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June 8, 2009 I have always said that baseball is a game that transcends time, arouses emotion, and nurtures the adolescent bond between fathers and sons. And perhaps, that has never been more evident than right here in Novi, as Coach Rick Green will Coach his son Garrett, in the Prestigious East-West All-Star Classic at Comerica Park on June 16th. It is just two-weeks removed from their final High School game against Northville as Wildcats, Coach Green and son Garrett wrapped up another successful season. In his ten years as the Skipper of the Novi Wildcats, the baseball program has grown dramatically. The beautiful facility where they play their home games is one of the finest anywhere, their annual schedule features top opponents from around the state, and in addition to perennial winning records, there have been many young men that have advanced on to the college ranks, representing their school and their city quite well…Coach Green deserves a lot of the credit. There’s an old saying that goes like this; “No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” Few Coaches are as passionate and dedicated as Coach Rick Green. His emphasis on the basics like discipline, fundamentals, and hustling at all times are things to behold, and he never stops coaching, teaching, or caring. In his first season at Novi HS back in 2000, his squad swept through Districts and Regional’s and in the Quarter-final game against Catholic Central, although his team fell behind on a couple of crazy bounces that only true baseball purists can appreciate, he never stopped motivating and setting an example of the physical attitude it truly takes to repeat success on the diamond. His catcher that day was Mitch Maier, currently with the Kansas City Royals, and his cleanup hitter was AJ Rowe, who had a home run taken away from him in the 1st inning. Rowe was also drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers that season, and later served his country in Iraq. I remember that day because it was the first time I ever saw a Rick Green-coached team, and he left an impression. The impression is still indelible all these years later. Simply put, Rick Green loves the game, and it shows in his commitment, enthusiasm and devotion to help kids with individual attention. So how will Green spend his summer? Coaching baseball of course…And on June 16th, he’ll step onto a Major League Field, helping to coach a group of High School All-Stars in the 28th Annual East-West Classic. It seems a fitting and appropriate visual for a Coach that has spent the last decade overseeing a big-league program… (c) 2009 Novi
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