Sergeant Slack: A story of redemption - Hardcover

by Michael Baldauf (Author)

Sergeant Slack has a chance meeting with Thomas Payne, the Washington Football Team Owner in a Dulles Airport Bar during a layover between flights that would change the course of his life. Slack is a retired decorated combat veteran and Marine Corp drill sergeant .Payne takes a seat next to Slack and strikes up a conversation with a question about what line of work was he in? Slack was at first annoyed by the question but answers that he is now a counselor working with young people who gone off the rails and helps them rebuild their lives. He then follows up with,"and you're owner of the Washington Football Team" which catchs Payne off guard. Payne is at first flattered and asks Slack if he follows the team. Sergeant Slack grimaces and replies, "I don't mean any disrepect but your team is built to lose. I don't have the time to spend watching them lose." Payne was astounded by the Sergeant's candor. He then asks, "Really? If you don't mind me asking, what would yo suggest that we do differently?" He is now in Slack's wheel house. He replies, "first, I would get rid of all the prima donas that care only about themselves. Second, I would condition the rest so that they have the strength and stamina to impose their will against their opponent and third and most importantly, I would instill in them a wiining attitude and will to fight until the closing whistle. They currently have the worst record in the league for scoring in the third and fourth quarter which tells me they have already given up all hope of winning. This response floors Payne. How can this retired Marine Drill Sergeant be so astute? He has in one statement identified the reasons for the teams habitul losing record. He makes an immediate decision that he must have this man on board to implement the changes necessary to make this happen. He makes a job offer on the spot which Slack really doesn't take seriously and declines. Payne doesn't relent. He states, "Sergeant, I'm dead serious. You'll have the title of assistant head coach and will have complete control of the team one day a week to work your magic while the head coach is watching game films of the previous game and is working on his game plan for the upcoming week and offers him a salary twice what he's making now. This get's Slack's attention. He decides to accept under the condition that either party can terminate it for any reason the first month. Payne now has his man! The season is now half over but Slack comes aboard and slowly builds the team into a winner. They have a successful draft in the offseason and win the League championshipt the following year. Payne makes an egregious error in judgement which leads Slack to accept an offer to join the Dallas Football team the following year. Slack gets the new season off to a great start with Dallas winning the first hald of the season. Unfortunately, he is led astray by the wife of the teams owner and falls prey to her deceit and physical charms. He is reduced to a mere mortal man and the team suffers defeat as a result. The team owner learns of his affair with his wife and is fired as a result. Slack goes into a deep alcohol fueled depression and is eventually saved by an Marine Corp buddy who takes Slack to a Rehab Center in Arizona to save him.Slack emerges as a changed man and weighs his options. He decides on a mission to help those who have lost their way and can't afford or don't know how to help themself. He randomly selects Aiken S.C. and relocates there to open his own rehabiltation center to help the needy and underserved get the help that they need. He opens a small three bed center in the poor side of town and hires a dedicated staff.

He is overwhelmed by the number of people who come forward seeking help. Despite the hard work and long hours, he is rejuvenated by his work saving the souls of so many lost people. His redemption is now complete.