Ahead of the Game , livre ebook

© 1999, 2014 by Pat Williams
Published by Revell
a division of Baker Publishing Group
P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287
www.revellbooks.com
Ebook edition created 2014
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher.The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is on file at the Library of Congress, Washington, DC.
ISBN 978-1-4412-2045-5
Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com
Scripture quotations from the New American Standard version are from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE ®. Copyright © by The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission.
“This book will be an ‘impact player’ from the boardroom to the locker room to the living room. With transparent honesty, Pat Williams shares it all. In doing so, he confesses, counsels, and challenges us to have a passion for distinction.”
—Jay Strack, author and speaker
“Pat Williams’ story is all about passion, both its positive and negative sides. This is a riveting personal story of the conflicts facing a sports executive superstar in his passion for Christianity, for his family, and for his work. My life is richer for reading it, and yours will be too.”
—Edwin Pope, sportswriter, Miami Herald
“Pat’s autobiography is honestly refreshing and vastly informative. It brought back many memories we shared of early days in the NBA and tackles some of today’s experiences.”
—Jerry Sloan, former head coach, Utah Jazz
“Pat Williams is a born storyteller with energy to burn and a dynamism that’s always been impressive. It should come as no surprise that this book delivers in the usual Williams style: wit, passion, and a punch line.”
—Chris Young, Toronto Star
“After reading this book, three thoughts came to mind: (1) Under the word enthusiasm in the dictionary, there should be a picture of Pat Williams; (2) the only sports people of the last 150 years Pat hasn’t met are Cap Anson and Pelé—and I’m not sure about Cap Anson; (3) you’ll want to read this book in one long sitting.”
—Bob Ryan, former sportswriter, Boston Globe
“Pat Williams has become such a prolific author, I hear the trees are organizing a protest. However, even the forests will regard his latest, insightful tome as pulp well spent. Especially page-turning are the intimate accounts of divorce and remarriage under the pressures of a multifaceted career (NBA executive, author, speaker) that has always made me ashamed of being a devoted couch potato.”
—Larry Guest, former columnist, Orlando Sentinel
“Pat Williams’s Ahead of the Game takes you with him through a life that has been one big adrenaline rush. It’s like being on a roller coaster.”
—Ron Green, former sportswriter, Charlotte Observer
“I have always admired the skills and talent of Pat Williams. And I have been privileged over the past several years to become his friend and to get to know him from the inside out. His integrity, passion, and heart will inspire and encourage you.”
—Dr. John C. Maxwell, author, speaker, and founder of INJOY
“Pat Williams has written a fascinating account of a remarkable life. His life is guaranteed to impact yours.”
—Pat Summitt, former head women’s basketball coach,University of Tennessee
“I love biographies! This is the best one I’ve read in years. What honesty and what a challenging and exciting life. Pat is a true credit to sports and to the Lord.”
—Bill Glass, Bill Glass Ministries
“What a ride! Pat Williams is unbelievable.”
—Jerry B. Jenkins, author
“We already knew that Pat Williams is an all-world general manager, wit, and dad. To that add world-class memoirist. Ahead of the Game is a pure pleasure.”
—John Helyar, author of Lords of the Realm , coauthor of Barbarians at the Gate
“Like Pat Williams himself, Ahead of the Game is inspirational and driven but also full of surprising laughs.”
—Fran Blinebury, columnist, NBA.com
“A true story of life from someone who truly understands the meaning of living. A wonderful read.”
—Tom Enlund, former sportswriter, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
“Pat Williams writes about his wonderful life. It’s an interesting one as well. Pat is candid about his successes and failures in his journey through faith and life.”
—David Moore, Dallas Morning News
“As a sports historian, there is none better than Pat Williams. He has been there, and nobody has done it better.”
—Sid Hartman, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“ Ahead of the Game conveys a wonderful message of God’s faithfulness. You will enjoy the exciting world of sports, but beyond that, from cover to cover you will see a man whose ‘passion for distinction’ drives him in a constant race to achieve, not only in business but also in good works. This autobiography reveals a man of distinct character whose passion for life has taken him on a journey over mountaintops as well as through valleys. His response to these challenges will bless and inspire you.”
