Peak Performance: The Blog

Eric Spoelstra & The Miami Heat: Fighting Human Nature

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sat, 18 May 2013 23:57:00 +0000

"There is an objective lens. We just need to make the most educated decisions on what's real and what wasn't real. Part of it just might have been Chicago and what they brought to the game.

"There are no shortcuts to it. You can't cheat the game. So you have to work at it. We had a day like [Friday] where you're almost a week out from competing and you're coming off a very intense series. Your natural reaction is not to want to come in here and really get after it and sweat and condition."

--Eric Spoelstra, head coach of the Miami Heat, discussing what he learned from the playoff series with the Chicago Bulls.

The Miami Heat were upset by the Chicago Bulls in Game 1 of their playoff series. The Heat bounced back to take 4 straight games from the Bulls to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals. Spoelstra is focused on learning from that series and reviewing what went right and what went wrong during that series.

Despite having one of the most talented teams in the NBA, Spoelstra does all that he can to fight complacency and prepare himself and his team to win. The Heat is awaiting the winner of the series between the New York Knicks and the Indiana Pacers.

For more, click on: "Heat Wants to be Ready for Game 1 This Time Around" (SunSentinel.com, May 17, 2013).

Resilience: Embracing the Past, Anticipating the Future, Enjoying the Moment

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Wed, 08 May 2013 22:48:00 +0000

After watching the first playoff game of the NBA Western Conference semifinals between the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors, I began thinking of the significance of this series. It was an extremely exciting game that included a career-defining performance by the Warriors' Steph Curry, a characteristically masterful and successful comeback by the San Antonio Spurs, and game-winning shot by Manu Ginobili. The Spurs relied on their championship pedigree to maintain home-court advantage if only for the moment. Some have said that it has been the game of this years' playoffs.

However, what was more striking were the many similarities and only subtle contrast in playing styles of the two teams and individual stars, the personalities and philosophies of the teams and organizations. This comparison has led me to share with you an interesting snapshot of the NBA at this moment in time and, perhaps, what has contributed to my appreciation of the sport.

The San Antonio Spurs continue to remain at the top of NBA franchises in winning tradition, success, results, and longevity. During their long-time competitiveness, they have evolved from a tough-nosed defensive-minded team to a more well-rounded team with a more balanced approach. This approach has incorporated a speedier, smaller, more European style of play that not only incorporated that style but intelligently scouted and drafted European players to execute for them. As other franchises experience ups-and-down over the years, the Spurs consistently compete, excel and win as the times change.

By contrast, without the same tradition of winning as the Spurs, the Golden State Warriors have been become a media and fan darling this season as Steph Curry has emerged as a fearless shooter who has unlimited range and uncanny accuracy, releasing quick jump shots from distances that past players have only tried in desperate, buzzer-beating situations.

The Warriors play an up-tempo, quick-passing, quick-shooting style also mimicking the Europeans. Unlike the Spurs mix of veterans and young players, most of the regulars on the Warriors team are quite young and inexperienced. The Bay area fans of the Warriors seem more like a crowd one might see at a international soccer match, loud and on the verge of coming unglued after every Warrior basket or opponent mistake. Though the Spurs fans have always been loud and enthusiastic, the Warriors fans have taken it to another level.

What I see is the evolution of the NBA in microcosm. Though the Spurs may or may not win this series, I can see the future of the NBA in the Warriors. The Warriors, perhaps by design, have taken the Spurs approach one step farther than the Spurs. While not quite equaling the discipline, structure, flow and consistency of the Spurs, the Warriors have begun to use more of the court and increase the overall range that the offense can comfortably utilize use to run, pass and shoot. The youth, athleticism, and vision of the Warriors, modeled and led by Curry, allows for that increase. It appears more haphazard, spontaneous and chaotic than the Spurs, but that is what evolution looks like, at first.

This process of evolution has also increased the possibilities, potential and long-range resilience of the teams in the NBA. The downside is that is has also increased the risk as more individuals playing in this environment are being felled by crippling injuries. This is also a part of the evolution of the sport and the league.

This series could be a long, highly entertaining, competitive, contested, back-and-forth affair, with highs and lows for both teams. The winner will be the team that can be more resilient. The winner will be the team that can:

1. Embrace the past and understand where they and other teams have learned from champions and where they have come from.
2. Display flexibility and be able to adapt to what their opponents are doing, the fans are reacting to, fatigue, injury, etc.
3. Anticipate the future and be at least a step or two ahead of their opponent.
4. Enjoy the moment by effectively dealing with the pressure and stress of the demands and expectations of a championship playoff series.

