Herm Edwards on Tiger: Something Worth Thinking About

I told myself that I wasn't going to comment on the Tiger Woods "scandal" (if that's what you want to call it) but something was brought to my attention today that I had to make a post about. Over the past few weeks ever since this story broke loose there have been many different people commenting on the issue and talking about what they think Tiger needs to do. I think I have probably heard the best advice of all today coming from Herm Edwards. The advice he gave is good for Tiger but also for anyone who might have their priorities out of whack to the point where it is messing up their career or their life in general. He brought up some points that I haven't heard anyone else talking about and that I think are really worth considering. Here is the video:

Solving a Procrastination Problem

From Coach Brown's Blog. Especially being a college student procrastination is something I deal with on a day to day basis. Here are a few pointers on figure out how to overcome it.

What is procrastination and why do we do it?
Procrastination is self-doubt
Procrastination is self-punishment
Procrastination is escapism, self-made
Most of all, procrastination is a habit.
Putting things off can be incredibly seductive.
Procrastination is one common result of conflicting needs.

Temporary advantages of procrastination:
Satisfies the need to escape (like any addiction)
Maintains the status quo—avoid new responsibilities
Reduces time on unpleasant projects
Lets us retain a sense of control

How do we stop? 1.) Take Care of Yourself
Self-critical people suffer a basic syndrome: poor concentration, erratic work performance, procrastination.
Can’t complete a difficult project if you’re physically and mentally exhausted.
Keep fit; improve lifestyle.

2.) Develop a Different State of Mind
Learn to accept change and risk
Believe you can and will change

3.) Break a Bad Habit With a Good Habit
Change requires action
You’ve got to act different to be different
Insight and understanding change nothing
Put out rather than put off.

We Must be Teachable

From the chapter "Teachability Expands Your Talent" of John Maxwell's book "Talent Is Never Enough."

If you are a highly talented person, you may have a tough time with teachability. Why? Because talented people often think they know it all. And that makes it difficult for them to continually expand their talent. Teachability is not so much about competence and mental capacity as it about attitude. It is the desire to listen, learn and apply. It is the hunger to discover and grow. It is the willingness to learn, unlearn and relearn. I love the Hall of Fame basketball coach John Wooden states it: "It's what you learn after you know it all that counts."

One of the paradoxes of life is that the things that initially make you successful are rarely the things that keep you successful. You have to remain open to new ideas and be willing to learn new skills. J. Konrad Hole advises:

If you cannot be teachable, having talent won't help you.

If you cannot be flexible, having a goal won't help you.

If you cannot be grateful, having abundance won't help you.

If you cannot be mentorable, having a future won't help you.

If you cannot be durable, having a plan won't help you.

If you cannot be reachable, having success won't help you.

This may sound strange, but don't let your talent get in the way of your success. Remain teachable.

Great Minds of Other Coaches

It has been quite some time since my last post. I have been busy with school and ball and just haven't made the time to get on here. I have however still been looking at coach Starkey and coach Brown's blogs just about every day. Here are some links to some of there most recent posts that I really enjoyed. To see these two coaches full blogs go to: www.hoopthoughts.blogspot.com or www.hoopboost.blogspot.com for coach Starkey and www.ucfwbbthoughts.blogspot.com for coach Brown.

Coach Brown:

http://ucfwbbthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/10/who-we-are-knights-basketball.html

http://ucfwbbthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/10/michael-jordan-10-rules-for-maximizing.html

http://ucfwbbthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/09/mental-management-goal-setting-system.html

http://ucfwbbthoughts.blogspot.com/2009/09/essential-wooden-10-team-tips.html

Coach Starkey:

http://hoopboost.blogspot.com/2009/10/6-rs-of-respected-team-leaders.html

http://hoopboost.blogspot.com/2009/10/wooden-suggestions-for-all-team-members.html

http://hoopboost.blogspot.com/2009/09/great-ones-study-game.html

http://hoopboost.blogspot.com/2009/09/its-about-process.html

http://hoopboost.blogspot.com/2009/09/preparation-and-courage.html

http://hoopboost.blogspot.com/2009/08/hall-of-famer-that-succeeded-while.html

Kiffin Praises Hardesty's Work Ethic

Tennessee head coach Lane Kiffin said after practice Wednesday that Thursday would be an important practice for players coming off injuries as the Vols prepare for their first home Southeastern Conference game against Auburn at Neyland Stadium.

Saturday's kickoff is at 7:45 p.m. Eastern Time and will be broadcast on ESPN.

As has been the case in recent weeks, Kiffin addressed team injuries following practice.

