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Rusty LaRue
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The Last Dance

5/17/2020

 
As a former teammate of Michael Jordan with the Chicago Bulls 1998 Championship team I am always asked the same question. What was MJ like? With the release of the ESPN The Last Dance documentary, audiences are getting to see for themselves what my answer has always been - Michael defines himself by winning and is a compulsive competitor.

One of the great things about being a part of that Bulls team was how awesome all the players were to me and my family. They welcomed us in and treated us like we belonged. While Jordan could be relentless on the court, outside the lines he was fun to be around and was someone teammates could count on if they needed something. People ask me how MJ treated me personally and I always respond that he was great. During that season, I had some college friends attending the game at Madison Square Garden, Michael’s last game there in a Bulls uniform when he wore the original Air Jordan’s. I was promised tickets but at the last minute was told there were no tickets available. In desperation I went to Mike and asked if there was any chance he had four tickets I could get. Sure enough when tip off came around my friends were sitting mid court on the first row of the second level.

When I think back to my time with the Bulls and how to answer that one question I ALWAYS get asked, there is one story (and picture) that sums up my answer.
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What’s special about this picture is not the image itself but when it was taken. In the finals of 1998 we were up 3 games to 1 with a home game on Thursday, June 11 to close out the series. That night Karl Malone scored 39 points to lead the Jazz to victory and force us to make a trip back to Utah. The next day our team had planned a light walk through in the morning before flying out later that day. Jordan, who played 45 mins the night before, arrived wearing sweat pants and low cut shoes as I am sure he planned to do very little actual physical preparation for the final game. 

After the short practice, Keith Booth, Randy Brown, Scott Burrell and I started playing round robin one on one as we often did to get some extra work in. Meanwhile Michael and the other starters sat down as we waited for the media to come in post practice. That particular season MJ directed quite a bit of trash talk at Scott. Scott was always willing to playfully go right back at him and on this occasion suggested Michael keep his old tired body on the sidelines. As the media walked in for the final moments of practice, the trash talking went back and forth as we continued to play. Finally Jordan could not stand it any longer and slowly strolled over to get in the game as the media watched. I’m not sure what the score was when he joined the game but MJ came back and won. ​

So the greatest player in the world on the day before one of the most important games of his professional career couldn’t simply sit by and watch others compete. It didn’t matter the potential cost or consequences; believe me the scenario of Michael stepping on my foot and rolling an ankle went through my mind. MJ simply was compelled to seek out the high that comes from winning. That day at practice he made sure everyone in the gym knew he was the best. Less than 36 hours later, the GOAT made sure the rest of the world knew.

Sweet Redemption

4/16/2019

 
Below is a Facebook post from my amazing wife, Tammy. Enjoy!

My daughter says I overthink everything. She is right.

I watched Tiger Woods walk through the throngs of adoring fans this past Sunday. Thousands were lined up along the fairway to get a glimpse of greatness. Restrained by golf etiquette, for the most part, they held back their cheers as the other competitors took their turns. But immediately following Tiger’s swing, the applause would erupt and flow down the gallery. I was mesmerized by the scene as he approached the 18th green and the tension escalated with every step. I could feel the desperation of the crowd through my tiny iPhone screen. They wanted Tiger to win. They needed him to win.

I realized I was watching this event on Palm Sunday, and the coincidence was almost too much for my overthinking self.

What if he didn’t win? What if he choked and hit the ball into the crowd? I almost couldn’t watch, but I had to know how this story would end.

The finish was one of those beautiful moments that highlights the best of humanity. After battling years of personal and physical struggles, Tiger had the courage to compete against golfers half his age -young men he had inspired to play the game many years ago. When the last putt placed his ball safely in the hole, he rejoiced with a clenched fist full of relief and satisfaction, quickly followed by hands in the air and roars of victory!

The crowd went wild and I was tearing up for a man I’ll never meet. I was tearing up for wildest dreams and greatest hopes fulfilled. What a great story.

I want fairy tales to come true. I want all the good things and the happy ending every time. I want a Palm Sunday Savior with adoring crowds lining the street and cheers of victory. “Hosanna in the highest! Hosanna in the highest!”

If I am honest, I don’t like the bloody beating and savage murder of my Lord. It churns my stomach to think of his flogging. I hate everything about the nails piercing his flesh and his wounded, bleeding, naked body being hoisted up onto a cross to die a horrible death as onlookers cheer.

