Ever heard the addage about the elephant in the room? You know the idiom that refers to the elephant comouflaged because it is the same color as the wallpaper in the room so no one sees this huge animal that weighs thousands of pounds. Pardon the overexplained metaphor but the "elephant in the room" on my mind is a question. Do people take female sports seriously?
I know what boys say. I know what I say and before you guess what that is, keep in mind that I am a girls coach for a high school basketball team. Honestly, I kind of coach them like boys so far. We play a style of offense and defense that my boys' teams played. We're sportsmanlike but viscious diving on the floor, being physical and the like. But echo the question. Do people (men) take girl athletes seriously? If so, when did it start? If not why not?
Is being different synonymous with weakness? You should hear how my girls team members responded to last night's Laker championship coronation. They coined this wit: "The Lakers turned off the Jazz, blew up the Rockets and ate some Nuggets and now they've made the Magic disappear..." They actually texted me that after the game and it was definitely a girl thing - guys are less poetic as a rule. But are the girls any less competitive? This afternoon they weren't cute. They were diving on the floor for loose balls and colliding with the opposition...literally. Bruises, headaches with a healthy mix of killer instinct. But are girls taken seriously? Better question. How does it feel to not be taken seriously? I could answer my own questions on any given day. The blog is for me to shut up and listen to others weigh in. So again I ask, "DO PEOPLE TAKE WOMEN'S ATHLETICS SERIOUSLY?" How you answer will undoubtedly reflect something noteworthy about society. So Man Up and speak the truth.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
The Kobe You Love to Hate!
Last year I read about something called "schemata". Correct me if I'm wrong but it's kind of like the engrained information in your brain from having done something so many times. Dictionary.com defines it as an underlying organizational pattern or framework and it's been said that all the greats have it. The schemata is there with 4.3 seconds left or 3 and 2 with the bases loaded and 2 outs. The greats, in their minds, have done this drill already so they're calm under pressure seemingly impervious. But did you see the game tonight against Orlando? Schemata was clearly present as always. Kobe did what he normally does torching would-be defenders but throw in the variable of the human ability to learn and develop optimal responses to adverse situations. Lets call Kobe Bryant the adverse situation and enter the case in point.
Kobe Bryant has mastered as many details possessing the ability to mix and match counteless moves, countermoves, footwork, shot selections and reptilian decptiveness. Pun intended since he dubbed himself the Black Mamba, whcih I still think is a lame title. But I digress. His opponents are overmatched in preparedness, experience and confidence. That can't beat him one-on-one. They'll admit this in pre and postgame interviews. But basketball is not tennis and they don't have to stop Kobe. Teams and their assigned Kobe Stoppers hope that the "Mamba" trusts his schemata more than his teammates. If he bites, Kobe will attempt the impossible and play a one-man army. When and if he does that, the opposing team's job gets easier because they can focus solely on him. So tonight when he dribbled between those two guys and had the ball stolen, it was like when we try something we've done a million times and this time...it fails. I had ridden my bike across crosswalks my whole life but in 1990, I was hit by a car twice at the same intersection. Schemata didn't match real time events and I got roughed up by a light-duty pick-up truck.
What happened tonight in Orlando just looked like a guy who anticipated scenarios but in split second intervals couldn't coordinate what he visualized with real-time variables. It happens. In my mind I'm going to write this blog post, upload it to facebook, figure out pricing for self-publishing my book through Lulu.com, email my designer about the cover of my book, shower and spend some time in prayer. But what about fatigue and other things that pose as obstacles. You can't see everything and you can't close every game the right way. Funny thing is, nobody is harder on Kobe than Kobe and yet if you read the blogs and twitter after a loss like tonight's, at least 60% of the people swear Kobe is a fraud or at least overrated. Yo, he's just a human with schemata that 98% of the world's population lacks. He's great but not divine. We'll get the Orlando Magic in 5!
Kobe Bryant has mastered as many details possessing the ability to mix and match counteless moves, countermoves, footwork, shot selections and reptilian decptiveness. Pun intended since he dubbed himself the Black Mamba, whcih I still think is a lame title. But I digress. His opponents are overmatched in preparedness, experience and confidence. That can't beat him one-on-one. They'll admit this in pre and postgame interviews. But basketball is not tennis and they don't have to stop Kobe. Teams and their assigned Kobe Stoppers hope that the "Mamba" trusts his schemata more than his teammates. If he bites, Kobe will attempt the impossible and play a one-man army. When and if he does that, the opposing team's job gets easier because they can focus solely on him. So tonight when he dribbled between those two guys and had the ball stolen, it was like when we try something we've done a million times and this time...it fails. I had ridden my bike across crosswalks my whole life but in 1990, I was hit by a car twice at the same intersection. Schemata didn't match real time events and I got roughed up by a light-duty pick-up truck.
What happened tonight in Orlando just looked like a guy who anticipated scenarios but in split second intervals couldn't coordinate what he visualized with real-time variables. It happens. In my mind I'm going to write this blog post, upload it to facebook, figure out pricing for self-publishing my book through Lulu.com, email my designer about the cover of my book, shower and spend some time in prayer. But what about fatigue and other things that pose as obstacles. You can't see everything and you can't close every game the right way. Funny thing is, nobody is harder on Kobe than Kobe and yet if you read the blogs and twitter after a loss like tonight's, at least 60% of the people swear Kobe is a fraud or at least overrated. Yo, he's just a human with schemata that 98% of the world's population lacks. He's great but not divine. We'll get the Orlando Magic in 5!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Did the Lakers make a statement in Game 1?
My college coach used to say that the professional players' huddle was no different than ours. He would say that the pros make mistakes too. They don't always do the details necessary for victory. I used to think: "Look, the average professional athlete has at least 300 to 400,000 reasons why he should be focused on the details need to win." Rebounding, fielding ground balls, making slapshots, reeling in a catch with your hands all go without saying if you're paid to play. Pros make plays. Or do they? I think my ex-coach was right. I watch televised games and multi-million dollar athletes drop passes, play lethargic, complain about bad calls and all because they suffer from the same ailment as the rest of us. They suffer from shortsightedness.
The Lakers annihilated the Orlando Magic in game 1 of the NBA finals by executing a game plan to attack Orlando's strongest player aggressively. In basketball we say, attack the big guy's body and he'll forget how to play defense. But even if Dwight Howard has an off night, why do the other players stand around getting out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-bulldogged? I can only surmise that the pros and the Joes (average Joes) have "shortsightedness" in common so much so that it's like we're all kindred. Not seeing the importance of details can hurt in various aspects of life. I once knocked a sliding glass door of its metal track and attempted to lean it against a wall until an adult came to reset it (I was 10 years-old). When I turned to walk away, I heard a strange sound and turned to find the sliding glass door falling toward me. I narrowly escaped as the metal edge of the door's frame missed my skull and carved a nice gash in my upper left shoulder blade. Needless to say it could have been worse.
But it seems like even the most esteemed people make childish mistakes and pay stiff consequences for it. Did the Lakers make a statement? Sure, they said to Orlando, "Remember what's at stake here and that the other team wants the prize so badly because they've been close before." The statement is not what the sprotscasters oversimplify as an intimidating gut punch that steals the heart of the opponent. These competitors (professional athletes) don't scare easily in the conventional sense but they do bear a need for occasional reminders that if you don't prepare your mind for battle, a formidable adversary will consume you. Statements of the "Game 1" variety serve as the smelling salts of life arousing the true nature of those ready to offer their best effort to causes worth fighting for.
My most recent "game 1" is in process right now as I learn to limit my commitments. My health and peace of mind often suffer because of how much I say yes to. It's certainly time to focus on the details of making my life count so I'm blogging and seeking fellowship with God more than ever. I'm learning that if I can say yes to God, the priorities become clearer and I might be able to win "Game 2".
The Lakers annihilated the Orlando Magic in game 1 of the NBA finals by executing a game plan to attack Orlando's strongest player aggressively. In basketball we say, attack the big guy's body and he'll forget how to play defense. But even if Dwight Howard has an off night, why do the other players stand around getting out-rebounded, out-hustled and out-bulldogged? I can only surmise that the pros and the Joes (average Joes) have "shortsightedness" in common so much so that it's like we're all kindred. Not seeing the importance of details can hurt in various aspects of life. I once knocked a sliding glass door of its metal track and attempted to lean it against a wall until an adult came to reset it (I was 10 years-old). When I turned to walk away, I heard a strange sound and turned to find the sliding glass door falling toward me. I narrowly escaped as the metal edge of the door's frame missed my skull and carved a nice gash in my upper left shoulder blade. Needless to say it could have been worse.
But it seems like even the most esteemed people make childish mistakes and pay stiff consequences for it. Did the Lakers make a statement? Sure, they said to Orlando, "Remember what's at stake here and that the other team wants the prize so badly because they've been close before." The statement is not what the sprotscasters oversimplify as an intimidating gut punch that steals the heart of the opponent. These competitors (professional athletes) don't scare easily in the conventional sense but they do bear a need for occasional reminders that if you don't prepare your mind for battle, a formidable adversary will consume you. Statements of the "Game 1" variety serve as the smelling salts of life arousing the true nature of those ready to offer their best effort to causes worth fighting for.