"Chris Walker wasn't able to do much today, and neither was (Montario) Hardesty," Kiffin said. "Other than that, we're starting to get some guys back today. (Herman) Lathers was out there all day today, and Wes Brown did some stuff in practice, which was good. Tomorrow will be a big day for a lot of guys who either haven't been practicing or have only been practicing half days."

Kiffin said Hardesty had his knee drained earlier in the week, adding he did not want to rush Hardesty back to full contact too early.

Hardesty is coming off his second-career 100-yard rushing game, running for 120 yards against Ohio. He leads the SEC in rushing with 121.25 yards per game, and last week, he passed the 1,500-yard rushing mark for his career.

"I just told him that when he came out and did run throughs - which is a fast version of walk throughs at the end of practice - I was worried that he was going too fast on his knee," Kiffin said. "But that's the mentality you want. If you're around the sport long enough, you are going to find some players who are looking for a way out, trying to get out of practice by making their injuries look worse and just getting to game day."

"He's the exact opposite, which is why he's a leader on this team. He embodies exactly how we want to be as a team."

Hardesty, a senior and team captain, has done more than just run up the yardage this season. He has also scored a touchdown in each of the Vols' four games. Kiffin was pleased with the performance of the passing game in practice. "It was a good practice for the most part today," Kiffin said. "I thought Jonathan (Crompton) threw the ball really well, and the receivers had a good day." From www.utsports.com

Deaf athletes hurdle barriers, achieve goals in college sports

By Robert Klemko, USA TODAY

TOWSON, Md. — In a Towson Universityfootball team meeting room filled with more than 60 players and a dozen coaches, linebacker Ryan Bonheyo makes a sign for the word "slow," then points at the whole bunch.

Everybody laughs; Bonheyo just grins.

His coaches say he has to toughen up, which doesn't make him different from any other wide-eyed freshman player. Except that Bonheyo was born deaf.

Last year, 76 deaf and hard-of-hearing students played NCAAand NAIA sports, according to Deaf Digest Magazine, and 39 played in Division I. That does not account for those who do not wish to be identified. Those figures have steadily risen since the 1973 Rehabilitation Act mandated interpreters for deaf and hard-of-hearing students at universities and provided against discrimination based on disability.

For players such as Bonheyo, the challenge is to compete at the highest level on an inherently unlevel playing field. It's a journey that began this fall for Ryan and continues for Emily Cressy, a soccer player at Kansas, and Purdue's Felicia Schroeder, who helped the U.S. women's soccer team win a gold medal Monday in the Deaflympics in Taiwan.

For some, the allure of competition trumps the fear of disappointment. "This is the biggest challenge of my life," Bonheyo says. "I know I can do it. "

To read the rest of the article about all 3 players go to: CLICK HERE

How can failures make you a Hall of Famer?

Had to steal this post from Coach Starkey. It is about one of my favorite baseball players, Tony Gwynn.

From "Failing Forward" by John Maxwell:

On August 6, 1999, a major-league baseball player stepped up tot he home plate in Montreal and made another out -- the 5,113th of his professional career. That's a lot of trips to the batter's box without a hit! If a player made all those out consecutively, and he averaged four at bats per game, he would play eight seasons (1,278 games straight) without ever reaching base.

Was the player discouraged that night? No. Did he think he had failed himself or his team? No. You see, earlier in the same game, in his first plate appearance, that player had reached a milestone that only twenty-one other people in the history of baseball have every achieved. He had made his 3,000 hit. That player was Tony Gwynn of the San Diego Padres.

During that game, Tony got on base with hits four times in five tries. But that's not the norm for him. Usually he fails to get a hit two times out of every three attempts. Those results may not sound very encouraging, but if you know baseball, you recognize that Tony's ability to succeed consistently only one time in three tries has made him the greatest hitter of his generation. And Tony recognizes that to get his hits, he has to make a lot of outs.

One of the greatest problems people have with failure is that they are too quick to judge isolated situations in their lives and label them as failures. Instead, they need to keep the bigger picture in mind.

"The difference between greatness and mediocrity is often how an individual views a mistake."

-Nelson Boswell

Learning from Winners

“To succeed, you absolutely need to gain more knowledge in your selected field. How do you go about doing that? One of the most fruitful ways is from the living lessons role models provide. It is easy to become a winner if you’re simply willing to learn from those who have been winners themselves. Find out who has the most success at what they do. Watch their technique. Observe their methods. Study their behavior.” -Mike Shanahan

Success and Failure: Both used as tools for teaching

Saw another post on Coach Starkey's blog that I really enjoyed. It is from Chris Widener at Success.com. It is about both Failure and Success. I have also added some quotes at the end of this post.

