Bleachers Book: Bleachers
Author: John Grisham
Publisher: Dell Fiction
Details: mass paperback, 229 pages
When we initiated the book reviews webpage last month, I stated that our reviews would be different than the normal fare. As a down payment on that promise, let me recommend the most appealing leadership book I’ve read in the past several years: Bleachers, by John Grisham.
Okay, I know it’s a fictional novel by a big-time author that is not specifically about leadership. And it may be difficult for some people to move through this book since it revolves around football. But if you can handle it, I can recall few books that do a better job of communicating the “ugly” side of leadership – the fact that great leaders are often disliked by even their closest associates.
Bleachers is a quick read. The characters are easy to visualize. The dialogue is realistic and interesting, there are a few suspenseful segments, and the ending was gripping.
The story’s focal point is a crusty high school football coach who moves to a one-horse town and turns a backwater team into a state powerhouse. His teams won 13 state titles in his 34-year career, setting the national record for consecutive wins along the way. The tale spans a four-day period during which many of the players whom he coached return for the coach’s funeral. Their reminiscing and self-reflection comprise the guts of the narrative.
What makes this a leadership book? The first 200 pages detail memories of past games, personal exploits, relationships – and not-so-fond memories of their intense, hard-hearted coach. The final 20 pages are the eulogies, spoken by three former players, to a packed stadium of fans. Their recollections paint a vivid portrait of how this driven, focused leader took group after group of talentless high schoolers and turned them into champions. Despite his quirky methods and irascible personality, the coach is described as diligent, hardworking, foresighted, intense, passionate, insightful, discerning, intelligent, courageous, just and compassionate. He fostered love-hate relationships with his core audiences: the players, their parents, and the townsfolk.
In the end, though, hundreds of his former players journeyed back to pay their respects because they understood that the lessons he drilled into his players – self-respect, hard work, perseverance, excellence, purposeful living, execution and teamwork – had changed their lives. The coach made some huge mistakes and some of his methods were antithetical to Christian principles. His legacy, however, was successfully leading many of his players to perform at a higher level. As one of the eulogizers put it, he allowed ordinary people to taste greatness. That’s one mark of a great leader.
As a leader, this book encouraged me. Because I take a lot of cheap shots from pastors, journalists and others due to my reports on the church – yes, I know, the arrows come with the territory – Grisham’s fictional yarn reminded me of Jesus’ warning to His disciples: “a prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family.” (Matthew 13:57, NLT) The book underscored a critical leadership truth: if you want to be popular, then do not become a leader. If you want to facilitate life transformation, and you’re willing to pay the price, leadership is a challenging but satisfying means to that end. The privilege of participating in people’s transformation, rather than applause, perks and awards, is the reward for our service. And how much sweeter it is to devote yourself to people’s transformation for something more glorious than a sports championship.
GB
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