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Saturday, July 25, 2026

Basketball- Everything I Needed to Know…

Robert Fulghum wrote, "All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten." 


Chart from Google Gemini AI 

"Simple is hard." 

Let's apply key rules from Robert Fulghum's classic.

1. Share everything. Phil Jackson knew this and emphasized in his quote, "Basketball is sharing." Share the ball, the vision, communication, sacrifice.

2. Put things back where you found them. For the All-Blacks New Zealand rugby team, that means "Sweep the sheds" and leave the facility better than you found it. 

3. Be aware of wonder. Find value in everyone's contribution. 

4. Wash your hands. Recover. There's an expanding emphasis on post-practice and post-game recovery - sleep, massage, walking, contrast hot and cold therapy, nutrition. 

5. Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody. When people hurt us, it's hard not to respond. Be kind and find situations to lead. 

6. "Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you." Metaphorically, remember gratitude, praise, and empathy. It is not all about us. 

7. Live a balanced life. "All work and no play make Jack a dull boy." All play and "living The Life" will get you out of The League fast. Take care of your finances. About 60 percent of players are bankrupt within a decade. Take care of your body and remember that about three-quarters of human error is made with the open mouth - alcohol, drugs, excess food, and what we say. 

8. "Take a nap every afternoon." Shakespeare wrote, "Sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care..." Sleep refreshes both the mind and the body. Sleep 'consolidates' the memories of the previous day - training, game plans, and more. 

9. "Hold hands and stick together." A few teams have won big with extraordinary dysfuntion, notably the Yankees "Bronx Zoo." They're notable because they're so rare. Winning is a lot more fun within a great culture. 

10. "Attention. The biggest word of all: LOOK." We have "show and tell" to educate, engage, and excite others. The most painful sporting loss I ever experienced was because of a failure of engagement. It only takes one player not on the same page to destroy a season. 

Lagniappe. Are you leading? 
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