There aren't many Wally Pipp stories. And even the Pipp story allegedly is wrong. The headache came after the lineup change. Lou Gehrig replaced Pipp in 1925, hitting twenty homers and ten triples, finishing twenty-fourth in the MVP voting. And Gehrig held the job for the next fourteen years until illness took it from him.
"Pay your dues." Robin Roberts took lesser jobs early in her career to be ready for prime time, which came later on ESPN and Good Morning America. She knew she had to get ready. Coach Popovich says it another way, "pound the rock."
Before tryouts, after the girls take a couple of warmup laps. I ask how many of them cut corners. The magic is in the details. "You never get a second chance to make a first impression." You can't skip steps.
How often do we see players seeking more minutes and bigger roles who aren't ready to answer the bell? There's the story about Bill Belichick handing a prospect a playbook with a hundred dollar bill in the back. How many failed to read through the whole playbook, missing the prize and the opportunity? Preparation is everyone's existential crisis.
Say "yes." In a give and take world, pay it forward. Can you run this tryout, can you make this presentation, would you write a letter of recognition?
Take care of business. "The main thing is the main thing." Your grades are your job. "You own your paycheck (minutes). Some student-athletes also have demanding responsibilities within their families with jobs and sibling care.
Say "No." Sacrifice means saying yes to opportunity while saying no to reckless behaviors. Alcohol, tobacco and vaping, drugs, and late-night partying are self-destructive choices. Coaches fear that players' freedom to choose will result in poor choices and their
consequences. "But why should student-athletes particularly care? A single night’s alcohol use impairs hydration (alcohol is a diuretic), muscle recovery, healing, and can cause memory deficits for three days. Alcohol damages sleep. It limits absorption of key vitamins. It decreases endurance."
"Figure it out." Young players make mistakes. So do seniors. Sometimes in practice we have to let it go, let them play and "figure it out." Then, they're ready.
Get the experience so that you're ready when your chance comes. Vision, decisions, and execution apply just as much off the court.
Summary:
"Get ready for your suddenly."
Pay your dues.
"You never get a second chance to make a first impression."
Preparation is an existential crisis.
Say "Yes."
Take care of business.
Say, "No."
Lagniappe: Mindfulness helps a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, and insomnia. The excellent HEADSPACE app is offering free service to individuals who lost their job. Additionally, in some studies, mindfulness practitioners were more likely to become re-employed.
Lagniappe 2: John Leonzo video with PnR reads @John_Leonzo
Lagniappe 3: Clear thinking.Check out the "ball screen 1v1" drill here to boost pick and roll play as well: https://t.co/3kPFptxCsg https://t.co/3P2EO0w7WH— John Leonzo (@John_Leonzo) May 14, 2020
Lagniappe 4: Slide via Peter Lonergan, "Stand where you can see what they see."The value of an opportunity changes depending on how it is treated.— James Clear (@JamesClear) May 19, 2020
Don’t wish for better opportunities until you make the most of your current ones.
Lagniappe 5.
"Wear your mask. You're no good to us if you're sick."
