Hello Hoop-la season and hello Spring Break!! Is there a better combo?? The twins of course, maybe Pb&J, MJ & Pippen, or possibly White Chocolate Cheesecake. WIth March Madness in full-swing it had me thinking. I watch championship-level competitions– the Super Bowl, the NBA Championship, NCAA Final Four– and I always think about the losing team as they interview the player or coach after the final buzzer. I respect that they made it to the pinnacle of their sport and just came up short that day. That is the irony of sports, someone must lose. They are at the ceiling of their abilities and performance. Play the game again any other day and maybe the opposite result happens. Obviously, they are good enough to be there and win it.
This year I was reminded about the pain of being so close to winning a championship and coming up short. My team played for the GA 4A State Championship and was buzz sawed by a really good team and coach. Even Patrick Mahomes lost the Super Bowl in a decisive beat down. It happens in sports.The interesting thing is that I didn’t immediately feel fulfilled and accomplished. I felt like I let the world down. I wanted badly to deliver a championship to our town, my players, and my coaches to let them experience what it feels like to know that you are the ultimate #1 team after everything is over. I failed. It would have been my second state title, and it is always remembered when returning to that town and school.
Now, with a little time and space between the final buzzer, I am starting to realize just how much fun we had on that journey ad a few accomplishments along the way. We had to beat the #2 team in GA and the #1 scorer in the state just to get the chance at winning your last game of the year… and even that came down to the last possession of the game a made free throw that took guts by Cherish Eric. Amkid who left Africa to come live with complete strangers in search of a better life. We got hot at the right time, beating a handful of really good teams. Christian Hubbard and Aiden Miller were first team All-State players. So, what did I learn?
I learned that GA has over 400 schools who began the season hoping to play in that game. We were one of two left standing in March. We just talked about getting better every day and being the best we could be. We focused on the little things every day. We focused on loving one another and putting Christ at the center of what we do. We knew our limitations and weaknesses and worked incessantly all season to improve them to reach our ceiling– whatever that would be for this team.
I learned that it goes by so fast that my advice to every player and coach is to savor every win and every moment, or you cheat yourself of those rewards. We take a team picture after every win. Some say it is redundant and dumb. I say people who say that have not dedicated significant time to anything. I look back over those wonderful pictures from this season and am reminded of all the subplots and stories that happened that made life memories.
I also learned that winning it all doesn’t significantly change much. I know because I have done both. I can compare the effects of winning a state championship and losing a state championship upon my life… and they aren’t much different. I still had to mow the lawn and take out the trash after each experience. Nobody offered me a million-dollar endorsement deal, nor took one away for that matter. My monthly school income stayed the same. The cool thing is that the underclassmen were there in the gym the next week, ready to work and get better. That’s what coaching is about.
Most importantly, I think I have learned to appreciate the process of working with kids and developing their skills but more importantly their confidence and becoming a good MAN. I have had the privilege to coach for 15 years and made it to 2 Final Fours and 2 state championships. That’s 13.3% efficiency. But I get to work with kids and push them to become the absolute best they can be every day! Those rewards of seeing athletes grow and improve are priceless. Looking back, I can see how each athlete we had gotten better this season and reached their personal ceiling of skills and abilities. Collectively, it equaled into a state championship contender. For that I am thankful, re-energized, and can look back on the season with pride. Thank you to all the parents, players, staff, and fans. Especially Dan and Fiver!! I to my four at home, thank you for the long nights, the sacrifices, and most of all believing in me!
I love my Twins but yesterday I discovered I drew the line at $17.22 milkshakes!!
Me: it's bedtime
Twins: what would happen if everyone in the world farted at the exact same time?
Newsflash: somehow trampolines have the opposite effect on twins. Instead of zapping energy they replenish it in some science defying nature and all things under the sun.
Parenting has taught me a lot about unconditional love. Like, I didn’t know how much I would be in love with magic erases, for example!!
Sending Twins home from school for a week in the Spring and calling it a "Break" is a wee bit misleading!!
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