10 FAVORITE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT HOOPS

1.) Sense of Comfort - The sense of comfort you get when you enter an empty gym. It's a familiar comfort... kind of like your favorite pair of shoes. Maybe it's knowing this is where you earned your stripes through a lot of sweat and hard work.

2.) The Challenge of Being In the Moment - all "real" players love the challenge to walk out onto the big stage and deliver - especially in big games. The nervousness of performing in front of the crowd quickly diminishes and the crowd becomes nothing more than a blur of noise disappearing into the background. It's being in the moment - there's nothing else like it!

3.) The Locker Room - Our locker room is sacred place... it's the "war room" where none are welcome except those who have earned the right to be there. It's where common bonds and shared goals are created.

4.) New Team Shirts - Getting a new team shirt at the start of each new season symbolizes new beginnings and new challenges. You know a lot of blood, sweat and tears will be poured out to live up to the challenge we place on that shirt.

5.) The Swish Sound - Making the net "whisper" is probably my favorite sound from November through March. Practicing in a quiet gym while making that sound is music to my ears.

6.) New Kicks - Does this even need an explanation??? Everyone loves a new pair of basketball shoes. The feel and smell of new shoes is pretty cool.

7.) Running Out of the Locker Room - The thrill of running through the doors to some heart pounding jams and knowing you are about to meet a roaring crowd... the anticipation alone is an adrenaline rush.

8.) The Game Ball - Every game ball is different, I used to ask the ref before the jump ball to let me feel it before we started. For some reason touching that ball made me comfortable and confident.

9.) The Intimidation Factor - Gotta love the "all business" approach we take the moment we arrive at an opponents gym. I love the way we look, walk and carry ourselves when we enter the gym that causes our opponents and fans to stop and stare.

10.) Bus Trips - The relaxed craziness of talking about the game on the way home, or about the player that played dirty or maybe passing the pizza's back and forth on the bus, etc. There's a sense of family on those trips.

(Thanks Danny)