Prediction: Spurs in 7 games.

Panic: Abandoning The Strategy or Staying the Course

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sun, 05 May 2013 16:40:00 +0000

Happily, the Atlanta Braves started the season 12-1. They began Sunday with a two-game lead in the National League East. During their hot start they displayed great pitching and tremendous home run hitting. Justin Upton leads the major leagues with 12 home runs.

However, since the 12-1 start, the Braves have lost 11 of 16 games. The fans are restless and the team is questioning itself. Many people have questioned the team's power-focused, home run-or-bust mentality. As the losing slump began, Atlanta had six straight games with double-digit strikeouts, including three games in Detroit in which they totaled 39. They lead in the N.L. in strikeouts (266) and are tied for first in home runs (40).

Using this approach, the Braves' hitters are striking out 9.2 times a game, which puts them on a pace to become the second team to strike out more than 1,400 times in a season. The Braves have won just one game in which they did not hit a home run. It is not as if the Braves are undisciplined free swingers. They draw their share of walks — they are tied for fourth in the N.L.

Those that support the Braves' exciting, yet frustrating strategy, point out the fact that six-time All-Star Brian McCann has not played since off-season shoulder surgery, Jason Heyward is on the disabled list after an appendectomy, and second baseman Dan Uggla and outfielder B. J. Upton have not been hitting well at all. It is possible that when the team gets healthy, its hitting and power will reach new levels of efficiency and lead to more winning.

The team stands 17-12 with almost a fifth of the season gone. They have a .586 winning percentage.

Should the Atlanta Braves start panicking? Should they abandon the strategy upon which the team was built?

The Braves may not have another 12-1 streak in them this season. However, the organization built this team for power and pitching. They spent much time researching data, obtaining talent, and making the decision about their plan for the season. In preparation for this season, the team committed to this approach. If they built it, they should use it. It is entirely too early to change their strategy. They must show confidence in the strategy and the players they obtained to execute the strategy. The Braves should not panic.

There is a much greater risk in changing anything major at this point in the season. With this personnel, a shift in strategy is much more likely to jeopardize the entire season than would staying the course. Ride out the season. Keep the fans excitement high. Power, home runs and pitching will keep the fans coming. The challenge is in executing the plan. It is not time to abandon the strategy that plays to the strengths of the team. Keep the faith.

The Kevin Garnett Mentality: Ready to Work (Video)

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Thu, 02 May 2013 15:06:00 +0000

Do you have this passion, focus and energy?

Watch and learn.

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Shut Up and Be Happy That He is Happy: The Courage of Jason Collins

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 15:43:00 +0000

The NBA's Jason Collins is a very courageous man. I respect and support what he has done (not that he has asked me). I apologize for us making it so difficult and for it to have taken so long. I can't imagine the struggle of having to keep such a "secret" to oneself for so long.

However, the news isn't that he is gay. The news is that some of us still think that we were better off when he was in the closet. Some of us think Jason Collins was better off staying in the closet. There are people who somehow think that we were better off not knowing. Perhaps, some of us feel better protected and safer when he was in the closet.

All we know is that he decided to inform us that he is primarily attracted to men. Period. Not because we needed to know, but because he needed relief from being someone who he knew he wasn't. He almost married a woman, at least partly because he thought we needed him to.

Some of us condemn him for his choices. Evidence strongly suggests that he is no more in control of his sexual preferences that the rest of us. How he deals with those preferences, now that is another matter.

We don't know who he has slept with. It's none of my business. It's none of our business what consenting adult he sleeps with in the future. His twin brother, Jarron, doesn't know who he slept with or didn't sleep with. Nevertheless, there are people who think that Jason is a sinner (because of what he has chosen to reveal about himself, not because of what he has done or not done with his preferences).

Coming out is not a crime or a sin. The real sin is shunning or condemning a man without knowing the man or his actions. There are people who feel that Jason Collins has violated their religious beliefs and their moral code. Despite living in a country founded on and based on religious freedom, some of us continue to deny others that right.

I respect you, Jason Collins, for lifting the burden off of your shoulders in spite of the possible dangers and consequences that we insist on creating for you. Let's hope that it helps others to unburden themselves of their secrets (whether they inform us publicly or not).

Also, thank you for putting up a mirror to our own sense of values and ethics. Are we ready to accept and support a gay athlete? I trust most of us are. Most importantly, I hope we can live up to your courage.

