“When my grandfather was a journalist for the Detroit Tigers, he dressed the part. I mention it always to our local media: sport coat, tie, very professional and a nice cap on his head. And they also developed very close friendships with the players and staff traveling.”

Filipino-American basketball coach

Erik Spoelstra is a Filipino-American basketball coach. He is the head coach of the Miami Heat of the National Basketball Association and also coaches the U.S. national team. Known as Spo, he has become one of the most prominent coaches of his era. Spoelstra has won three NBA championships with the Heat, including two as head coach. He is noted for his long tenure in Miami and, after 2025, for being the longest-serving active head coach with one team in the NBA and across the four major North American sports leagues.