Why Bridgeport? We're a City that Believes in Believe
By Jon Griffith on June 22, 2024 from Why Bridgeport?
“Oh man. To believe in yourself. To believe in one another. Man, that’s fundamental to being alive. And look, if you can do that, if each of you can truly do that, can’t nobody rip that apart.”
These iconic words were written by Jamie Lee and spoken by Jason Sudeikis’s character Ted Lasso on the Apple TV+ series of the same name. For those unfamiliar with the show, you are missing out. This series is well worth watching. I have watched the entire series twice now. Be warned, there is quite a bit of coarse language. However, if you can get past the language, Ted Lasso is one of the finest
television programs ever produced.
television programs ever produced.
The story revolves around the adventures of Lasso, a former college D-II championship football coach, who has been hired to coach an English Premiere League soccer club, the AFC Richmond Greyhounds. He, along with an endearing cast of his fellow coaches, athletes, owners, and promoters, fashion an engaging, entertaining, and addictive story that can make you laugh out loud and moments later bring a tear to your eyes.
The series does an outstanding job of conveying the emotions players, coaches, and fans live and endure in sports. As well as Lasso’s
adjustment to his new sport and country. However, it goes so much further in exploring many common themes in everyday human
relationships and interactions.
In the pilot episode, Coach Ted Lasso posts a handmade sign that reads “BELIEVE” on the locker room wall. It is a thematic and inspirational element that appears frequently and weaves its way throughout the entire program’s three seasons. As a former coach, I felt 
a kinship with Coach Lasso. During my career, I embraced many of the same principles and philosophies demonstrated by
a kinship with Coach Lasso. During my career, I embraced many of the same principles and philosophies demonstrated by
Coach Lasso in the series. Without a doubt, many former and current coaches around the world feel the same way.
Phil Cunningham is a local legend in the athletic circles of Harrison County. I got to know the once national-level decathlete and former college football player later in his career as the boys track coach at Liberty High School. Even though we fought hard as competing coaches over many years, we have become great friends.
Phil knows a thing or two about belief. In his retirement, and as a double amputee, he travels the state and country as a motivational speaker. He speaks to schools, athletic teams, churches, corporate gatherings, and other functions on faith, hard work, determination, and resilience. I had Phil talk to my teams at Bridgeport High School for many years after he gave up coaching. His life story is incredible, astonishing, and almost unbelievable, but inspiring to anyone who hears it.
Phil and I have had many conversations about coaching, motivation, inspiration, etc. As former athletes tend to do, we often reminisce about the old days. We both grew up participating in sports before the “everybody gets a trophy” days. At a time when water breaks were
not the norm, coaches yelled a lot, and athletic trainers were virtually unheard of.
not the norm, coaches yelled a lot, and athletic trainers were virtually unheard of.
As old coaches, we talk about the teams and athletes we have coached, our greatest head-to-head battles, and how our teams are faring today. During our discussions, he has lamented, on multiple occasions, that competing against Bridgeport was difficult. He attributed that to two distinct reasons. Neither of which would I dispute.
First, he claims, Bridgeport kids were unusually competitive. You could see it in their demeanor. It didn’t matter what the contest was. Track, football, or tiddlywinks. They just liked to compete.
Second, he felt that they expected to win. Not that they wanted to win. They would win. Every time they stepped onto a track, court, or field, they were convinced they would come away victorious. That self-confidence and positivity give athletes a leg up when competing.
As a coach, I would love to take the credit for instilling that attitude in my athletes. However, the truth is that the vast majority of that mindset was developed by their families and the community of Bridgeport. My primary job was to teach fundamentals, encourage them, and aim them in the right direction. The competitiveness, desire, and will to win was already there.
In Bridgeport, that “BELIEVE” inspirational message and mindset resides in more than our sports programs. It permeates the entire
community. Every project, activity, and endeavor we undertake is viewed as something we will accomplish. Not just that it is just possible but that our achieving it is probable and inevitable.
community. Every project, activity, and endeavor we undertake is viewed as something we will accomplish. Not just that it is just possible but that our achieving it is probable and inevitable.
As a community, we have built an expansive and long-running resume of success. Why? We begin with the mindset that we will be successful regardless of the endeavor. Next, we seek to accomplish our goal through planning, hard work, and perseverance.
While this strategy is not guaranteed, our success rate is the envy of many.
When we do fail, that is OK. We know to get back up, dust ourselves off, and start again. We begin again as a team with the faith and knowledge that we are capable, prepared, and destined to succeed.
Why Bridgeport? Well before the legendary and fictional Coach Ted Lasso streamed into our homes with his quirky perspectives and eccentric coaching style, Bridgeport and its residents understood the importance of believing. We know the power of believing in ourselves, our abilities, and each other.
We believe in BELIEVE
Editor's Note: Top photo shows some of the state sports championships Bridgeport High School has won thanks to a belief in being the best, while the second photo is of Phil Cunningham. The next three photos show community, city, and city-community projects that have taken part as a part of those groups believing something needed to be done in the community. All photos submittedy by Jon Griffith.
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