If I could edit the Gospel story, it would end on Palm Sunday. Jesus would ride through the adoring crowds on the donkey and soak up all the love. As he approaches the town of Jerusalem, a portal to Heaven would open and He would transform into Revelation Jesus with “eyes like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems” (Revelation 19:12 ESV). His donkey would morph into a magnificent white horse and an army of angels would appear to escort him to his throne in Heaven.

My depraved, overthinking mind would change the ending and condemn us all to hell forever.

The mystery and incomprehensible beauty of the Gospel is that it had to happen the way it happened. The story had to unfold as the coming of the Messiah was foretold in Isaiah hundreds of years earlier. He had to bleed and die to save us. Our sin required nothing less than perfect blood poured out.

As I look towards Resurrection Sunday, I am more grateful than ever for what happened on Good Friday. As hard as it is for my depraved mind to understand, His story is the perfect story.

There have been so many times over the past 1,305 days that I hated my own story. I wanted a magical pen to rewrite it. I relived a thousand moments and wanted them to be better. I would be a better mother and better person if I could just do it over.

Then one ordinary morning, as I rolled the “what ifs” and “whys” around in my head like I had done so many times, wondering why it happened the way it happened, I believe God gently spoke to my spirit: l don’t owe you anything.

He doesn’t owe me anything, yet He has given me everything.

My grieving changed that day. I had given lip service to being grateful for the nineteen years I had with my son, but in that moment, I genuinely felt it. I am deeply, deeply grateful for his life and my time with him. Of course, I would choose to have him here with me if I could, but that is not my story to write.

So thank you, Tiger, for winning the Masters and making me overthink on Palm Sunday. I hope it will help prepare my heart to remember the suffering on Good Friday that had to happen so we can rejoice and celebrate Resurrection Sunday.

And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay.”
Matthew 28:2-6 ESV

To Pay or Not to Pay

2/25/2018

 
A good friend recently asked if I was surprised with all the FBI findings about high school and college athletes and families getting paid under the table. My response was “absolutely not”. As a former college coach, I never witnessed anything first hand but the rumors always swirled around about who was playing outside the rules. But that’s not why my answer was so matter of fact. Why was I not surprised? One word, greed.

So now all the talking heads will opine that if players were paid this wouldn’t happen; if the NCAA didn’t monopolize kids this wouldn’t happen; it’s not their fault, they just want a piece of the pie. Seriously? College athletes are provided an opportunity for free education and are typically afforded excellent tutors, meal plans and housing. Take a few minutes to look up some of the facilities the Power 5 basketball programs have built to make sure their players have the best of the best. In addition, since 2015 college athletes can get a $2000 or more stipend based on cost of tuition and that is on top of any PELL grants or other aid they might be getting. How much is enough? Do you really think if you paid them more that the cheating would stop?

The last time I checked, going to college is optional and basketball players can already turn pro to play overseas or in the G League right out of high school. So why do they choose college even if it’s just for a year? Because it’s a smart business decision for their future. Players know that in college they will not only be afforded all the amenities they need but they will benefit from growing their own personal brand with the help of a rabid school fan base and the power of the NCAA. Do millions of people tune in to watch the G League tournament on ESPN 7 every year? No, they tune in to cheer on their college team year after year despite who is on their roster. Some will argue that players helped build the NCAA brand and should be compensated accordingly. Should colleges get a cut of a players future earnings since they spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on the best training, facilities, and marketing to help a player showcase and grow his talent?

Since college athletes are not allowed to work in season, I am absolutely in favor of the stipend college athletes are currently getting so they have some money for incidental expenses like gas or clothing. I do not believe paying players or allowing them to sign marketing deals is the right way to go forward. Instead let’s get rid of the rule that limits players from going straight to the NBA and let the market dictate a player’s decision. If a player decides he doesn’t want to be “exploited” by the NCAA then they can enter directly into the dog-eat-dog world of professional basketball. My bet is many will keep doing what they always have - go to college and benefit from getting an education while at the same time being given every tool and opportunity they need to grow their talent and marketability to make a living as a professional. Doesn’t that sound like what college is supposed to be about?

