Don't stand on the corner

I clearly remember my high school marketing teacher and football coach.

All 242 lbs of him.

He played linebacker in University.

He was a monster.

Fast.

Strong.

Tough.

He ran the defense for our team, The Raiders.

He wanted a fast, strong and tough team.

Like him.
Back in those days St Thomas Aquinas HS was a tough place.

So by design or luck St Thomas Aquinas HS acquired the toughest and biggest group of teachers i've ever heard about before or since.
In fact, our principle was a former profession boxer, Mr. Grant.
If you happened to skip class and play sports he took a special interest in you.You would stand at attention in his office while he jabbed you with his iron finger telling you..

Don't. Skip. Class. Again.
Mr. Grant. Mr. Boyd (our football coach)

There were many others.

Mr. Kalvitus was the 275lb former pro football offensive lineman in the CFL and coach for the senior team. Mr. Mueller was the 265lb former pro football linebacker in the CFL and wrestling coach. Mr. Law was the 235lb bodybuilding art teacher and football coach. Mr. Camilletti the gym teacher, only 215lbs.

Monsters all. I noticed over time they used to all say the same thing.
If you want to be a great athlete don't stand on the corner"

The corner was a place where aimless people hung out. Nothing good happened on the corner, so....don't stand on the corner. After many years i realized that it wasn't the corner that they wanted to keep me away from.
The corner wasn't the problem.

It was the people on the corner.

You see they weren't going to the same place I was.  In fact, they were going the opposite way.
I often tell my 9 year old son Max that if your best friend likes to spend hours playing video games....you'll probably end up playing for hours too.

For Max that is his "corner"

What's yours?

Just something to consider.
So be careful of the company you keep.

Or as my teachers would have told me

Don't stand on the corner.