Star Community NewspapersSubmissions | Advertising | Subscribe | Archives | Jobs at the Star | Contact Us In The Community, With The Community, For the Community News | Sports | Opinion | Obituaries | Announcements | Classifieds | Shopping | Real Estate Friday, October 17, 2008 News: Coach goes beyond basics By Zachary Markovic, Staff writer (Created: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 5:11 PM CDT) | Text Size | Print Version | E-mail This Story Sports and life are similar in that to succeed at both a person needs an equal dose of fundamentals and passion. For Bulldogs Coach Delbert Knight his passion for basketball has turned into a passion to teach children to help those less fortunate. The five teams under his leadership are currently raising funds to build water wells or cisterns in foreign villages. Through the Christian Broadcast Network Living Water Wells and Cisterns program, each team has a goal to raise $1,000 to build a well or cistern in a country of their choice. “We have been getting this together for a year now,” Alzaton Knight, Coach Knight’s wife, said. “It was something important to us because our team is made up of multiple nationalities; we have a real melting pot.” Delbert said he heard stories from players’ parents of leaving their village at midnight and make their way through dangerous terrain so they could have water for the day. All for water, he said, which is something people in America take for granted. He wanted his young players to understand not only how lucky they are, but how they can make a difference. “They understand people outside [the United States] don’t have many of these basic resources,” he said. “The kids feel like they are helping someone.” The point seems to be sinking home with many of the young players. Koosh Singh, a third grader on one of the Bulldogs team, said donating water was important because people need to take care of themselves inside and outside. With more than 1.7 million people who die a year from waterborne diseases, the teams wanted to “donate water to them so they can get well,” Justin Briley, third grader, said. Knight said through all of their volunteer work and success on the court, it is about making sure the players learn the fundamentals. He has coached basketball and flag football for four years through the Plano Sports Authority. Before his time here in Plano he coached his nephew and other players out in Duncanville. And before that he would take his daughter down to the park so she could practice basketball with the boys. Patrice Lawson would later become an All-American and receive a full ride scholarship to play basketball in college. She is now the assistant coach for the Bulldogs and continues teaching the fundamentals she learned from her father. Knight said basketball and sports in general are important for children because it teaches them about life. He said kids who participate in sports don’t get in as much trouble as they stay occupied and progress towards a goal. “We want to get them so they can compete for scholarships at a collegiate level,” he said. Plus life lessons and habits are so much easier to teach children when they are having a good time. “It is fun to play basketball with each other and not take it too serious so everyone has fun,” said Briley. Comments are limited to 200 words or less. Name: Email: (optional) Comments: Image Verification: Previous News: April 23rd, 2008 STEWART BAILEY DAROVICH WEATHERFORD April 22nd, 2008 ODOM JACKSON BRYANT WRIGHT LEDESMA McCARTNEY April 18th, 2008 IMMEL GRADY ELLIS APPERSON THOMPSON April 17th, 2008 FISHER April 16th, 2008 DIXON SHIELDS MITCHELL GUARNACCI April 15th, 2008 HARLESS BANKHEAD BURKART April 11th, 2008 REESE MULKEY April 9th, 2008 WARSHAW April 8th, 2008 MOSELEY BROWN STONE WEISSHAAR April 4th, 2008 BRATTON April 3rd, 2008 DAUGHERTY SHREINER April 2nd, 2008 THOMPSON MURRELL HAYNES HAMBY DI NICOLA HINES April 1st, 2008 WILKER REED MEARS March 28th, 2008 GILBERT TERRELL WILKER PORTER JACKSON March 27th, 2008 SHAULIS ARCENEAU March 26th, 2008 WILLIAMS MITCHELL GIORDANO DAVIS BROWN YANCY March 25th, 2008 ENGLAND SKIDMORE PATRICK CARRINGTON MELSON HERINK Search Google Web scntx.com Select a Newspaper: -- Select a Newspaper -- Allen American Carrollton Leader Coppell Gazette Celina Record Flower Mound Leader Frisco Enterprise Lewisville Leader Little Elm Journal McKinney Courier-Gazette Mesquite News Plano Star Courier Rowlett Lakeshore Times Southlake Times The Colony Courier Leader Plano Insider Select a Community: -- Select a Community -- Allen Carrollton The Colony Coppell Celina Flower Mound Frisco Lewisville Little Elm McKinney Mesquite Plano Rowlett Southlake The Colony Plano Insider Search Archives: Advanced Search Options >> Copyright © 2008 Star Community Newspapers 624 Krona Drive Suite 170, Plano, Texas 75074 - Contact Star Community Newspapers at 972-398-4200