The Center of Fortitude (Continued)
After graduating from Cypress College as a basketball star, Mark talked his way onto the UCLA men's varsity basketball team (believe it or not, they weren't eager to take him). Playing for the Bruins for a career total of only 62 minutes over the course of two years, Mark's dreams of being drafted by an NBA team were dashed when head coach Larry Farmer decided to leave Mark at home for the last two games of Mark's senior year. Ready to toss in the towel on basketball, Mark's Cypress College coaches refused to give up on him. In a last ditch effort to get Mark signed, Tom Lubin, Bruce Randall, and Mark's former UCLA assistant basketball coach Keith Glass, rallied around the big guy to get him an audience with Jazz head coach Frank Layden and convince him that Mark should be on his team. How they got Frank and Mark together is a lesson in perseverance and ingenuity that should be an example to all who aspire to a great dream.
A Cinderella story complete with several fairy "godfathers", The Center of Fortitude is an inspirational story that will make you believe any goal is achievable, as long as you have the strength to put your faith in those who have faith in you.
Click here to read the first 8 pages from The Center of Fortitude.