Most people think that failure is bad and success is good. I want to help you change your thinking about that if you fall into that category. I will give you that failure isn’t fun and success is, but I think the following is true:

Both failure and success are good... if you know what their specific purposes are.Of course we know that success is good, but why? Success is good because it confirms things for us.

Success confirms our plans.

Success confirms our decisions.
Success confirms our resources.
Success confirms our strategies.
Success confirms our hunches.
Success confirms our teamwork.
Success confirms our risks.
Success confirms a lot of things!

So when you are successful, ask yourself the following question: What does this success confirm in my mind?

Now, what about failure? What is the role of failure and how in the world can it be GOOD?

Failure’s role is to teach us. We learn from failure.

Failure teaches us that we need to change our plans.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our decisions.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our resources.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our strategies.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our hunches.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our teamwork.
Failure teaches us that we need to change our risks.
Failure teaches us that we need to change a lot of things!

But at least now we know one more thing that won’t work! With every failure, we learn one more way we can abandon and focus in on what may be the correct way in the future! When we look at it that way, we set ourselves up for a powerfully successful future! So when you fail, ask yourself this question: What does this failure teach me? Remember, Success and Failure are both good. They can both be your friend... if you know what role they are to play in your life.

Learn From Failure and Confirm with Success.

"The biggest mistake and athlete can make is to be afraid of making one." -L. Ron Hubbard (author)

"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part; the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle." -Baron Pierre de Coubertin (founder of the modern Olympic movement)

"Experience is the name we give our mistakes." -Fred Shero (Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers)

"Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you respond to it." -Lou Holtz

Clyde Drexler talks about practice.

An Artcile from today's "USA Today."

Clyde Drexler doesn’t argue what is the greatest sports team in history.

Why should he?

He played on it.

In 1992, Drexler and his Olympic basketball teammates would be known as the “Dream Team.”

The gold medal and total dominance was assured by a lineup that also included Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Patrick Ewing, David Robinson, Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Chris Mullin and Christian Laettner. (Photo by John Smierciak, AP)

“Untouched and unscathed,” said Drexler about the team that was inducted into the U.S. Olympics Hall of Fame presented by Allstate on Wednesday. “The only real problem we had was practice. We felt if we survived practice the game would be a cake walk. We just came out and did our job.”

The team was coached by Chuck Daly who won two NBA titles with Detroit.

“He was the perfect personality to coach that team,” Drexler said. “We used to call him the Godfather. Nothing you did bothered Chuck Daly. He just wanted you to show up for practice and give it everything you had.”

The team finished 8-0 and averaged 117 points a game and only Croatia came within 30 points of them.
“I’m probably more impressed now,” Drexler said. “As you have a chance to see how kind history has been to the Dream Team. It was special because of the level of performance and us becoming the standard bearer for all future Olympic teams

Best receiver you haven't heard of: Houston's Andre Johnson

Great Article in today's "USA Today" about Houston Texans receiver Andre Johnson. Written by Gary Mihoces

HOUSTON — Andre Johnson, who had more catches for more yards than anybody in the NFL last season, shuns sideshows and showboating. That is something 10-year-old Brant Walker admires about his football hero.

"I haven't ever seen him jump into the stands or do anything like that. He just gives the ball to the ref," says the youngster, who got to meet Johnson recently at the Houston Texans' camp after making the 635-mile drive here from Plainview, Texas, with his mom.

Johnson also is not inclined to engage in verbal sparring on the field or in the media.

"I've been here going on seven years now. You've never seen me talking any trash. That's not part of my game," he says.

But surely, as a star wide receiver in the NFL, he must do some give-me-the-ball lobbying?

"He doesn't have to say it because that's who we're looking for anyway," says Texans quarterback Matt Schaub.

"I'm always in tune with where he is and who is covering him and what defenses are doing. We're always trying to get him the ball."

Houston selected the 6-3, 228-pound Johnson No. 3 overall in the 2003 draft out of the University of Miami, where he also was a Big East sprint champion in track.

He had 1,000-yard receiving seasons in 2004 and 2006. In 2007, he missed seven games with a knee injury and slipped to 851 yards.

Last season, it all came together with 115 receptions for 1,575 yards and eight touchdowns. Of his receptions, 79 produced first downs, also No. 1 in the league.

The message he draws from last season is to stay grounded.

"Just as you can be one of the top guys in the league, you could easily be one of the bottom guys. So I don't take that for granted," he says.

"I want people to keep saying that Andre Johnson goes out and plays the game right. And he plays as one of the top guys in the league. I'm going to continue to carry myself that way on the field and work hard as I can every time I come out here and not take it for granted because you never know."

