Through the years, I often reminded myself and the basketball teams I coached that we had to be aware of 'game slippage' and work to avoid it. The best way to explain 'game slippage' is that performance differential between practices and games. This differential is a reality, make no mistake; and it should be expected. Why? Consider the certainty that your game-opponent is putting a more talented five players on the floor to compete against than the second-best-five on your squad whom you go against each practice. Secondly, game slippage likely occurs because it is difficult to reach the level of game speed, intensity and atmosphere producing adrenaline in practice that teams face in games. If coaches and players stayed alert to this slippage-reality they have a chance to narrow that slippage gap.
My coaching approach to address game slippage began with three team practice demands: 1) Be on time, which suggests readiness and eagerness, 2) Pay attention with total focus and 3) Play as hard as you can or go home because this coach was not wasting time coaching effort or attitudes.
Many sport enthusiasts purport that sport prepares players for life. I don't think sport in and of its self can prepare the athlete for life but it is certainly one of several learning experiences that can prepare young people for challenges in life's journey. And 'life-slippage' is one challenge.
Life-slippage is realized near the end of one's journey when that individual takes inventory and has woulda-coulda-shoulda angst. The best way to avoid life-slippage is 1) hold no grudges, 2) share your journey's joys and sorrows, 3) embrace the generation on both sides of your tracks, 4) keep seeking to serve others, 5) when asking others, "How are you?", insist on details for it shows sincerity and compassion, which lifts another's feeling of worth, 6) Choose to live in 'hope' rather than 'fear,' and fianally, 7) stay engage with your talent(s) living gloriously in your blessings.
Remember, "Life 'is' a journey and 'not' a destination." Enjoy the moments!
Sunday, January 26, 2020
Thursday, January 23, 2020
We Can All Brighten the Corner
This week, my youngest daughter, Pam celebrated her 52nd birthday. Next month, her father blows out 81-candles...with help! Her older brother, Steve (58) didn't miss this chance to dig at the old man as he messaged, "Man, your Baby is 52, you're getting old." I messaged back agreeing with him but suggested getting older was better than the alternative, which prompted his next remark, "You don't know that." He's correct...but.......
I was 12-years old sitting in a tent revival meeting and heard the preacher talk about how everybody is born and blessed with 'talents,' which should be used to serve God's people as the Lord commands. At the time I wondered what my talents were and when would I discover them and will I know how to use them. The only other thing I remember about that revival sermon was a song sung that night called, "Brighten The Corner Where You Are."
Well, over time pursuing my sport playing passion and falling short of grandiose ideas of a professional baseball dream, a pattern had been developed and honed along that journey. The career vision unfolded as the teaching/coaching profession became the obvious choice. I was fortunate to be mentored along the way by outstanding individuals who imparted substantive coaching and teaching knowledge along with nuances suggesting service to others beyond the game and classroom.
My life's mission came into clarity as I embraced the notion that there is a need to lift man's spirit, call out goodness and in doing so establish standards of praise and recognition of excellence as it would motivate those who follow to likewise serve and do good. I'm not naive. Throughout my journey, I have been blessed with many open-door opportunities, which presented me with a stage, a format and leverage to accomplish good outcomes benefiting people.
At age 81, I am still blessed with those opportunities to lift and serve others. May I seize these moments as long as my Lord provides reasons for this journey.
(Touch)
Brighten Your Corner
I was 12-years old sitting in a tent revival meeting and heard the preacher talk about how everybody is born and blessed with 'talents,' which should be used to serve God's people as the Lord commands. At the time I wondered what my talents were and when would I discover them and will I know how to use them. The only other thing I remember about that revival sermon was a song sung that night called, "Brighten The Corner Where You Are."
Well, over time pursuing my sport playing passion and falling short of grandiose ideas of a professional baseball dream, a pattern had been developed and honed along that journey. The career vision unfolded as the teaching/coaching profession became the obvious choice. I was fortunate to be mentored along the way by outstanding individuals who imparted substantive coaching and teaching knowledge along with nuances suggesting service to others beyond the game and classroom.
My life's mission came into clarity as I embraced the notion that there is a need to lift man's spirit, call out goodness and in doing so establish standards of praise and recognition of excellence as it would motivate those who follow to likewise serve and do good. I'm not naive. Throughout my journey, I have been blessed with many open-door opportunities, which presented me with a stage, a format and leverage to accomplish good outcomes benefiting people.