A Special Day with Special People

3/4/2017

 
I am currently the Head Coach at West Forsyth High School where I coach my sons Cooper and Maverick. We had a very successful season going 27-3, winning a conference championship, and making it to the 4A NC State Tournament Elite 8. Despite all the success of our team, the pressure of competition and the pain of losing can become suffocating to athletes and coaches. I often tell my boys that basketball is what we do but should not define who we are. I named this blog "More than 94" because I wanted it to be about more than just basketball (a regulation basketball court is 94 feet long). The last time I wrote on this blog was in August of 2015 just over a month before my 19 year old son Riley passed away in a car accident. After the devastating loss I just didn't have the motivation or desire to post anything.

On day 532 since Riley left this world I am compelled to post here and say thank you to a special group of people. Riley started volunteering as a basketball coach for the Special Olympics during his sophomore season of high school. His mom, Tammy, knew Will Stewart who ran the Forsyth County program and thought it would benefit Riley who was going through a tough basketball season at the time. Will has been a part of Special Olympics for over two decades and he, along with his players, welcomed Riley with open arms.

Today Will and the Special Olympics of Forsyth County hosted an invitational basketball tournament in Riley's honor. SO basketball players and cheerleaders from around the Triad came to East Forsyth, Riley's high school, to compete in remembrance of him. It was a fun day with lots of awards, high fives, hugs, and smiles.

I often wondered why Riley at 16 years old was willing to routinely give up sleeping in on Saturday mornings to go coach with SO. It hit me today as I heard one of the athletes read a prayer he wrote in which he called Riley his "friend" instead of "coach". Riley loved SO because to his players he was just Coach Riley and a friend. He wasn't Rusty's son and there was no pressure to perform or fear of losing; no one to disappoint or let down if he wasn't good enough. The players all accepted him for who he was just as he accepted them for who they were.

Ironically if we had won our Elite 8 game at West Forsyth we would have been playing in the final four today, day 532. It would have been a special day for our team to continue playing for a state title. I am thankful that Riley's players and friends with Special Olympics helped make today even more special to our family. I am especially grateful that they helped remind us of the joy that comes with loving others just as God has made them.

Why I Do What I Do

8/10/2015

 
I often got asked as a multi-sport athlete why I chose to play multiple sports. I always answered it was just what I did. I figured since I could, then why not. Being a professional basketball player was something I had always dreamed about but I never imagined I would win an NBA Championship. I love winning and am a fierce competitor but the wins and championships were not what motivated me.

I recently completely changed career paths and joined Dairi-O Restaurants as a future owner/operator to help grow and expand an already successful business. The restaurant business is a totally new arena for me and my family. I have always been an entrepreneur but having my own restaurant was not something I ever dreamed of. Having my own business so that I am flexible enough to have more family time is a big part of what drew me to the opportunity but it is not why I do what I do. I really get a great sense of pride when interacting with customers and seeing them enjoy our product and service, but it is not why I do what I do. The analytical detail guy in me loves the intricacies of running and building a business, but it is not why I do what I do. I love teaching and coaching team members so they grow and learn both personally and professionally, but it is not why I do what I do.

Ultimately I do what I do because I believe in the Bible and Proverbs 16:3 "Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established." I have been blessed beyond measure and been able to do some amazing things in my life so far. All along the way I took each opportunity whether it was school, sports, or work and did it to my fullest because that is what God calls us to do. I am truly enjoying each aspect of my new "work" and am excited to see great things unfold in the future.


Farm House Before & After

6/3/2015

 
Our family moved into the farm house in early April and are really enjoying it. Tammy and I finally got around to taking some after pictures that show some of the dramatic changes. The majority of the work is done except for some decorating and a few other details. Plenty more work ahead bringing the barns and land back to life.

Farm Renovation Update II

3/14/2015

 

With move-in day less than three weeks away, everything is moving along quickly at the farm. There are too many updates to list but here just a few things that are happening:

Exterior siding is been patched and repaired as well as rough sawn posts added to the porch

Entryway doors are being hung. We've used several old doors that we found on the property in various places on the house as well as ordered some new ones. Our new side entry door looks great.

Reclaimed barnwood flooring has gone down in the living room, kitchen and dining room area.

Custom kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanity by Providence Millwork arrived.

Chinking has begun on the logs. Doing that ourselves and is a tedious task!

Propane tank has been buried and filled. We plan to have gas assist wood fireplace in the living room.

