James Goodman:lifetime athlete regarded as team leader

  • Published
  • By KEVIN BRUAW
  • 56th Force Support Squadron Fitness Center
LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  James Goodman, 56th Communications Squadron network infrastructure technician, loves sports. Since he was 6 years old, Goodman has been involved in any and all sports. From elementary school sports T-ball and pee-wee football to basketball, and football and track in high school. If sports were being played he was there. 

"I really like the whole camaraderie and everyone striving for a single goal," Goodman said. 

When Goodman joined the Air Force in 2003, he immediately became involved in the intramural sports programs, playing basketball, football and softball. 

Goodman is regarded by teammates as a great athlete and a great teammate. 

"As a teammate, he is a great leader and a very unselfish player," said Sean O'Hagan, one of Goodman's teammates. O'Hagan and Goodman both played softball and flag football on the combined 56th Force Support and 56th Communications Squadrons intramural team this year. 

"Goodman makes going to games fun," O'Hagan said. "He is someone who cares about winning but also does things the right way on the playing field." 

While Goodman enjoys playing all sports, football is by far his favorite to play. 

"Football encompasses everything about an athlete," Goodman said. "In football, you need strength, agility and skill to be the best." 

Goodman currently plays on the FSS/CS combined flag football team, which has a 5-2 record going into the final week of the regular season. 

"Goodman is an all around great athlete and does a lot on the football field to help his team get the win," said Brent Cornett, 56th FSS Fitness Center sports specialist. 

"Whether he is laying down a block or going deep downfield, Goodman always gives 100 percent on every play." 

Goodman admits that he is not the best athlete on the field, but his strength lies in his positive attitude and constant encouragement toward other players to have fun. 

"You can't take intramural sports too seriously," he said. 

Goodman's greatest military sports achievement came while he was deployed to the 64th Air Expeditionary Group, Eskan Village, Saudi Arabia. His team played a flag football game against the Office of the Program Manager - Saudi Arabian National Guard, United States Military Training Mission squadron. The 64th AEG team ended up destroying the OPM-Sang/USMTM team 21-0. 

O'Hagan said that while Goodman is a great athlete, he doesn't showboat on the playing field. 

"He goes about sports with great sportsmanship and leadership," O'Hagan said. 

Goodman is widely regarded as a great leader and teammate by his peers. Despite all of the accolades, Goodman knows that he is not always the best on the field, but continues to stay positive and work toward improving his athletic skills.