At age 81, I am still blessed with those opportunities to lift and serve others. May I seize these moments as long as my Lord provides reasons for this journey.
(Touch)
Brighten Your Corner
Wednesday, January 22, 2020
A Family False Alarm
My wife and I are blessed with three adult children. Steve was born in 1961, Dawn made her debut in 1965 and our youngest, Pamela began her journey in 1968 on January 22nd. Let me take you back to that winter fifty-two years ago.
After benefiting from outstanding Mason City high school basketball talent from 1964-to-1967, I parlayed a three-year coaching record of 62-14 to secure the Washington Community high school basketball position. I've always maintained that the Mason City opportunity was my biggest break in coaching but I digress from my birth story.
Steve had been born in East St. Louis before my first coaching-teaching job in Assumption, Illinois. Dawn was delivered by Mason City physician, Jack Means at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Illinois. Doc Means had the complete trust of my wife, Gerry so I was not surprised that she insisted she keep Doctor Means as her doctor who would see her through and deliver our third child even though we were moving to Washington, which was 50-miles away from Lincoln Hospital. We would ignore the convenience of major Peoria hospitals seven miles from Washington; even with a sure Mid-winter delivery date.
The 1967-68, Washington basketball season was up and down but the anticipation of our child's birth was cast in stone; we had a game plan. Gerry's mother would be with us before the 'due' date and stay as long as needed to assist the coach's wife. The due date arrived and within a few days, Gerry had contractions. Contraction on a cold winter night with her husband sitting on a coaching bench in Normal, Illinois some fifty miles from Washington. As soon as the game ended, I called my wife and she told me, "Get home as soon as you can, I think I'm having contractions." I opted not travel on the team bus back to Washington but have my scorekeeper, Ed Usnik drive me to Washington where I'd get Gerry and head to Lincoln. Meanwhile, Gerry telephoned Doc Means to meet us at Lincoln Hospital.
When Usnik pulled into my driveway, he said, "Get Gerry and I'll keep the car warm." Good hearted Ed wanted to drive us and I was not going to tell him no. We arrived at the hospital and nurses immediately took Gerry to an examining room. Within a short period of time Doctor Means sauntered into the waiting room to give the Coach an update. The good Doc said, "Coach, Gerry's having false contractions, I'm afraid." In the moment, I couldn't tell who was most disappointed, Doc, Ed or me.
As Doctor Means looked puzzled at Mr Usnik, I quickly introduced the two: "Doctor Means, this is my scorekeeper, Ed Usnik." Means and Usnik shook hands then Means turned to me and said, "Mel, you're only going to have one baby, you don't need a scorekeeper."
A disappointing night! Long drives on a winter night, a basketball loss and no Baby. Nineteen days later, Bingo...A healthy baby begins her journey. Happy birthday, 'Ditto.'
After benefiting from outstanding Mason City high school basketball talent from 1964-to-1967, I parlayed a three-year coaching record of 62-14 to secure the Washington Community high school basketball position. I've always maintained that the Mason City opportunity was my biggest break in coaching but I digress from my birth story.
Steve had been born in East St. Louis before my first coaching-teaching job in Assumption, Illinois. Dawn was delivered by Mason City physician, Jack Means at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital in Lincoln, Illinois. Doc Means had the complete trust of my wife, Gerry so I was not surprised that she insisted she keep Doctor Means as her doctor who would see her through and deliver our third child even though we were moving to Washington, which was 50-miles away from Lincoln Hospital. We would ignore the convenience of major Peoria hospitals seven miles from Washington; even with a sure Mid-winter delivery date.
The 1967-68, Washington basketball season was up and down but the anticipation of our child's birth was cast in stone; we had a game plan. Gerry's mother would be with us before the 'due' date and stay as long as needed to assist the coach's wife. The due date arrived and within a few days, Gerry had contractions. Contraction on a cold winter night with her husband sitting on a coaching bench in Normal, Illinois some fifty miles from Washington. As soon as the game ended, I called my wife and she told me, "Get home as soon as you can, I think I'm having contractions." I opted not travel on the team bus back to Washington but have my scorekeeper, Ed Usnik drive me to Washington where I'd get Gerry and head to Lincoln. Meanwhile, Gerry telephoned Doc Means to meet us at Lincoln Hospital.