—Mrs. Paul Anderson, Vidalia, Georgia
To Ruth , a wonder, a gift from God, a lifesaving miracle.
You’re a remarkable woman, and I’m very proud of you and eternally grateful.
Contents
Cover 1
Title Page 3
Copyright Page 4
Endorsements 5
Dedication 9
Acknowledgments 13
Prologue: A Wonderful World 15
1. Williams vs. Williams 17
2. The Wonder Years 31
3. Old Dreams and New 61
4. God and the Gingerbread Man 97
5. Brotherly Love and Big Shoulders 123
6. Hour of Decision 149
7. Gone with the Wind 169
Photo Insert 184
8. The Rainbow Chasers 191
9. Moses and the Promised Land 227
10. Magic in the Air 265
11. Shaq and Penny 291
12. New Beginnings 335
13. The Story Continues . . . 353
Epilogue: A Passion for Distinction 371
Notes 377
Other Books by Pat Williams 378
Back Ads 379
Back Cover 383
Acknowledgments
W ith deep appreciation I acknowledge the support and guidance of the following people who helped make this book possible:
Special thanks to Alex Martins, Dan DeVos, and Rich DeVos of the Orlando Magic.
Hats off to my associate Andrew Herdliska; my proofreader, Ken Hussar; and my ace typist, Fran Thomas.
Thanks also to my writing partner, Jim Denney, for his superb contributions in shaping this manuscript.
Hearty thanks also go to my editor, Andrea Doering, and to the entire Revell team for their vision and insight, and for believing that we had something important to say in these pages.
And, finally, special thanks and appreciation go to my wife, Ruth, and to my wonderful and supportive family. They are truly the backbone of my life.
Prologue
A Wonderful World
W onderful!
That’s my world. Fun. Exciting. Wonderful—as in full of wonder .
The title of the classic Frank Capra movie says it all: it really is a wonderful life—and I’m living it! And you can have a wonderful life too.
Have I had times of disappointment? Failure? You bet. I’ve known the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat.
But win or lose, I’ve had more incredible adrenaline-rush moments than I can count. My life has been a white-knuckle roller-coaster ride. I’ve gotten to know and work with some of the most legendary names in the sports and business worlds. I’ve even ridden in a motorcade down Broad Street in Philly while a million 76ers fans celebrated our championship season.
And is there anything in the world more wonderful than magic ? In 1986, I moved to Orlando, a city without any pro sports tradition, and there we built the Orlando Magic out of nothing but extreme dreams and pixie dust. My association with the Orlando Magic, which continues to this day, has been the most wonder-filled experience anyone could want.
But my professional life is only half the story. In my family life, I’ve known the thrill of welcoming fourteen adopted children into my arms and into our family—a thrill equaled only by being present at the delivery of each of my four birth children.
I failed, however, at the most important goal in my life when my first marriage collapsed in 1995. At the time, I had to ask myself what good it is to have a successful career and a string of published books (including two on the art of marriage!) if my most important relationship has broken down.
Yet, from the ashes of that failure, God has engineered a miracle. He proved he truly is the God of second chances. Even though I lost my first marriage, my relationship with my children and with God grew stronger and deeper. And then—wonder of wonders!—God surprised me by giving me Ruth, my companion for the rest of my life.
Ruth was at my side when an oncologist looked me in the eye and said, “Pat, you have multiple myeloma—cancer of the plasma cells in the blood and bone marrow.” She was with me through my cancer battle, and she celebrated with me when I received the news that my cancer was in remission.
If you’ve ever had a doctor speak the dreaded “C word” to you or to someone you love, keep reading. There’s hope and encouragement in these pages for you.
I’m opening up my life to you in the hope that my passion for living will inspire you to live your life on a new and exciting level. One thing will be clear by the end of this book: I have never been content to live in the gray areas. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always wanted everything I do to stand for something, to make a difference.
How about you? Do you have a sense of excitement and expectation about your future? Are you living a wonder-filled life?
Turn the page, my friend. Walk with me awhile. Have I got a story for you.
1 Williams vs. Williams
T his was to be the fulfillment of the dream. This was the reason I