First Look What I Know
by
Rick Steltenpohl
Executive Director, Spokane Hoopfest Kindness Matters. It’s my favorite trait, well, off the basketball court. I love simple, pure acts of kindness. They change a mood, improve a day and altar lives. Kindness breeds more kindness. Kindness positively impacts all situations and environments and I encourage you to try it! Love Really is All You Need. Well, love and lots of good music. And yes the Beatles are in a class by themselves. But I digress. I believe strongly in matters of the heart. Having people you love and having that love returned is a tremendous gift. Please share your heart! I’m grateful for many dear friendships. I’m blessed with three beautiful girls in my life - my wife Martha and my daughters Chelsea and Leah. They bring me incredible happiness and joy and my proudest moments. Being a dad is the best thing I’ve ever done. Martha and Hoopfest Changed My Life: I really first noticed this girl on a school trip to Washington D.C. in 10th grade. Then I threw water balloons at her during a summer party after 11th grade. We started dating a few days later and have been together ever since. Martha has an amazing capacity for goodness within her, and she brings that out in me. When I spoke at my dear Mother’s funeral Mass (she died way too young at the age of 57, in 1994), I said there were two people responsible for every good thing I accomplish – my mom and Martha. They will always inspire me. Who knew when Rick Betts asked me to drive to Seattle in the summer of 1989 and play in a 3-on-3 basketball tournament with him and Jerry Karstetter that the seeds for Spokane Hoopfest would be planted and that Spokane would become the destination for America’s grassroots basketball? I had worked with Betts in the accounting world and he was a mentor to me. His vision for Hoopfest, along with Jerry Schmidt’s, was astounding. I was proud to be part of the founding group in 1990 and the first Executive Director in 1992. Not only am I one of 61 people that have played in every Hoopfest since we began in 1990, but also I continue to have a dream career, complete with so many truly meaningful interactions, life lessons and a closet full of Nike shoes! Helping lead Hoopfest all these years, with amazing guidance, assistance and dedication from countless individuals, sponsors, the City and the downtown community is a true honor. I continue to learn so much about service, selflessness, excellence, creativity and driving forward, while having fun and appreciating the spectacular people I get to be around and the lifelong friendships I’ve formed. We live in a truly stunning community. Hoopfest is much more than a job - it’s family. Stay tuned as we have fabulous things coming in the years ahead! 38
Spokane CDA • March • 2012
Be More. I love how innovative Nike is. They are always pushing the envelope with new gear that enhances performance and looks better than anyone else’s. Nike reminds us that there is no finish line. I completely agree. We must be more. Why? Because in life we don’t stay the same. We either get better or we get worse. With balance, positive energy, joy, confidence and a gracious heart, appreciate what we have but strive for more for excellence. Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said the difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. Personally, I always want to be better in my relationships, with my fitness, at work, with communications, by being more thoughtful. Does this mean you live an unsatisfied life because it’s never enough? No. It means you are grateful for what you have but realize there is more yet to achieve! I live that way personally and that’s how Hoopfest is as we enter year 23. The Delight of Competition and a Good Movie. Some of my friends describe me as the most competitive person they know. This mostly comes out these days on a basketball court and I’m grateful to still be playing. I thoroughly enjoy team sports like basketball and football, with all of the interaction, camaraderie, strategy and energy that goes into the games. It’s fun to compete so fiercely with friends on the court and then shake hands and put the game results behind you immediately afterwards. I’m better at that now than I used to be. But trust me, I’d much rather win! As competitive as I am on the court, you might be surprised how easily I can cry during an emotional scene in a movie, during a good acceptance speech or when my daughters tell me a touching story. It’s almost embarrassing sometimes how sentimental I am. Is this only going to get more pronounced as I get older? Bring me a Kleenex! Anyway, I love a good movie. It’s so relaxing to lose yourself in the characters and just totally unwind for a few hours. No phones, but please pass the popcorn! Enjoy the Ride. I love celebrating birthdays and refuse to accept friends’ aged focused attitudes against this; it’s your day – celebrate, feel special and have fun! I also encourage people to choose happiness in their everyday lives; it’s often up to you how you react to things, who you choose to spend free time with and what attitude you bring to your day – make it positive! Another thing I find amazing is how much you learn by listening and how greatly you can validate someone by “listening to them with your eyes”. As I sign off, I’ll share some of the things that make me most happy: being with my three girls, Beatles music, Seinfeld re-runs, a good concert, lots of sunshine, great friends, playing basketball, family, fun, travel and knowing that Hoopfest is rocking. What makes you happy? Overall, I encourage all of us to be kind to one another, laugh a lot, find love and have big fun all along the way!