A Foreword to A Hero’s Journey




Some exciting news this week as the writing process is soon to become the publishing process. A few months back in one of our meetings I brought up with Dave the idea of a foreword to the book and if he had any thoughts on who he’d like to see write it. The list was very short, and Dave implored me to ask Leo Rautins. Great idea, as Leo is a former camper and has been a guest pro for years.

 I asked Leo and he too found the prospect of writing the foreword to be something he’d love to do. I put the announcement out on Tuesdays with Dave as this, I felt, would be taking the book to a whole other level. I told Dave the news that Leo was in and he was pumped!

 

I was pumped too. We all visualize, and I have seen the finished project in my mind’s eye. One image I see is the front cover with the words. “Foreword by Leo Rautins.” For a book about Olympia and the hero’s journey, it doesn’t get much bigger.

 

A few weeks ago, in another of our meetings Dave asked me if I had received the foreword yet and seemed a little worried, despite me telling him that Leo was on it and with his busy schedule it would get done. I found Dave’s unease to be a sign of wanting the best for the book, but also his admiration for all that Leo has done, for Dave, for Olympia, and for basketball in Canada, a kindred spirit so to speak. Even bigger, Leo is a link to the great basketball in Toronto in Dave's coaching days and  all the great coaches who helped get Olympia off the ground.

 

The admiration turns out to be mutual.

 

This week Leo sent me the finalized copy of his foreword and it sets the tone beautifully for the book. The best player coming out of Canada, a great career at Syracuse, first round NBA draft choice, a ten-year professional career, a Raptor analyst since day 1, Leo holds Olympia in such high regard and thanks Olympia for the lessons learned and the growth he experienced as a part of all his success. 

 

Oh, want to read Leo’s foreword? Check out A Hero’s Journey: Beyond Little Norway and Olympia Sports Camp, coming to a book store or tuck shop near you sometime this summer. Stay tuned!




 The camp website is  www.olympiasportscamp.com Articles abound about the importance of camps like Olympia for the mental benefit to kids who have been cloistered for two years. Nobody does it better than the staff and coaches at Olympia. Do it for the kid whose life will be changed because they got to go to Olympia Sports Camp in the summer of 2022. Help spread the vibe that after two years the best sports camp in Canada ( with the four reasons we hear at every opening) will be back and be better than ever.  

 

 

 

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.

Comments

  1. UnknownMarch 23, 2022 at 7:14 PM

    This sounds great! As a former camper, counselor, trainer, and coach at Olympia over the span of about 20 years I am looking forward to reading this. Way to go Dave!
    Barc

    ReplyDelete

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