Brady’s Bunch:
We play for someone else
This past weekend I was given the opportunity to experience a different brand of lacrosse, and I don’t mean the NCAA finals. This weekend I got the opportunity to help coach a team called “Brady’s Bunch” in Connecticut. Brady’s Bunch is a team made up of players from all over the country that compete in various tournaments, and every tournament has a different team of athletes. While the makeup of this team and how it changes every tournament is different than anything else I’ve experienced—it’s still not the difference that stood out the most and ultimately led me to this weeks’ blog.
Brady’s Bunch was founded by Mike “Papi” Wein, who named the team after his son, Brady, who was diagnosed with a form of cancer when he was three months old. Just before his second birthday, doctors delivered the news that Brady would not make it long enough to blow out his candles that year. But despite this devastating news that they feared was reality—Brady fought like hell and just celebrated his 13th birthday! To this day, Papi still runs and organizes teams to help raise money for families with medical expenses fighting cancer and Brady is at every tournament and is treated like the rockstar that he is. Brady has had such a profound impact on the world of lacrosse—so much so that even professional lacrosse players know him and volunteer to help on the sidelines of games or at practices in an effort to spread the team’s message, “We play for someone else!”
If I’m being honest, I was extremely nervous heading into this tournament knowing I would be meeting Papi. His Boston accent and personality can be intimidating, and he kept telling me in text messages, “remember, it’s not about you.” With that in mind, these texts were both intimidating, AND started to feel offensive since I am not one to make any coaching experiences about me personally. My goal was to bring players to the field, and help coach the team to a win. I heard great things from other people about their experience with Brady’s Bunch, but Papi kept saying, “you have no idea.” Fast forward to the weekend of the tournament, we arrive in CT, and we shortly thereafter begin preparing with a practice. Papi brought everyone in to deliver a speech and it was in that moment that everything Papi had stated prior, instantly made sense. He explained what this team is about and introduced everyone to his son, Brady, who has never once acted like anything has ever happened to him. Brady has a great attitude and a great personality. He explained how we are playing to help raise money for a family in need, families that are fighting medical bills because of cancer. Papi told us how our team in particular had players from Florida, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York, and Massachusetts, and that we came from all over to play together in honor of Brady and all the players that have previously worn a Brady’s Bunch jersey. We were meeting new players from all over the US, playing the sport that we all love, and raising money for cancer research while doing it. The statement “It’s not about you”, truly made a lot more sense.
The boys and I got to work with and learn from guys from all over the country. Some were better than us, some worked their butts off to keep up with our players, but they all had fun. Papi also made it clear that this isn’t just about having fun, playing lacrosse, and raising money. He reminded everyone it was also about growing as a young athlete. He looked the boys up and down and said that if they were not happy with their playing time, to go back to their hotel room, to look at themselves in the mirror, and to ask themselves if they are working as hard as the guy who played in front of them? Did someone sit and play video games when they could have worked out? Did they do everything they could to be the best player on the field? If they didn’t do the right thing months ago, then they should know why they are not playing now. That coming from Papi, a guy that is always coaching and sees hundreds of players year after year, hits different. It’s not your local coach whose son is on the team telling you this anymore. It’s coming from a coach that really values life, and opportunity, and how fighting and hard work can change how the game (of life) ends. With Papi’s inspiring speeches, and the idea that you’re playing for someone else, I saw players show up in a much bigger way. I witnessed guys that are normally average or just “ok” on their local teams completely blow up and play incredible for this Brady’s Bunch team. They learned life lessons, made new friends, and understood what they were doing was bigger than just playing a game of lacrosse at a tournament. It was really an incredible and moving event that I hope every athlete gets to experience in their career.
- Coach Tom