Discipline

As a coach, I completely expect our players to behave, to set a positive example in the classroom, in the hallways and in the community.  I held them to a higher standard and our handbook of rules does so also.  I fully expect for teachers to approach me and tell me about situations that our players are involved in and if they are doing something that needs my attention.  But....

I did get tired of being a "back up" discipline plan.  It got to the point with some teachers that were common offenders, I would just say "write them up".  I guess it really is like being in administration, if the same teachers are writing people up all of the time they can often be over looked.  If you write someone up once every 3-5 years, it gets dealt with...immediately.  In coaching, I would say the same thing happens, if a teacher comes to me who never does, I take it much more serious than those I feel make me 4th on their discipline list.

1. Verbal warning
2. Verbal warning
3. Some kind of in class punishment
4. Talk to Coach Hunter
5. Write them up.

#4 is quite flexibly moved from 1-4.

One Huge Sign of a Bad Coach

I am a coaches advocate.  I will defend many coaches to people just because of my experiences and what I have dealt with.  Usually, it is in discussing something with someone who hasn't been in those situations before such as a fan or student.  That doesn't mean they are wrong or that the coach is right, but I am trying to get them to see the situation from a different view point.  Sometimes the situation is too emotional and I refrain, then I just listen.

However, if a coach does one thing, they automatically lose any credibility with me and that is taking something they are going through out on the players on their team.  I am talking about some situation that involves parents, students, or fans of the team and of individuals on the team. It is really hard to decide if what the coach is doing because of that off the court incident with a parent, adult, or fan of a team, but they (the coach) knows why they do what they do.

If it does come out that a coach doesn't intentionally play a player or disciplines them because of their parent; that is wrong and the sign of a bad coach.  Often the kids cannot control their parents and even sometimes they don't agree with how their parents are behaving or what they are saying.  In my opinion by doing this, and it can be easy sometimes in some situations to consider it, you are falling or diving down to the same level of the person who is causing an unnecessary problem.

It is important, I believe, as a coach to remember that when dealing with difficult situations it isn't about you...or the person combatting you.  It is about helping the individual involved (player) and the team all together. You must set aside your personal feelings (really, really, really hard) and deal with the player as if nothing else is going on.  We are expected to do this anyway, but coaches are people and it is human nature to strike back, either verbally or in a more passive-aggressive way by taking it out on their child.

By doing something as ridiculous as holding something against a player because of the words or actions of a parent or fan, probably makes you into what they think you are anyway.  You have to rise above your perceptions and remember you are dealing with kids, sometimes those on the team, and sometimes those that are....not on the team.

How Much Do We Take Our Health For Granted?

Last week, I was sick with some kind of flu like thing for one total week.  I mean...the whole week.  From wanting to sleep all the time, to not having strength to walk, to just wanting to crawl in a hole until I felt better...it was bad.  I won't go into all of the details, but I was dehydrated.  Probably to the point I should have gotten an IV. 

I was cramping, not thinking clearly, and one day I even felt my speech slurring, but it wasn't convenient for me to be sick last week.  We had to finish out our regular season, we had sectional meetings and practice and we were preparing for tomorrow (Tuesday) our first round of the state tournament.

How many times do we complain about feeling not quite right?  I think most of us know when we are blessed by not having some serious disease, but how often do we whine and complain about, really, nothing.  Spoiled and in need of comfort all of the time, we complain about feeling not the way we should usually because of things we have done to ourselves (too much to drink, not enough sleep, etc.).

I am at school today and feeling like I did before last week and I feel like I could fly if I jumped off the school roof.  Now...if I only could get into some kind of shape (need to walk into running) how would I feel?

Coaching While Down and Out Sick

(Campers in Macedonia...I am on the right side wearing blue)

If you coach long enough, you will coach a game or two when you are sick.  And I don't mean the little sniffles or congestion, but full blown, shouldn't be there sick.

I have done it a couple of times and I actually sorta like it.  First, leading up to the game you are miserable and wondering if you should be there or not, but once the game gets going, you forget about it.  Somewhat.

For me, being so weak actually calms me down which I need...I know that.  I don't have to be told that, I know.  I am able to talk to officials differently and to my players differently.  It is more of how I coach as an assistant.  Gone are the antics and ridiculousness and I coach, if I don't, I might pass out.

