Neighborhood resident Russ Pate wrote his first newspaper story Ð an account of a Pony League baseball game Ð in the seventh grade for his school newspaper. Coincidentally, he was the pitcher for that same game.
ÒI was throwing out the adjectives,Ó Pate says.
Today, Pate is still able to combine his love of writing with his love of sports. The former editor and sports columnist has written or co-written seven books including ÒSurvive to WinÓ (a biography of Bob Watson, former general manager of the world champion New York Yankees), ÒAction on the First Tee,Ó ÒGreener Pastures,Ó and ÒThe Mental Game Pocket Companion for Golf.Ó
Pate, who plays golf Ònot well, but avidly,Ó is also host of a weekly golf talk show on KLIF-AM.
His latest book, ÒDaddyÕs Home at Last,Ó was co-written with pro football great Mike Singletary of the Chicago Bears. Singletary, a father of seven, grew up without a fatherÕs daily influence. In the book, he describes how he realized the need to put his family first, the changes he made to accomplish that, and how other fathers can make similar choices.
Pate, who has no children, originally approached SingletaryÕs agent about a motivational self-help book in line with the motivational speaking done by Singletary. But after meeting Singletary, that focus changed.
ÒIt evolved into a book about fatherhood,Ó Pate says. ÒThe book is very personal, full of anecdotes and parables.
ÒMike has a wealth of stories.Ó
PateÕs next project will involve working with Goose Gossage, a former player with the New York Yankees, on a biography. He is also hopeful that at some point he and Singletary will write the motivational book originally proposed.
ÒIÕm a good collaborator,Ó he says. ÒI donÕt have the ego of a person who wants to be the star of the show.Ó
