Remember this Titan

by Steve Sullivan

  I also got to experience what happens when people know your story is coming to the cinema. When you don’t have any money, you spend a lot of time listening to the radio. I got hooked when I was in the service. Hour after hour I would listen to anything that took me away to parts unknown. I especially liked music. Porter Wagoner, Patsy Cline, Hank Williams. One day as I was changing the channel I heard a song titled “Diana” by Paul Anka. I soon became a fan. Over the years I’d heard him referred to as a giant among singers, as big as they get. One DJ said Paul Anka was huge. I had images that when he wasn’t singing he was dunking for the Harlem Globetrotters. I could see him patting John Wayne on the head.

  Fifty years later I was sitting in a restaurant after a TV appearance. Paul Anka walked up. At five feet two inches I didn’t recognize him. He introduced himself and as we talked his personality filled the room. He was big, just in a different way. The subject of kids came up. He told me he had five daughters. I told him I had five daughters. We both agreed it takes a real man to make women. We couldn’t believe it; between the two of us we had fathered ten girls.

  It gets better when the movie is done. It was 2000 and the premier of Remember the Titans was front-page news—at least in LA. Disney had spent a lot of money promoting the film and this was going to be a night for the history books. You know the drill. It started by filling up the Rose Bowl with 55,000 groovy dudes. They added five hundred trumpets to the USC marching band. Hot dogs were four feet long and two feet wide. It was a cosmic event. The instructions to the supporting cast were simple. Cheer, stomp, yell, and shout. When the Titans and the stars that played them arrive, you must go insane. The objective was obvious. We want people to think that without the Titans, America was a third-world country. As the producer broadcast what he wanted done, the crowd understood the game. They began to shake, rattle, and roll. The insurance policy was in place. Do what we tell you and you get a party favor. If nothing else, those Hollywood promoters knew something about motivation.

  The signal was given and the production kicked off right on schedule. The night became day as a billion watts lit the sky. The limousines that were queued to the Canadian border began to arrive. The stars, starlets, dignitaries, and VIPs exited cars as long as Long Island. They smiled, waved, and strutted their stuff.

  As we were introduced the crowd went bananas. People were foaming at the mouth. It’s amazing to see what free Milk Duds can generate. I looked over at Herman Boone and his eyes were glazed over. His smile told me everything. It was his moment in time and I knew what he thought. On Samson’s best day he couldn’t carry his playbook. What Herman didn’t understand was people in LA would give a standing ovation to a Pet Rock if it meant a free coloring book.

  After a couple hours the fanfare moved to a theater to preview the movie. I stepped out of my limo and the light bulbs flashed. I heard someone shout my name. My chest swelled with pride. I began to fantasize. On Herman Boone’s best day, he couldn’t carry my playbook. It’s dangerous to believe your press clippings. We moved into the theater.

  I watched in awe as Will Patton brought me to life. The hayseed had come a long way. The movie concluded to arousing applause. The party moved on. It was a famous shiny place with lots of mirrors. The shrimp were as large as my fist and the caviar was bigger than the shrimp. “Champagne, Coach?” a waiter asked. “No, thank you,” I replied. “I’d like one of those pink things with the feather in it.” “On its way,” he responded. As I looked around the room I couldn’t believe the people in attendance. Mickey Mouse was connected. A while later a reporter approached. She wanted some insight. I was feeling a little full of myself. I was going to give her the best stuff I knew. “Fire away,” I responded. She popped a question. “Are you and Denzel lovers?”

  I’d heard that Hollywood was a different place.

  I guess it was.

  There was a second premier in Washington, D.C. Sitting in the front row it appeared even the President of the United States wanted a piece of the action. It was the first time a President had ever gone to a premier. Someone said it was because the movie had cheerleaders. It didn’t matter. It was nice to have him on board.

  I didn’t see much of that movie. Sitting right behind me was Wonder Woman. I spent the two hours peeping at Linda Carter. When the movie ended, the President wanted to get on stage with the original Titans. The Secret Service was having a fit. They hadn’t heard that Julius was no longer hanging with the Panthers. It was a wonderful night.