Parents = Leaders

We recently had an accountability meeting at our school about what some think are low test scores.  I don't disagree with that at all.  In fact, we can always strive to be better.  But we had that meeting, over 30 faculty members attended and around 5 parents attended.  Every student's parent/s of over 500 students were invited.  It was on our marquee for a week.

I could not believe it.  Then I thought about if my child were doing okay and I was happy with the school would I have attended...probably not.  But then I realized that is when I needed to attend.  But I couldn't believe only a few parents attended.

Now, in defense of our parents.  The type on the progress report was rather small, but it was on every one.  It was on our marquee, but only one side.  And really, they may not have understood what the meeting was about or if they were invited.

But I hear it a lot, negative comments directed at our administration and teachers.  Lack of leadership, lack of effort, lack of (fill in the blank).  Honestly, where does leadership begin when it comes to schools and teams?  It starts in the home and we deal with the ramifications of what goes on there.  As a teacher and coach I can hear parents speaking through their children.  Wether it be verbally or physically, you can see it.

I think it is our responsibility as men, as parents, to want to see our leaders be successful.  If they are successful, it can only help all of us.  Now, of course, if they are phsycially or verbally abusive, if they do something illegal or immoral, we should fight to have them removed, but anything short of that is no excuse to undermine authority. 

I fully accept responsibility as a parent in teaching my kids the basics before they get to school.  I fully accept teaching my children not to undermine authority unless absolutely necessary.  And I fully accept my responsibility as a coach as a leader within the confines in which we find ourselves. 

This is just another thought that entered my mind last week and got me to thinking due to the lack of participation of our parents at that one meeting.  I really do believe two things: This problem is indicative of all of society, but I think more parents, if aware, would have shown up.  I also believe that we have many, many, many GREAT parents who are doing the right things and it is much appreciated.  But "Respect Authority" is one of the resolutions in The Resolution for Men....great book.

To Have a Successful Basketball Program

In being around a few different varsity basketball programs through the years and then running one for 7 years, here are some things, I believe, are needed to have a successful program.

1. It is imperative that there is an elementary P.E. teacher who is willing to play sports and teach the rules of those sports in their class.  This is where the kids learn their first rules of basketball and all other sports.  If a P.E. teacher isn't doing these things (and to be fair, I don't know the state standards of elementary P.E.), it sets your sports programs back.

2. The varsity basketball coach should hire the elementary and jr. high coaches if they find it necessary to be involved on such decisions.  The varsity coach is who will be held accountable for varsity games and the feeder system is where they will get their players.  The varsity coach should be allowed to pick who he wants to coach or be involved in picking them.  The varsity coach is the person who should decide if the person is doing a good job as a coach, or not, and should be allowed to "fire" anyone who he deems not doing what will help the overall program.

3. Elementary and Jr. High coaches must do what the varsity coach asks.  If they are not building on fundamentals, they should be let go if that is what the varsity coach deems necessary.  Winning and losing is important at these age groups, but only within the confines of doing things the right way (your way).  Practice should be 90% fundamentals and 10% trying to win.

4. The feeder program must be worked with through intramurals as early as possible (pre-K or kindergarten).  You must get kids involved early and try to keep them around as long as possible.

5. The varsity coach must be professional and hard working.

6.  The varsity coach must create relationships with kids all the way down through the system.  We live in a time where kids form relationships more with the coach than with the program.  Especially if you have many people moving into your school and they are not from that area and know the history of your school.  The kids must want to play for you at best, at worst, they are not repulsed by it.

7.  The varsity coach must create positive relationship with the parents all the way down if possible.  Same as #6.  Parents must feel comfortable in having their child play for you.  Unfortunately, the loyalty will be more to you than a program which has changed over the last few years.

8.  The community should expect success out of the coach.  For sure, the definition of success must be held to a high standard by the community.  Success has many definitions when it comes to coaching high school sports, but there must be some standards.

9.  The community should expect success out of the players (individually and as a team).  However, as in #8, the community should push, scold, pat on the back, and compliment the players for representing their school and town.

10. The administration must expect success and be willing to help in ensuring it (see 1-11.  I can honestly say that my administration at HHS did that often.

11.  All coaches in the building must be willing to work together to ensure the success of all programs. I think it is important to support as many programs as you can as the varsity coach because of the support and attention you often receive.

Some of these I was able to implement as coach, some...not so much.  Some because of my own lack of leadership skills and some because of outside influences.  This list may seem daunting to many coaches, but I believe, if you sit down and write what you do, you will find that it is comparable to many.  It may even be much less than what some of you are doing. 

