HOT CORNER
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What: “Circle of Success”
Authors: Bill Leach and Ted Newland, with Lesley Bindloss
Publisher: Hamilton Hills
Price: $14.95
Bill Leach, 55, was an All-American in water polo and swimming at UC Irvine and later became an Olympic kayaker and world-class triathlete.
Ted Newland, 74, coached Leach in water polo at Newport Harbor High, Corona del Mar High and UC Irvine. He has coached at Irvine for 36 years and is the winningest water polo coach in NCAA history with 663 victories. His team has won six NCAA championships in Division I and three in Division II.
Leach and many others who were on Newland’s teams credit his philosophies and teachings for the successes they’ve enjoyed in life.
In 1986, Leach convinced Newland that they should write a book about the coach’s philosophies. It was basically a “how to” book. It sat on the shelf for more than 10 years.
They finally recruited a professional writer and editor, Lesley Bindloss, came up with a better format and have now reached the finish line.
This soft-cover book consists of 45 personal reflections by the men on their athletic careers. The segments are well-written and easy to read. Some are amusing, all are enlightening. The book is also filled with enlightening quotes from a variety of people.
For instance, there’s this from Laker great Jerry West: “Confidence is a lot of this game, or any other. If you don’t think you can, you won’t.”
This quote is at the start of a segment by Leach, from a water polo opponent on what he perceived as a superior team: “Until you believe you can beat us, you never will.”
It was one of those lessons in life. There are many of them in the book. One of Newland’s segments is about how he persuaded his 10-year-old to compete in a sailing race despite his fear of the gusty winds on that particular day.
The book can be ordered through https://www.circleofsuccess.net or by calling (949) 854-5117.