Archive for year: 2010
MESSAGE #1175 MINOR THOUGHTS
I know a minor league baseball player that pretends to get angry at the pitcher when he steps up to the plate.
In my eyes, that this is a minor league mindset.
Here’s what I think…
When you “hate” your opponent, it creates muscle tension and you don’t perform at your peak.
When sprinters train for competition, they run at about 80 percent.
Why?
Because when they run at 100 percent, their muscles constrict and they actually run slower.
Instead of “hating” your opponent, think of them as your teacher–someone who is pushing you to get better.
Have gratitude for your teacher and you will stay loose.
When you stay loose, you perform at a higher level.
Hating your opponent is a minor league attitude, and you can’t make the major leagues with a minor league attitude.
MESSAGE #1174 HOW TO BE A QUITTER
“Competitors take bad breaks and use them to drive themselves just that much harder. Quitters take bad breaks and use them as reasons to give up.”
-NANCY LOPEZ
MESSAGE #1173 THE SECRET TO SUCCESS
Today’s message is especially dedicated to all the great coaches that attended the MSC Coaches Clinic featuring basketball coaches from Rutgers, Villanova, St. Joe’s, Robert Morris and Temple.
Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it.
-GEORGE HALAS
Have you ever heard anyone say…
“I wish I would have partied more.”
“I wish I would have held back.”
“I wish I would have slacked off more.”
Of course not. You see, in sports and life, it is better to go all out than it is to hold back.
So the next time you don’t “feel like” doing what you need to do, whether it’s practicing, studying or cleaning the house, just do it anyway. And do it well. If you do, you’re better than most everyone else.
And guess what type of results you will get?
MESSAGE #1172 A PERFECT DAY
Fifty-four years ago today, Don Larsen threw the first and only perfect game in World Series history.
Larsen didn’t even know he was going to start the game until he arrived at the ballpark.
Yankees manager, Frank Crosetti put a baseball in Larsen’s shoe, which meant that he was pitching.
Larsen gulped and said to himself, “Don’t mess this up.”
He was nervous, but he went out there and pitched the game of his life, 27 up, 27 down, to catcher Yogi Berra.
During his career, Larsen was only about average, but on this day in 1956, he was perfect.
Larsen says, “If you work hard enough, I believe everybody’s entitled to one good day.”
Work hard everybody.
MESSAGE #1171 WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN THE PRESSURE’S ON?
Well, the Yankees were losing 3-0 in Game 1 of the ALDS versus the Minnesota Twins last night and they came back to win 6-4.
“The switch kind of turns on when the postseason rolls around over here,” says Yankee Nick Swisher.
That’s a winning mindset.
Most people fold when the pressure is on.
But the great ones get turned on by the pressure.
It’s a choice.
What will you choose?
MESSAGE #1170 SELF-FULFILLING PROPHECY
The other day I was getting ready to teach a young boy. Before we went on the court, I said, “This just might be the best lesson you’ve ever had.”
“I thought EVERY LESSON is the best I’ve ever had?” he responded.
I liked his answer.
So we went on the court and his energy level was exceptionally high, even in the warmup. We started hitting and he was totally focused and high-energy.
It truly was one of the best lessons he ever had.
And he created it in his mind first.
The problem with many people is that either they act how they feel or they think negatively.
And that’s what they get. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Does your day determine your attitude, or does your attitude determine your day?
MESSAGE #1168 WHEN TO GET SERIOUS
Dr. Alan Goldberg is one of the top sports psychologists in the world. Goldberg says you have to know when to be serious in sports.
“The time to try hard and get serious should ONLY be WHEN YOU PRACTICE and NEVER, EVER WHEN YOU STEP INTO THE COMPETITIVE ARENA,” says Goldberg.
“When you get ‘serious’ about the outcome of any game, match or race you inadvertently set yourself up for frustration and failure.”
Think about a time when you performed “in the zone” or “in flow.”
Didn’t you “just” do it? Weren’t you focused but relaxed?
That’s peak performance.
How do you do it?
Focus on your strategy, effort and attitude, instead of the outcome.
MESSAGE #1167 TEAMWORK AND INTELLIGENCE
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
-MICHAEL JORDAN