The Story Behind the Launch Christened “For All The Marbles”
March 23, 2016
I had been looking for a way to give back to the program that gave me so much. The positive impact the program has had on me is profound—and very personal.
Context is everything. I graduated from high school in 1978 without a clue as to what I wanted to do. My grades were average to below average, not because I was dim, but because I lacked initiative. From a sports perspective, I’m the guy that joined the soccer team because my friends did, and when the coach walked by during sit-up drills, I would stop when I was out of his peripheral vision. In fair balance, I loved to ride my bike (to the liquor store) and I liked to fight (judo). I weighed about 210 lbs.
Off I went to college #1 (Niagara University). I didn’t like it and quit after one year. Off I went to college #2 (St. John’s University-commuter campus in Staten Island). I didn’t like it and quit after one year. I decided to ride my bike to Texas. After three months, I came home because I “saw the light” and wanted to go to URI to study Nutrition. Mom & Dad said, “Get a job, and if you make some money towards the venture, we’ll send you.” So I did, and my parents came through again and that is how I came to start a real four-year program of study at the University of Rhode Island. I was one of the oldest freshmen you’d ever meet….and I lived alone, down-the-line, from day one.
Within hours of my first footsteps on URI’s campus I came upon the URI Rowing Team in front of the gym recruiting for the fall season. There was this huge eight-man crew shell sitting on stretchers. I didn’t even know what it was, but I was in awe. Someone said, “Hey, how tall are you, and how much do you weigh? Want to join us Tuesday night?” That was the beginning of what I believe was one of the most important moments in my life. Really.
I rowed from 1982-1985 and I can honestly say those were some of the best days of my life. Life lessons every single day. I met some of the most favorite people in my life on that team, men and women, and I miss them to this day (I stole one of them to be my wife!). We learned how to have fun together. I learned what failure feels like and what a potent motivator it can be and I learned what long-term suffering, commitment and dedication can yield. I discovered self-respect. I learned that there are times to lead and times to follow. I learned how important a good coach is and I learned that if you blink, someone equally qualified will take your seat without malice. It’s just the natural order. Welcome to the job market. Most importantly, I learned that you get what you work for…period. Crew helped me understand my volition.
Of course, the pinnacle of that experience was winning the lightweight eight finals at the 1984 Dad Vail Regatta and the point of this story: why I chose to name the new launch “For All The Marbles.” I chose the name because I thought it might be an inspiration to those being coached during the most challenging of times on the Narrow…freezing temperatures, early sleepless mornings, rain, hail, sleet, snow, ice, hunger, fatigue, getting yelled at by Gillette for shit technique, etc. At the start of the 1984 Dad Vail finals, when the URI Lightweight Varsity men won gold, I remember vividly how tense and ready to go we were (Rhody, Ken P. Shaw, Punk, myself, DT, Mike Welch, Jeff Sweenor, Jack McKinnon and Stormin’ Normin Kim). We were mad, very aggressive and testy. We had something to prove. As we aligned our bow balls for the start, and were all sitting at-the-ready, tension at its absolute highest, one of the “Yellow Shirts” (officials at the start of the race) bellows into his megaphone “Boys, THIS IS FOR ALL THE MARBLES…Ready All….Row!”
My hope is that this phrase (rather than my name) will remind all the rowers that their individual and collective commitment to achieving their potential, coupled with just the right amount of suffering, can very well be worth the effort. And believe me, although winning is nice, it’s not about winning. It’s about the struggle, the growing up and all the cherished memories.
“If a man does his best, what else is there?”
– General George S. Patton (1885-1945)
Post written by Jim Mackenzie, Executive Director, Global Compliance, Celgene Corporation, Summit, NJ
Bachelor of Science, Food Science Technology & Nutrition (1985), University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI
In 2015, former URI rower Jim Mackenzie and his wife, Mary O’Hara Mackenzie (’87), donated a brand new WinTech wakeless launch to the club rowing program. This post is a narrative written by Jim… a little about who he is, where he’s been, and what prompted him to make such a generous donation to the team.
