Jim Banks, 1960
Remembering Coach Bob Timmons
Timmy was the best teacher I ever had. He once gave us a lesson that I can still use, if necessary, with my great-granddaughters.
It was track practice, early spring, very windy, nearly freezing. We had run our half-mile warmup before Timmy’s chalk talk. He finished his outline of the day’s practice with “time for wind sprints.”
John Deardorff
Either John Deardorff or Bob Ware, each a tremendous athlete, asked, “Oh, Coach, do we have to?”
Timmy’s reply was a life lesson of the highest order for me. “No, John, you get to.”
I have used that line with my children, my grandchildren, and all the athletes and sales people I have coached in the 60 years since.
Below: Timmons times world champion miler Jim Ryun.
Jim, that single line changes one’s perspective about everything a person faces in life. Timmons was certainly a skilled motivator. He has been revered by many!