Jim Finks Opened the Door for 5000 Kids

Jim Finks

This week, Bristol and Lynden Presss, a small publisher focused on the history of Chicago sports and pop culture, highlighted the anniversary of Jim Finks joining the Chicago Bears as General Manager. 

Jim Finks:  Just What the Doctor Ordered

We would like to add something.

Well after his death, the good relationships he created in the NFL opened doors for me and my company Pro Sports Experience. 

While we have to prove our worth every day, we are proud to represent and manage youth football camps on behalf of the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles.  And we acknowledge that his relationships gave us the opportunity to pitch our program and be in this business.

Last year, we operated 80 non-contact camps in six states.  Nearly 5,000 kids attended our camps.  Each participant learned football skills, life skills and had a blast playing the world's greatest team sport.  We made an important, positive impact on many young lives--he would be most proud of that accomplishment.

Jim Finks' philosophy is part of everything we do.   During the good times, we are going to "keep an even keel." During the tough times, we will just "keep sawing wood."

It's great to remember the week he took on the challenge of rebuilding the Chicago Bears. 

As he signed most of his letters or notes...

"Peace,"

Tom Finks
Executive Director
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

Get Cut? Why You Should Never Give Up!

It's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome.

If your child got cut from his youth football team but still loves the game, please don't give up. I assure you, no coach or team manager can make perfect decisions on every player evaluation.

Case-in-point:  Let's look at the career of Jim Finks.  Finks was a highly regarded NFL GM that made it to the NFL Hall of Fame as an Excutive for the Minnesota Vikings, Chicago Bears and New Orleans Saints.  He was also starting Quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1950's.  He was a good (not great) quarterback but  among the best NFL executives in terms of player evaluation.

1. As a quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steelers kept Finks while cutting a fellow named Johnny Unitas.  Good thing for Baltimore that Johnny Unitas did not quit football after being cut.

2.  While directing the NFL draft, Finks drafted or signed such blue chippers as Jimbo Covert, Keith Van Horne, Jay Hilgenberg and the legendary Walter Payton.  In fact, he acquired 19 of the 22 starters for the 1985 Super Bowl Bears.  But he passed on a chance to draft Notre Dame's Joe Montana.  Instead he picked Georgia running back Willie McClendon.  Ouch.

3.  In basketball, Michael Jordoan was cut from his high school basketball team.

4.  In hockey, Hall of Famer Chris Chelios was cut from U.S. International University, the only NCAA Division I hockey team west of the Rockies.   He went onto an NHL Hall of Fame career.

Politics aside, evaluating players is complicated and one person's decision should never define your self-confidence or commitment to playing youth football. The fact is a youth football coach will never know if he was right or wrong until time passes.  And one person's opinion should never define your goals, even if they create a significant road block.

As we said, it's not what you achieve, it's what you overcome.

Good luck youth football parents.  To those kids who are currently discouraged--don't give up if you love the game!

Tom Finks
Executive Director
Pro Sports Experience, LLC

Pro Sports Experience is the official management company of Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants and Philadelphia Eagles Youth Football Camps.

http://www.prosportsexperience.com/