To the Editor:
I’m writing this letter to express my thanks to a wonderful man. Michael Marchand has been my son’s basketball coach for the travel team for the past three years. Now this won’t surprise the people who have the pleasure of knowing him, but for the people who don’t know, this man is a wonderful basketball coach, and mentor to 12 sixth graders. He also works full-time, and is married and has his own family. Yet he always finds the time to hold basketball practice two nights a week, and also to travel off-Island every weekend for games!
He is there for all these boys, for whatever they may need. He brings them to high school games; they all go together as a team. He not only teaches these boys the fundamentals of the sport of basketball, he teaches them teamwork, sportsmanship, respect, and self-respect! Over the past three years I have been to several games on- and off-Island. I have seen many teams, and many coaches. I have witnessed good coaches and horrible coaches, and every time I think to myself, “My son is so lucky to have the coach that he does.” I have seen teams with terrible sportsmanship, and overall horrible manners. Our boys don’t ever question the referee; they always help up a fallen player on the opposite team; and they always encourage one another. They do these things because they have been taught by the best. They know what is appropriate behavior, and that that’s the behavior their coach expects from them, and they do it. They do it because he has taught them to respect others, as well as themselves! He is an amazing coach and mentor, and for that I would like to say, “Thank you, Mike, for showing my son how to be a great basketball player and a fine young man!”
He has an assistant coach who is also an amazing man and mentor, Andrew Aliberti. He’s always there on the sidelines, making sure the boys are OK, and making sure that everyone knows what they are supposed to be doing. Together they are an amazing team, and both fine examples of what great mentors and coaches should be. So I just want to thank them both for all that they do for this group of boys! They finished the season in first place for their division, and for that they should all be proud!
Again, thank you, Michael Marchand and Andrew Aliberti, for everything you have done for these boys! I already can’t wait until next season!
Kristen Jenkinson
Edgartown