There were only four weeks remaining before graduation and most kids turned their attention to planning summer vacations, graduation parties and having fun. It was spring in Wisconsin, a fabulous time of the year when robins returned to the north and romance bloomed along the shores of Lake Michigan.
Not Matthew. There were junior and senior class projects to complete besides the community projects that Matthew had previously set in motion. Matthew was determined to capitalize on our fame. He averaged five speeches a week to various business groups, schools, churches and media. His face was constantly on TV or in the newspapers, promoting charity events, speaking to an enclave of Catholic bishops, dedicating a new synagogue or volunteering at homeless shelters.
He asked for my help. “Coach, let’s leave a little something for people to remember us by; something that others can pick up and carry on with.” For the next month, I averaged four or five speeches a week, mainly to coaching and business groups. My message was simple; “Kicking ass means that if everyone does their best, 100% of the time, the positive impact for that person is truly amazing. They become a better person and make the people around them better too.” I provided some simple examples of Matthew’s suicide drills, work ethic and values had changed the lives of his teammates and classmates at Shorewood High School. The simple message was well received and most businesses asked how they could help. Several wrote six-figured checks on the spot.
The housing rehabilitation project that started with repairing Anton’s wall was a huge success and spread to cities throughout the state. Each volunteer group renovated one or two homes a month, which doesn’t sound like much, but there were 13 groups in the Milwaukee area alone. Each group was a partnership between a suburban school and an inner city school and resulted in kids of different races and social levels working together for a common objective. “The long term benefits of this interaction will be the legacy of this program,” Matthew told the Milwaukee Chamber of Commerce. “That’s why we need your backing and technical support.” $250,000 was earmarked for this program as well as a promise to sponsor a funding bill in next year’s legislative session. Matthew and I testified before a housing Senate subcommittee that was evaluating the possibility of taking the program nationwide, pretty heady stuff for a basketball coach with only 13 games of coaching experience.
The grand opening of the Community Jobs Center was scheduled for the day before graduation, a fitting monument to a senior class that had left their imprint upon the school and community in many ways. The thirty thousand square foot complex included office space, meetings rooms and a state-of-the-art computer system and employment data base. The Governor, two Senators, Congressmen and Mayor took turns lauding the achievement and promising to expand this concept to other Wisconsin communities. The crowd of dignitaries cheered as the Governor cut the tape to the Matthew Wilson Jobs Center.
There was one disappointment. The interdenominational faith program that Matthew and Father McGinnis started never recovered after that episode when the Ark of the Covenant exploded at the church. Two weeks after that event Father Sean had been called to Rome for a temporary assignment. I asked Matthew if Father McGinnis would return.
“I don’t think so, Coach. I think he is in a little bit of trouble with the church hierarchy.”
“Why, what did he do wrong?”
“I don’t think the establishment appreciated his philosophy that there are many ways of serving the Lord and believing in God was more important than being a Catholic. His willingness to discuss other religious philosophies was not received well in Rome and the incident with the Ark of the Covenant was the final straw. I do know that his replacement is not eager to support our youth group. That’s too bad, because it is something that is needed, not only here, but throughout the world.”
“You were hoping to expand the youth program to other cities, weren’t you?” I said, realizing how disappointed Matthew was in this aborted effort.
“I haven’t given up.” Matthew said softly. “The day will come.”
Graduation was this evening and this was the final pep rally. It was also going to be an awards ceremony. As usual, Matthew had been instrumental in planning the event and there were rumors that something special was planned. I knew the rumors were true because I was involved with the security arrangements, but was surprised that the word had not leaked out given all the secret service precautions and people involved. The President of the United States doesn’t go anywhere without extensive pre-planning, even for a brief, 15-minute, surprise visit.
There was an election coming up and his campaign staff thought this would be great coverage, but the President said no media.
“Then why are we doing this?” his press secretary asked.
“Because he asked me to,” the President replied. “And I want to meet him.”
“Invite him to the White House. It’s not like he is a world leader.”
