I am absolutely at a loss for words. And anyone who knows me at all is well aware of what a rare occurrence that is. I find myself sitting at my computer trying to convey the essence of Jim Edward Veltman.
Jim & I have known each other ten years, sort of. I knew who he was the very first time I ever watched him play. I had actually heard of him ahead of time. The guy who runs funny and “runs” the floor- that was the way he was described. Well! I have since discovered that his disjointed sort of run is his way of being all over the place at the same time, or so it seems. And that “runs the floor”- absolutely! He is, by far, one of the smartest players in the game. And that is one of the main reasons he is still a contributing member on any team he plays on at the age of 42, which is really old in a sport that is hard on an athlete physically and mentally.
Over some excellent Chinese food, “Scoop” reflected on his amazing career and shared his thoughts on family, coaching, his jewellery and dog poop. I hope my words can do justice to my friend. And I hope I convey the essence of this man.
“For me, box lacrosse is my game. When I played field in 1998, I was guest in someone else’s game. This is my game and everyone else is a guest here.”
At eight years of age, Jimmy had a pretty good idea he might have a little skill with a lacrosse stick. A five year old, scoring four goals in a game his team won 8-7. Playing with kids two years older and being so short the coach lifted him on to the bench when he came off the floor. Jim’s recollections of his first games were of lots of action; a great place for an energetic kid to burn off the excess. And of a place for one of five in a very loving home to fight, not for affection but for attention. Soccer was definitely his Dutch father’s first choice and, by his own admission, he had some skill. But it didn’t feel the same.
The next game that really stood out was at the annual Orillia Mariposa Tournament. His team had ten goals in one game. Jimmy had nine with one assist. Some other guy had the other one with nine assists.
“Now I take what I can get”. We had a good laugh over that. He defines “skill” differently now.
Jim’s memories of the game are what he will take away from his playing career. He has twelve championship rings, which he never wears. He says it is because he doesn’t want to loose them. They are safely somewhere in his house. All but one that is. And that one he leant to his accountant’s father a few years back. He will get it back one of these days. The memories of that ring, from one of four Mann Cup championships, are what really matters. And those are as vivid as if the games happened yesterday.
2003 was a special year for him. “I was able to win all three championships available to me that year”.
The first was in May. The Rock had never even won a game in Rochester. And, as we both acknowledged is the absolute way of life, things happened exactly the way they were supposed to. On paper, the Knighthawks had the better team. But the NLL championship game is just that- one game. Anything can happen. The “wrong” game tape travelled with the boys. Instead of the Buffalo-Rochester semi-final, they ended up watching a 10-9 regular season loss in the Blue Cross Arena. They knew if they could minimize mistakes they had a chance.
And on that Saturday night in May, everything worked. Bob Watson was at his best. It almost seemed as if the Knighthawks wanted to decline the penalties. The Rock defence were scoring at will.
“I was lucky to be part of that night.” Jimmy came out of the corner with the ball, beat a much bigger Reggie Thorpe and then went one-on-one against Pat O’Toole, through the air.
The Rock have not won a game in Rochester since but…on that one night….
Jim’s next challenge was to captain the Canadian Nationals at the first ever World Indoor Lacrosse Championships- a team of superstars. The final was an emotionally charged one against an Iroquois National team that had given them all they could handle in the round robin. It was all out war- friend against friend, for national pride.
“I was determined. Winning is not just for yourself. It is for everyone around you”.
To play for your country is like nothing else was how he described it. That trophy was a first taste for guys like Tracey Kelusky and John Grant. It was an opportunity for him to play with one of his favourites, John Tavares, again.
And, as it turned out, it was also an opportunity for JT to talk him into playing for one more Mann Cup, this time for the Victoria Shamrocks. Jimmy and his family headed west and, on another team full of superstars, played against his brother who was on a team he won that same championship for.
The semi-final series against Coquitlam, the team where he started his major career, was likely tougher, both physically and emotionally. There was something akin to all out hatred.
“I don’t take the game to that level. I try to remember it’s a game. I understand the passion; just not the hatred.”
Jim’s first championships came in 1992. Digging the ball out of the corner in overtime, in front of a sold out Spectrum in Philadelphia, and passing it to none other than John Tavares.
“You just kind of knew something special would happen if you passed him the ball”.
And then late that summer, on what he describes as the “best team I ever played on”, the Brampton Excelsiors won the first of his four national senior championships. Playing both ways, he was on a line with his brother John, Troy Cordingley, John Tavares and Pat Coyle. Another Coyle, Brian Shanahan and both Kilgour brothers- pretty good was how he described that line-up.
That ring is likely his favourite, if he actually has one, for a whole lot of reasons. Special team for one. The first for another. But it erased a little of the disappointment of not winning in previous chances because of what he describes as a “vicious chop” that put him out and some decisions based on family.
Jim doesn’t hold on to that sort of stuff for very long. He readily admits he has made some mistakes; even some poor choices. But, he was quick to make clear, he learns the lesson available and then moves on.
The Mann Cup is his favourite trophy. A seven game war is how he describes it, as opposed to a “one game crap shoot where anything can happen”. He truly believes that you have to be the best to win four of seven.
Jim is well aware of how important each member of the team, not just the players, is in the success. Les Bartley taught him that. Each person has a unique and special part to play. And so, as important as personal achievement is, he has it in perspective.
All time loose ball leader, for now. We talked about when he passed the 2000 mark and he remembers the game in Calgary but not the actual play. They won that day. And that was far more important to him.