Johnson's goal this season is to help the young Houston franchise to its first playoff berth after consecutive 8-8 seasons.

"He's been the constant, and he has stayed the course," says Texans coach Gary Kubiak. "A lot of guys could get frustrated, but he's committed to this team and this organization taking the next step. … He's as good a worker as I've ever been around, and I've been around some good ones, Jerry Rice, Rod Smith, those guys. And believe me this guy is as good a worker as I've ever seen."

While Johnson worked last week in camp, his 10-year-old fan got to watch his every move from the sideline.

Before coming here, Walker had written a letter to Kubiak and Texans' president Jamey Rootes detailing his admiration for Johnson and saying he would be visiting camp.

When Walker and his mother, Linda Gail Walker, arrived to sit in the stands, they were contacted by phone by a member of Rootes' staff and given passes to watch from the field.

Johnson was told about their visit. He spent time with the youngster on the field.

"I've got your letter. I'll stay in touch," Johnson told Walker after they posed for photos.

Johnson says the experience was a reminder to him that young fans watch how he conducts himself.

"It definitely keeps me on my Ps & Qs," says Johnson. " … I can appreciate him following me and looking up to me as his role model."

ESPN's Carry On

The Importance of Having a Team

In case you are not a reader of Coach Bob Starkey's blog this was his post from yesterday.

If you have followed Coach Don Meyer the past year, he has not doubt been a great inspiration to us all. But it is important to understand that as he navigates through the adversity that even in pain he is trying to teach us coaches. It is what he does best -- help us to do our jobs better.

That's why one message he was sending us over and over resonated with me very strongly -- give thanks we have a team. If you watched any of his interviews, the part that was most emotional for Coach Meyer was talking about having a team to coach -- to teach -- to mold.
During a video of his story showed during the ESPYs, the poignant moment of the night was when his daughter Brittany spoke of the first communicative message from Coach after the car accident. Unable to speak, he grabbed a pen and pad and wrote, "How long before I can coach?" In other words, "when can I rejoin my team!"

Not too long ago I had career opportunity that would have kept me in athletics but took me away from coaching. As I do before making a big decision, I have a small circle of influence that I ask for advice and guidance which by the way always includes Coach Meyer. At the top of that list is my junior high coach and mentor, Allen Osborne. Allen listened to me explain everything and then told me to pass on it and stay in coaching. I asked him why and he responded, "You will miss the feeling of being part of a team. You will miss shaping a team. There is something special about a team." His words carried a lot of weight because a few years before, after long and successful career, Allen had retired. It lasted on year. He need a team again.

To me the best part of being a coach is practice. It's what I enjoy the most. It's where I think I have the most influence on our "team." The way we conduct practices at LSU, in my opinion, not only makes them better players but better people. When asked what he misses most about coaching, John Wooden simply said, "Practice. The smell of the gym. The sound of sneakers squeaking."

This really hit home even more last night when I was reading "Champion," a magazine published by the NCAA. Don Ketchum wrote an article in this summer's edition on Bruce Snyder. Coach Snyder was an outstanding football coach that died last spring after a courageous 10-month battle with cancer.

Here's a little from Ketchum's article:

Snyder's cancer was discovered in June 2008, and he began his long difficult fight at medical facilities in Phoenix and at his home. Late in 2008, Snyder was invited by Texas coach Mack Brown to visit practice for the Fiesta Bowl. Snyder described the experience on http://www.caringbridge.org/:

"I was treated first class," he wrote. "Golf cart, access to the entire field, introduction to Coach Brown's staff individually and was able to watch the entire practice."

"At one point, I closed my eyes and took in the feeling of being at practice. There was the smell of cut grass, the voices of coaches on the run yelling instructions, the sound of the horn to alert players and coaches to switch drills and the sounds of pads -- it took me back to the days that I cherish."

"And at the end of practice, Coach Brown introduced me to his team and asked if I would say a few words. What an honor. I love talking to a team. It wasn't my team, but it was a football team."

Sometimes we take things for granted -- like we in fact do have a team...our team! Sure, we have our share of adversity and obstacles but that's life -- and we still have our team!

It also reminds of something that I heard Kelvin Sampson speak about three springs ago at a coaching clinic. He said his program would look each year for a retired coach to adopt because of the enormous hole in your soul when you get out of coaching. They would invite the coach to practices. Ask him for input. Have him address their team. Take him on a road trip. What an amazing idea. Mack Brown gave Coach Snyder a wonderful gift by making him a part of the Longhorn football program for an afternoon.

