It began in 1992. George Bush, senior, was President of the United States, Nicolas Cage’s “Honeymoon in Vegas” was the number one film, and Barry Bonds was a Pittsburgh Pirate and about to be the National League MVP. It ended at 11:32 pm, Saturday, September 4, 2004 in Seattle, Washington. What was “it”? It was the longest team-winning streak in sports history. De La Salle High School, of Concord, California had won 151 straight games until Bellevue, Washington High School beat the Spartans 39-20. During “the streak”, De La Salle had won four straight USA Today National High School football championships. It’s said that every streak and record is meant to be broken, and indeed this one was going to end at sometime. However, the real story of “the streak” is not so much about the numbers, but about the class and character of De La Salle, its players and coaches. It’s the story of what sports are, and should really be about.

Bob Ladouceur has been the De La Salle coach since 1979 and his record speaks for itself-287 wins and only 15 defeats. It’s safe to say, “The man knows how to coach.” But, his coaching is secondary to his knowing how to teach his players about life and what’s truly important. During “the streak”, Ladouceur’s Spartans beat opponents by an average of 38.2 points. But, they never purposely ran up a score, rubbed it in the face of their opponent or gloated afterwards about it. They play the game for the enjoyment of it and understand the execution of football determines who wins or loses. Ladouceur’s “balance in life” approach allows his players to enjoy football and keep it in its proper perspective in their lives. So, when the streak ended, it wasn’t surprising to hear senior defensive back Anthony Gutierrez say, “None of the coaches, none of the players, none of the people at De La Salle ever said anything about the streak. They never put any pressure on us. It’s about going from game to game. Every team loses. People are still going to work hard. We’re not going to quit working.” Gutierrez and his teammates understand that football is a game, and the real challenge is living life day to day.

Prior to the Spartans game with Bellevue High, they got two lessons in the real challenges of life. First, on New Year’s Eve, Ladouceur came face to face with death. In excellent shape and a non-smoker, Ladouceur suffered a heart attack. Only the quick and heroic efforts of his wife saved his life. In reflection, he would say he wasn’t afraid, knew that everything would be okay for his family, that he was happy with the way he had led his life, and no, he had not seen any white light. His near death experience shocked his team, but also served to backup the life lessons he has taught them. Football and winning is nice, but balance and living life to the fullest is really the game.

The second lesson came only two weeks before the season opener against Bellevue. Terrance Kelly, the Spartan’s 2003 MVP, was murdered in a senseless killing in Richmond, California. The affable youngster had escaped the crime infested “Iron Triangle” of Richmond, made his way to the suburbs to go to school and play football for prestigious De La Salle and earned himself a football scholarship to the University of Oregon. The night before he was to leave for Oregon, and fall practice, he was gunned down by a 15 year old who reportedly was jealous and upset over a discussion he and Kelly had many months earlier. A stupid, senseless killing. One life taken, another now lost. Now days before the Spartans were to launch a new season and begin their quest to a fifth straight National High School Football Championship, they were burying a teammate.

Neither of these life lessons was the reason why Bellevue beat the Spartans and ended the 151 game winning streak. The reason was simple: the Bellevue High Wolverines out played the Spartans. They beat them with better execution of every facet of the game. No excuses, such as the shock and trauma of losing a former teammate or the fact that the Spartans only had three returning starters to the Wolverines’ 13. No! Ladouceur summed it up as he has taught his players, honestly and directly. “Right now Bellevue is a better football team then we are,” he said. That kind of honesty players and a team can live with. De La Salle defensive coordinator Terry Eidson summed it up succinctly when he said, “We’ve had a great run. We knew it had to end sometime. I’m just glad it was to a quality team and program like that (Bellevue).”

The pain of losing in sports can be intense and instructive in learning to deal with life’s challenges, but coach Bob Ladouceur and the De La Salle football program has taught his players since 1979 that football really is “just a game.” How you play the game of life brings you more rewards.

No matter the outcome of De La Salle-Bellevue High game, the streak is still alive. It is Ladouceur and De La Salle’s on-going education of young people about life-- and this streak is much more important.

I’m Ron Barr.

I feel better now.

Ron Barr is an Emmy award winning writer and the host of the nationally and internationally syndicated sports talk show, Sports Byline USA

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