My most recent "game 1" is in process right now as I learn to limit my commitments. My health and peace of mind often suffer because of how much I say yes to. It's certainly time to focus on the details of making my life count so I'm blogging and seeking fellowship with God more than ever. I'm learning that if I can say yes to God, the priorities become clearer and I might be able to win "Game 2".
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
What to make of Lebron's Farewell
Lebron James is several days and one oral surgery removed from his championship run gone awry. Muppets were and are funny in those commercials. But I digress. Upon being held accountable for his failure to congratulate the Magic and show up for post game media interviews Lebron said, "It’s not being a poor sport or anything like that...If somebody beats you up, you’re not going to congratulate them." He felt justified in walking away from his opponent and refusing to participate in the pseudo-analyzing that is par for the NBA course throughout the regular season. The King (emperor) has no clothes or so goes the ancient fable about a ruler who was told he was donned in an exquisite garment that was invisible. The emperor in the fable paraded around as his subjects tolerated the disgraceful display in fear that upon alerting him to his nudity, they would be executed.
So what about LJ the "King", King James, the Cleveland franchise? Lebron simply did what all of us want to do after an embarrassing moment. He crawled under a rock during an emotional crisis. Is he justified? Certainly not for he is no more exempted than I am when I have to account for why I didn't play scholarship basketball, why I didn't marry the first person I was engaged to or why I didn't get accepted to a Ph.D. program two years back. Reality reeks of failure on many fronts and few are prepared for its fruit. Failure denotes a humanness that betrays pedestals and profuse accolades. At the end of Game 6 vs. Orlando, Lebron James was what he's always been...just a man from Akron, Ohio who has been morphed into a demagogue. He is neither innocent nor the sole culprit but rather one more symbol of how projected images and expectations mutilate self-perception.
No one shakes the opponents hand after a game because they're glad they got "it" handed to him. I can see it now, "Thanks man for kickin' our *@) tonight. I've been needin' one of those. Reminds me of my childhood." Come on. Who does that? We congratulate those who have beaten us because the only thing we control in a competitive world riddled with variables is our commitment to excellence. Preparation + Vigor = THE BEST YOU CAN GIVE. Game 6 is never about Orlando but rather about being pleased with how you have done justice to your gift. Lebron James is 6'9" and 260 lbs. He's the premier specimen athletically and he's further along in his basketball progression at 24 years old than most men in the world will ever be in the prime of their athletic prowess. He's an anomaly on so many levels but he, even he cannot manipulate the universe. None of us can. Shaking your opponents hand and doing a post game interview show that you can understand one fundamental truth: reality always trumps pride. You don't have to enjoy losing to be a good sport. You just have to be a king with the heart of his subjects.
So what about LJ the "King", King James, the Cleveland franchise? Lebron simply did what all of us want to do after an embarrassing moment. He crawled under a rock during an emotional crisis. Is he justified? Certainly not for he is no more exempted than I am when I have to account for why I didn't play scholarship basketball, why I didn't marry the first person I was engaged to or why I didn't get accepted to a Ph.D. program two years back. Reality reeks of failure on many fronts and few are prepared for its fruit. Failure denotes a humanness that betrays pedestals and profuse accolades. At the end of Game 6 vs. Orlando, Lebron James was what he's always been...just a man from Akron, Ohio who has been morphed into a demagogue. He is neither innocent nor the sole culprit but rather one more symbol of how projected images and expectations mutilate self-perception.
No one shakes the opponents hand after a game because they're glad they got "it" handed to him. I can see it now, "Thanks man for kickin' our *@) tonight. I've been needin' one of those. Reminds me of my childhood." Come on. Who does that? We congratulate those who have beaten us because the only thing we control in a competitive world riddled with variables is our commitment to excellence. Preparation + Vigor = THE BEST YOU CAN GIVE. Game 6 is never about Orlando but rather about being pleased with how you have done justice to your gift. Lebron James is 6'9" and 260 lbs. He's the premier specimen athletically and he's further along in his basketball progression at 24 years old than most men in the world will ever be in the prime of their athletic prowess. He's an anomaly on so many levels but he, even he cannot manipulate the universe. None of us can. Shaking your opponents hand and doing a post game interview show that you can understand one fundamental truth: reality always trumps pride. You don't have to enjoy losing to be a good sport. You just have to be a king with the heart of his subjects.
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