So today, let's be thankful that we have a team...a team to practice...a team to coach. And let's think about those who no longer do and make them a part of our team!

If you have the time, please copy and paste and email this to every coach you know. It's really an important message for all coaches to understand.

Coach Brown's Keys Thoughts For Success

I recently read a post from coach Greg Brown (the woman's basketball coach at the University of Central Florida) and saw something that I really liked. From what I can tell he wrote it himself, but I could be wrong. The post is entitled "Key Thoughts For Success."

1. There is no happiness when what you believe is not what you are. It's impossible for people to heed your advice and ignore your example.
2. You have to study the game. When two coaches are together and one is talking and one is listening, you know the one listening is the better coach.
3. Each week evaluate your players in manners, courage and language.
4. Do you have servant goals or selfish ones?
5. Build your own army wherever you are. You can't do this by taking from people, you must give. Daily acts of kindness build an army.
6. You are the sum total of your experiences.
7. Don't make decisions because they are convenient, inexpensive or popular. Make them because they are right.
8. Have the mentality of, "Count on me."
9. It's better to be content with a little rather than discontent with a lot.
10. Take nothing for granted.

Chapter 8: The Courage of Your Convictions

I know it has taken me way too long to finally finish my posts from Cal Ripken Jr.'s book "Get in the Game," but here are the Ripken Principles from the 8th and final chapter.

1. When criticized, take it with a grain of salt. People are entitled to their opinions.


2. Stubbornness can be a positive trait in helping you persevere through some tough times. It can help you overcome injuries, and it can aid you in dealing with unfair criticism.


3. When the chips are down, a good manager knows he can always count on his best people to be present.


4. When you're a little bit sick or injured, the answer is not to take time off. The answer is to keep going.


5. You can insulate yourself from physical injury by playing all out.


6. By going all out all the time, you are likely to attract the attention of your managers and teammates. That will, in turn, make you more valuable to the organization.


7. When you believe in something and you think it's right, you have to be strong enough to have the courage to stand up for it.


8. Do not let the enormity of the moment take you outside of what you know you are capable of doing.

Coach Don Meyer at the ESPY's

In case you missed it here is Coach Don Meyer receiving the Jimmy V Award at this year's ESPY Awards.

Don't Reward The Small Things

This past Christmas I got the book "No Limits" by Michael Phelps(with Alan Abrahamson). Finally, after 7 months, I have picked it up an begun to read it. I have already found a small passage that I really enjoyed. Here is the excerpt:

"We got home from Federal Way on a school day. My mom, who was at work, had put a large banner saying, 'Congratulations,' on the lawn and had trimmed it in red, white, and blue. Bob, who had brought me back to house, took down the entire display. When she got home, Mom was furious. Bob was unmoved. It was a matter, Bob said, of tempering expectations. Best to keep everything in perspective. Bob asked my mom, 'What are you going to do when he wins nationals? He got third. If he wins, are you going to but him a car? If he sets a world record, what, a house? You can't get excited about every step. There are so many steps. We're on, like, step 200 of 3,000. How are we going to keep going?'"

I think I really enjoyed this excerpt because that is the way that I grew up. When I was in elementary school I saw that many of my friends got an allowance. They explained to me that their parents let them have an allowance so that they could learn to manage money at a young age. I thought this to be a great concept so I decided to take this idea to my dad. His response was a simple, flat out NO. He went on to explain that he didn't think I should get paid for doing something I should be doing in the first place(like my chores). This is the same reason me and my brothers never got any money for good grades on our report cards like some kids did. He told us we were suppose to make good grades and again, shouldn't be rewarded for something we are suppose to do. I think this concept is lost in the world today. As Michael Phelps mother did, people want to give rewards for every small step. By doing this it keeps kids from really being pushed to new levels. If they receive a reward for every little thing that they do then what will be there to make them strive for the next level of success. They already got a reward for something so why press on? On the other hand when you do not reward every step you push them to new limits. They know and understand that rewards are only given for doing something truly great or for reaching a serious goal. By doing this it shows people that you already knew they were good enough to accomplish the small things. Therefore you didn't reward them for something that they should be doing or should have been able to do. A good lesson that I think needs to be spread around more in the world of athletics today. It pushed people to the next level and lets them tap into their full potential as an athlete and as a person.

Holdsclaw's New Purpose

Great article in The New York Times by Mike Tierney about Chamique Holdsclaw's new outlook on basketball and on life.

ATLANTA — Chamique Holdsclaw was once an A-list sports celebrity, a big shot with a big shot. The high-scoring Holdsclaw passed the first-name-only recognition test.

