PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: For The Love Of The Game
This morning I was plopped in front of my computer, staring at the screen, fingers motionless, wondering what tidbit of basketball I should write about. nothing came to me. I stared some more. Maybe I was tired (and a little grumpy) from my lousy game last night. My shot was WAY off and my energy level in the tank. Hustle is generally the best part of my game…but not last night. So there I was sitting, moping, hoping for inspiration, when I heard a bounce, and another bounce, and another bounce and a swish. Mind you this was 9:00am on a school day.
I smiled. The neighbor boys were getting ready to head off to school. Ahhh. My smile spread across my face while I listened to the ball bounce and swish and bounce and swish for several minutes until our front yard basketball hoop, that entices young and old, fell silent.
That’s what it’s about. Tossing in a few shots before you have to sit in the class room all day. Grabbing a friend and battling it out in a little one on one. Self commentating as you, alone, dart around the court to make the buzzer beating 3-point shot to win the game. Whether you play in high school, college, or are an old rec-leaguer like me, whether you’re a coach, or a parent watching it all, remember what this game is really about. Remember the fun, and remember the love of the game.
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Time For You
I have a new routine. For a couple of weeks now I have been carving out time for myself at breakfast. Each weekday morning I make myself a little spread, complete with a cup of tea, and sit down (key words: SIT DOWN) to eat. I bring the paper, a magazine, or a book and take a few relaxing moments for myself. This often leads to pulling out my journal and writing, but at the very least it gives me a few minutes to peacefully gather myself for the day.
Don’t forget to carve out some time in the day just for you…
Today’s writing prompt: Jessica set her dishes in the sink, wiped the kitchen counter and placed a note on it’s clean surface. Then she picked up her bag and walked out the front door…
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: TEAM
“There is no “I” in team.” You’ve probably heard this before. Or perhaps, my assistant coach’s favorite, “TEAM. Together, Everyone, Achieves, More.”
There are a lot of quotes about the importance of TEAM. And there is a good reason for it; TEAM is the difference between a good team and championship team, between a miserable 5-15 team and a strong-hearted joyful 3-17 team. A group of athletes, or businessmen or women, who keep their focus on team, will reap the benefits. Not always in the win/loss column, but in life and how they learn to live it.
As a high school coach, I witnessed the power of TEAM first-hand this season. We had a lot of young talent and with that could easily have come team dissention. But players worked as a team to get to know and trust one another, find their roles and push themselves, and each other, to become better. Our Seniors, that lost some time on the court, demonstrated with near perfection, the power of TEAM. Their hard work and positive attitudes helped lead us to a winning season and the first division title in the history of the school. The girls believed in the importance of TEAM and were rewarded with wins, friendships and a lesson on how to live life.
How has the concept of TEAM affected you? What is your favorite TEAM quote?
Book Review: The Improv by M.J. McDermott
I met M.J. working on the book trailer for my memoir “Back on the Court”. She too is a writer and what a story she has to tell. Her novel, “The Improv” is based on her personal experience as an actress in college . After I finished her book, I couldn’t stop thinking about it. I had to talk to my teenage daughter about it.
As an athlete and fashion model I grew up witnessing predators in action. A coach that dated his, much younger, players, photographers that suggested bras or panties be removed, agents that asked young men to remove ALL their clothing while they were measured. But what is revealed in “The Improv” brings the predators manipulation to a whole new level.
“The Improv” is a thought-provoking, oh-so-relevant, must-read. The novel (based on a true story) flawlessly weaves college life, youthful innocence, and a predator’s perversion, into a suspenseful, entertaining and at times haunting story. A story that needed to be told. Thank you Ms. McDermott.
From the back cover:
A novel based on a true story. For mature young adults. It is 1982 at a New England university, and drama major Margo Laughton is thrilled and terrified to be cast as “Sheila” in the rock musical Hair. The show’s director, Professor Harrison P. Adler, is known for his daring productions. Rumors have circulated for decades about how Harry gets actors to break through their inhibitions. He prefers working with boys, encouraging them to become violent and explore their sexuality in carefully guided improvisations or “improvs.” In 1969, an actor in one of Harry’s plays committed suicide. Is Harry a brilliant ground-breaking acting coach, or is he a manipulative voyeur who has found an academically and artistically sanctioned way to indulge his […]
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
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Monday’s Pen to Paper: Getting Older
I had my first (and hopefully last), root canal this morning at 7:00am. I was hoping maybe it was all a mistake. My tooth wasn’t really hurting all that bad. But with X-rays and sensitivity tests it was decided that yes, a root canal was in order.
When the doc started working she reconfirmed that it would have been a matter of time, things already looked pretty inflamed. She made note of the fact that I must be pretty tough. I liked this. (This in itself is a blog all its own.)
To me, getting a root canal is a sign of getting old. This, I didn’t like.
My dad said to me once, “Sonya, you’re only as old as you feel.” This morning I feel old. But as the numbness in my mouth fades so will my melancholy mood, and I’ll be glad my tooth ache is gone, glad for modern medicine and glad […]
PeaceLoveBasketball Friday: Surprise Yourself
Yesterday was my Thursday night women’s basketball league. Most of the players on our team played basketball at the college level, and though a lot of us are over 40-years-old, we are competitive with other teams. Last night we played a new team to the league. The women arrived in short shorts and running shoes. I was concerned.
The game ended 74-17 in our favor. Normally this type of game would have really frustrated me, and to be honest, scared me. (It’s when players are out of control that people get hurt.) But these women did not play crazy out of control, just extremely rusty and what was interesting and inspiring was that they had all played basketball together in high school and they had decided to put a team together and go for it. Who could knock that?
This morning those […]
Monday’s Pen to Paper: Simply Write
WRITING PROMPT: Take a look at today’s photo and get to work…
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