I met Mark in the gymnasium in the Philippines. I was amazed at how much he looked like NBA star, Jerry West. But he certainly didn't play like West. Mark had never played organized ball before and it showed. But he had a raw talent that intrigued me and you could tell how much he loved the game. I guess he was about 18 but he would spend every free minute off duty in that gym. He would not only play but he was constantly trying to improve and always asking questions on how to do something better. I eventually became the coach of the base team and I kept Mark on the team only because of how hard he tried, certainly not for his ability at that time. He played soft cause he was too nice of a guy. Basketball requires you get a little tough, especially inside where Mark would be playing at 6' 4" tall. Every day he got better and better. He never complained about sitting on the bench and when he was called on, he was ready. He was getting better but was still just too soft. So I approached his friend and team mate, Mike, with an idea I had on how to help Mark. I told Mike I was going to scrimmage with them on opposing teams and I wanted Mike to "rough him up every chance he got." I wanted to see if he would get tough back at Mike. Since I was the "ref," of course I called no fouls. Mike was about the same heighth as Mark but a much bigger body. Every time Mark would drive to the basket, Mike would hammer him and I would make no call. When he would look over at me wondering why no call, I would look away. It went this way throughout the scrimmage and Mark was getting killed. Still no foul calls. But Mark, indeed, was beginning to go stronger to the basket. He was now going in expecting to get hammered but he was concentrating on making the shot and not worrying about the foul. It was working. I blew the whistle and stopped the scrimmage. Told everyone nice job. Poor Mike, he came running over and asked, "C'mon coach. You gotta tell him what was going on. He is my buddy." I laughed and blew the whistle and told all my plan and everybody laughed. Mark just kept shaking his head saying, "I couldn't figure out why you weren't calling any fouls..." Suffice to say Mark went on to become our best player. Later, he got transferred to Japan and was the MVP of their tournament. He was picked to play on the All Navy team, about as high as you can go in service ball. Got out of the Navy and finished his college days playing at Riverside Univ and then went to work as a civilian. He never did tell me what kind of work he did but I got the impression it was either ID card checker at the Mustang Ranch or unintelligible data examination coordinating director.

Spoke to him the other day and he seemed so content with life. Been married to Julie for more than 20 years and raised 4 boys. What I was mostly impressed with this sometimes goofy friend of mine, he told me his wife at age 45 was still the sexiest woman he has even known in his life. Translation: they still have that spark of love in their life. I DO know he no longer is an ID card checker and he is working as a consultant making big buckeroos. It just couldn't happen to a nicer guy. We have been friends since we met, regardless of the fact that he, as a young kid of 18, never could beat me as an old man of 35 with weight problems, in any one-on-one game we played. It used to drive him nutso. Well wasn't really a drive, more like a short putt.

But I will finish by saying some of my absolute greatest memories in my life are with him, basketball, and the Philippines. I always wish him and his family nothing but the best. Super friend. "Thanks, Mark, for the wonderful memories."