State High School All-State Banquet in April, 1999 introduction of Mr. Brobin

Introduction of Mr. Brobin by Chris Tahti

April 10, 1999

My job tonight is to introduce Mr. James Brobin to you. He's a man whom some of you here tonight know and, for those of you who don't know him, there is really no way I can introduce him in the few minutes I have. Instead, I ask you to be patient while I take the time, on behalf of well over 1,000 alumni of his men's and women's swimming programs, to pay a long overdue tribute to a man who touched our lives in so many ways.

You can read the biographical information that's been printed about him, but you know, it doesn't even scratch the surface of what he's accomplished as a teacher, a coach, a mentor, and a friend to so many kids from the North Suburban area. Undoubtedly, he was a winning coach; even better, he was a demanding teacher, never settling for less that total effort from his students. But the greatest compliment I can pay to this man is that he was fair - truly, we were all given an equal chance to succeed. I can't begin to count the swimmers who when entering his program, required a personal lifeguard, and upon leaving his program were All-Conference, All-State, or All-American swimmers. In fact, the coaches of the old North Suburban conference were happy to see Mr B retire since most years, Mounds View swimmers accounted for all but two or three of the All-Conference selections. Further, this very banquet used to look like a Mounds View team banquet we were so well represented here.

I'd like to tell the coaches in the room what his secret was, but frankly, as a coach for eight years myself, I was never able to replicate his magic. Mr B had a knack for getting the best from his athletes, although I use that term loosely. None of us could run, jump, shoot, or score, although we were taller than Ziggy Kaul's starting lineup on the basketball court. He mixed humor with a hard-nosed approach and we hung on his every word, waiting for the next one-liner that we would remember, and often use on others for many years to come.

For those of you who are coaches, imagine this - we could hardly wait for the end of first hour each day when he would have copies of the afternoon workouts ready for us in his room. Every member of the team would be there when they were hot off the press - anxious to see the "Brobinisms" he had included on the workout sheet. The ulterior motive, of course, was that it gave us five hours to mentally prepare for every workout, we knew what was coming, he made no qualms about it - it would be difficult and we were ready for it every single day. If you really want to know his secrets, make him an offer to buy his kitchen table - this table sat in the boardroom where he got together with his staff and critiqued each meet and planned each week. Oh, the stories that table could tell.

Maybe the following thank you's will give you insight into how this man has affected the children of his community, thereby making a difference in the quality of all of our lives.

From those of us who went on to become nurses, dentists, doctors, including one of the top neurosurgeons in the country: Thanks Mr B for introducing us to the wonders of science via your sophomore Biology class; a class that prepared us for the rigors of college. You instilled in us an eye for minute details and fostered in us a desire for understanding the world around us that still helps us in our careers today.

From those of us who went on to military service, including a Colonel on staff with the Joints Chiefs, thank you Mr B for providing us a regimen that included discipline and teaching us to respect authority (i.e. Your infamous pecking order). Six weeks of basic training is a walk in the park compared to six weeks in the pool with you.

From those of us that went on to be teachers, professors, researchers, clergy, coaches, and even a fireman or two: thanks you Mr B for giving us an example of what it means to make a difference in the lives of others. You showed us the value of taking time to pay attention, to make personal sacrifices and to invest time and effort all for the sake of another person.

From those of us who are in business, entrepreneurs, engineers, corporate executives and owners of businesses both large and small: thank you Mr B for instill in us an uncompromising competitive spirit, for teaching us to set goals, giving us the patience to attain them and for a work ethic that gives us a continuous edge over our competitors each day.

And from those of us who are lawyers, including one State Senator, thanks Mr B for trying your hardest with us - I guess we're proof that you can't win 'em all!

And, from the runny-nosed twelve-year old turned 35:

To his lovely wife, Sandra: thanks Mrs. Brobin for sharing your husband with all of us; we cannot express our appreciation for the time you sacrificed on our behalf.

To his children, James, Colleen, Christopher and Natalie: thanks for sharing your father with us and for the difficulty you must have had being both the coach's kids and out teammates at the same time.

And finally, Thanks Mr B for teaching me these five truths:

1) If it were easy, we'd call it basketball.

2) Homecoming should be a swim meet and not a football game; that way, we'd know the Mustangs would win every year.

3) The race doesn't always go to the fastest or strongest, but it's a hell of a good bet.

4) Keep a short list of people whose opinions you value.

5) When they tore down Memorial Stadium to build a swimming pool, it proved there is justice in this world.

But above all, thank you Mr B for simply making me more than I was. Mr B, it is truly my privilege to welcome you to the Minnesota Swimming Hall of Fame!

Chris Tahti
Mounds View High School
Class of 1982