“Have you read about this young man?” the President asked. “Have you seen what he has accomplished in a few months? Did you see what the school did on the SAT, not just him, but the entire school? Are you aware that Congress just passed a bill to fund his housing rehabilitation program nationwide?”
“Yes, but …”
“Well don’t tell me he isn’t a world leader.” The President saw something special in this young man and wasn’t going to be deterred.
The pep rally started off with a twenty minute video of highlights from the school year played to a background of music ranging from James Brown to Johnny Mathis; a combination of excitement and nostalgia. The video ended abruptly and Matthew took the stage to a loud ovation. The students were keyed up.
Backstage, the President of the United States and his team slipped in and watched the proceedings. He needed to see for himself what this young man was all about.
Matthew called for silence and raised two fingers. “My name is Matthew Wilson, and I am at student at Shorewood High School, and when I am a student, I Kick Ass.” The response from the students was enthusiastic, to say the least. It was the last pep rally and everyone was keyed up.
“Today, we are …” The lights went out and there was silence for just a moment before the beat began, starting softly and increasing in volume as two searchlights scanned the curtain looking for the source of the music. Boom-boom-boom, Boom-Boom-Boom, BOOM-BOOM-BOOM, BOOM-BOOM-BOOM. The students roared and screamed in delight. They had heard the song many, many times and seen it on television and at the movies, but they couldn’t get enough of it.
Jennifer waited to make her appearance and almost failed to notice that the President of the United States was seated only ten feet away watching the performance on a closed circuit TV. She nodded and then turned her attention back to the song. This would be her last chance to sing this song for Matthew. She wished she could have performed alone.
Jennifer stepped through the curtain and the spotlight found her and the student body roared in delight. However, Jennifer waited and the beat continued; BOOM-BOOM-BOOM; BOOM-BOOM-BOOM; BOOM-BOOM-BOOM.
The students were getting restless when the 2nd spotlight shifted to the other side of the stage and settled on the split in the curtain. A woman stepped forward into the spotlight and the music started.
“You come to me, come to me, wild and wild”
The spotlights slowly moved higher.
“Give me a lifetime of promises and a world of dreams,
Speak a language of love like you know what it means”
The spotlight revealed the face of Tina Turner and the auditorium went crazy. “Tina, Tina,” the kids shouted as they recognized the famous singer. Jennifer, Jennifer the students screamed as the spotlight revealed Jennifer’s face.
The women were dressed in identical sequined, black dresses and looked absolutely fabulous. It was amazing how a 60 year old woman can perform next to an 18-year old and not back down for a moment. Tina looked as good in person as she did on her videos. She really d
id have awesome legs. Both women were now up close to Matthew, pounding fists against his chest as they sang the song’s refrain.
“You’re simply the best, better than all the rest,
better than anyone, anyone I’ve ever met”
Students had their arms held high above their head, swaying side-to-side with the music, just like they did at the first pep rally and like millions of others have done at Tina Turner concerts or in front of their TVs.
“In your eyes I get lost, I get washed away
Just as long as I’m here in your arms I could be in no better place,
You’re simply the best, better that all the rest.”
The song ended and both women received a long, standing ovation before Jennifer exited to allow Matthew and Tina to sing a duet of Proud Mary.
“Thank you, Tina, and thank you, Jennifer,” Matthew started again. “As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted,” he continued, holding up two fingers. “We have awards to present this afternoon to those of you that have excelled during their years at Shorewood High School. Principal Hawkins, would you please do the honor.” Bill Hawkins took the microphone and Matthew went off stage to meet the President of the United States.
The President had been watching the television in admiration of how Matthew controlled the audience and how they hung on his every word. He stood and greeted Matthew with a warm, presidential handshake and a Lyndon Johnson-like clasp of the shoulder. “It is truly an honor to finally meet you, young man. I have been following your exploits and am impressed.”