He was awarded the NLL MVP in 2004, the first time a player who had not won the scoring title had done so. He has trouble with that award. “Pretty big words for a team sport”. He wonders how you can be the “most” valuable, as he truly believes that without the other guys, how does one win anything. Seems to me that he has this award and every other honour afforded him over his career in proper perspective.
As this part of Jim’s lacrosse world comes to a close, he is reminded by many that he should have saved more “stuff”. The time he & Teresa spent in Africa put the “stuff” in perspective. His attachments are to the people he cares about and the memories that he attaches to his life. When I asked him about one thing he does have- his junior jersey from Brampton- he laughed. It is really held together by a prayer these days and he is afraid to wash it. Febreeze has saved the day. Left us both wondering where he might find it one day and the memories it will bring back.
When I asked him if he thinks he will be a good coach his response was immediate.
“I sure hope so. I am confident in my ability to do it. What I wonder is how does someone goes from being player to coach? What is the proper way to develop? That is my biggest concern right now. What are the proper steps because I want to bring some things to my team? I want to help the guys be confident and do the things that will make them better”.
And he has had some pretty good lessons on how to do just that. Les Bartley was more than his coach. He was his friend. Jim has described him as being like a brother. He had a way of making you feel important to the overall accomplishment of the team. He couldn’t even pinpoint what it was Les did. He had an interest in all of you; not just the team member. And it was never obvious. There was a caring beyond the floor that made players want to go to the wall for him.
I have had the pleasure of working with Jimmy as a manager for his summer team, the Ajax-Pickering Rock. And by my observations, he already knows how to do all of those things. I have a clear picture of him at our training camp making a point of introducing himself to every new guy and rookie. And the right way- a “Hi! How are you? Glad you are here. Welcome to our team.” Always with a handshake and a smile.
Jim’s family is the center that keeps him grounded. He wonders, at times, if he has made too many of what he calls selfish decisions for his career, at the expense of those he cares about the most. He is quick to point out that he has always felt supported. There have been a lot of “what ifs?” But he is happy with the choices he has made. And, watching him with Teresa, Kristopher and Sara, it sure looks like they are as well.
When I asked him about the fans, his tone changed. They are his other family, especially after ten years together in Toronto. The arena, especially on game day, is a place he describes as “being in my element”. It is the place where he feels most comfortable. He is allowed to be himself, just as he is with his family.
“I get the feeling that they (the fans) know me personally. They understand the emotions I go through- the elation from a victory or when someone scores their first. Or ‘cause they aren’t supposed to score. I get the sense that people watch me and they start to understand me.”
“There are fans you notice when they aren’t there. I connect with certain people and so the jog around after the game is so important, no matter what. I need to say thanks. My fear is that I will ever become one of those guys that takes them for granted. The relationship thing- it’s not ever something you should take for granted”.
We tried to talk about that last trip around but…too tough.
Any regrets?
“That’s a tough question. I guess everybody has regrets. The way I handled certain things. Tough decisions- the ‘what if’s?’ For me personally I was part of a lot of successful teams. What more could I want?”
“Is there anything I would like to do over? Maybe but I have moved on from any decision I made. I understand that some people have been disappointed in some of my decisions but I have explained the best I could and then it’s up to them to move on.”
I wanted to know if there was something that fans didn’t know about him that he might like to share. Pretty tough question, maybe even a little unfair but, in true Jim Veltman style…..
“I don’t hide things. I am pretty open. And I don’t much like it when people put me on a pedestal.”
We had a good laugh over that one because, early in my days of watching the game, I would get tongue tied trying to talk to him. He was just that good and still is.
“Some people think I am mistake free. I hurt people sometimes. I cheat some times. This holier-than-thou image isn’t me.”
“Like the fighting in a game. Some of my students have pointed this out to me. I know I am not supposed to but I explain to them that I am human and sometimes things are so emotionally charged that I need to.”
“Teresa and I have chosen to live our life a certain way. It is what makes us comfortable in our own skin. But we don’t judge. I think people think I judge them far more than I do. And if people need me, I will be there to support them.”
Integrity is a word my friends and I often use when describing this man. When one looks it up you see words like honesty, reliability, truthfulness and honour. And when I asked him what word or words he would like fans to use to describe his career that is the one he used. I think it is the perfect one.
“Sometimes I would just like to be the guy who can sneak into a lacrosse arena, sit at the top and just watch a game.”
For you my friend, I hope this wish comes true.
I suspect that last trip around the floor was as tough as Jimmy thought it might be. Ending something you know and understand and are comfortable with is always difficult. But it gave him one last chance to do something that was so very important to him. He acknowledged the love and support of his fans. And they gave it to him as never before. This was one of those memories that he will carry in his heart.
Jim Veltman will be the best coach he can, every minute of every game. He will do this as he played- giving his all on every play. The boys describe it as “balls to the wall”. Will he be a good coach? Yup. Will he be a great coach? I’d take those odds any day. Will he be the best ever? He doesn’t need to be. But I wouldn’t put it past this guy who was once described by one of his more amusing teammates as looking more like the water boy than the extraordinary athlete that he is.
And as for the dog poop, I have no idea how or why Jim and I got to talking about how he might have a little time now to get the dog his kids want. He just has a little problem with something. He asked me if I knew why dogs smiled so much; can’t say that I do. So he told me. He is pretty sure it’s because they have people trained to follow them around picking up their poop. Quite the guy is our “Scoop”.
