When Paul Coffey played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, he was not only one of the most talented defensemen in the NHL, but he was also single and good-looking. I had an opportunity to interview him after a game one time in one of the offices at the Civic Arena, and I was surprised that he brought teammate Mark Recchi along with him. I was somewhat uncomfortable with Recchi’s presence because I feel awkward if someone is listening to my interviews. But then I realized it was a wise thing for Coffey to do. Having Recchi in the room eliminated any possible question of inappropriate behavior, as women sometimes claim when they are in the presence of athletes.

Perhaps that wasn’t Coffey’s intent at all; maybe he and Recchi were simply going out after the game and Recchi was waiting for him. But it made me think that we should all be prudent and try to refrain from placing ourselves in potentially questionable situations. The Book of Proverbs contains much wisdom about how we should conduct ourselves, and all of us, especially today’s athletes, would be wise to follow it.

By Lois Thomson

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