okansas.blogspot.com Occassional thoughts about orienteering
Monday, September 08, 2003
Sad news
Damon Douglas -- orienteer and former U.S. Team Coach -- died a few days ago.
This is very sad news.
A couple of quick memories of Damon....
Damon and I were among the few Americans at the Sorlandsgallopen in 1986. I remember spending a bunch of time looking at maps and talking about orienteering. Damon had a lot of ideas. He was very thoughtful. He was fun to talk to. I remember a group planning to go out to a restaurant one evening. I was broke. There was no way I could afford a restaurant meal (especially in Norway). Damon treated me. It wasn't much money, but the gesture (not to mention the food) were greatly appreciated.
I got to know Damon a bit better at a pre-WOC training camp in Sweden in 1988. Damon was U.S. Team Coach, but understood that he didn't know everything. At the camp he spent his time interviewing coaches and elite runners from other countries. He asked them about coaching, racing, training, etc. He listened and learned. Many people -- probably most of us -- think we know more than we do. Damon knew he didn't know everything. So he did something about it. I admire that.
posted by Michael |
1:43 PM
