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It’s hard enough running a restaurant on a busy night. It’s even harder when your older brother is on the TV screen, coaching the Winona State University men’s basketball team toward victory in the NCAA Division II semifinal game.
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Bill Leaf, 42, owner of Bub's Brewing Co. in Winona, watches his older brother Mike Leaf coach the Winona State University basketball team in their Final Four tournament game on one of the seven televisions at the restaurant on Thursday. The first year his brother made it to the tournament and was on TV it was really exciting, but now he has just become used to it, Leaf said. (photo by Katie Derus/Winona Daily News) |
But Bill isn’t nervous.
“It’s just my brother coaching a basketball game,” said the youngest of eight kids, seven of whom are brothers.
Kept busy ushering excited fans to crowded tables, clearing plates and chatting with friends and his other brothers who watched the game at Bub’s, it’s a wonder how Bill had time to actually watch the game.
Bill hosted about 125 people for Thursday’s semifinal game, broadcast live from Springfield, Mass. — more than capacity at the Fourth Street eatery in the heart of downtown Winona.
Watching Mike Leaf and the Warriors is a family affair.
Most of the siblings attend home games loyally. Two siblings watched the game live at the MassMutual Center in Springfield.
Bob went to Massachusetts the past two years, while Bill ran the restaurant.
“I’d love to go,” Bill said.
But ask him where his favorite place to watch is, and he’ll tell you: right where he was standing.
Bill bought the restaurant from his brother and WSU head basketball coach Mike Leaf about 10 years ago.
“We like to have a good time (at Bub’s). That’s the best part,” he said.
When the Warriors played for the national title two years ago — and came home champions — Bill called Mike after every game.
“We were screaming and hollering that first year,” Bill said. “We let him know that everyone at Bub’s is backing him up 100 percent.”
Now, Bill is more relaxed as the Warriors fought neck and neck with the same team they beat in last year’s quarterfinals.
He held the same composure — eyes on the screen, arms crossed — from the rocky beginning through the tight, final minutes to solid victory.
Bob, on the other hand, gets more nervous before games.
“It’s more for Mike and the kids,” Bob said. “You hate to see your brother get this way.”
Bill and Bob shared how Mike’s future career in the sport was evident growing up.
Mike played on the Cotter High School basketball team and challenged local college students to pick-up games in the backyard, Bob said.
Family friend Rico Heintz was introduced to the Leaf brothers on the court years ago.
He said that “many spirited ball games” were played at the YMCA.
While Mike didn’t lead the team, “he had the intensity” that he shows today for his team.
Mike and all six brothers live in Winona, and their one sister, Mary, lives in Rochester.
While some left home for school, they all returned.
“When you grow up here, you get comfortable raising kids in a small-town environment,” Bob said.
“The brothers were a close-knit group,” Heintz said. “If there was one loaf of bread in the world and one of the Leafs had it, we’d all starve.”
Mike spends a lot of time recruiting and “finding the right chemistry” in his players, Bob added, which stems from coming from a big family.
On and off the court, Bob called Mike a winner.
“He never gives up and takes that on with the basketball team.”
Though his passion never wavers, it’s often hard to tell what Mike is thinking on the court.
After one play, Bill pointed at the screen and said “He’s nodding his head. What is he mad about?” Bill laughed, and continued, “I don’t know if he’s ever happy until the end when the outcome is in his favor.”
The outcome was decisively in Coach Leaf’s — and all Warrior fans’ — favor.
The Warriors finished strong over Bentley College in an 86-75 victory. The Warriors will play in the championship game at 1:30 p.m. Saturday against Augusta State University.
