Fridays with Mac: "We Benefit Greatly"

With much enthusiasm your knucklehead scribe burst through the front door of William Paul McCartney’s home. “Billy Mac from Hackensack,” I snorted while making a bee line toward the only CU coach to win a national football title, “Guess what happened recently?”

The 81-year-old responded with equal enthusiasm, “Wrong Arm, what’s the big news?” The breaking story from an aging CBSDenver sports guy who chronicled the glory years of Colorado football under McCartney centered on a national issue, homelessness. I offered, “We re-started A Stronger Cord South after two years of Covid cancellations!”

McCartney admires A Stronger Cord’s mission. This effort to lessen the impact of homelessness has been around for ten years now. It started with yours truly walking into the Denver Rescue Mission and volunteering to work with men in the agency’s “New Life Program.” Each Thursday morning I’d encourage downtrodden men to become students, not victims of past experiences. The wellness program’s basic premise? “If we’re more fit, connected and giving it helps build a stronger cord to families, purpose and community.” it’s been a blessing to watch men blossom from, holistically, becoming superior to their former selves. ASC’s merry band of volunteers benefit greatly as well.?

Mac bellows, “You know the four most important words in the dictionary, when you string them together?” I did. The Hall of Fame coach repeats them often. I love it and offer, “I believe in you.” The quick-witted Detroit native dead panned, “Southpaw, there’s hope for you.”

I shared with the fine fella, fighting the good fight against memory issues, the message delivered as incredible humans of A Stronger Cord South finally gathered after 24 months on the sidelines. “We talked about the importance of realizing, especially in these crazy times, the critical need for community. That, proximity breeds empathy.”

The ol’ Mizzou journalist within requires attribution where deserved. I learned that phrase from a book, “I’ll Take My Coffee Black.” A great read. Tyler Merritt’s the author. Interesting dude. Modern-day renaissance man. Born and raised in Vegas to a military family, athletic, creative and now based in Nashville. His “Before You Call The Cops” video has more than 50 million views on YouTube. Dreadlocks. Big. Black. Imposing looking but with a tender heart. The basic premise of the book is much like A Stronger Cord’s philosophy of, “It don’t matter if you’re Black, white or brown; live in a mission, mansion, Main Street or behind it; We’re all Knuckleheads and need to build bridges, not barriers to one another.”

I was sharing with Coach Mac a story from the book. Merritt is walking a busy Music City street and nearing a crosswalk to traverse an active intersection. There happens to be a middle-aged white couple about ten feet in front of him. Merritt’s wearing a hoodie, headphones adorn noggin, sunglasses hide eyes and swagger is readily visible. Merritt notices the couple ahead wave in a warm manner to a woman idling at the light. The car occupant responds equally welcoming.

Merritt decides to conduct a quick social experiment. While crossing the intersection, the hoodie, sunglasses and headphones are removed. The handsome comedian, actor and social activist smiles broadly and waves at the, seemingly, friendly woman waiting for a green light. The response? The frightened female rolled up the car windows and locked the doors. Big. Black. Man. Scary.

It planted a seed in Merritt’s soul. The former youth pastor and law-abiding citizen realized he must shout from the rooftops: “Enough. We need each other. Proximity breeds empathy.” Mac was levitating in his chair. A man known for a special talent in breaking down racial barriers and recruiting talented Black athletes to lily-white Boulder knows a little bit about “proximity breeding empathy.”?

“That Tyler Merritt’s a smart man,” announces the exhorter extraordinaire. “You keep reminding folks at A Stronger Cord about his message. It’s spot on. It’s the epitome of TEAM. Together everyone accomplishes more.”

It’s true in sports, lessening the impact of homelessness and whatever else we’re trying to achieve. Wherever we roam. Green means go. Let’s go often to where proximity breeds empathy. We all benefit greatly. Tyler, thanks for the powerful reminder.