Mike Flood
Episode 171
9 MAY 2022
He is the Vice President of Community Outreach for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, having now worked for the team for 25 years. He had served in the U.S. Coast Guard for 22 years, retiring as a Commander in 1997. He played football, basketball and baseball through his high school years and during his 22 years in the Coast Guard. He also coached basketball in military and youth leagues, and officiated basketball for 20 years. He serves on the boards of the King County Municipal League, Camp Patriot, and Empower Youth Network.
Notable guest quotes:
“I went to Catholic school from first grade through my junior year (of high school).”
“We went to church every Sunday, at least, and I was an altar boy. Every day during Lent I’d go to church. And… every Friday night we got the rosary out and knelt down at the living room couch and said the rosary.”
“I played varsity basketball and baseball in Virginia, and I played football, basketball, and baseball at Blanchet High School, a Catholic high school in Seattle.”
“Another thing that competition taught me is it’s not just in sports that you compete. It’s in how you talk to people. Can you reach people better if you understand them more and are really careful about what you say to them?”
“The plane rolled over to the left about 90 degrees, and I looked down at the ground and I thought, ‘I’m gonna die today’.”
“I’ve gotten to affect thousands of people’s lives through my job (with the Seahawks).”
“It led me to the statement for myself, to seek wisdom, act with confidence and compassion.”
“The way you converge the values that we get out of sports and our Catholic faith, our Christian faith, is really at the heart of a lot of things that the (Seahawks are) trying to do with people.”
“The things that people learn through sports don’t always translate into success in life and a smooth life. But, every team, no matter whether it’s the Seahawks or the youth that we work with, everybody’s trying to get people to learn something beyond winning and losing in their experience with sports.”
“I read Richard Rohr almost every day, Father Richard Rohr, and he talks about how when we connect with each other based on each other’s true selves, we’re at a deeper level where love, compassion, wisdom, and beauty live.”
“Even the people that seem to be a pain in the neck, you can find something in common and respect them and respect the opportunity that you’ve got to make a difference for them and whoever they’re working with.”
“I got the Bible out… and I started reading Proverbs 8 and it just struck me… And so, I give it to other people. If I think they really care, I print that out and give it to ‘em.”
Related link:
