ARE CHRISTIAN ATHLETES DIFFERENT?

What if... somebody, unknown to you, had secretly placed a hidden camera & microphone on your clothing and recorded everything you did and every word you said for a 24 hour period...

Then, smiliar to American Idol, showed the recording on television and allowed viewers to text in their votes to determine whether or not you display Christian character. What do think the majority vote would be?

I got asked a question today that got me thinking about the impression & message we as Christians send out to the rest of the world through our daily actions. The question was… “Can Christians curse (or cuss)?"

Sure we can. Christians can swear. Christians can lie. Christians can steal. Christians can cheat. Christians can do or say pretty much whatever we want. We're still free-willed beings. We're still human. And some do. I have. Does that mean we should? No, of course not.

Athletes are typically ultra-competitive and tend to push themselves harder both physically and mentally than non-athletes and because of that, the slightest mistake in a game can often elicit a burst of self-anger, frustration and sometimes the occasional “$#!%@!&!” Uh oh, is it the end of the world? Of course not. Should we just shrug it off as if it doesn't matter. No.

Recognizing that it was an unintentional "oops!” moment and making a conscious effort to avoid repeating it is what we, as Christians, should do. Scripture is full of verses telling believers to maintain clean mouths and to watch what comes out of our mouths. Are there occasional slip-ups? Sure. However, even the unintentional slip, no matter how accidental, sends out an impression that represents our Christian character (representing Christ) to those around us.

We should give serious thought to the “ways and appearances of the world” and whether we as Christians, should seek to try and blend into that world… or as Christians, realize that we have been chosen and set apart and we should be a light unto that world.

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SPACE JAM RETRO

The Air Jordan 11 “Space Jam” Retro will officially hit retailers on November 27th, 2009. This is one of the most popular and sought after shoes of the Jordan Signature series and I expect they will release it for only a brief period. Get ‘em while you can…. If you can afford the $175 price tag! OUCH!!!

WHY SHOT SELECTION IS IMPORTANT

A bad shot is the first pass for your opponent’s fast break.

A bad shot should be thought of as any shot that is rushed, contested, off-balance or outside of your range. Against weaker teams, it may not be that big of a deal, but you won't beat many good teams by taking a lot of bad shots.

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ARE YOU USING ALL OF IT?

If a player has talent and fails to use it, she has failed. If she has talent and uses only half of it, she has partially failed. If she has talent and somehow learns to use all of it, she has succeeded beyond measure and experienced a satisfaction few ever know.

(thanks Thomas Wolfe)

LEBRON SOLDIER III

Team Lebron dropped a handful of new colorways this week for the Soldier III, including the royal & black.

FRESH KICKS

The Nike Hyperize “Decades” Pack will be released this Saturday, August 29th. Sweet colorway.

YOU DON'T MESS WITH MY TEAMMATES

Came across a great and touching article by Steve Kelley (Seattle Times) on the indescribable bond that true teammates share long after the game is over. Here are a few excerpts…

“Good teammates don't leave ever. They separate, but they're never apart. They stay together long after the last hurrahs.

There is a unique and enduring quality to the relationships of teammates. There is a bonding kind of sixth sense that comes from all the hours in the gym and all the days in hotels.

It comes from all of the joys and disappointments, the thousands of indelible moments that happen away from the bright lights of game night.”

“When you share that much blood, sweat and tears with the same people for four years, there's no way that you can lose sight of them... We all know what it took to get through all those tough moments. The friendships that develop just kind of come naturally.”

“Playing on a team is the part where you learn to be teammates, but at the same time, it's where you're learning how to be friends and how to be family…When you become teammates, you become family.”

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The one thing we learn from history… is that we “don’t” learn from history.

Although there are many personality types throughout the world, there are really only two types of people: positive people and negative people.

Both types can be fun to hang out with and be around, and whether you realize it or not, both types have a definite influence on your attitude and your outlook, especially toward others.

Positive people are relatively easy to spot, they make you feel good when you are around them. Positive people constantly encourage you through their words and actions. They have a habit of pointing out opportunities for you or others to succeed.

Negative people have a habit of wasting opportunities and pointing out the flaws in others and usually develop an independent “I don’t care” type of attitude. They often take pleasure in knowing that others fail.

Take a close look at the people in your life. Are they providing you with encouragement and power to achieve and succeed? Or are they quietly draining that desire and power from you?

Be very careful when choosing the kind of people with whom you associate, because whether you realize it or not, they strongly influence your life. Their negativity becomes contagious, not only in your attitude, but also in your relationships with your friends and teammates.

If we don’t learn from our history… we are doomed to repeat it.

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ANYTHING THING YOU CAN DO....

"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness,heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of; the heck with sugar and spice."

- Bethany Hamilton

AIR MAX LEBRON VII REVIEW

The more I look at the new Air Max Lebron VII, the more I like 'em. The latest review is out and the early talk is that these kicks are sure to be the Ferrari of hoops shoes this season.

“One question the sneaker gurus all continue to debate is whether or not the flywire technology can withstand the rigors of an all-out war on the hardwood.

Sure, the Hyperdunk, the Hyperize and the Zoom Kobe IV are without a doubt superb sneakers, however, it remains to be seen how they last over an extended period of time. Yet, after talking with Jason Petrie, the designer of the Air Max LeBron VII, we now know that flywire technology is constantly evolving and this particular sneaker contains additional, sturdy flywire features that the Hyperdunk, Hyperize and Kobe IV shoes do not possess.”

- George Kiel, NiceKicks.com

LADY LION ALUMNI UPDATE

Heard from Haley yesterday. She's loving it at Asbury and hanging with her new peeps (btw, her roomie is 6'1). Although they haven't officially started practicing yet, she did mention that there are 13 Freshman this season which sounds like they're definitely a young team which should be able to make a lot of noise together for the coming years. We wish her the best of luck!

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KEYS TO SUCCEED ON OFFENSE

I believe there are two keys to being successful on offense. The first is by executing your fundamentals the right way. Properly screening, cutting, passing, boxing-out, etc. Sloppy fundamentals lead to turnovers and you won't beat many good teams by continuing to turn the ball over in a game.

The second key to success on offense is by forcing the defense to have to play defense. In other words, don’t make it easy on the defense by allowing them to just stand there and relax while guarding the basket. Force them to move all over the court by moving the ball around. Most teams are poor defenders because playing good defense is hard; the more you make the defense move, the harder it is on them.

On Offense:

• You can’t take bad shots. Shots that are off-balance, out of your range or contested usually end as a wasted offensive possession.
• You can’t turn the ball over due to sloppy ball handling or risky & difficult passes.
• You must move when you don’t have the ball. Movement forces the defense to try and cover you.
• You must help out your teammates by getting them an open look. Create opportunities to get them involved in the offense.

You must make the defense react to you by manipulating them through ball & player movement. Remember playing "monkey in the middle” as a kid? It’s the same concept, you have to make them chase the ball until they’re out of position and you or your teammate find yourself wide-open for an easy basket.

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THE RIGHT WAY TO PLAY DEFENSE

There's nothing more demoralizing to an offense than being forced into taking rushed and hurried shots that end up missing. In struggling to bring the ball up court against defensive pressure. In facing such aggressive defensive pressure that it makes each ball handler so nervous when they have the ball that they would rather not have the ball.

On Defense:

• You can’t give up easy points in transition (fast breaks).
• You must always play to stop the ball, not to stop your man.
• You must understand it’s not “me vs. my man” but it’s “us vs. them.”
• You can’t commit dumb fouls (like reaching-in or while a player is in the act of shooting).
• You must force the ball handler into situations they’re uncomfortable with or haven’t practiced for.

Some players grasp these concepts and others don't. And those who don't are never as successful as those who do.

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09 TEAM KICKS

Got word that most of the team wants to go with the NikeiD Hyperdunks this season. Personally I'm a fan of the Kobe IV, but majority rules. The HD's are $140 per pair (plus tax & S&H) and we'll be hosting another Pancake Breakfast the first week of November to help pay for the them.

Check out the
Nike Hyperdunk iD Basketball Shoe
I designed at NIKEiD.com

Check out the
Zoom Kobe IV iD Basketball Shoe
I designed at NIKEiD.com

Check out the
Zoom Kobe IV iD Basketball Shoe
I designed at NIKEiD.com

WHO'S IN CHARGE?

If you can pass, dribble, and shoot well, you will always dictate to the defense what they do. If you can't and are not fundamentally sound, the defense will dictate what you do.

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WHERE DOES CONFIDENCE COME FROM?

“Confidence is only born out of one thing - demonstrated ability. It is not born of anything else. You cannot dream up confidence. You cannot fabricate it. You cannot wish it. You have to accomplish it. Macho or swaggering kinds of confidence many times are just a cover-up for lack of confidence. I think that genuine confidence is what you really seek for your team and your individual players. That only comes from demonstrated ability.”

- Bill Parcells

LEADERSHIP 101

The task of the leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been. ~ Henry Kissinger

If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. ~John Quincy Adams

The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves~Ray Kroc

Leadership is practiced not so much in words as in attitude and in actions. ~Harold S. Geneen

Leadership is action, not position. ~ Donald H. McGannon

Where there is no vision, the people perish. ~ Proverbs 29:18

TODAY is the most important day of my life.

Yesterday with its successes and victories, struggles and failures is gone forever... the past is past... Done... Finished.

I cannot relive it. I cannot go back and change it. But I will learn from it and improve my TODAY.

TODAY. This moment... NOW!

