The words legend and superstar are used as if they are everyday language nowadays.  We call everyone a legend or superstar, watering down the meaning when when a true legend or superstar should be appreciated.  While not getting into a debate on the topic today, does LeBron James, a "superstar" truly deserve the title today?  What title's has he won, other than an Olympic Gold last month?  Does he truly belong in the same breath of superstars, Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, etc. that have the hardware and resume to substantuate their inclusion?

Which brings us to the unfortunate passing of a true legend, Coach Don Haskins, this past Sunday.  Most of you only know of Coach Haskins from the Disney movie "Glory Road".  The movie recounts the story of his 1966 Texas Western (now UTEP) team becoming the first all-black starting five to win the NCAA championship.  "The Bear" as he was known, is credited with breaking the color barrier, but that is not what he was trying to do.  He was what we should all strive to be . . .  color blind.  He wanted to win, and his best starting five just happened to be black.  The championship game took on further significance because it was against Coach Adolph Rupp and his Kentucky Wildcats (Coach Pat Riley was a starter).  Rupp was out spoken about his dislke for black players and was the last to recruit any in the SEC.  Haskins received death threats and hate mail during that part of career as he changed the social order in college basketball.  To New Yorkers, perhaps the best known name to play for Haskins is Nate "Tiny" Archibald.

What elevates Haskins to legend is not his 719 career wins (19th most in the NCAA).  It's not his coaching of 1966 or 38 years on the Texa Western / UTEP bench.  It's his understanding and teaching to his players, to his peers, to those that follow college basketball, to all that just pick-up their pool sheets in every March, and bluntly, anyone that breathes oxygen.  You base the quality of a person or persons of what they can do in their capacity.  Hopefully, as we go to the voting booth this November, we will all use Coach Haskins' lessons and view the candidates by their potential to better the human condition instead of their skin pigment.  Game Over