Kevin Garnett: Unwavingly High Standards

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 17:19:00 +0000

One of the crucial personality and behavioral characteristics of peak performers is "unwaveringly high standards."

The Boston Celtics are the most storied and successful team in NBA history. Banners hang from the rafters in their new arena depicting their past glory and multiple championships.

In 2007, Boston Celtics went 24-58, easily missing the playoffs. Included in this horrible season was an 18-game losing streak.

One year later, the Celtics began the 2007-2008 season with a 30-4 record, a team record, and the fourth best start in NBA history. The season end with the Celtics taking the NBA championship home with them.

Danny Ainge, the Boston Celtics' general manager acquired Ray Allen from the Seattle Supersonics and eight-time NBA All-Star Kevin Garnett from the Minnesota Timberwolves. These acquisitions, designed to instantly turnaround and re-invent a stagnant franchise, have been celebrated for fast results and a completely different team climate.

The team appeared to have a renewed focus and a sense of pride not existent in recent years in Boston. What could be the reason? Many think it is Kevin Garnett.

Kevin Garnett Getting Ready to Do Battle

"KG is unique in that regard. It's important to his game to get himself pumped up, to make sure when he steps on the court that it is the most important thing in his life for 48 minutes. He might be the best at it.

"Maybe it's a function of my age, but I kind of like it. Amusing isn't the right word, because that's too flippant. More like intriguing, or interesting. Any coach would love a player as focused as Kevin."

--San Antonio Spurs head coach Gregg Popovich, on how Kevin Garnett gets himself ready for games.

The Difference in the Boston Celtics: KG's Leadership

"This is my seventh year in the NBA. I've been to the finals twice, and those teams were great. But they were not like this team. And the reason why is Kevin Garnett.

"The media perception about Garnett is real. When Kevin walks into the facility and the weight room, he jokes around and makes fun of guys. But then about 15 minutes before practice, it's all focus. It's all work."

"If he is not clear about something, we don't move on until we are all clear. He solves a lot of problems. I mean, I've played with good players. I played with Jason Kidd, and Kidd is an incredible gamer. But he was never as demanding of his teammates the way Kevin is. Not half as much. Not a quarter as much."

"The impact of one person can be immense. It's much larger than in any other sport. So when you add Kevin Garnett, the defensive intelligence he brings is huge. It's not just that he's adding 20 points and 10 rebounds a night. There are other guys who can get you 20 and 10 who are not the player that he is. He demands a different level of focus from everybody."

--Brian Scalabrine, veteran NBA forward who played on the 2006-2007 Celtic team.

Taken from PLAY Magazine, March 2008.

Can High Standards Affect A Team's Culture?: The KG Effect

"The whole face of the Celtics turned around when the trade happened with this guy. Everyone talks about MVP, and they talk about numbers, but this guy has changed the whole culture around here."
--Paul Pierce, veteran Boston Celtic all-star.

from ESPN.com, 3/27/08

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Ubuntu

South African concept of selflessness, unity and teamwork

"When the team is elevated, the individual is elevated; when the team is diminished, the individual is diminished."

"The strength of a team is its players; the strength of the players is the team."

Ubuntu is an ethic or humanist philosophy focusing on people's allegiances and relations with each other. The word has its origin in the Bantu languages of Southern Africa. Ubuntu is seen as a traditional African concept.

Ubuntu was introduced to the Boston Celtics by head coach Doc Rivers. The Celtics have chanted "ubuntu" when breaking a huddle since the start of the 2007-2008 season. It proved to be successful as Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and veteran Celtic Paul Pierce blended their talents with the other teammates to win an NBA championship. The championship was an example of great individual talent yielding to the team concept.

"A person is a person through another person. I can't be all I can be unless you are all you can be.

"There's an amazing amount of hurt that goes with that. The only way you're going to win is that you've got to open yourself up to hurt. You've got to open yourself up and go for it. You may have to pass more, you may have to set an extra pick you may have to dive on the floor for a loose ball.

"You can't do it by yourself. Individuals don't win, teams win."

--Doc Rivers.

Excerpts from the New York Times and Wikipedia, 10/5/2008.

Marcus Lattimore Tries Another Comeback

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:14:00 +0000

"Adversity Introduces a Man to Himself."

--Marcus Lattimore, former University of South Carolina running back.