It is God’s gift to me and it is all that I have.

Tomorrow with all its joys and sorrows, triumphs and troubles isn’t here yet.

Indeed, tomorrow may never come. Therefore, I will not worry about tomorrow.

TODAY is what God has entrusted to me. It is all that I have. I will do my best in it.

I will demonstrate the best of me in it —

my character, giftedness, and abilities —

to my family and friends and teammates.

I will identify those things that are most important to do TODAY,

and those things I will do until they are done.

And when this day is done I will look back with satisfaction at that which I have accomplished.

Then and only then, will I plan my tomorrow.

Looking to improve upon TODAY, with God’s help.

Then I shall go to sleep in peace... content.

By Dale Witherington

Taken from John Maxwell’s Today Matters

(thanks coach Starkey)

KEEP CLIMBING

A dream doesn't become a reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination and hard work.

Keep climbing.

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YOU HAVE TO LOVE IT EVEN WHEN IT HURTS

One of the most frustrating parts of being a coach is to be blessed with a player that has tremendous potential, but wastes it because they are either stubborn or they have a poor work ethic (or both).

Stubborn players and/or players with a poor work ethic often see themselves as already being good. They don’t think they need advice or constructive criticism meant to help them improve. They're good at making excuses. They spend more time “talking” about being a great player than they do actually “working” toward becoming a great player.

Great players become great because they are hungry to learn “how to get better.” They are humble enough to understand that there is always something more they can learn to improve their game. They understand that it takes more than "talking about it." It takes hard work and pushing themselves when they feel like giving up. Becoming great isn't something you do when the coach is watching you, it's an all the time 24/7 thing... it's an endless journey.

Becoming great has a lot more to do with your attitude than it does your talent.

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38 SNICKERS

Q. What’s the most important leadership lesson you’ve learned?

A. The biggest one I learned, and I learned it early on in my tenure in the Army, is the importance of small gestures. As you become more senior, those small gestures and little things become sometimes more important than the grand ones. Little things like saying “please” and “thank you” - just the basic respect that people are due, or sending personal notes.

I’ll never forget one of the interactions we had with my commanding general of the division in which I was a platoon leader. We were at Fort Bragg, N.C. We had miserable weather. It was February and not as warm as you would think it would be in North Carolina. It had been raining for about a week, and the commanding general came around to review some of the platoons in the field. He went to one of my vehicle drivers and he asked him what he thought of the exercise we were on. To which the young private said, “Sir, it stinks.” I saw my short career flash before my eyes at that point.

He asked why, and the private said: “There are people who think this is great weather for doing infantry operations. I personally think 75 and partly cloudy is better.”

And so the commanding general said, “What can I do to make it better for you?” And the private said, “Sir, I sure could use a Snickers bar.” So a couple days later we were still moving through some really lousy weather, and a box showed up for the private. And that box was filled with 38 Snickers bars, which is the number of people in my platoon. And there was a handwritten note from the commanding general of our division that said, “I can’t do anything about the weather, but I hope this makes your day a bit brighter, and please share these with your buddies.”

And on that day, at that time, we would’ve followed that general anywhere. It was a very small thing, and he didn’t need to do it, but it impressed upon me that small gestures are hugely important.

- Gary E. McCullough

The same holds true not only in the way you interact among your teammates, but with those people you interact with on a daily basis. Sometimes the smallest of gestures build the strongest bridges. If you want people to follow your lead, you have to give them a reason to.

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YOU'RE EITHER IN OR OUT

"There are only two options regarding commitment. You're either in or you're out. There's no such thing as life in-between."

- Pat Riley

NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE

No one is better than you and no one is smarter than you. If someone is doing better than you at the moment, it is because they have learned and applied specialized knowledge and information faster than you have. And anything that anyone else has done, you can do as well.

From "Victory" by Brian Tracy

WHAT SEPARATES TALENT...

“Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work.”

- Stephen King

A SECOND CHANCE TO BE A ROLE MODEL

In an interview with "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday night, Michael Vick said the day he walked into prison he realized "the magnitude of the decisions that I made.” Although it was nice to hear Vick admit blaming no one but himself for landing in prison and losing the $135 million contract that made him the NFL's highest paid player, it was more enlightening hearing him admit that his reputation as a player that didn't work hard and relied mostly on his athletic ability was warranted.

"I was lazy. You know, I was the last guy in the building [gym], first guy out," Vick said. "I know that. You know, I hear everything that people say. And that hurt me when I heard that, but I know it was true."

Although I didn't condone the actions that landed him in prison, I for one, think Michael Vick has paid his debt and I’m glad to see him back in a uniform. However, what pleases me more is to hear him speak of his ordeal. It sounds like he’s been able to grow as a person through his experience and maybe, he can take advanatge of this opportunity to become a real role model based on character and not just on athletic ability alone.

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