Two Words: Basketball Withdraw

Normally this time of year, I am polishing my offense and working out details for the upcoming basketball season. This year, I'm unable to coach because of my internship which culminates my college experience. I love working with the players and seeing them develop from the start of the year to the end. I like a good hard practice focusing on fundamentals of defensive basketball combined with a couple of new elements that players can learn and take away. Most of my drills are ones I've learned from college coaches and altered to suit my players. In three years, my teams have been among the best prepared and consistently at the top for free throw percentage, which is one of the most basic fundamental skills to me. I like the match ups against other coaches, whether it's substitutions or their offense versus my defense, etc. I'll be attending some games but it's just not the same thing. The hours of preparation and practice leading to to game success or failure are what I'll miss the most. That translation from teaching to doing is about the best part of being a coach. Hopfully, I'll have the chance to coach and teach the game next season.

Two National Anthems and the Power of Music

I had a debate with a professor last week about which anthem was better, O' Canada or the Star Spangled Banner. I like the Star Spangled Banner and all, but there's just something about O' Canada, particularly before a playoff hockey game. It's a simplistic and beautiful song which hasn't been embellished unlike our own anthem has at times. This made me think about the power of music and those great bar stool debates when you tout your favorite band and trash your friend's band. I still remember Don McLean's "American Pie" playing at my prom in 1989 and everyone singing along. Two years ago when I was coaching basketball, my daughter (who is an assistant coach) and I listened to Tom Petty's "Runnin Down a Dream" on the way to the gym, during our season ending tournament. The dream came true and that group of boys won the championship. It's been twenty years now since I saw my favorite band, The Rolling Stones, in concert for the first time and I still remember the set list, lighting, and Mick Jagger's green leather tuxedo jacket as vividly as it happened yesterday. There may never be a bitter fit for a person and a song as coach Bob Knight and Frank Sinatra's "My Way". I even play a little guitar, though not very well. Great music is also timeless. Beethoven resonates today like when he created the music. Listen to Bob Dylan's "Masters of War". The lyrics are as true as when he wrote it in 1965. There's a genre for everyone and it bridges generations. I can still spend hours in a store looking through different things. I keep a fairly hefty wish list. I hope you do too. Until next week, keep learning!