When Usnik pulled into my driveway, he said, "Get Gerry and I'll keep the car warm." Good hearted Ed wanted to drive us and I was not going to tell him no. We arrived at the hospital and nurses immediately took Gerry to an examining room. Within a short period of time Doctor Means sauntered into the waiting room to give the Coach an update. The good Doc said, "Coach, Gerry's having false contractions, I'm afraid." In the moment, I couldn't tell who was most disappointed, Doc, Ed or me.
As Doctor Means looked puzzled at Mr Usnik, I quickly introduced the two: "Doctor Means, this is my scorekeeper, Ed Usnik." Means and Usnik shook hands then Means turned to me and said, "Mel, you're only going to have one baby, you don't need a scorekeeper."
A disappointing night! Long drives on a winter night, a basketball loss and no Baby. Nineteen days later, Bingo...A healthy baby begins her journey. Happy birthday, 'Ditto.'
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
Early Success
A few years ago, one of my younger grandchildren was doing a school project and asked me what was the earliest success I could remember. The answer came immediately...'potty-trained.' I actually recall becoming potty trained because of my mother's training technique. She made a game out of the process.
I recall her offering me a a Coke bottle to 'pee' into when she believed I was likely ready for that bodily function. As I reflect on this I'm inclined to believe it had a positive subliminal impact on the development of my competitive spirit. You know, hitting a target and receiving praise much like making a basket or tracking a hitting a baseball. All these years I've given my Dad credit for encouraging my competitiveness and perhaps it was Mom in the beginning.
Once I began filling that Coke bottle, Mother insisted I use the toilet and I'm glad. You see, she could have opted for a larger bottle, i.e., milk bottle. That could have had a real down side. Understand to this day I cannot bring myself to drink Coke.
I recall her offering me a a Coke bottle to 'pee' into when she believed I was likely ready for that bodily function. As I reflect on this I'm inclined to believe it had a positive subliminal impact on the development of my competitive spirit. You know, hitting a target and receiving praise much like making a basket or tracking a hitting a baseball. All these years I've given my Dad credit for encouraging my competitiveness and perhaps it was Mom in the beginning.
Once I began filling that Coke bottle, Mother insisted I use the toilet and I'm glad. You see, she could have opted for a larger bottle, i.e., milk bottle. That could have had a real down side. Understand to this day I cannot bring myself to drink Coke.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
More Ain't Better
There is no doubt that Americans have become more intolerant and impatient. We don't like to wait in lines and we want our waiter to bring our food now. We complain if the movie is too long and many sports fans have ideas to speed up their favorite game be it football, basketball or baseball. I cannot imagine today's college students using the University library's card-catalog system to locate materials, research and write a term paper. The academic instant Internet google search has spoiled us all.
Well, if you want to speed up athletic contests, consider the following: In baseball let's make the home plate umpire to stop squeezing the strike zone to favor hitters. Enforce the rule-book zone.
In football allow one huddle per four downs. In basketball give the team who is fouled the choice of shooting free throws or taking the ball out of bounds as the game clock continues to run.
Okay, now that we've solved the length of sport contests, lets propose we do something about these 'windy' pulpit preachers...their sermons are too long. Process and consider the following Pew Research Center findings: The major Christianity branches in America differ in sermon length. The Roman Catholic sermons on the average last 14-minutes while black Protestant sermons are four-times longer...that's right about 54-minutes. White Protestant preachers will bloviate for some 27-minutes.
(Personal observation: I've attended many black churches over the years and I believe I can add a couple of footnotes regarding white and black protestants: The black congregation is better dressed but the white folks start on time.)
I've done my share of speech-giving around the country over the years and I believe you can talk or preach as as long as you can keep the audiences attention, however I'm reminded that a good speech (sermon) possesses a good beginning and a good ending with little time between the two.
I vote for a Church Service with songs well know by the congregation accompanied by a softly played organ or piano followed by an 18-minute sermon. I can't be sittin' in that Pew longer that 55-total minutes...I have a prostate the size of Nebraska.
How long do you think a sermon should be?
(Touch)Dont Let The Devil Ride
Well, if you want to speed up athletic contests, consider the following: In baseball let's make the home plate umpire to stop squeezing the strike zone to favor hitters. Enforce the rule-book zone.
