Response from John Buccigross of ESPN.com regarding an email he got from a Squirt Hockey Coach.

Bucci,

I have to give some words of wisdom to our squirt hockey team and am not the goodest writer in the world. Any ideas to pass on to the boys?

Jack
Atlanta

Hockey is important because everything and every moment is important in life.

It’s important to be a good student.
It’s important to treat your parents with respect and love.
It’s important to be a loyal friend.
It’s important to laugh.
It’s important to have good manners.
It’s important to wash your hands.
It’s important to floss.
It’s important to keep your concentration.
It’s important to eat well and get enough sleep.
It’s important to create the ideal playlist on your iPod.
It’s important to get the high score on Guitar Hero.
It’s important to raise money for charity.
It’s important to hold hands in parking lots.

It’s also important to pass the puck ahead to the open teammate, to try to win every face off, to crash the net, to bear down for loose pucks around the crease, to lead with your stick, to compete with smarts and heart, and encourage and push each other. It’s important not to hit people from behind, not to kick, and to keep your stick on the ice. Hockey is important because every second of life is important. Right now is important. Right now is the only thing that matters. Do it right and do it now.

“There are two educations. One should teach us how to make a living and the other how to live.” — John Adams