Superstitions

Superstitions

Back in the day I played a lot of golf, I feel that this plays a large part in how superstitious I am when it comes to sports today. Now I'm not the kind of guy who wont wash anything while on a winning streak, but I do repeat behaviors while seeing success in sports. During flag football intermurals I wore the same shirt all season (because we didn't lose until the playoffs) I did wash it weekly. During basketball season while I'm coaching if my team wins one game in a gym i will fight to stay on that side of the court (for my bench) for the next game.

Here is how out of control my superstitions have become as of late. In Leavenworth we were playing great and here is a list of my superstitions for that tournament (and continued into next weekend):

• Stand at the top of the key during warm ups
• Wear my track jacket until warm ups is over and then not again until the second half
• Crack open a monster at the tip off
• Chew gum in the second half
• Sit at the end of the bench

This is how out of control my superstitions have become, it's borderline OCD. But if we continue to win I will continue to do it. I don't feel anxiety if I don't do these things, maybe its just the little things i feel i can control!?

Moral of the Story:

“The root of all superstition is that men observe when a thing hits, but not when it misses.” - Francis Bacon

Your Defense is Offensive

Hello all, I am back after a Mid-term week long hiatus.

Your Defense is Offensive

Anyone who is a fan of watching the sport of basketball has to have a serious problem with what the NBA has grown into. In the first play of this video Kevin Durant beats his man while three others stand and watch him go straight to the rim, one guy does throw a weak attempt at blocking the shot. In the second play all four players from the heat stand around and watch as Blake Griffin puts on a show. Three guys were within arms length of Griffin but were too lazy to even jump up and contest the dunk. In the third play one (poor) guy gets back in transition defense as his team mates watch him take part in the embarrassing side of a poster-dunk. In the Fourth play it's the same thing, one guy gets beat and it's straight to the rim for a weakly contested poster dunk. In the fifth and final play Derek Rose runs the length of the court and gets an ally-oop dunk in front of two piston defenders.

Now I know, it's a highlight tape of dunks and it's not always like that right?! WRONG! The NBA has become to basketball what the WWF is to wrestling, in my opinion it's a joke. Now watch this video and tell me the difference (minus the tackling), because from a basketball fan standpoint I don't see one:



Offense wins games, defense wins championships:
As a North Carolina fan, this is painful for me to say but I actually do love watching Duke (when they're good) because of how fundamentally sound they are. They play TEAM defense, something lost in the NBA. If the ball is on the opposite side of the court you very rarely see a Duke player not in the help position. If you google "Top Defensive plays" for the NBA you get 10 plays, 8 swats and 2 steals that end in a dunk. The NBA is officially all about the swat, the dunk and the theatrics. Yet we wonder why kids don't understand if you stay on your feet with your arms straight up they wont call you for a foul but the moment you leave your feet to get that "dikembe mutombo" swat your going to get called for the body.

Moral of the Story:

"Coming together is a beginning; keeping together is progress; working together is success" - Henry Ford

Black Mamba Vs. King James

M.V.P.
 

   most valuable player: "the player judged to be the most important to the team or sport."

King James as most of you know was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers, the record of the team the year they drafted him was a shocking 17-65, his rookie season he averaged 20 points per game while Kobe only averaged 11, Kobe was drafted to an already playoff ready team with several all-stars around him. Lebron had one all-star for one year around him during his whole career at Cleveland, yet he took the team (single handily) to the NBA finals and an NBA best regular season record. Now here is the rub (and why I don't care for the NBA) Laker fans will jump on here and say "the regular season doesn't matter"

First to Worst

The fact of the matter is (in my opinion) if Kobe Bryant were to leave the Lakers they would still make the playoffs. If Lebron left the Cavaliers (oh wait he did) they would be the worst team in the NBA (oh wait they are...). For the first time in NBA History a team went from the best team (judging by regular season record) to the worst team in the NBA in the span of just one season, that isn't because of bad luck, it isn't because they are struggling. It's because the best player in the NBA left because he got tired of carrying a city on his back with no one offering to help.

Most would say that Kobe is a better team player that's why his team is better, to those i would say Lebron averages more assists. Lakers fans would say Kobe is better because he has more rings, to those i would say Lebron will end his career with more now that he is on a good team.

Team

The Lakers are an amazing dynasty, i truly believe the most important person within the Laker organization is Phil Jackson, NOT Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant, Paooooo (or however you spell it) Gasol, Andrew Bynum... etc. Are all a product of the system, the Triangle Offense should be considered one of the wonders of the world and having Dr. Phil running the show is what has brought LA so much success.

Moral of the Story

“When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality.” - Joe Paterno