In football allow one huddle per four downs. In basketball give the team who is fouled the choice of shooting free throws or taking the ball out of bounds as the game clock continues to run.
Okay, now that we've solved the length of sport contests, lets propose we do something about these 'windy' pulpit preachers...their sermons are too long. Process and consider the following Pew Research Center findings: The major Christianity branches in America differ in sermon length. The Roman Catholic sermons on the average last 14-minutes while black Protestant sermons are four-times longer...that's right about 54-minutes. White Protestant preachers will bloviate for some 27-minutes.
(Personal observation: I've attended many black churches over the years and I believe I can add a couple of footnotes regarding white and black protestants: The black congregation is better dressed but the white folks start on time.)
I've done my share of speech-giving around the country over the years and I believe you can talk or preach as as long as you can keep the audiences attention, however I'm reminded that a good speech (sermon) possesses a good beginning and a good ending with little time between the two.
I vote for a Church Service with songs well know by the congregation accompanied by a softly played organ or piano followed by an 18-minute sermon. I can't be sittin' in that Pew longer that 55-total minutes...I have a prostate the size of Nebraska.
How long do you think a sermon should be?
(Touch)Dont Let The Devil Ride
Friday, January 17, 2020
The Emptiness from The Cheat
Acting dishonestly or unfairly to gain an advantage is a trait of man's fabric due to man's passionate desire for personal acclaim and/or monetary gain; thus man's propensity for cheating. Although, we know people circumvent rules and cheat daily, we seem to relish is the celebrity scandalous cheating, which grabs public attention.
Actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were caught in cheating plots either bribing or falsifying academic records to get their daughters into prestigious colleges. Huffman admitted guilt while Loughlin pleads innocent to charges. The 2017, World Series Baseball Champs, Houston Astros now have an asterisk aside that title due to proven 'sign-stealing' cameras, which gave clues to their batters on pitching deliveries. Of course, baseball cheating has a long history dating back to the infamous 1919-Black Sox Scandal to Pete Rose's betting on games and the notorious steroid era, which saw long-standing home tun records falling like autumn leaves.
Baseball is not the only sport with cheating blemishes. The Boston College basketball point-shaving in 1978-79, the football Patriots' Spygate and Deflate cheating, the Olympic and cyclist doping and least we forget the NBA referee, Tim Donaghy who bet on games he officiated, 'How 'bout that sports' fans?'
Well, yours truly is not exempt from that sport cheat history. They say confession is good for the soul...perhaps but realization of wrong and hurt in-that-moment was a lesson never forgotten. A young Coach Roustio in a hotly contested prep basketball game called a late game time out on the heels of one of his players being fouled. The player fouled was perhaps a 60% free throw shooter. Therefore, during the time out, I told a higher percentage shooter to, "Go to the free throw line instead of his teammate." It worked out. The shooter made the free throws and we won. However, when I walked into what I thought would be a celebratory locker room, the players' mood spoke volumes. In that moment, I realized I'd lost my players' respect. Before they departed that night, I apologized to the individual I denied a chance to shoot and I apologized to our team.
Grantland Rice was right, "It's not if you win or lose but how you play the games."
Actresses Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin were caught in cheating plots either bribing or falsifying academic records to get their daughters into prestigious colleges. Huffman admitted guilt while Loughlin pleads innocent to charges. The 2017, World Series Baseball Champs, Houston Astros now have an asterisk aside that title due to proven 'sign-stealing' cameras, which gave clues to their batters on pitching deliveries. Of course, baseball cheating has a long history dating back to the infamous 1919-Black Sox Scandal to Pete Rose's betting on games and the notorious steroid era, which saw long-standing home tun records falling like autumn leaves.
Baseball is not the only sport with cheating blemishes. The Boston College basketball point-shaving in 1978-79, the football Patriots' Spygate and Deflate cheating, the Olympic and cyclist doping and least we forget the NBA referee, Tim Donaghy who bet on games he officiated, 'How 'bout that sports' fans?'
