Bleachers Essay

In John Grisham’s novel Bleachers, Coach Eddie Rake exemplifies the qualities of a good man by helping the community, school, and his players. Rake supports his players by sharing his life lessons and pushing them to limits they did not believe they would ever see. He contributes his time and talents for many years at Messina High making it the school it has grown to be today. The Messina community manages to come closer than ever before thanks to Eddie Rake. Eddie Rake connects well with everyone in the Messina community because of his goodness and reaches out to many people. For example, Rake puts Messina on the map as soon as he starts working at Messina High as the head football coach. Coach Eddie Rake makes sure that all of the surrounding communities know about Messina. Eddie Rake extends a hand out to those children without fathers. Reverend Collis Suggs describes Rake’s goodness when he states, “ He organized fishing rodeos for kids with no fathers. Typically, he never sought recognition for any of this” (216). Finally, Rake gives his home and money to others that need it more. Coach Rake keeps his door open to all abandoned and abused children, and provides food, clothing, and sometimes tuition to those who cannot pay for it. Eddie Rake helps whoever, whenever, in the Messina community and is well-respected by everyone because of his generosity and goodness.
Messina High, as a part of the larger community, also benefits from the goodness of Coach Rake. Coach Eddie Rake helps the community when he pays for new band uniforms. Many people do not believe the booster club should give all of their donations to the football team, so Rake uses $20,000 and spends it on new band uniforms, showing his goodness. Reverend Suggs proclaims Rake’s good deeds as he says, “ Eddie Rake was the first white man who ever yelled at me and made me like it. Once I realized that he truly did not care the color of my skin, then I knew I would follow him anywhere. He hates