fact, they're the ONLY photographs on ANY wall in my home. One is a famous shot of New York Yankee pitcher Don Larsen throwing the final pitch of his 1956 World Series perfect game against the Dodgers. The significance of the picture, to me, is not Larsen, but the guy poised behind Larsen - Yankee second baseman Billy Martin ... a true hero of mine then ... and still to this day, and for my own reasons.

The other photo, and I really do glance at it every day, is a football sideline shot of a coach and his quarterback during a time out, conferring on a game-deciding play. No, it's not the photo you're thinking of. It happens to be a picture of then TCU Coach Jim Wacker, and his young special teams ace, John Denton. Both are looking at the goal line over the photographer's shoulder, and the eyes and facial expressions of each have that look ... you know, that "...well, we got this far, and we're not stopping now! Here's what we're gonna' do..." look. There is an air of confidence and trust. It's a priceless photograph. But if anything can be more than priceless, it's the inscription on the picture, "O'C, You are the BEST!!", and it's signed, "Jim Wacker". No, Coach, it's the other way around. You're the best. Talk about a hero!

Why am I writing this? Because I can, and because I want to. You see, Coach Wacker isn't feeling too well lately. Physically, that is. Mentally and spiritually, he's better than ever. UN-BEEE-LEEEEE-VABLY better than ever. But, quite frankly, why do we wait until it's sometimes too late to express our true feelings about someone. So, please indulge me.

I was probably among the last in my group of sports associates to actually meet Coach Jim Wacker. It was about six years ago, after he had won two National Championships each at Texas Lutheran and Southwest Texas State, and had rebuilt struggling programs at TCU and Minnesota. Our first meeting was a chance passing in the Minneapolis airport. I'd just produced the CBS Baseball Game-Of-The-Week, and was awaiting a flight home. A tall fellow passed by in the long corridor ... he looked just like Coach Wacker, but I wasn't sure. With guts I normally don't show, I jumped up and said "COACH WACKER???" - and the fellow turned my way, grinned, and said something like, "Well, HI...how are you," and offered a handshake. I'll never forget it.

Coach and I later worked together on weekly football assignments, became friends, and were even "roomies" together in an overbooked Penn State hotel one weekend. And, just being around the man is everything one would think. A realistic optimism, with a sense of class and dignity that makes, and places, its mark. There is not an insincere bone in his body ... in fact, I'd wager that Jim Wacker would wrestle with calling a "fake punt"...he's that genuine.

So, here's thinkin' about'cha, Coach. I'm looking at the picture now, and as I recall, y'all won that game. You'll win this one, too ... in more ways than one. Oh, and Jim ... thanks for touching so many lives along the way. Unbelievable!