  You don’t know what other people’s lives are like until you get to walk in their shoes. Over the years I heard about what living in New York was like. I read what was required to make ends meet. I couldn’t believe it. I didn’t believe it. Then the summons came and I was asked to be on Good Morning America. The first thing I thought was that I needed to cash a check. I decided 100 would get me to and from New York and allow me to have a night on the town. I figure after seventy-four years of scrimping I’d earned one night of big-time fun. The teller asked me how I wanted my money and I told her to give me five 20 bills. I told her I was going to the Big Apple.

  It was the most pocket money I’d ever carried and I was feeling a little like Daddy Warbucks. I landed and a limousine picked me up. I felt I should give the driver a tip. I gave him a twenty and held out my hand for change. He put the twenty in his pocket, looked at my hand and gave it slap. I met the doorman at the Trump Plaza. All I had was another twenty. I asked him for change. He said he didn’t have any. I was down to 60 and going south. The bellman took my bag to my room. I wanted to stiff him but I just couldn’t. I knew he had family to feed. He was happy to take my twenty. I got into my room and put my money on the table. I hadn’t been in New York an hour and my net worth had been cut by 60 percent. I decided maybe I should employ a little “cotton picker” frugality to the situation. I’d get a burger for dinner. I found a deli down the block. Hamburger—15.95. Coke—4.00. Apple pie—7.05. I looked at the check and wanted to leave the waitress a dime for her tip but I just couldn’t. I knew she had a boyfriend to feed.

  As I was leaving the restaurant I had a panic attack. Did I have enough for breakfast? I thrust my hand into my pocket and pulled out the remaining money. I breathed a sigh of relief. I’d be okay.

  The next morning I went and grabbed a menu. I took a peek and decided I wasn’t all that hungry. I ordered a coffee—6.95. I wanted a piece of toast but didn’t have enough money. The waitress asked me if I would like anything else. I asked her how much the pats of butter on the table were. She smiled and said no charge. I told her to give me two . . . over easy.

  As Remember the Titans played in theaters and became one of the top grossing movies of all time, my phone began to ring. People wanted the guy on the screen to be part of the action. I was invited to everything. At a sport trade show in Las Vegas I was given the royal treatment. I sat at my table with a number of VIPs but they were nothing in comparison to the others that filled the room. At one table sat Babe Ruth. In the distance, Hercules and Jim Thorpe were chewing the fat. I looked around to see who else was coming. As my eyes glanced at the entrance my heart began to pound. I was hyperventilating. Venus, aka Cory Everson, the women’s world body building champion had just arrived. She had dominated the sport for years and I was one of her biggest fans. Not only could she bench press a house but she also looked great in a thong. To be honest I had a crush. It seemed every man in the room wanted Cory to sit with him. She looked around and approached my table. At seventy-six, your giddy-up is not supposed to get so excited. Mine was doing back flips. “Mr. Yoast,” she said. “Do you mind if I sit with you?”

  Thank you Jerry Bruckheimer!

  TELL ME ABOUT THE MONEY

  I didn’t want to bring it up. Yes, there was lots of money made and to this day, Disney and gang continue to reap financial rewards. Remember the Titans is one of the most popular movies of all-time. And now it’s on television, video, cable, and DVD. I heard they were showing it at football c
amp in Shanghai.

  Denzel Washington wanted to build a monument to Boone and me in his courtyard. It turns out he has made more money off that role than anything he has done. I can’t guess how many people have a new Ferrari because I didn’t get the job. I can tell you there are two that don’t.

  For years I went to my mailbox looking for an envelope with a Hollywood return address. I knew it would be filled with cash. It never arrived. Remember that 100? At least it was tax-free.

  People have asked me if I’m angry about my payday. How could I be? Over the past five years so many wonderful things have happened. I’ve been given keys to the city, trophies, plaques, and kisses on the cheek. My name is on a barbeque. I’ve dined with “the beautiful people” and governors know my name. So does the President. A couple parades asked me to be Grand Marshall. The All-American High School East-West Bowl lets me be a coach. But best of all, I’ve been invited to share my thoughts on teamwork, leadership, and racial diversity across North America. I’ve been given the opportunity to look into young men and women’s eyes and shake their hands.