I also think fans would be surprised that many of  the things I have listed are not allowed, not to just varsity basketball, but to many programs within a school.  You cannot hold a coach accountable for what you will not allow them to do.

But what do I know?!

What's Expected of High School Basketball Coaches

(Some of my coaching friends from The Balkans while working a camp in Serbia)

Some people have said that high school coaches have many expectations.  If you sit and think about these all of the time, it could create mental exhaustion.  Here are some things coaches have emailed me recently on what they think they are to do.

1. Win all of your games.
2. Play all of your players.
3. Get your best players shots/ PT.
4. Make sure everyone gets to shoot.
5. Yell at the players and compete.
6. Do #5 in a respectful fashion.
7. Be a pillar of the community better than everyone else.
8. Motivate people without profanity who use it quite often around their friends.
9. Be at every elementary and jr. high game.
10. Scout teams that you play.
11. Coach the j.v. game as hard as the varsity game (see 1-6 and 8)
12. Know every single player in your system from 4 year olds to seniors.
13. Run a motion offense.
14. Run sets on offense.
15. Play mostly zone.
16. Play mostly man to man.
17. Play a fast style that the fans like to watch.
18. Play a slower style that will help you win games.
19. Speak to everyone and befriend and be above those who bad mouth you.
20. Never speak ill of any player or parent.
21. Teach young men to be better human beings.
22. Sit your players for doing wrong things, even  your best players.
23. Once a player comes back from a suspension, you must play them right away.
24. Once a player comes back from a suspension, you must make them earn their way back.
25. Open the gym at 6 AM for weights and free throws.
26. Open the gym on the weekends for voluntary weights and free throws.
27. Never act emotional.
28. Never be offended when given advice by non coaches.
29. Teach to the best of your ability what you are paid to teach.
30. Spend quality time with your family.

Now, With That Said....

Something was in the news here locally yesterday that motivated me to write my blog entry about being a role model.  It is unbelievable, no really, you just can't believe how dumb people can be.  But with that being said, I think it is important to remember something hugely important.  It is something that I believe as a person, but also in my faith.

We are to forgive these people.  It is probably harder to do if you are directly involved, but we shouldn't judge and not condone.  We shouldn't give up on these people but remove them from situations.  I think if someone messes up, dependent on what they did, they should be allowed a second or third chance just probably somewhere else.

I say this because I believe that we all mess up.  I say this because I hope that someday when I mess up (you really just have to look to yesterday and probably sometime today around noon for that) that the people I hurt will forgive me.  I hope that they are able to forgive me and allow me a second or third or fourth chance. 

I don't want anyone to think that yesterday I was judging, I was absolutely amazed at what I read in the paper.  It is wrong, I will say it, it was wrong.  But that doesn't mean that we give up on people.  I guess that is where I have changed due to my faith.  We don't give up on anyone.  Maybe the people directly involved give up on the person that hurts them, but someone else must step up.  I am not giving up on my friends and family....hopefully, I just won't do it.

I hope that when I mess up that there are people who will be willing to not give up on me.

What are you thinking?

Look, I know no one is perfect.  I know that I do not want some of the things I have done when I was younger to be publicly paraded around the Internet.  I know that I am glad that I don't have a camera on me 24/7 in some reality show as I fall short....a lot.  But I don't get what some people are thinking in the things that they do.

If you are a coach you have decided to give up certain privacies.  Some choose more than others, but you had better be ready to deal with consequences.  Not all consequences are negative either and there are probably degrees of how negative the consequence can be.  I know some coaches who have decided to never drink alcohol in their town they coach, they choose to do so when far away from that area though.  I know coaches who could care less and own bars within the town they coach.  I am saying that neither is right or wrong, but there are consequences.

If you choose to do anything online, in real life, in a nearby park, at your home with the blinds open, be in bad parts of town and questionable times and you are caught, you will have to deal with it.  I think the least of dealing with it is being fired, the worst is that your reputation has been soiled or flat out ruined.

What are you thinking?  You are a role model, but that doesn't mean you have to be perfect.  To me, it means that you stand for something, usually something higher than what is the norm, but it also means that when you fall short of your own expectations, you admit it, you apologize and you try again.

