Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Basketball - Practical Principles from Memorable Military Figures

Basketball is not war, yet presents metaphorical battles and concepts available to us. More than ten years of Navy service taught valuable lessons. History teaches more. 

"I can learn." 

Bowdoin Professor turned Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain explained how an untrained Rhetoric professor became a hero at Gettysburg. 

Basketball - Promote a learning culture. 

"Always forward."  

General Alexander Suvorov was the "General who never lost." He treated his mean well, was committed to training, and never retreated. 

Basketball - Earn the right to confidence via high performance.

"Every battle is won before it is fought."

Sun Tzu's The Art of War is a timeless classic from over 2500 years ago. He believed that preparation and a host of principles set strategic standards. 

Basketball - Preparation, practice, and performance follow intent. 

"We will fight in the shade."

According to the historian Herodotus, a native of Trachis warned Dienekes that the Persian arrows were so numerous they would blot out the sun. Dienekes answered, "Good; then we will fight in the shade."

Basketball - Think "Whatever it takes."

"Duty. Honor. Country."

MacArthur's legendary "Address to Graduates" (West Point) emphasized the core values of the service academy. 

Basketball - Distill standards and values. Character. Sportsmanship. Community. 

 "Find one more thing." 

General Hal Moore argued that there was always "one more thing" that could be done to help earn victory. Include that concept into your philosophy and teach it to our players. 

Basketball - Our basketball training and experience can shape us to become more when we're willing to apply what we know and sometimes to think "outside of the box." 

"You can’t help when or what you were born, you may not be able to help how you die; but you can—and you should—try to pass the days between as a good man.” - Sam Damon in "Once an Eagle"

We can't choose our size, our biological limitations, or our upbringing. We can choose our attitude, our choices, and our effort to grow our character and competence.

Basketball - Everyone can't become an exceptional player. We can choose to become an exceptional teammate and the best leader we can be.

Lagniappe. Authentic likability is a skill.  

Lagniappe 2. Believe that by modeling excellence that we can help young people develop both character and competence. Most of us do. 

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