These days, many missives on her Facebook page are not so much about hoops as about hope. ’Mique’s Tweets, her Twitter posts, sometimes veer from playing ball and toward her personal ball and chain.

Clinical depression kept her out of the W.N.B.A. for nearly two full seasons, and even led to an overdose of antidepressants. In a strange way, it has brought her back to the league.

With her illness in check and her game in tow, Holdsclaw ended her hiatus this year, driven to show others afflicted by depression that it is beatable.

“It’s not about me anymore,” she said. “I’ve always been a player who just played. I have to use my voice a little more now, give back to young people dealing with the problems I’ve had.”

Read the rest of the article at: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/11/sports/basketball/11holdsclaw.html?_r=1&em

Kids Say The Darndest Things

I was doing some work for a friend of mine the other day and heard a young man say something that I thought was just great.

As we were working that afternoon out in the field my friends nephew came out to see what we were doing. This young boy is about 9 or 10 years old. I hadn't seen him in a long while and he came up to greet me. I noticed that he had a full leg brace on one of his legs and asked him what happened. He told me that he had fractured his knee cap. Immediately I was thinking about how painful that would be. I myself have never broken a bone(knock on wood), but I can't imagine what a fractured knee cap would feel like. Anyway, I went on to ask him how this injury of his had come about and he told me that it happened playing baseball. I joked with him about how at least he had a good sports injury story to tell the girls and he just laughed. Then he went on to tell me that it happened while sliding into home. Before I could say another word he said, "Well hey, at least I scored," and if I remember correctly he scored the winning run for his team. I loved his response. Here is a 9 or 10 year old kid that wanted to win. He had gotten hurt in the process and who knows maybe cried(I probably would have... it's a fractured knee cap) but looking back on his injury he was at least able to say that he layed it all on the line to help his team win. I think this is something that is truly lacking in little league sports today. The kids have no desire to win and no hatred for losing. Which is what I believe to be some basic yet vitally important lessons to be learned in little league. I just thought I would share this story with you. I enjoyed my conversation with the young man and he let me know that there is still that will and desire out there.

Pain is temporary. It may last a minute, or an hour, or a day, or a year, but eventually it will subside and something else will take its place. If I quit, however, it lasts forever.

-Lance Armstrong

"Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something."

I had to steal another post from Coach Starkey. It is something that i myself need to put into action more often for sure.

"Obsession is a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated."

-Unknown

Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something.

I learned from author and consultant Art Turock that we need to make a distinction between being interested and being committed. When you are “interested” in doing something, you only do it when it’s convenient, but when you are “committed,” you follow through no matter what—no excuses!

Many people are interested rather than committed. They talk about trying to do something, rather than actually doing it. They make lots of noise, but fail to follow up. An interested exerciser wakes up in the morning to rain and says, “I think I’ll exercise tomorrow.” A committed exerciser wakes up to the rain and says, “I better exercise inside.”

When a person is committed to doing something, he or she will find ways to suppress rationalization. Even when it is inconvenient, such a person will keep his or her commitment. Persistence in life is characterized by this mental and behavioral toughness.

-Ken Blanchard (From his book "The Heart of a Leader")

Burnt Out

Guys ask me, 'Don't I get burned out?' How can you get burned out doing something you love? I ask you, have you ever got tired of kissing a pretty girl.
Tommy Lasorda

"The Power of One"

Another video I stole from ESPN's E:60. They always seem to have inspirational stories of perseverance that I simply can't pass up. This is about the courage of an amazing 8 year old boy. A must see.

Chapter 7: Life Management

1. In order to play in every game, you have to take good care of yourself year-round.


2. As you get older, adjust your exercise and maintenance programs to handle the inevitable aging process.


3. There is a direct connection between physical fitness and mental strength.


4. The secret of everything you do is between your ears.


5. If you try to separate the professional and personal aspects of your life, then you have to ask yourself which is more important. In the grand scheme of things, it's all important.


6. The organization you work for has a lot to do with your ability to achieve a balance between the personal and the professional sides of life.


7. Helping out in your community will come back to you in ways that you never expected.


8. It's whats you choose to do in life, and how you choose to live, that really make you happy. Your job should be a vehicle for your life, not your entire life.

"Walk On"

An amazing video. It is a little longer than the ones I usually post but well worth every second. Please watch it. I believe it was a video from E:60 entitled "Walk On."

"It is possible to lose, and yet, not be beaten."

Great video that I saw on ESPN last night. How sports and losing can help people push through hard times. Amazing story.

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom."

Great post on Coach Bob Starkey's blog entitled: Perservering: Falling Hard, Bouncing High. An excert from “Think Like A Champion,” by Mike Shanahan.

