We knew them when



 

I sometimes liken the hero’s journey to a video game. Now, my video game career peaked with Pac Man but I understand that you learn a game, you like a game, you master a game, and then the game moves you up a level. Same skills and techniques, just everything faster and therefore more challenging. Some people just like winning and stay at the low level. Maybe they get frustrated and stop. Others are challenged by the game and want to master it even though the demands are greater, and everything moves faster and faster. Loving such challenges make you grow in your skill, and in your experience.

 


 Kevin Pangos was maybe the best high school basketball player in Ontario, but he believed in himself and wanted more. He was the youngest player to ever play for the Senior Men’s national team at 16 but he wanted more. He went on to an All-American career at Gonzaga, four-time all-conference player and player of the year in his senior year. But he wanted more. He’s played professional basketball in the Canary Islands. In Lithuania, in Barcelona, and now in St Petersburg Russia. The following link shows a little bit of what Kevin is up to now. One of the best guards in the best league in the world outside the NBA, but he wants more.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkQfs39jC2g

 

 

A great thing about the Olympia family is that we as adults get to see these young athletes grow up and become adults themselves. The Soul of Olympia chapter in A Hero’s Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp captures life’s moments at camp written by Olympians.  With Kevin in the EuroLeague news this week as playoff game  MVP I thought I would share this little vignette I wrote about life at Olympia and a realization that world-class athletes are still just everyday people making their way on their journey. We are proud to say that we knew them when.

 


I call the story The Shoes.

 

 

Kevin Pangos was already a provincial and national player of distinction before this event took place. I spent five years following Kevin and his family on his travels and career at Gonzaga in writing “Can’t Miss: The Kevin Pangos Story but that was after this event. Kevin became a great guest speaker at Olympia who shows campers what their possibilities truly are if they have a passion for their goals, but that is far after this event.

 

Kevin was playing for the Canadian Cadet team overseas and he had a few days of furlough that he decided to spend at Olympia Sports Camp. As a young child and budding basketball star Kevin had spent hundreds of hours on the asphalt courts of Olympia but this trip was going to be different. Since he was tired from his European adventure, and soon to embark on yet another trip he was given strict orders from the powers that be with the National program that he stay off his feet and enjoy everything else Olympia has to offer. Maybe do some reading, enjoy the waterfront, maybe hit the lake in a canoe or kayak, or maybe socialize with the many coaches and counselors that Kevin had come to be close with over the years.

 

Kevin was and is one of those people that everyone likes. Always respectful and very astute socially Kevin is fun to be around as well as an inspirational person to listen to. From a strong family background  Kevin also was just a great kid who followed common sense and did what he was told by those guiding him.

 

Usually did what he was told.

 

Kevin got antsy on the very first afternoon of his stay at Olympia. He had told Bill, Patty, and I about the no basketball edict from Canada Basketball. The three of us were sitting on the porch of C5 after lunch just chatting as Olympians do when lo and behold, we looked across the field and saw Kevin on Court 6 involved in a game of two on two.  I always felt like one of the myriad of people who cared about Kayla and Kevin and this situation called for action. I jokingly felt that kids sometimes listen to others more than they listen to their parents, so I took over. From C5 to Court 6 I yelled at Kevin to stop what he was doing immediately!

 

When Kevin came to C5 he explained to me that he and Josh Collins, who went on to a great career himself at the University of Windsor and is now playing pro in Abu Dhabi, were asked to play two on two with a couple of the kitchen staff and they couldn’t refuse. When asked about being told no basketball Kevin just did that Kevin grin and shrug of the shoulders. I said that if he couldn’t discipline himself, he would have to be disciplined. I proceeded to order him to hand over his sneakers and I was taking them away from him for 24 hours. He was shocked but acquiesced to my demands and gave me his shoes.

 

That week I was staying in M1 with Ultimate Frisbee legends Peyton Yeung and Peter Jamieson.  With Kevin’s shoes in the corner of the cabin we joyfully went about our afternoon session, went to supper, did the evening session, went to the coaches meeting that took place at 10:30 every night, then came back to the cabin. Did I mention that Kevin’s shoes were there? The entire cabin stunk to high heaven and my roommates were none too happy that I involved them in my disciplining of Kevin.

 

The next day, at precisely the same moment 24 hours after the day before, I returned the shoes to Kevin. Glad to get rid of them!

 

Simply an Olympian’s way to show that we are family and that families care about each other. I had to care in order to put up with that stench! 


Olympia isn’t just a place where, but it’s a people who.

 

 

 The link to the blog is TuesdayswithDave.blogspot.com


This blog is about the journey of the writing of the book A Hero's Journey: From Little Norway to Olympia Sports Camp. The blog will contain excerpts from the book and my personal thoughts on what the place and the people that make up Olympia's journey is all about. The title comes from the great book Tuesdays With Morrie, by Mitch Albom. The blog's title is recognizing Dave Grace as Camp Director, but all content is my own. 

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