Seldom will one find a person like Greg English.

In a world where success in sports at any level is judged by how many games or championships a person or team wins, it is refreshingly rare to see a coach that chooses to place the emphasis elsewhere.

"I'm not worried about wins or losses. That's not my concern," said English, who has coached girls softball teams in recreational leagues in Sulphur since 1982.

"I'm in this for the kids. The kids are just there to have a good time.

English, who now heads the 11-12 year old SweetHearts, got his start completely by accident. "I wasn't planning on coaching," said English. "My daughter and another little girl, six years old, were best friends, and this other girl's dad coached a t-ball called the Rainbows. He drafted my daughter and then called me on the phone and said 'I need somebody to come and help me.'"

"He needed somebody to help work with the team. I went out and started coaching with him. My daughter was involved so I was going to get involved."

English never intended to take full responsibility for that team until one day when head coach Larry Shaw informed English of some surprising news. He said 'You've got the team the rest of the summer. We're going to Connecticut on vacation.' What was I going to do? I took the team.

"I got it by accident and just never let go."

The following season, English's daughter and her best friend moved up to the next league and he applied and took the reigns as head coach.

Mrs. Coleman, Maplewood Rec. Director, gave him the choice between two teams in his daughter's new league, the Hobos or the SweetHearts. English chose the latter and, unbeknownst to him at the time, the team name would remain with him until this time. "I kept the name because it sounded like a girl's team." Even the uniforms have remained the same familiar look year in and year out: Red and white pinstripe bottoms with a red shirt emblazed with the word SweetHearts across the front.

English's daughter played under him on the SweetHearts for two years before having to move up to the next league. After debating whether to move up and coach his daughter or stay put, English came to the decision that she needed to have another coach besides him. Smiling with perhaps a hint of regret, he said, "In a sense sometimes, I think it was a mistake. I should have followed her on up."

"But I stayed, and stayed, and stayed."

Retirement may still be in the distant future for English. "I think it's going to be a while before I give it up. I don't see any reason to."

"I've always told people I would give it up when it quits being fun. It's still fun. It really is."

English considers coaching in Sulphur a blessing. He has traveler throughout Texas and Louisiana to various softball complexes and contents that Sulphur's facilities are the best he's seen. "We have the absolute finest facilities anywhere in the country. Coaches from all over can't believe a little bitty town like this can have a facility this great."

When English began coaching in 1982, the Frasch complex was in the beginning stages and the Maplewood complex, now known as McMurry Park was completely nonexistent. "I've seen them come a long ways. We've got lots of fields and lots of places to play now."

Hesitating and contemplating, English stated that he wishes to be best6 remembered as a player's coach, enjoying the kids, letting them enjoy the experience."

"If I'm going to be remembered for anything it would be the fact that I enjoyed working with the kids, had a good time, and was a player's coach that was out here for them not me - not a record book, not a scoreboard, not a standings."

To English, the game is not about winning. "It's still just a game. It's just a game and that's all there is to it."

Perhaps we should all keep that in mind. Forget the championships, the trophies, the glory, and the recognition. Remember what brought every child interest and joy in playing the games in their front yard with neighbors or friends from school.

It isn't winning or losing or about trophies won. It's not about records that could be set. I simply about playing the game. Perhaps, thanks to people like Greg English, we can all remember that.

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