There are lives that refuse spectacle and still command a room. Mr. Wilkens carried a peculiarly American burden with grace, coaching while playing, teaching while enduring, and choosing generosity over noise. The life he built is a text we must read carefully.
Coaches helped because they believed in players, not because they saw them as a check. Gyms were open, and kids had real opportunities to develop without paying for exposure. Now, trainers charge hundreds, teams cost thousands, and even getting in the gym has a fee. This is not about saying people should not get paid. It is about asking, who is really benefiting?
Thoughts Processed 