  Someone once said “wealth exists not in what we have but in the fewness of our wants.” I want for nothing. No, I didn’t get much of a payday and really don’t care.

  MEAT AND POTATOES

  The difference between a life fulfilled and one that missed the mark has nothing to do with scope. I wouldn’t have said that in 1939 or 1999. But after examining where I came from and how I got here, my views have changed. As I look back on experiences, a number of things come to mind. First and foremost is that I was always the happiest when I was helping someone else. I can’t explain it. There is just something about seeing others succeed that makes me feel better. To be a part of another’s success is special. When they appreciate what you have done for them it’s even better. There are people who understand it. And because of their existence, others have been allowed to breathe easier. Mary was one of them. She had nothing, but gave everything.

  As I’ve navigated my way I’ve been taught so many things. I learned that hard work was its own reward, that being proud of what you do makes you proud of who you are, that doing better was more important than becoming better off.

  Not long ago I was asked to speak at a graduation. The students were about to shed their security blankets for body armor. I knew they were looking for flowery words and energizing repartee. Heck, I’m a country boy. I didn’t have any. I do carry around an action plan that is suitable for any adventure.

  Get Prepared. Physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually. Life is a four-ring circus and you never know what the ringmaster has in store for you. Skill and capability give you options. When you are prepared you control your destiny. I’ve never met anyone that didn’t want to be in charge of what happens to them. Many aren’t because they believe opportunity lies at some distant juncture. There is plenty of time to prepare. They don’t understand opportunity lives in the moment. Here and now is all that matters. When the invitation to play is extended, it is expected you take it. If you are not properly prepared you’ll have to pass. One pass turns into two, two becomes four, four becomes many. Before you know it you’ve passed on life.

  Embrace Risk. There is no adventure in the status quo. If you want a thrilling life, take a walk on the wild side. Risk and reward are inextricably linked. The smart guys understand it. They also know that with failure there is pain and there is hurt. Failure will remove your smile. But failure is seldom fatal, so don’t be afraid. Failure is a right of passage. You cannot win if you have not failed and you will not fail if you have not tried.

  Dare to Be Different. If the urge arises go against the flow.

  Stay Nimble. Flexibility is crucial in avoiding the potholes that come with any journey. The game plan you’ve created will have to be changed. Count on it and go with it. Staying nimble involves nothing more than recognizing that in all things alternatives exist. More often than not, you’ll find the new deal is the deal you really wanted. The Titanic was glorious. The Titanic was fast. The Titanic wasn’t nimble.

  Play By the Rules. Rules exist for a reason. They protect us against chaos. They might need to be stretched, modified, or bent but they should never be broken. When you break a rule you have established a relationship with dishonor and it’s only a matter of time before that association takes you down.

  Confront Injustice. Injustice is wicked. Injustice is a slimy, nasty thing. It is an insidious cancer that kills the human spirit. Injustice is a coward that preys on the weak. It is a menacing beast that has never elevated anything and never will. When injustice exists, everything is worse. I hate injustice. It took Raymond Tefteller for me to understand how much. If you want to be on a team that flourishes, be on the lookout for injustice. It will slink into the environment when you least expect it. It may masquerade as a friend. Injustice is friend to no one. Injustice has no right to exist. If you see it, get your gun.

  Be Kind. The world is filled with nastiness. Jerks live. There is no need to be one. Some people associate being kind with being soft. I can tell you some of the toughest, most disciplined people that walk this earth are also kind, considerate, and thoughtful. You’ll find when you treat people like you would want to be treated, they will treat you like they want to be treated. You help me, I’ll help you and together we will get something done.

  I’ve learned some other things in navigating life:

  ♦ The natural order does not adhere to your time schedule.

  ♦ When the stakes are high, patience can be a liability.

  ♦ The best friends are found under the worst circumstances.

  ♦ Focusing on everything achieves less.

