Al Kyte's Life Take-Aways

These "take aways" are drawn from various experiences in my life including those as athlete and coach, teacher, military officer, fishing guide and author, amateur naturalist and native-plant gardener, leader of homeless outreach and family member.

             

The man showed up at the renowned kennel hoping to reserve one of their trained dogs for the following day’s hunt.  The kennel owner said he was sorry but all his dogs were out with other clients.  The man asked about the half-grown dog that happened to be there in the office with them.  The kennel owner replied that that dog was only about half trained, but for half the usual fee he supposed he could be booked for the day.  The man enjoyed hunting with a dog and was drawn to that young dog’s eagerness, so agreed to it.  The kennel owner said the dog’s name was “JV”.

Although that next day’s hunt was not very successful, the man saw in that dog a lot of potential and realized that all he needed was a little more training.  So, at the day’s end, he booked “JV” for the following year’s hunt.

When that man arrived at the kennel a year later, the owner said, “You were sureiy right about that dog’s potential.  He is already so skilled we have changed his name to “Varsity”.  That day’s hunt was among the best the man had experienced.  So he made sure to reserve that dog again for the next year.

A few weeks before that hunt, the kennel owner contacted the man to advise him that the fee for that dog had doubled because he was now in such high demand.  “He has become the best hunting dog we have ever trained, so we have changed his name to “All American”.  The man said he was willing to pay the higher fee to hold his reservation to hunt with that dog.

That year’s hunt turned out to be far and away the best and most enjoyable of that man’s life due mostly to the dog with him.  On returning to the kennel, he was quick to reserve “All American” for their fourth year together.  

All throughout that year the man looked forward to another hunt as memorable as the previous one.  But a month beforehand, the kennel owner called him again.  “I’m afraid I have bad news for you.  That dog you have so enjoyed being with these last few years has lost his keen senses and ability to hunt.  In fact all he does throughout the day is stand around and bark at everyone.”  We’ve renamed him “Coach”.

4 thoughts on ““All American”

  1. That was so funny!!! I’ve never heard this one!

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    1. alkyte's avatar alkyte says:

      I’m happy to hear this one gave you a chuckle. This was a favorite of Adolph Rupp, who was the most famous college basketball coach in the country when I was a boy (U. of Kentucky). I never forgot the essence of the story, but I’m sure the wording is different. Al

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    2. alkyte's avatar alkyte says:

      Hi Tami, I’m glad you got a chuckle. I’m sure I adapted the wording, but kept the essence of this story. It was Adolph Rupp’s favorite story and apparently one of mine. He was the most famous college basketball coach in the country when I was a boy (U. of Kentucky). Dad

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  2. Unknown's avatar Anonymous says:

    Good morning Al,
    this story made me laugh. It held my attention and concern at name changes.
    When I got to the end and saw new name “Coach” I cracked up.
    thanks for fun story.
    Fran

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