Several Letterboxers may be aware that I instruct Sporting Clay
Shooters and due some volunteer instruction for a group of young men
and women in LA. This group of kids have been very successful both in
competition and in life as well. The person that runs this group
(SoCal Top Guns) is the chief instructor at Triple B range Jim Porter
and has ALS. He has been my buddy for about as long as he has had
this disease. He sends out a monthly newsletter and this note was
included in the last one.

Don
(I'm the guy that helps him hold 'his' shotgun)


Coaches Corner
My desire as your coach, advisor, friend, professor, and mentor (and
to some "YODA") is to give you the tools to be successful in shooting
and in life. I have found in my life that it is not always about
winning. I have striven to be one of the best instructor's in the
country. I had goals of being a top competitor. I had a plan and a
regiment to get there. I had plans to raise a wonderful family
(despite the fact that my kid's didn't come with instructions.) I
had plans of finding the girl of my dreams in my wife Patty. I had a
dream of opening a family oriented hunting, fishing and dog training
retail store.

Every dream and goal I faced was challenging and took a huge
commitment. I achieved every one of those dreams plus so many more
that I couldn't list them all here.

What made me a winner? Attitude, Commitment, a lot of support from
loved ones and friends and the grace of God. I wanted to be rich.
It came in presents called Andrea, Jessica, Patty and so many
friends. Money isn't the only measure of riches. I definitely am
not financially wealthy, but I wouldn't trade my life with anyone.
It's been an awesome ride and I have met more wonderful people and
made more great friends than a person deserves. It's like getting
two or three great hunting dogs. You might get one but to get two or
three great dogs is surely a special gift. My friendships are my
fortune. My riches are in seeing you turn out as a fine young man or
woman who takes a little piece of me into the future. Something that
will help you enjoy your life and something to use to become
successful and a winner in life. Something that you will give to
your children and grandchildren.

I now have ALS (Lou Gerhig's Disease). It wasn't one of my goals nor
will I beat it as I have done in so many of my challenges. It will
beat me and I will lose to the disease. In 1995, I was given 6 months
to a year to live. Because I have survived 12 years, does that make
me a winner? No, it doesn't. It makes me blessed by God. It makes
me appreciate how precious life is. It lets me realize that each day
if I wake; there is one more day I can make a difference in someone's
life, and that if I can get out of bed that it will be fantastic no
matter what happens. I love my "Job". I look forward to going out
to Triple B and working with aspiring shooters. Every day I pray to
God, thanking Him for blessing me and giving me another day to help
someone else and set an example for my students and hopefully make a
difference in their lives.

I can no longer win a shooting tournament. It's not about winning.
It's about playing the game with love and respect. I need help to
mount my shotgun and some one has to take it before I drop it after I
shoot. I shoot because it is my challenge to myself. I want to play
the game in spirit and in style. I enjoy every minute out on the
course and at the shoots. I shoot in pain. I hurt for days
afterwards. But I shoot because I enjoy the game. Do I want to win?
Of course, but again, it's not about winning.

I can't drive a car or swim. I can't run or even lift a ball to throw
it. I can hardly feed myself. I can't get into bed by myself and I
can't walk to the bathroom. Is this the image of a winner? Not in
Hollywood maybe. If I can overcome my obstacles so that I can be
there to teach you how to shoot, than you should be able to overcome
your problems and give me respect by acting like a champion. You
say "You're upset because you missed a target". Give me a break.
(Just try to put it into perspective).

I see you kids with "I want it now" attitudes and expectations of
instant gratification and I ask myself what happened to the fun of
the game. I see kid's going to tournaments expecting to win but not
doing their homework. I see kids throwing shells, pouting, and
beating themselves up with no chance of winning because they're there
for the wrong reasons and not properly prepared. It's not about
winning and instant gratification. It's about learning how to play
the game with style and laughter and determination. It's about
the "Fun of the Game".

I ask myself these questions. Am I lucky? Am I a winner? Am I
successful?
I am lucky: To be given time to share with others.
I am a winner: Just look at my family and friends.
I am successful: Look at my smile.

What more could I want?
For you to be at least as successful in life as I have been and more.

I don't want self-pity or any one else's. You shouldn't either. You
are good enough to win the tournaments on your own ability. Are you
willing to put in the work? When you feel like whining, Take your
thoughts off you and think about someone else.

I chose to start a non-profit youth training program so that you
could succeed. Your success is not in winning the tournament; it is
in winning at life. Winning the tournament is a test of where you
are. Winning at life is who you are and who you will become. Do I
want to be a winner at life? Absolutely. How do I play the game? I
will play with all my heart. I will play with laughter, humility,
love and respect and by the grace of God. How will you play?

God Bless you always,

Jim