  ♦ There is no greater gift than kindness.

  ♦ People are often the inverse of their façade.

  ♦ No touchdown has ever been scored on the sidelines.

  ♦ Opportunity seldom arrives on schedule.

  ♦ People who are unwilling to compromise are on a road to conflict.

  ♦ Courage is discounted when the stakes are low.

  ♦ Deceit is the frontrunner to disaster.

  ♦ Preparation is the first step in turning wishing into winning.

  ♦ On the ladder of life, failure is one rung below success and one rung above it.

  ♦ Character is not a product of circumstance.

  ♦ Overcoming adversity never made anyone weaker.

  ♦ When respect is given carte blanche it loses its value.

  ♦ Direction without goals is a trip to nowhere.

  ♦ Ignorance and temptation are inextricably linked.

  ♦ Action is the catalyst for everything.

  ♦ Apathy is a curse.

  ♦ You will burn up more calories in a two-hour workout than a lifetime of being nice.

  ♦ Greed is the catalyst for gloom.

  ♦ Everything is temporary.

  OTHER STUFF

  On occasion I’ve been asked how I feel about other stuff.

  Appearance. Anyone who does not believe that looking and feeling good are linked probably looks like it.

  Ego. A knife that cuts both ways.

  Recognition. I’ve never met anyone that didn’t want it. Giving recognition says you are paying attention. Paying attention says you care.

  Momentum. An invisible force.

  Excuses. Prescription for mediocrity.

  Help. When you do something for someone that he or she could do for themself, you’ve helped no one.

  Adversity. Fertilizer for character.

  Honor. Guardian of your self-esteem.

  Deceit. Contemptible behavior.

  Impulsiveness. Accelerator for bad choices.

  Mediocrity. I never knew anyone that wanted to call it home, but many have.

  The Inevitable. When dealing with the inevitable now is always better than later.

  Loyalty. When it is earned it should be given.

  I had very little while growing up but I did have a horse. At least I thi
nk he was horse. He had floppy ears, sway back, and knock knees. He didn’t go very fast if he went at all. His claim was that he was the only horse ever rejected by the glue factory. He was given to me because no one else would take him. I guess my granddad’s friend saw “sucker” in my eyes. I called him “Q Ball.” As horses go, he ranked a 1 on a scale of 3 to 6. But I didn’t care. Q and I got to be pretty good friends. One day I showed up and he was dead. I thought about what I should do. Q had been good to me for the brief time I knew him and as a result he had earned my loyalty. On more than one occasion loyalty has followed people to the grave. I thought he deserved better than having his bones picked clean by a vulture. I went home and got a shovel. I shoveled for two days to get a hole big enough. I pushed him in it and spent another day covering it with chicken wire and dirt. I was crying the whole time. When I finished it was dark so I decided I would sleep next to Q’s grave. Every once in a while I think about that lame old horse and the effort I spent on his behalf. And you know what? I’m glad I did.

  Failure Starts with a Thought. It’s just as easy to think about winning.

  Enthusiasm Is Contagious. I’ve never been in a room where there was only one enthusiastic person.

  Risk. The first step toward reward.

  The Unknown Zone. The land of milk and honey.

  Results. The aftermath of effort.

  Drugs. The beginning of the end.

  Criticism. A reality check.

  WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

  I’ve always been a spiritual guy. For me that meant whatever happened was supposed to happen. In some ways I’ve viewed life like a see-saw. It goes up and down but always seeks balance.

  The year was 2000 and my daughter Susan Gail was traveling to a concert with her mom. The last time I saw her was 1945. She had never seen me. She didn’t know I existed. They arrived at the concert only to find it had been canceled. As they turned around to go home Susan Gail spied a billboard on a movie theater. Remember the Titans was playing. She’d heard something about it and persuaded her mom to go. As the two sat there, she felt odd. She couldn’t put her finger on it. Her mom said nothing but something in her manner told her there was a connection. Questions followed and answers were returned—“Bill Yoast is your dad.” I guess God had a plan. He’d taken one daughter from me but returned another.