Well, yours truly is not exempt from that sport cheat history. They say confession is good for the soul...perhaps but realization of wrong and hurt in-that-moment was a lesson never forgotten. A young Coach Roustio in a hotly contested prep basketball game called a late game time out on the heels of one of his players being fouled. The player fouled was perhaps a 60% free throw shooter. Therefore, during the time out, I told a higher percentage shooter to, "Go to the free throw line instead of his teammate." It worked out. The shooter made the free throws and we won. However, when I walked into what I thought would be a celebratory locker room, the players' mood spoke volumes. In that moment, I realized I'd lost my players' respect. Before they departed that night, I apologized to the individual I denied a chance to shoot and I apologized to our team.
Grantland Rice was right, "It's not if you win or lose but how you play the games."
Thursday, January 16, 2020
Smart Enough to Think for Self?
Definition of ' pragmatic:' Dealing with things sensibly and realistically in a way that is based on practical rather than theoretical considerations.
It is a shrewd political strategy to hammer away with a particular emotionally-charged message, which overwhelms and motivates the voting public. On a personal note: I loved and adored my mother who was my greatest gift. That said, she was nevertheless a classic example of individuals who easily become fixated on one repeated 'cry' and therefore gravitate to single-issue voting. Now, in fairness I offer two reasons for these single-issue voters: 1) The single-issue voter's passion for 'the issue' can be all consuming or 2) by adopting a single-issue the voter need not examine multiple issues, which requires in-depth research and investigation; it's tiring! Single-issue voting makes the decision-making process easy and expedient with little thinking.
I bring this subject before blog readers because we have witnessed the massive movement of far-right Christian conservatives who have embraced the matter of abortion and made it their 'single-issue upon which to vote. So be it. However, I reject the single-issue voting mentality unconvinced of its intellectual soundness.
A few voting 'issues' to consider...I offer the following: abortion, climate change, education, infrastructure, crime, health care, terrorism, immigration reform, prison reform, mental illness, gun control, medical research, military funding, Food & Drug monitoring and minimum wage. Certainly, one could easily preach relentlessly at one of these aforementioned issues and embrace that 'ONE' single issue to determine their vote even though other issues are obviously of great importance for the good of society. I maintain that the 'single-issue' voting approach is weak-minded and detrimental to a democracy. For goodness sakes our democracy and freedoms are more convoluted and complex than 'turning' on a single issue!
This writer will continue to look at the broad spectrum of issues facing our peoples and do my best to examine pros and cons for each resolve and determine my vote on several issues not just one. My hope is that our societal culture gets my best effort even though I ultimately have but one vote to cast. I am not super smart but I am smart enough to fear the words of false messagegers when I can trust my own examination and investigation into multiple issues.
It is a shrewd political strategy to hammer away with a particular emotionally-charged message, which overwhelms and motivates the voting public. On a personal note: I loved and adored my mother who was my greatest gift. That said, she was nevertheless a classic example of individuals who easily become fixated on one repeated 'cry' and therefore gravitate to single-issue voting. Now, in fairness I offer two reasons for these single-issue voters: 1) The single-issue voter's passion for 'the issue' can be all consuming or 2) by adopting a single-issue the voter need not examine multiple issues, which requires in-depth research and investigation; it's tiring! Single-issue voting makes the decision-making process easy and expedient with little thinking.
I bring this subject before blog readers because we have witnessed the massive movement of far-right Christian conservatives who have embraced the matter of abortion and made it their 'single-issue upon which to vote. So be it. However, I reject the single-issue voting mentality unconvinced of its intellectual soundness.
A few voting 'issues' to consider...I offer the following: abortion, climate change, education, infrastructure, crime, health care, terrorism, immigration reform, prison reform, mental illness, gun control, medical research, military funding, Food & Drug monitoring and minimum wage. Certainly, one could easily preach relentlessly at one of these aforementioned issues and embrace that 'ONE' single issue to determine their vote even though other issues are obviously of great importance for the good of society. I maintain that the 'single-issue' voting approach is weak-minded and detrimental to a democracy. For goodness sakes our democracy and freedoms are more convoluted and complex than 'turning' on a single issue!
This writer will continue to look at the broad spectrum of issues facing our peoples and do my best to examine pros and cons for each resolve and determine my vote on several issues not just one. My hope is that our societal culture gets my best effort even though I ultimately have but one vote to cast. I am not super smart but I am smart enough to fear the words of false messagegers when I can trust my own examination and investigation into multiple issues.
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