Cannon Firing Line
Team Family
By Ellis G. Cannon
PSR Publisher

You and I probably have something in common without ever having met.

Growing up in America's Hometown-Midland, Pa.-allowed me the privilege of being around folks that would influence me throughout life. That started, of course, with my parents and family and was reinforced outside the home. Indeed, coming up in a steel mill town of about 5,000 with the number of influences of a city much larger, was a big part of the foundation. Its impact carries to this day, and, indeed, is being passed along to a new generation.

I suspect many of you have your own version of America's Hometown. It probably had many of the same characteristics of Midland: Small but relatively active, along a river with industry at the center.

And sports.

In my case, lots of sports. On and off the field. Sports fans through the region recall the impact Midland had on western Pennsylvania sports. You probably remember the teams, coaches, players and state titles. But this is about a message many of us heard in those towns, following or playing those sports, which we may forget.

The message is about how sports are a metaphor; a means to an end, and how they teach us about life.

Coach Olkowski would always pound that last one to everyone around the basketball program. I hear it in my mid-40's as if the man is in my head. In a town where the racial, ethnic and religious influences impacted and matched those found in a population much larger, that was profound.

Those experiences taught so much about finding common ground, rather than differences. Respect, rather than disrespect. And ultimately, how to make those collapse into one; into a team rather than separate individuals.

While the power of that message, equally instilled in our home, has been like a magic key through life, it's been renewed.

Some of us look for what to say, what final message to offer our children as they leave home for school full-time. Even if you've pretty much taught the same themes since they were born, you still look for that final bit of wisdom.

At the end, the best thing to do is go back to what's worked, to those same themes you heard long ago. Sounds so old-fashioned - about being leaders, not followers; about team and finding the common ground to work through differences; about respect and so many much that is linked to how sports teaches is about life.

That coming from a small steel town that believed in family, faith and, yes, sports.

I'm betting it still works.

"Ellis Cannon's Sportsline Pittsburgh" airs weeknights, 6-8 p.m. on FM NewsTalk 104.7. Ellis is also a regular contributor on the "#1 Cochran Sports Showdown" aired Sundays at 11:35 on KDKA-TV.