“Listen carefully to what I have to say,” he said in his calm, fatherly way. “Thefts can happen anywhere. It’s up to you to keep track of your equipment. Black or white, it doesn’t matter. I’m disappointed that you taunted their team and got into fights. That’s not good sportsmanship, and it’s not what I’ve taught you. I don’t care what they said to you first. You should never respond to unkindness with more of the same. It makes you lesser. Let’s go home and do better.” I loved Coach Ford. He always took the high road, and I was proud to be on his team.
