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How Herb Brooks took a bunch of kids, beat the Soviets and struck gold in ’80

During each of the remaining months in 2017, we’re going to focus on one of the “C” words that make the foundation of “C” You In The Major Leagues. So, starting in March, that leaves 10 months to go with 10 “C” words. Today, though, based on timing, we’re featuring a coach who, as we’ve learned since 1980, embodied each of the 10 words: Care, Character, Coach, Commitment, Competitor, Composure, Comprehension, Concentration, Confidence, and Courage. … Read more

“C” You At The “K” was a great success

The young man sheepishly walked up to me on his way to the buffet. He almost whispered when he asked, “Mr. Fulks, are we able to go through the line only one time or can I eat a little more food?” “Yes, please, go through as many times as you like! We want you guys to eat until the food is gone.” That may seem like a very basic conversation to many, but it’s one … Read more

Temple was a “C” leader through tumultuous times

  A sprinter’s success is measured in hundredths of a second. Therefore, a track coach’s success is dependent upon his runner’s ability to lean a little more at the tape, or an opponent’s brief slip out of the starting blocks, or some other cruel act of fate. As fate would have it, Ed Temple was a successful track coach. Some would say he was the best women’s track coach in the world. Maybe more accurately, … Read more

Summitt embodied “C” leadership

  The coach looked at his star player during the timeout, knowing that, if she could steal the ball, it would help cut the opponent’s five-point lead in the last couple of minutes. He still had four timeouts. “OK, you’re on defense,” the coach roared out to his star. The horn sounded, and the do-it-all player went back on the court on defense. As had been mapped out, she stole the ball from the bigger … Read more

Monday’s act of courage is a lesson to all of us

Forty years ago today, on April 25, 1976, Rick Monday had one of the best plays in the history of baseball. And it didn’t involve a bat or a ball or a glove. The following is a reprint of an article that Matt Fulks, Director of the “C” You In The Major Leagues Foundation and Dayton Moore’s co-author on “More Than A Season,” wrote for Kansas City’s Metro Sports in 2006 about that incredible moment. The … Read more

MTAS 2.0 is here!

Occasionally, I’m asked for “secrets” of writing a book. Although this isn’t necessarily what people are looking for, here’s a trade secret: most authors don’t go into a book project, particularly nonfiction, with the idea of adding new chapters and updating it for a re-release. On the contrary, speaking for myself, writing a book is usually so draining, mentally and physically, that I don’t even want to think about the subject again until the book … Read more

The leadership of Herb Brooks

  There aren’t many sporting events that have stuck with Americans as the U.S. Olympic hockey team’s win over the Soviet Union in 1980, and then subsequent gold medal win over Finland two days later. There are few people I’ve interviewed over the years as much as Kansas Citian Ken Morrow, who was a defenseman on that 1980 team. After all, the 1980 Olympic hockey win was one of my earliest non-KC-related sports memories. The … Read more

20 ideas for fathers and sons

This past weekend, as I was rummaging through some photos, I came across a few from a trip to Chicago that my oldest son and I took last year. See, my wife and I decided about 10 years ago that when each of our three children turned 13, we would take each on a trip of their choice — within the continental United States. My wife took our daughter to see some boy band in … Read more

As a leader, where’s your heart?

During the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the honor of introducing our founder and executive director Dayton Moore before he’s spoken to two groups. One was a group of Kansas City area business professionals, hosted by a realty group. The second was (mainly) Christian business leaders. I’ve introduced Dayton at events before, but in these two latest times, it was appropriate to talk about him as a leader. And, in both instances, when talking … Read more

Through tragedy, Hancock helping others

From time to time, as this blog evolves, the topics might not center on baseball or leadership or what the foundation is doing. Sometimes it’ll delve into other areas. This is one of those times. The following, which has been edited for clarification or updating the dates, was published originally in 2005. As you’ll see, it’s appropriate today.   A blue moth. It sounds innocent enough. Harmless. Not tough enough to be a hero such as the … Read more

Thank you for a great 2015!

Thank you. Two simple words that many of us don’t say enough. Today marks the end of not only 2015 but also, basically, our second year of the “C” You In The Major Leagues Foundation. So, I want to say thank you for supporting us in the early part of our journey. Whether you’ve made a donation to the foundation, attended an event, bought a copy of the More Than A Season book, or bid during … Read more

Lessons from the 2015 Royals

  Recently I went to a book discussion at the Plaza branch of the Kansas City Library. The book, titled Just Let ‘Em Play, was written by former Royals great Jeff Montgomery, sport psychologist Dr. Andrew Jacobs, and former Olympic swim coach Peter Malone. The book is written for parents, coaches, and young athletes. (In full disclosure, I co-authored it.) During the discussion, the question was asked: what can young athletes learn from the 2015 Kansas … Read more

Congrats to our founder and executive director

  Although we’re a few days late, we need to congratulate the founder and executive director of the C You In the Major Leagues Foundation, Dayton Moore, who was selected as the 2015 winner of the Esurance MLB Award for Best Executive. The ceremony was held earlier this month during baseball’s Winter Meetings in Nashville, Tenn. This award has been nine years in the making for Dayton and the Royals. See, for many of us, whether through blind faith … Read more

Why CYITML?

When people find out that I’m working for the C You In the Major Leagues Foundation, the reaction of surprise seems to be similar regardless of which side the person’s on — those who know me more as a writer (Dayton’s co-author, as a matter of fact) but aren’t familiar with C You In The Major Leagues, or those who know the foundation but not me. When they hear what I’m doing, it’s common to get “Why … Read more