However, there are some things that make zero sense.  As a coch you can't drink and drive, first because it is dangerous and wrong, second because if you get caught you are setting a horrible example to your students both on the team and not.  You can't cheat on your wife and make it a messy public affair, again you are becoming that which you don't understand and have to deal with often during the season.  You can't be with underage boys or girls, come on I don't have to explain that.  You can't do many, many things in public whether it be online or in a park far, far away from your home. 

Some people think that when setting an example they have to give up too much freedom which I think makes little sense.  If you have to give up doing illegal and probably immoral things to be a leader, then you are in the wrong field.  Just do what you think is right, what most people think is right, and I would bet that if you do that you are not having to be a perfect human being, just one that has some common sense.

Helpless and Alone

I am going to bet that every single coach has experienced this...helplessness.  Probably some more than others and probably some that won't admit to it, but there are games (and moments) that you feel helpless as a coach. 

You have worked all week, you have prepared for just about every single thing that can occur in a game and yet nothing works.  You cannot stop the other team from scoring and you cannot score.  Everything that you have worked on and believed in falls apart.  You try something new, you call timeout, you yell, you console, you pat them on the back, you grab them by their jersey....and nothing works.

To stand in front of 1200 people or more and feel that way can only be compared to dreams you have about showing up to school or some public place in the nude.  That awful feeling I got when I was younger about showing up to school and forgetting to put clothes on is the one thing that I can compare this to.  You are standing there, the supposed knowledge of all basketball, and can't get your team to respond.  At the time you aren't thinking about it, but later you realize that the lack of play by your team is reinforcing some beliefs by some of the people in the stands and some people actually feel bad for you (usually just your family and maybe a few friends).  What is really crazy is usually that feeling occurs because your own team cannot make shots.

Too often coaches are given too much credit or too much blame.  The players have to get it done, but as coach you do shoulder some of the responsibility.  However, in 20 years of coaching basketball, it is amazing how well or not well you played can be gauged on if your team made shots that night...or not.

I often wonder what it would be like if every single person was evaluated by the community once a week on their job either in the classroom, factory, or office.  Those moments when other people have the same helpless feeling, but no one notices except for a few co-workers and then you can go home and forget about it or pretend it didn't happen.  With basketball coaches, we can't do that.  All you have to do is get on the Internet (which I do much, much less now) and read anonymous message boards, or worse, facebook.

So what do you do?  You throw away the game tape, forget about the stats, and get back to work so that the situation doesn't occur again.

Thank You for the Kind Words

This year there have been some interesting things occur.  Once it became known that I was going to be finished coaching at the end of the year (I am resigning, NOT retiring), the season has gone rather uneventful.  Teachers and administrators haven't been consulting with me on the behavior of our players (could our guys actually be living the "STOP and think" poster we have in the locker room? or do they all realize that it's somebody else that will be coming in next season ), our kids haven't gotten into trouble (haven't been caught, at least...I am not naieve), parent grumblings are less (they know they only have to endure me for a short time), and we have played relatively well.

As it has gotten out, I have received numerous facebook posts, texts, tweets, and emails about what I stand for and many people have had kind words for me.  It is quite humbling.  I have recieved from people in this community and in the state of Indiana words that are hard for me to accept  and from people that I greatly admire and didn't realize they knew I existed.  I don't know how to take it other than to say "thank you".  I hope that they understand that I do less and less for me, but to glorify God.  I want people to see me and think that I am doing a good job in walking with the Lord.  I have done and will continue to do things for the relationships that we have here today and future ones.

If we can make a positive connection with someone and help that person out and to get through the day, to me, that's what it's all about.  I believe that we were given the greatest gift of all (salvation) and that we are called to pass that on as best as we can as human beings.  I had someone ask me if I did some of the things I do because I didn't want to go to hell.  My response was that the farther I have grown in my faith the less I think about where I will end up after death.  If I am living a servant leader life and trying to do what Jesus called me to do, I figure it will all take care of itself after this life.

It seems less than humble to write an article about how people have thanked you.  Seems way, way less than humble, but I will try.  Not one single person who has reached out to me in the last month is lost on me.  The fact that you have taken the time to reach out to me for whatever reason is a humbling and nice thing.  It does help me when I think I am spinning and going nowhere fast that I am making a difference even if it is a small one.  But remember...it isn't about me, and isn't about you, it's about what can you do, whoever is reading this, to make the day a better place for someone else.  And if everyone is doing that, then somebody could be reaching out to you...right now.

