Individuality stressed with son
Nov. 4, 2005 12:00 AM
Vince Coleman Jr. played games with his father growing up. But they weren't on typical playgrounds. They were at Busch Stadium, Shea Stadium and Royals Stadium. His dad stole 110 bases and helped the St. Louis Cardinals reach the World Series in his rookie season in 1985. Vince Sr. introduced his son to great athletes. But the son, a Scottsdale Chaparral junior wide receiver, doesn't have a favorite player or team.
"I tell him, 'You're on an island,' " said the elder Coleman, a roving instructor for the Chicago Cubs last season. "No matter what your name is, you know you have to prove it.' He's doing that."Big Vince played football and baseball at Florida A&M. He was a wide receiver, defensive back and punter in college. Vince Jr., who led the Firebirds in receiving as a sophomore, plays baseball, too. He tells his dad he's going to break his records, to which Vince Sr. says: "Long shot."Vince Jr. said there are advantages to being the son of a former pro athlete."You can learn more," he said. "He's been there. He knows. But ultimately, it's all on me. It's your mind-set."Coleman not only has been given knowledge of the game, but he has been to be his own person."In the seventh grade, he wanted to have orange hair," his mother, Lynette, said. "I said: 'It can't be any color but black.' He said: 'So and so has it.' I say: 'People like you because you have a warm heart, teachers like you because you're kind and supportive, and kids like you because you're a superstar athlete.'"The person with the purple or orange hair, a lot of times kids will do something to fit it. Maybe they don't have a good place at home with mom and dad saying 'I love you.' They may not have great ability in something. But you've got something. You have direction and a goal to reach."The most impressive thing Vince Jr. has done in the eyes of his father and mother was to say no recently to a party, because he didn't want to be around drugs and alcohol."It's his ability to make the right choice," Lynette said.
Source: http://www.azcentral.com/
Vince Coleman Jr. played games with his father growing up. But they weren't on typical playgrounds. They were at Busch Stadium, Shea Stadium and Royals Stadium. His dad stole 110 bases and helped the St. Louis Cardinals reach the World Series in his rookie season in 1985. Vince Sr. introduced his son to great athletes. But the son, a Scottsdale Chaparral junior wide receiver, doesn't have a favorite player or team.
"I tell him, 'You're on an island,' " said the elder Coleman, a roving instructor for the Chicago Cubs last season. "No matter what your name is, you know you have to prove it.' He's doing that."Big Vince played football and baseball at Florida A&M. He was a wide receiver, defensive back and punter in college. Vince Jr., who led the Firebirds in receiving as a sophomore, plays baseball, too. He tells his dad he's going to break his records, to which Vince Sr. says: "Long shot."Vince Jr. said there are advantages to being the son of a former pro athlete."You can learn more," he said. "He's been there. He knows. But ultimately, it's all on me. It's your mind-set."Coleman not only has been given knowledge of the game, but he has been to be his own person."In the seventh grade, he wanted to have orange hair," his mother, Lynette, said. "I said: 'It can't be any color but black.' He said: 'So and so has it.' I say: 'People like you because you have a warm heart, teachers like you because you're kind and supportive, and kids like you because you're a superstar athlete.'"The person with the purple or orange hair, a lot of times kids will do something to fit it. Maybe they don't have a good place at home with mom and dad saying 'I love you.' They may not have great ability in something. But you've got something. You have direction and a goal to reach."The most impressive thing Vince Jr. has done in the eyes of his father and mother was to say no recently to a party, because he didn't want to be around drugs and alcohol."It's his ability to make the right choice," Lynette said.
Source: http://www.azcentral.com/
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