A ton of trimwork going on as well. Painstaking work as there's nothing square in the house and everything has to be custom.

Excited for the next steps ahead painting and floor refinishing going on next week and then I'll be on to the final touches to complete the house.

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Farm Renovation Update

2/2/2015

 
I have had many people requesting an update on the farm so I wanted to get some new pictures online. We are several months into the renovation project and things are moving along quickly. Luckily we have sold our current house so we now have a target date of April 1 to move in.

We have done extensive grading and clean up of the land including the burning of two derelict barns on the property by the Lewisville Fire Department. We saved a concrete pad behind the house and hope to create a nice picnic area over looking the pastures and pond. There is still a ton more clean up, fence mending and barn repairs to do but that will have to wait until after we get into the house.

One of the biggest decisions we had to make was how much of the history of the house to expose. As with any older home it has been pieced together over the years and has many layers of different building materials. We have exposed the original log cabin walls in the master as well as the guest bathroom. We took two layers of sheet rock off the downstairs ceilings and raised the upstairs ceilings. The master had an old fireplace that was behind sheet rock so we opened it up. In the foyer we exposed some of the bead board walls and original wood work. At this point we feel good about what has been exposed and think it will provide a unique look into the history of the house. The crews for Lisha Construction have completed all the electrical, HVAC and plumbing work as well as passed those inspections. We also replaced all the windows and added a  set of windows over the sink overlooking the back of the property and pond. The sheet rock has been delivered and the crew will start this week on getting it up.

We have enlisted Providence Millwork to make custom kitchen cabinets and a master bathroom vanity for us. They came out last week and took a bunch of the reclaimed lumber from the farm to create a unique one of a kind look. I am also excited to see how the fireplace mantle comes out that they are making from some hand hewn beams we found on the property. We are in the final stages of selecting all our light fixtures, sinks, bath hardware and countertops. Lots of decisions still to make including which of the 15+ doors we found at the farm to use in the house as well all of the finishing touches and designs. Hopefully we can give updates a little more often in the coming months.

SOMETIMES GRACE IS A CLOSED DOOR

11/27/2014

 

Recently my family decided to take on a big project of renovating an abandoned farm. The following is a Facebook post from my wife, Tammy, about our journey and adventure ahead. So Blessed that she is my soulmate and best friend.

Sometimes, grace is a closed door. A pink slip. A slap in the face. A punch in the gut. A crumbling idol. Sometimes, grace feels like failure.

My husband loves me wildly. It is my favorite thing about him. He has loved me since he was 14 years young. We met in high school and dated six years before getting married June 18, 1994. 

Together we traveled the world with his professional basketball career, living in Italy, Russia, and Boise, Idaho. There were also stops in Chicago, Salt Lake City, and Hartford, Connecticut -16 addresses in 9 years. Intermittently, while jet setting, we were blessed with three sweet little boys and a precious girl. 

Our lives were overflowing with the beautiful chaos that comes with parenting. We learned to trust and believe that God was guiding our steps and lighting our path. My husband retired from playing in 2004 and took a job as athletic director and coach at a private school. I was home schooling our children, and they were training me to be a parent. It was such a precious time of growing in the knowledge of our Creator and His creation, while my husband was thriving and fulfilled in his work.

Then we got a little restless. March Madness is a fun time for our basketball-loving family. Every year we fill out the bracket and enjoy watching the Cinderella teams advance. It was during this time that my husband announced he wanted to try coaching at the college level. And there just happened to be an open position at his alma mater. He applied and got the job.

The following five years would prove to be the most challenging of our marriage. Coaching at a D1 university is a tough gig. The hours are hard to imagine. It was not uncommon for him to work 60 hours during the week, then spend the weekend recruiting. His cell phone was always in hand, and often attached to his ear. All day, every day, he had to be available in case the prized recruit called. 

We bought the t-shirts, the bumper stickers, hats, bags, shoes - you name it, we had our team logo emblazoned on everything. Happily attending every game, our family was all in. We would be elated after a victory and crushed after a loss. And we lost a lot - often by 20 points or more. During his second year on staff, he was a part of the worst team in school history. 8 wins, 24 losses. Devastating.

