Benutzer:ClaudiaBerkeley78

Dave Hopla - 'Belfast's' Shooting Star

When Dave Hopla stumbled on Belfast within the '80's being a struggling basketball pro who does have belief that 30 years later although return using the title from the 'best shooter from the world'.

In the 1980's Belfast wasn't the destination of choice for most foreigners searching for a sojourn. The troubles, associated bad press and climate didn't exactly appear to offer prospective visa applicants a nice-looking and safe oversea's experience or apprenticeship!

A lot of people who did come, were offered financial or another enticements and had to become reassured they would be safe and happy here. Those that used the task somewhat those who valued experience over financial reward, may have had family connections here and can 'think beyond your square'. Many reluctantly located Northern Ireland while using sole intention of putting some time in until an improved opportunity came their way.

As a possible avid sports fan and someone actively involved with basketball here during the 1980's I've come across many American basketball players arrived at temporarily ply their trade playing inside the National Leagues. Most included some trepidation but soon relaxed as locals offered hospitality and friendship far exceeding their expectations. Dave Hopla, was this import and what I prefer to call, quite literally, one of Belfast's 'Brightest Shooting Stars!'

While at high school basketball had become Dave's passion but his relative short stature (5' 10") cheap the point line wasn't introduced before 1980's meant he was under-rated and overlooked in the us. He previously decided at the tender ages of 16 that hard work and "charting" his progress in log books could be the key to his success. In 1981, if you do persuasion by St Galls Club he agreed to lower his sights for a while and are available to Belfast for the 5 month season. He was a young guy with great ambition and few responsibilities in those days and even though the standard of basketball wasn't perhaps first-rate, he loved the commitment, friendship and work ethic displayed by his new club mates. Soon Dave and Belfast were built with a 'mutual admiration society' going and he wound up staying for Several years! A very long time in different aspiring sports professionals life.

It absolutely was probably while throughout Belfast that Dave's career changed course and foundations were laid for his journey to learning to be a world-class 'shot doctor' and motivator. Dan Durkin, a fellow American and his coach at St Gall's identified early on that Dave a unique set of talents: he would have been a brilliant technical shooter, would be a bit of a show man and had not been merely a good communicator but were built with a natural 'gift in the gab'!! Nonetheless it wasn't until later after he retired as being a player in mostly minor leagues that Dave's career and true vocation as being a coach, mentor and motivational speaker started to flourish.

I became fortunate being the main Ulster Poly (now University of Ulster) women's basketball team which Dave opted for coach to supplement his meagre player wage from St Galls. Coaching us was a bit of a culture-shock to him. We simply took part in local leagues and several tournaments and our approach was a little bit more laissez-faire than he was applied to from the senior high school and college regimes in USA.

Looking back we might have been an ideal assignment for him to hone his communication and coaching skills. He adjusted for the challenge but nevertheless demanded commitment and standards from us at training and during matches. In the beginning, we had arrived somewhat giggly and awestruck by this blonde, blue-eyed, fast talking Adonis. He focussed on coaching much-needed basic skills but added an existence coaching aspect by regularly reminding us that through basketball we can easily develop more essential life skills. He an ability to entertain and teach by utilizing clever anagrams, humour, charm and showmanship to obtain his points across. A number of his catch phrases were: "Perfect Practice Makes Perfect!", "Good is the enemy of GREAT!", "You guys couldn't catch a cold in Alaska!" (A lower than subtle mention of our insufficient ball catching skill!) "Time matters simply to prisoners!" (Actually I'm still trying to figure that particular out?!)

Certainly one of his current motivational topics is S.U.C.C.E.S.S ( sacrifice, unselfishness, character, commitment, excellence & standards in someone). The personal trainer training can be a catchy mechanism allowing him to use his life experience stories to show how everyone can attain success in life. This method of delivery was crafted during some of the people early coaching sessions in Belfast. However get up on the free throw line effortlessly shooting/swishing the basketball again and again yet still time 'shooting the breeze' and philosophizing! Most of us watched and listened attentively though admittedly many people more admiring of his physique than his wisdom at that time. While none of us took to experience at the highest a higher level basketball most of us have gone to have successful, fulfilling lives and search back with fondness on days gone by with 'Coach Hopla'.

Belfast and Ireland made a lifelong impression on Dave's heart! He linked to the off beat a sense humour and was touched with the friendships he made within and outdoors of basketball circles. He's described Northern Irish people as "...the friendliest individuals the planet!" That affection is reciprocal while he returned recently to celebrate a reunion with his old club St Gall's a good crowd resulted in at Andersonstown Leisure Centre to find out Dave play again as well as enjoy one among his shooting/motivational presentations.

Now in his early 50's Dave is still pushing himself and improving! He has accumulated almost 60 log books, recording at length every shot he has ever taken!! He still consistently makes around 98% with the shots he takes while giving a motivational talk. He holds records for the most NBA 3 pointers in just a moment along with the most free throws in a minute. One of his most impressive personal records is 1234 successful free throws uninterruptedly. It may well look very easy to some but trust me that is certainly an amazing feat! He will continue to coach kids and NBA stars to shoot better and stay the most effective in daily life that they can be. Most importantly Dave seems happy and balanced as part of his own life which is still doing what he loves to do... spend more time with family, play basketball and teach.

Dave is just one illustration of an 'ordinary' individual that located Belfast, developed a connection and after that continued to get extremely successful. Naturally we can't take each of the credit however prefer to think he took away somewhat Belfast spirit which helped him on his way!!