"Success is how high you bounce when you hit bottom." -General George Patton

Chapter 6: Trusting Relationships

1. It doesn't matter how many of your techniques you share with the other guy. Hr still has to apply them.


2. When you display kindness and decency to your teammates, it will be returned.


3. Good-natured fun is important in building relationships and strong bonds.


4. If you speak to your teammates regularly, misunderstandings will be cut to a minimum, and that promotes stability on the team.


5. There's a wealth of information you can glean from members of the competition. In order to gain access to it, however, you have to build relationships.


6. Don't sit back and wonder what your future is going to be. Open dialogue. Help the manager manage you.


7. Money isn't everything. Living where you want to live, being part of a great organization, and maintaining long term friendships are the most important elements of personal happiness.


8. Find a way to take the high road and play the hand you're dealt.

Don't Quit

Bryce Harper Update

I wanted to keep you updated on the post a made a week or so ago on Bryce Harper, the 16-year-old baseball phenom. Found a recent article about him in the Las Vegas Review Journal and looks as if he will be enrolling into a Junior College this fall so that we will be eligible for the draft next year. Here is the article:

Harper ready to give college try

16-year-old Las Vegas High baseball prodigy registers at CSN, plans to attain GED to speed draft eligibility

Bryce Harper, the baseball phenom from Las Vegas High School, has no future in high school. An extraordinary player is ready to make an unusual move.

Harper, a 16-year-old who just completed his sophomore year, has registered at the College of Southern Nevada, where he plans to attend classes in August and play for the Coyotes next season.

His father, Ron Harper, announced the decision Saturday while in Oklahoma City for a baseball tournament.

"Bryce is always looking for his next challenge," Ron Harper said. "He's going to pursue his education, too. He's going to get pushed academically and athletically.

"I don't see a problem with it. I think we've handled it the right way. I think it will be a great story."

Bryce Harper gained national acclaim by appearing on the June 8 cover of Sports Illustrated as "Baseball's Chosen One." The story hinted at his plans to enroll in junior college to prepare for his professional career.

Harper, a 6-foot-3-inch catcher, hit .626 with 14 home runs and 55 RBIs for the Wildcats this season. He also had 36 stolen bases.

With his combination of power and speed, Harper is projected to be the top pick in the major league draft when he's eligible. That should be next June.

Ron Harper said his son, who turns 17 on Oct. 16, will be draft eligible "in 2010 or 2011. ... There are a lot of rules that people don't know about."

Bryce Harper and his mother, Sheri, recently went to CSN and signed enrollment forms and his letter of intent to play baseball. Harper is aiming to earn his GED test credentials in the fall.

Read the rest of the article at: lvrj.com

Chapter 5: Anticipation

1. All situations aren't equal. Treat every person, every opportunity, and every deal as a separate and distance entity. A cookie-cutter approach is simply ineffective.


2. When you feel some sort of pending danger, don't be afraid to send a message if you think it's appropriate.


3. It's possible to win every game, but it just isn't very realistic to think you'll go undefeated.


4. Even if you're zero for ten in the morning, the law of averages can make your afternoon great.


5. The best way to move forward is with a positive frame of mind.


6. Define your own success. Plan for the end at the beginning. But remember, you can't play tomorrow's game until it gets here.


7. Even though you execute in the short term, you can, with out a great deal of effort, prepare for the future.


8. A desire to work every day, coupled with a willingness to do whatever is needed, can open up doors that you would, otherwise, never expect to walk through.

‘The Greatest’: What a Concept (by: Alan Schwarz)

Roger Federer wins his 14th grand slam title, and is all but crowned the greatest tennis player in history. Stephen Strasburg is drafted by the Washington Nationals as the greatest pitching prospect baseball scouts have ever seen. Another title for Phil Jackson of the Los Angeles Lakers could make him greatest basketball coach of all time, and Tiger Woods prepares for this week’s United States Open hoping to reassert his status as the greatest golfer ever.

Along with Michael Phelps’ eight gold medals and another Super Bowl ring for the Pittsburgh Steelers, this has been one of sports’ greatest stretches for “greatest” buffs, whose greatest obsession is to argue about who is, you know, really good. All this “best” business is enough to make one forget how futile the arguing truly is.

One of the allures of competitive sport is its conclusiveness: the scoreboard says who won, who lost, go home. It’s when each of these daily pixels is considered part of a larger picture that things get far more fuzzy. And loud.

In a sports world teeming with numbers, no statistic is sufficient. No argument is irrefutable. Debates over the “greatest” athletes become Escher staircases of rhetoric.