“Thank you, Mr. President, the pleasure is mine. I have been following your exploits and for the most part, am also impressed,” he said returning the President’s handshake with a firm grip. The President laughed at the slight twist of words and the inference, recognizing there was no agenda behind the statement, just an honest opinion that he did not agree with everything the President had done.
“Well, Laura doesn’t support me on everything either, and certainly Congress doesn’t. I would think you were a fool or a liar if you agreed on everything I have done, and I certainly don’t think you are either.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. I know your time is short, but I want you to know you are welcome to stay for as long as you like. As we discussed, you will make the presentations to the “lucky 12” who took the 2nd SAT test. We hope you can deliver a short speech. After that, you are welcome to stay for the final hour. It’s up to you.”
“What comes after we make the presentations to the lucky 12?”
“I’m going to give a medal to all the seniors commemorating their achievement.” Matthew handed the President a specially prepared sample, engraved with the President’s name and his SAT score from the year he was first accepted at Yale, the year before he enlisted in the US Navy and fought in WW II. “We wanted you to have this as an expression of our thanks for coming here today and honoring our achievements.”
Tears streamed down the Presidents face as he looked at the medallion with the number 1942. “This is absolutely beautiful,” he said in a choked voice. “Do they all have the person’s name and SAT score? That must have cost a small fortune.”
“Yes, there is a lot of profit in that song you heard earlier. Besides, the money is well spent. You deserve it and so do the kids. You can’t imagine the effort they put into studying for the SAT test, not to mention the housing rehab project and other projects we have going on.”
“I’d like to stay until the end if you don’t mind,” the President decided as his travel secretary grimaced.
Principal Hawkins was just completing his award presentations as Matthew stepped back on stage. “Matthew, it’s all yours.
“Thank you sir, and congratulations to everyone who earned a special award today. Let’s give these people a big hand,” Matthew said as he shook each students hand before they returned to their seats.
“I now have the honor of introducing a man who will help me present individual medals to each graduating senior. Each medal has your name and SAT score to honor your achievement. I challenged you to do your best and you did. The effort you gave was the best and therefore, you should be presented your award by the best. Students and faculty, I have the honor to introduce the President of the United States, George H.W. Bush. Let’s give the President a ‘He Kicks Ass’ welcome.”
“Thank you everyone for this great greeting. The words are similar to what I hear every day from Congress, but the meaning is much nicer.” The President gave a short speech applauding their achievements, and the presentations began.
The reception line consisted of the President, Matthew and Principal Hawkins who handed out the medals. The President shook each student’s hand and made some congratulatory comment. He couldn’t help, but notice that Matthew greeted every student by name and had something personal to say. Almost every student said something like; thank you, I’ll miss you, you’re the best, I love you, etc. The President could feel the love and respect, not just from a few, but from every student. How could anyone compete against him if he ever decided to run for president? The presentation was over and Matthew offered President Bush the opportunity to say a few more words.
“I’ll be brief,” the President declared, and kept his promise. “My staff asked me why I wanted to take the time to come here today, and I told them I wanted to come here to meet and honor a special young man and a special group of young adults who have achieved so much, in so short of time. I was not disappointed. It was privilege to be here.” He sat down to applause that slowly grew into another ‘The President Kicks Ass’ chant.
Matthew stepped to the microphone for what we knew would be the last time at Shorewood High School. The auditorium was silent. “Fellow students and faculty, we have come a long way together and because of you these have been the happiest months of my life. I asked you to do things that were difficult and you succeeded. I owe each of you so much and I want you to know that if you ever need me, I’ll be there for you. I repeat, if you ever need me, I will be there for you. Thank you. Class dismissed.”
The students started to file out as Queen’s “We are the Champions” came over the sound system, but everyone stopped when a young lady shouted out from the back of the auditorium. “If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you, Matthew.”
“I will too,” a boy shouted. Soon, the entire room was shouting the promise; students, faculty, custodians and the President of the United States. “If you ever need me, I’ll be there for you!”
Ten years later each person would be asked to fulfill this promise.
Chapter 23 - Reminisce