Despite one serious knee injury, Lattimore was projected to be the most coveted collegiate running back in the 2013 NFL draft as the 2012 college football season opened. However, during that season, he injured his knee for the second time in as many years in a game against the Tennessee Volunteers. He torn three ligaments and many thought his professional football was over before it began.

Lattimore is engaged in the second major rehabilitation of his football life and reportedly working as hard as ever to prepare for the NFL.

Today, Lattimore is anxiously waiting to see if NFL teams will take a chance on him.

Excerpts from ESPN.com (April 25, 2013). For more, including video, click on:

http://espn.go.com/nfl/draft2013/story/_/id/9210209/2013-nfl-draft-marcus-lattimore-vows-ready-week-1

Injury Recovery and the Elite Athlete: Can and Will Kobe Bryant Recover and Come Back to the NBA?

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 13:25:00 +0000

NOTE: This post was researched and written prior to the Boston Marathon bombing. My heart goes out to the victims and families that have been harmed by this tragedy. I hope that this post assists in their healing. The article is not intended in any way to diminish or show disrespect or ignorance of the personal sensitivity and pain endured during this period of grief.

Here is Kobe Bryant's entire Facebook post following his season-ending achilles tendon injury:

"This is such BS! All the training and sacrifice just flew out the window with one step that I've done millions of times! The frustration is unbearable. The anger is rage. Why the hell did this happen ?!? Makes no damn sense. Now I'm supposed to come back from this and be the same player Or better at 35?!? How in the world am I supposed to do that?? I have NO CLUE. Do I have the consistent will to overcome this thing? Maybe I should break out the rocking chair and reminisce on the career that was. Maybe this is how my book ends. Maybe Father Time has defeated me...Then again maybe not! It's 3:30am, my foot feels like dead weight, my head is spinning from the pain meds and I'm wide awake. Forgive my Venting but what's the purpose of social media if I won't bring it to you Real No Image?? Feels good to vent, let it out. To feel as if THIS is the WORST thing EVER! Because After ALL the venting, a real perspective sets in. There are far greater issues/challenges in the world then a torn achilles. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, find the silver lining and get to work with the same belief, same drive and same conviction as ever.

One day, the beginning of a new career journey will commence. Today is NOT that day.
"If you see me in a fight with a bear, prey for the bear". Ive always loved that quote. Thats "mamba mentality" we don't quit, we don't cower, we don't run. We endure and conquer.
I know it's a long post but I'm Facebook Venting LOL. Maybe now I can actually get some sleep and be excited for surgery tomorrow. First step of a new challenge.
Guess I will be Coach Vino the rest of this season. I have faith in my teammates. They will come thru.
Thank you for all your prayers and support. Much Love Always.
Mamba Out"

Many people have seen this Facebook entry. What is important to recognize is that Kobe Bryant went through all the stages of grief in one fell swoop in his Facebook rant. Rarely do we get to see the human vulnerability of a superstar immediately after an injury or any other type of trauma. It was a very personal and instructional look into the mindset of a very, mentally tough individual.

The five stages, denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance are a part of the framework that makes up our reaction to loss.

This social media entry gives us an idea of what it takes for any athlete to recover and deal with a serious injury, regardless of the level of play or expertise. However, it also gives us a special and unique insight as to the resilient mindset of an elite athlete.

“Generally speaking, these elite athletes go through an initial period of anger, and usually that’s pretty quick. They don’t dwell on that long. Then they get resolved to, what’s my best way to get back? Once that switch flips, they generally speaking do not want to waste any time. At that point, they want it done now. Rarely will you see anybody delay.”

--Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Director of the Sports Medicine Fellowship program at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. the doctor who performed surgery on Kobe Bryant’s ruptured Achilles tendon.

The doctor expects the Los Angeles Lakers star to be back playing at some point next NBA season. Speaking exclusively to the Los Angeles Times, Dr. ElAttrache said Sunday that Bryant’s competitive drive and mental toughness will give him an edge in recovering from an injury that figures to sideline him at least six to nine months.

"We're talking about a unique competitive spirit," said Jeff Van Gundy, a former NBA coach who is an ESPN analyst. "A great player."

"He had the determination to become a great player," Van Gundy said. "Also a love of the game which not many guys are able to retain after so many years."

It remains to be seen if Kobe Bryant can come back from this serious injury. It will take time and much mental and physical hard work. If this glimpse of his grief process, his competitive fire and mental toughness is a good clue, he will give it all that he has.

Excerpts from TMZ.com (April 13, 2013), latimes.com and thespec.com (April 14, 2013).

