Big Addition

I said last week that writing my game update was a joy. Well, this update is surely even a greater one, because I have the joy of announcing the arrival of my third child. She was born on Sunday, April, 13th at 5:30 pm in Bandirma, Turkey. Her name is Naomi Kathryn. My wife Erin and the new little one are doing well. They were both welcomed home on Monday by Abigail and Elijah, who now enjoying getting a glimpse of Naomi whenever they can!

Elijah (he is 2) has already asked Naomi to shoot hoops with him. I am sure she will learn soon enough.

Thankful beyond words,
Joe

A Little Big Thing

This “Tip of the Week” is a bit overdue, but as you can tell from my last few updates, I have been a bit busy. I just wanted to offer the first of two thoughts in response to the National Championship Game played last Monday night.

As most of you will recall (b/c anyone reading this was probably watching the game), Memphis was more or less in control of the game throughout the contest. I watched the last 10 minutes of the game live (from Turkey) and definitely felt that Memphis looked like the better team that day. They were more confident, more decisive, more aggressive. At least that last part of the game, they were more dominant.

However, they lost. And a big reason for that loss was the inability to finish the game with free throws.

Now, as one who plays this game for a living, I can relate to those young men on the free throw line. Though I have not shot free throws with a National Championship on the line, I have shot them with my childhood dream of a State Championship on the line. And in countless other situations throughout the globe (some of which I may have felt threatened for my life if I missed!). So I can understand. There was a great deal of pressure on these young guys.

And you have to realize that unlike a fast break situation, two shots at the free throw line give you plenty of time to think. Then factor in the 3-minute time outs that CBS has during the NCAA Tournament (and they are ridiculous….I mean, you honestly could probably get away with playing 5 guys during these games without having to give them a rest. But I’ll save all that for another post.) Anyhow, factor those timeouts in there and your mind is racing. And you know their minds were racing. You could see it in their eyes. They knew what was on the line during those moments. And they feared that they might miss.

So with all that being said, I offer one thing that those young men could have done to make those free throws. Sure, I could add other things, but this is one simple thing that they could easily have done to finish that game off and go home the champions. Simply put: practice.

Now, I have no doubt that they have practiced thousands of free throws throughout their lifetime. But I do doubt that they practiced them with the diligence required to make them at the end of the game. I say this not because practice always translates into made free throws under pressure. That isn’t true. I have missed a few in my day during those tense situations (and actually missed one the other day). But more times than not, I made those free throws. And one of the primary reasons why was not mental toughness or because I didn’t feel the pressure. No way. Though I often put on a pretty good act, I struggled with confidence and I certainly felt the pressure.

No. The reason why I made those pressure free throws more times than not is because I practiced my free throws so much that I had trained my mind and body to know nothing but success. I had gone through my routine hundreds of thousands of times…maybe millions, so my body knew how to respond. It had been trained well. And my mind, in turn, knew that. It had something to fall back on when the pressure started coming in. Did I fear missing the free throw? Many times, yes. Sometimes I still do. But then I tell myself, “You have done this millions of times. What’s one more?” And oftentimes, that makes all the difference.

John Wooden once said, “Little things make big things happen.” Free throws are one of those little things. And as the National Championship game showed, they can make championships happen. Or not happen. Depending upon how much you are willing to invest into those little things.

So what are your little things? Ask yourself that question. Then draw up a plan to make big things happen. Be diligent to control what you can control. Train your mind and body to know nothing but success. Will you still fail? Yes. Of course. But you won’t fail nearly as much as if you didn’t put in the work.

Embrace the little big things of basketball…like free throws. And put in the work to become an expert, so that when those pressures moments come, you might perform your best.

Big Win

To the degree that my last update was difficult to write, this update is a joy. For we won a big game on the road tonight by two points. The team we played is fighting for a 4th place finish, but we controlled the game throughout, more or less, and came up big in the end.

One of the great things about the game is that numerous guys stepped up and made big plays. The team really came together and supported one another throughout. It is always a pleasure to be a part of such a team victory.

Final score, Karsiyaka 76 Banvit 78. I got a steal that led to a breakaway dunk with 3 seconds left. (Though I confess that I did foul my opponent…no call, but they did get away with a foul against me that led to a breakaway just a minute earlier!) They shot a fade away three at the buzzer, but it was long.

I also had the joy of playing one of my better games of the season. I ended up with 25 points on 9-14 shooting. I was determined to play aggressive, with no hesitation or fear, and was thankful that I was able to do just that. I am also hopeful that that can continue. For we now have two games remaining, both of which we must win in order to make the playoffs. Our next game is actually at home against one of the teams that is in the playoff race with us. I am hopeful we can finish strong.

Thankful for the games,
Joe

p.s. here is the boxscore.

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