Read the rest of the article at: nytimes.com

Meet the Bowdens

On July 14th there will be a one day event where you can go and meet all four Bowden coaches. The "First Family of College Football," as they are sometimes called, will be hosting various events throughout the day starting at 7:00 a.m. and ending at 8:30 p.m. They will be held at the Marriot Shoals Conference Center and at Flowers Hall in beautiful Florence, Alabama. For more information visit http://www.una.edu/pressroom/detail.php?id=90&date=2009-06-12. Space is limited and tickets are sold on a first come first serve basis.

"The little guy has big guts...He's not afraid of anything."

I am 5-foot-5. This is relevant for one reason: On Wednesday, I stood next to Danny Herrera. He is 1 inch taller than I. And he is a good relief pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds.

"I'm 5-6," Herrera said. "My first year of professional ball, I listed myself as 5-8, but they had me at 5-8, 145 pounds. That made me feel like I was some frail guy, which I'm not. I weigh 165, 170 pounds. I used to lie about my height, but I don't do that anymore. I am 5-foot-6."

Herrera is the shortest major league pitcher -- according to listings, which aren't always accurate -- since 5-6 Bobby Shantz, who retired after the 1964 season with 119 victories and an American League Most Valuable Player award in 1952. Herrera, 24, is no Shantz, but as a left-handed specialist, he has a 1.96 ERA with 18 strikeouts in 23 innings.

"The first time I saw him was last year during the week of the Kentucky Derby, and we figured he would have to leave the team that Saturday to go ride one of the horses," said Nationals outfielder Adam Dunn, who was Herrera's teammate last season in Cincinnati. "I've never faced him. But I haven't faced anyone his size since I was 11 or 12 years old."

Herrera has heard it all and seen it all.

"The best one was last year," he said. "I was at [Triple-A] Louisville. One of our catchers, Albert Colina, who is a really big guy, picked me up and put me in his lap as he sat in the bullpen. Then he stuck his arm inside my jacket, and up my back. He wouldn't let me go. I thought, 'What is he doing?' Then, whenever I would talk, he would move his lips. Everyone was cracking up. He was the ventriloquist, and I was puppet. That was the best one."

One of the great beauties of baseball is that the players come in all shapes and sizes more than in any other major sport. Even pitchers. Longtime player and manager Sparky Anderson once said, "There's nothing better than a big pitcher," but the game has had its share of short or small pitchers, including, among others, Clark Griffith, Shantz, Whitey Ford, Ron Guidry, John Franco, Billy Wagner, Mike Hampton, Tim Hudson, Tim Lincecum and Pedro Martinez. In his first year of pro ball, Martinez weighed 138 pounds and threw 93 mph. Legend has it that Steve Dalkowski, who never played in the major leagues, was the hardest thrower ever. He was 5-9.

Read the rest of Tim Kurkjian's article at: espn/mlb

Hating to Lose

When you lose, you get that sick feeling in your stomach. Then it turns to anger and the anger gets you to work harder and gets you to show some real pride. Darn it all, there’s nothing in this world as bad as losing. -Joe Paterno

Joe Paterno says it best right here in this quote. If you know me at all then you know that I am a very competitive person. I absolutely hate to lose. It doesn't matter if it's baseball or checkers, I just can't stand to lose. There is no doubt that I love to win. I mean I really love to win, but my hatred for losing is so much greater. In my opinion that is how that you have to be if you want to be the most successful. It feels great to win, but wins just last for that day and then you have to get back to work getting ready for the next game. Losing, on the other hand, that sticks with you. It leaves a bad taste in your mouth and is something that will eat at you until the next game and sometimes maybe longer. You constantly wonder what or how you could have done things differently to get a better result. If you don't have a hatred for losing then your not going to be willing to fix your mistakes. So yes, it is wonderful to love to win, but when it comes down to it, if we really want to be successful, we must hate the taste of losing so much worse.

Chapter 4: Preparation

1. The ability to perform consistently with excellence is a result of both physical and mental preparation.


2. Interact with people from whom you might be bale to glean an advantage. Gain access to key, up-to-date, and reliable information.


3. Proper preparation helps to create a better game plan. It increases your chance of success and decreases the risk that somehting will go wrong.


4. If it's always somebody else's fault, you end up never solving your problems. But if you focus on your own performance, rather than blaming outside forces or other people for your failures, you have a chance to get better.


5. If you take care of all the little things, you never have on big thing to worry about.


6. The more ways you find to contribute to the team, the more valuable you will be to the manager.


7. Keep your destiny in your own hands as much as possible.


8. Before every game, ask yourself, "What can I do to help is win this particular day?"