This commentary is from a teacher who, due to total luck, wound
up at Jack Parker's press conference today.  This, of course,
is the first of many differences between myself and channel 4's
"sports" reporter Bob Lobel.
 
At 4:30, when I went to pick up my paycheck at BU for working
intramurals, I stopped for a minute to talk to my boss about
some officiating plans for this summer.  Well, while I was there,
*his* boss came in and let him know that Parker had just decided
that he was staying.  My boss then said, "Hey, want to go across
the street and see the press conference?"
 
And there I was standing next to the channel 56 camera with a
channel 5 reporter waving "hi" and a NESN reporter (BU grad)
declaring as he came down the stairs, pointing to me, "Now
*THERE'S* the happiest man in North America right now!"
 
 
After watching and listening to the press conference (an interesting
sight as media people squash each other to "get their question in."),
I was happy that Parker was staying, and I understood that he did
not want to deal with the constant travel and media crush (he joked
that now he wouldn't see any of the press again until the Beanpot).
 
 
He spoke glowingly about Sinden and the Bruins.  He spoke well of BU.
 
He joked about how upset his players would be to find out that they
would have to deal with him for a few more years.
 
The key, though, was when he spoke of the ties that he makes coaching
college hockey.
 
 
 
 
Before I go into this topic, let me come back to Bob Lobel...
 
It's no secret that I have no love for Lobel.  He is the #1 reason
for my dislike of B.C..  I almost never watch channel 4 news
because of Lobel and Neumier (sp?).  Heck, the only reason why
I caught channel 4 sports today is that their evening sports is
run 10 minutes after the real stations, channels 5 and 7.
 
 
No, Lobel was not at the press conference... neither was Neumier.
 
Channel 4 sent their 4th-string sports person to the conference...
 
 
BUT!!!  Lobel, as is typical of that arrogant, whining disgrace to
Boston, still felt the need to comment on the situation.  While
other stations had emphasized that Parker's desicion was based on
"lifestyle" factors, Lobel stated, with a stunned look of
disbelief that the reason for his decision was because BU had
made a new contract offer to Parker.  Lobel could not understand
Parker's decision.
 
 
Poor Bob.
 
 
As a teacher who had chosen to stay at a school which pays less
than others because I really like the kids here, Parker's comments
at the press conference really hit home.
 
Jack talked about Sean McEachern calling him to try and convince
him to take the Bruins' job.  He stated that, "the best thing
about going to Milwaukee this year was not beating Michigan...
but seeing Jack O'Callahan again.
 
Jack talked about how much it meant to him to have John Cullen
call him to talk about the cancer that John is battling and to
ensure Jack that he would be "OK."
 
Jack said that when he talked to his year's seniors, they all came
up with good reasons for Jack to go to the NHL, but, he said, they
all missed the most important aspect of his job... the ties he
builds with his players, not just for now, but for 5 years from
now.  He mentioned a long list of other players who he always
drop by or call to talk.  Jack talked about seeing his former
players deal with situations 5 years down the road and how he
still helps some of them through these situations, sometimes just
listening to how they are dealing with them.
 
 
It is tough to *really* explain this to people who have not been
teachers in one location for a while, but it really means a lot
to me to have former students, some of whom I had 4 years ago,
drop by my room to say "hi" and talk about what is going on in
their lives.  This year, to have a former student from two years
ago come in 6th in the state in the geography bee was nice.
(I was his Geography teacher)  That he ran down the hall to
head to my room to tell me he had qualified for the states was
something more special.
 
As a group of students were complaining to me in my room after
school today, one former student from 4 years ago asked me,
"Mr. B, do *all* your students come by and tell you their
problems???"  I reponded with a smile, "No... but it seems that
way sometimes!"
 
Two months ago, when one student asked me if I ever get sick
and tired of all these students coming by all the time after
school to ask me and tell me stuff, I thought for a second,
and responded "Yes... but there'd be something really missing
if they didn't."
 
 
In my summer job, where I have been teaching at a gifted program
for many years (close to a decade), I have moved up into
administration.  One of the nicest things is that two of the
people who work for me are former students of mine from the
late 80's.  Both were initially hired by other people before
I moved into administration, but, in both cases, once I took
over one of the campuses, both requested to work for me.
 
 
 
Listening to Jack talk about how important those connections he's
built are to him, it really hit home.
 
 
 
Bob Lobel, in his money-centered analysis, did get one thing
right... he really *can't* understand why Parker chose to stay
on the college level.
 
 
Is Jack returning to win another national title...???
 
maybe.
 
 
Is winning the title the point???
 
 
No.
 
 
Jack has decided to stay at the college level so that he can
continue to shape the lives of young men for another decade.
 
 
He wants to make sure that when he retires from the working
world, he made a difference, building a web of support and
closeness which will last through the rest of his life.
 
 
 
 
Tony
 
 
 
PS - sorry if this seems sappy, but if you could hear the
whole press conference and listen to what he talked about,
it would come off sooooo different than the way channel 4
presented it.
 
 
PPS - Thank you for reading
 
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