You Will Know When You Know

The above title are the words that former HHS coach John Bradley spoke to me this winter when I was having some doubts about whether going on or not as basketball coach.  He was right.  That is why I have resigned as boys' basketball coach at Henryville H.S. coach effective at the end of the season.  Some people believed that I should have waited until the end of the season, however, my plans leaked out and I felt it important to end all speculation.  I told my team 3 weeks ago and now am going public as to end any speculation.

The passion and energy have waned the last couple of years, but this past season even more so.  I truly believe that after 7 years both the program (which I love with all my heart) and myself needs a change.  There are many fights that are to be fought to bring HHS to be a better program, some I have fought and tired of fighting and some I have chosen not to fight.  I will write about that in the future.  I am leaving on my accord.  There are no scandals or pressure to resign, it is something I am doing on my own terms and happy about the future.

As for myself, I feel a calling to do something more faith based.  Something in the way of sports ministry is what I am feeling a calling to do.  Also, basketball is in my blood and my families blood, I don't think there is any way I will have nothing to do in the way of coaching.  In the future, I am sure I will help my children's teams and may end up somewhere else, I am not sure.  But my time for being the head man is over....for now.  I have no desire to be a head coach of any team, but I do have a desire to help a head coach in being an assistant some day.

I want to go and watch high school coaches practices and learn from people that I relate to more often.  I want to have freedom to go to games that aren't on the Henryville schedule.  I want to have the freedom to sleep in and hang out with my family.  I want to have the freedom not to feel pressured over the holidays because I am stressing about future games.

I want to thank all of the administrators, students, fans, parents, opposing coaches, my assistant coaches, and especially the players for the 7 years I was the head coach.  I believe that the players all tried to buy into what we were doing and I appreciate so much more how they have treated my own family.  My kids look up to them as something larger than life.  The high school administrative support at HHS is second to none.  They allow you to coach and keep lots of dumb stuff from reaching us.

The only reason I thought about continuing was for my family.  My children get so much out of the games and the team, but I didn't think that was fair to me or even them.  They will continue to be a part of basketball and HHS.  It might be in a different venue, but maybe I can bribe the people here to allow them to continue being a manager and cheerleader, I guess time will tell and either way will be fine.

Some have asked if there is any one thing that has caused me to resign, something negative.  My comment is that there isn't one thing, but the accumulation of many things over 7 years that I have gotten tired of.  It wasn't one email, it wasn't one conversation, it wasn't one rumor, it wasn't any one thing, but at some point, my cup has become full.

In closing, I want to say this, I will still be attending HHS basketball games when I get a chance.  I was born in October of 1969 and my mother started taking me to games immediately.  I will continue to attend games and still be one of the biggest supporters of Henryville Basketball.

What I Hope I Do As a Parent

I thought recently how long I have coached which got me to thinking of all the kids I have coached.  Then I thought about the parents I have been associated with and there have been some good ones, but there have been those "confrontations".  There have been open confrontations and there have been those passive-aggressive kind of confrontations.

When I started coaching, I made sure to have a rough, tough exterior, the "I don't care what anybody thinks and I will do what I want" coaching attitude.  I did that because to be honest, my feelings can be hurt easily sometimes and I wanted to keep people at arms length.  As I coached longer (23 years of coaching one sport or another) I changed, thank God.  But with experience, I reflected on what I hope I do as a parent of an athlete or other activity.

Following are ten things that I hope I do as a parent due to my experience as a coach.  The list is numbered, but it is not ranked in any order of importance.

1. I hope I don't speak badly about the coach in front of my children or online.  It does a couple of things.  It hurts the authority that the coach needs to have over the team and my child, but it also  causes bad feelings between someone I hope my children can look up to.  The last thing any team needs is a player to start spreading the propaganda of mine to other players and their parents.  It does zero good for the team.  Speaking ill of a coach online puts people who don't know the entire situation in potentially bad positions. 

2.  I hope I work with my kids at home and let the coaches coach at practice and games.  There are enough voices in my kids heads at practice and games, the last thing I need to do is to add another one or God forbid one that contradicts what the coach is trying to do.

3.  I hope I don't allow my kids to complain about their coach at home.  If they aren't playing or getting shots or whatever, I hope I follow up with questions like "You are playing, what have you done to take advantage of it?"  "How many shots have you put up today?"  "Are you working as hard as you possibly can?"  I am going to guess that the answer to that last question will be "no".  My kids will be like all others, complain before thinking, it is my job as a parent to get their heads straight even if mine isn't.