I developed an eye twitch and an unhealthy love for sleep. I started talking to the girl in my wedding photo. "Oh honey, don't be so naive. Did you really think marriage and motherhood would be all fun and games? Come on. Wipe that smile off your face and step over here into reality." 

What I did not comprehend at the time was that we had created an idol for our family. College sports is so intense, so all-consuming, it is hard for non-sports people to understand. You can get very wrapped up in the rivalries and the hoopla. We unwittingly became so entrenched in the successes and failures of our university; it became the fulcrum of our lives. 

Idols demand sacrifices. Peace, joy, balance between work and play, family time, healthy relationships - our idol was greedy. They take everything and give nothing of real value. In the end, they always disappoint. 

In April of 2014, after four losing seasons, my husband lost his job.  It was not unexpected, but the aftermath was painful. When an idol is ripped from your life, it hurts. There is a period of anger and disbelief, followed by numbness, then grief, then hope. 

Fast forward to October 2014. Hope looks like a rundown farm. Hope looks like vine-covered silos and forgotten fences. Hope looks like a dumping ground for junk. Hope looks like a lot of elbow grease and heavy equipment. Hope looks like 15 acres of rolling hills with a pond. 

We bought the farm.

It has always been a dream of ours to own land. A year ago, we looked at a 15-acre farm in foreclosure and tried to make an offer. The property was pulled at the last minute and did not go to auction. But this year, we made an offer and got it.

The farmhouse has been on the property over a century now. It is in extreme disrepair, but we want to remodel and restore it. The land is strewn with trash and litter (and by litter, I mean TVs and toilets and tires), but we know it will be lovely some day. We are excited about all the beauty that lies under the surface. 

Oh, and Jesus is there. 

When I walk the land, He teaches me things like while we were yet sinners, He died for us. He didn't wait for us to be cleaned up and refined - He saw what we could be. God takes our ashes and turns them into beauty. He is not turned off by our state of disrepair. 

I believe we will see something special on this land some day. Under the vines and trash and discarded junk, something glorious is waiting. We plan to restore the farm, but by God's grace, it just might restore us.

The Not-So-Secret to Success

9/3/2014

 

Have you ever heard the saying “ I would rather be lucky than good”? In athletics, as well as in life, most assume there are those who are lucky and those who are not. We all remember that successful person we admired while growing up who had it all and seemed to get every lucky break.  Whether it was a businessman, athlete, or teacher, their success seemed so easy and effortless. What was it that set them apart? I wanted to know what they had figured out; what was their secret.

Over my many years of competition in a multitude of sports, I have come to believe there is no such thing as luck. Yes, you read that right, there is no such thing as luck!  There is no substitute for the countless hours spent practicing a sport to prepare an athlete for competition and the struggle for victory.  I like to recite a quote that sums up luck: “The harder I work the luckier I get.” It has been amazing throughout my life how I have seen this played out on and off the field. I have seen those “lucky ones” toil in the gym, office, or classroom only to find success time and time again. 

So how do we define success? In sports, success is measured by the numbers; wins, losses, points scored, touchdowns, interceptions, records, goals and assists all add up to quantify how successful an athlete has been. We athletes love statistics because they help us measure ourselves against other people.  But how do we measure success in our daily lives? Is it how much money we make, the square footage of our house, the number of community service hours we perform? I have found that success in life is just not as easy to define. Instead of struggling for success, maybe we should strive for significance. As I look back on those role models I adored growing up, it was not necessarily their athletic or business prowess I admired, but the significance of their life that I longed for.

So let us not wait for the lucky break to be successful, but rather, let us dedicate ourselves through hard work to search for significance.  John Wooden, the great UCLA basketball coach once said, “Success comes from knowing that you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.” A significant life often comes when we take our individual skills and talents we have been blessed with and develop them to the fullest. I cringed growing up when I heard coaches implore my teams to give 110%. Do they know there is only 100% of me? I cannot give more than 100% since that is all that I have. Many times I was labeled an overachiever in my athletic career, but I believe there is no such thing. There are those who achieve by living up to the potential they have been given, and there are those who do not.

So a successful game, season, career, or life does not come from lucky breaks or a secret formula no one knows. It comes from the hard work, dedication, and perseverance needed to find your potential and develop it to the fullest. So my measure of success may not be yours and yours may not be mine. If each one of us strives to realize our own potential and impact others by the significance of our lives, we may turn out to be the “lucky ones”.

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