The Portland Maverick Miracle

Being unconventional is to be UNwilling to conform to what is generally done. Throughout my career, I have occasionally had to think in unconventional manners to accomplish professional and personal goals. This week we have started football practice, but we will play 8 man football. To my knowledge, we may be the first high school in Illinois to offer Varsity 8 Man Football. Although there are well over 5000 schools in the United States that play 8 man football, it is unconventional in our state. The 8 Man Game is similar yet different to the 11 man game. The opportunity to try this version of football has me especially excited about this fall, and I am very pleased about working with the football players and coaches in the program to further the tradition of football at North Shore in this manner.

Coincidentally with the start of the season, I found on Netflix a wonderful documentary entitled The Battered Bastards of Baseball. This is the story of the Portland Mavericks who were an Independent Class 1A baseball team in Portland Oregon from 1973-1978. My family lived in Portland from 1973-1975, and we lived walking distance from the stadium. My father is a huge baseball fan, so we attended many games, and, like the movie explains, we embraced the team.

But the story of the Mavericks is a story of being unconventional, and there are several lessons.
1) Initially expect many people to tell you, you are crazy and your unconventional ideas will never work. The Portland Mavericks created their initial roster from an open tryout. This was unheard of and mocked. But the owner of the Mavericks, Bing Russell, believed that talent was often overlooked. The open tryout drew baseball dreamers from around the country and they found players.
2) Don't look too far into the future instead focus on having fun and living in the moment. The Mavericks were operated on a shoe string budget. No one was paid more than $400 a month. The roster was filled with has beens, but they played for the love of the game and that drew others to them.
3) But also focus on a vision or a dream. The dream for most of the Mav's was to be a major leaguer. They played in the lowest team of the lowest level of baseball. It was a nearly impossible dream. But it was their dream.
4) Don't be surprised that in pursuing that dream what you accomplish is something else. Not the initial dream but none the less wonderful instead.

I am not going to give away too much of the story of the Mavericks. However, I am going to tell you that The Battered Bastards of Baseball is a MUST WATCH. Its on Netflix now.

Here is the trailer.



Get it. Watch it and don't settle for CONVENTIONAL THINKING!