4. I hope I have a relationship with all of my kids coaches.  Of course, that relationship will be predicated on what the coach wants it to be.  But I hope that if I ever do have a problem with a coach that I will speak to that coach and try to resolve a problem before going to his superiors.

5. I hope the only reason that I have great dislike for one of my kid's coaches is because of physical abuse or verbal abuse laced with profanity.  Because I have coached, because I realize how frustrated it can be to get a group to do what we are trying to do, I hope I can understand the intensity of a coach.

6.  I hope that I understand that my schedule stops during my kid's season.  I hope I can teach my children that when they are part of a team or group that they have a responsibility to that team.  My own personal schedule and what I want to do must stop so that my child does not cheat the coach or team because of what I or my wife want to do.  We both played and have both coached, so we will know that once our kids are in season, we won't be going anywhere.  Lord willing, one day they will be gone and we can do what we want, plus there are plenty of opportunities to go in vacation in July/August or even out of season.

7. I hope I teach my children that practice is important.  If we got out of bed only on days that we felt good, we would stay home a lot.  My kids need to understand that they go to practice unless they are just physically not capable and that means something much different to me than it does others, I think.

8. I hope I teach my kids to speak up.  I want them to speak up to the coach, to the team all within reason and respect.  I don't want to have to go to a coach about any single issue unless my child has taken control of the situation and hasn't been given a sufficient answer.  And when asking a question or wondering about a situation and asking a coach there are many options not just what I foresee being the answer, so I need to be prepared for an answer I don't like and then (see #1).

9.  I hope I support the team and not just my child.  When I go to watch my child's team play, I hope I can say that I didn't come to watch Madison/Brandon score, I came to watch the team win. 

10.  I hope I help the program before they play and support after.  I hope that I can show my children how important it is to support the programs they might play in before they actually play, but also that program will help my children grow, I hope I support it after they leave.  I don't want to be the parent that doesn't care about a program before my own children play, then become a pain while they are playing, then not care again after they are gone.

I understand how hard it can be a parent of an athlete/band member/drama person.  I know that many of the things we do, we do because we love our children.  But I hope, I hope, I can follow these 10 things, but I know, for sure, going into it that I will fail.  It is then when I will have to decide what to do next, fix or deny.  Because I coached for many years, I know what can be good or bad for a team and it should start in my home.

How to Prepare for a Big (Loud) Game

Every year, we play a hand full of games either at home or on the road in which the decibel level is high enough that the players cannot hear me.  One of my greatest flaws as a coach is that I talk too much during the games.  I think it has probably hurt in their development because if I am not yelling, they are looking to me for guidance instead of just playing.

This year when we have games coming up in which it will be very loud, I have resorted to playing music loudly in the gym.  It is amazing to watch as they seem to understand what we are teaching/coaching better during that time than when I am yelling at them during practice/games.  They understand that they must communicate to each other and there is a higher expectation to know what is going on.

If I were to coach in the future, I would do this more often.  It teaches them to be on the same page...for whatever reason.  Some would argue it is because they are trying to help their teammates, but it might also be that they want to be sure themselves what is going on.  I can tell you, it ends up being annoying for me if not only because I get tired of the music we play and that it is LOUD!

I guess the verdict is out on if it works or not.  It has helped in the games we have done it for this year, but we haven't won all of those games.  However, the players did play well we were just beaten by a better effort and team.

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Listen to Good Music Online

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What Has Basketball Done for Me?

What has basketball done for me?  Has it made me millions of dollars and worldwide fame?  No, but it has done so much more.

As a youth and then later as an adult, it taught me a work ethic, it taught me how to handle adversity, it taught me how to handle success, it taught me how to deal with pressure.  Basketball has brought me many friends and acquaintances both here and worldwide.  Basketball has provided something that my future wife and I had in common.  Basketball has provided me opportunities to travel the world.  Basketball has provided something for my children to be a part of that we can relate to.  Basketball has allowed me an opportunity to travel and spread the Gospel.

What has basketball done for me?  Made me richer than any amount of money could do.  It has provided me with opportunities to make relationships, help relationships, and have those people to influence and help me.

I wouldn't change anything because basketball has brought me so many great things in life.