Miami Heat's Ray Allen is "Automatic"

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 12:46:00 +0000

"Shoot your same shot over and over, and don't have wasted shots. That's one thing we all noticed. Anytime we're just shooting around, or even playing a game of H-O-R-S-E, he's serious, he's shooting the shot he's going to shoot in the game.

"Whether he's joking around or not, he shoots the same shot. I find myself telling myself, 'Shoot your same shot all the time,' because for him, his shot is automatic."

--Norris Cole, Miami Heat guard, discussing teammate Ray Allen's approach to shooting.

Excerpt from espn.go.com (April 12, 2013).

The Mental Conditioning of Tomas Berdych

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 19:23:00 +0000

“What I’ve been really trying to work on is mental strength and preparation for every single match. They are very important aspects of today’s game. Especially now. Everybody can play a good forehand and backhand. There is no difference at all. It’s really just about the small details and one of them is the mental preparation, which I’ve been trying to improve. I believe I did so, but you can improve these aspects a lot. I hope this is something that can take me higher.

“There’s a lot you can say about that really. It’s concentration in the match. It’s also what you do around: how you deal with the situations on court and off court. It’s not only about once you step on the court. It’s been the work of my team. Part of it has definitely been my tennis coach. He can help me with that as well. I’ve also been working with one guy, not a sports psychologist as such, but a mental coach, which is a little bit different than a psychologist. It works, quite well. I’ve been working with him for two or three years.”

--Tomas Berdych, tennis pro, who is improving ever year and becoming a force on the professional tour.

Berdych beat Roger Federer and Roger Federer en route to the 2010 Wimbledon final, only to lose to Rafael Nadal. Since then, Berdych has become a Top 10 tennis player. This year, in 2013, he has reached back-to-back ATP World Tour finals at the Open 13 in Marseille (in which he lost to Jo-Wilfried Tsonga) and the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, (in which he lost to Novak Djokovic). He has won 14 of his 18 matches. His goal is to continue to close the gap on the likes of the big 4, Novak Djokovic, Roger Federer, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal.

Can he do it? Will mental conditioning help?

Let's look at the general techniques often used in mental conditioning:

Autogenic Relaxation – autogenic also known as self-generated training has the power to actually alter your neural pathways as you change your behavior. Autogenic relaxation is a kind of self-hypnosis that enables you to root positive phrases and mental images in your unconscious. It brings your mind and feelings into harmony with your body as you take on and adjust to new behaviors.

Visualization – visualization is your ability to imagine in your mind certain situations. It not only includes visually seeing the events happening but also allows you to feel like you are almost in the situation. All five senses are present in the visualization including sound, smell, touch, etc. Visualization is a powerful tool when used in a positive matter. However, in many cases athletes replay negative events causing a negative effect on performance. The more vivid the visualization the more it attaches to your memory.

Affirmations and Positive Self-Talk – Affirmations are positive statements that you can use to replace your negative mind-chatter. Using affirmations can be a powerful way to transform many of your old attitudes and expectations into positive and vibrant ones. These affirmations will allow you to take control of your self-talk and internal dialogue that can contribute to your performance.

Neuromuscular Coordination – muscle/brain imprinting through controlled plyometrics, body and motor control training helps "train the brain" to react naturally and unconsciously when brought into a real playing situation. Slow motions that imprint movements that are consistent with the sport will improve overall efficiency.

Do you do any of these techniques regularly? There are more and more studies that suggest that these techniques are very valuable to the young athlete.

For more information, contact us now. 404-357-7335.

Excerpt from "Tomas Berdych: The Mental Game," by Robert Davis," ATPworldtour.com (February 5, 2013).

Jeremy Lin is Flourishing as a Leader in Houston

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 23:46:00 +0000

Source: performancevertical.jux.com via Luis on Pinterest

“I think we’re getting more mature as a team and as individuals. We’re understanding not to panic and to get back to what we do best.”

--Jeremy Lin, Houston Rockets, who has led his team to a 31-26 record in the NBA.

He is averaging 12.8 points and 6.2 assists per game this season. The Rockets are noticing what a good job Lin is doing, fitting into what the team is trying to do. This includes fast-breaks, pick-and-rolls, and spreading the floor for open jump shots. They are considered the fastest team in the league.

“He’s done a lot better job keeping us in our offense. He’s keeping us in our sets and doing all those little things that Coach was emphasizing.”

--Chandler Parsons, Houston Rockets forward.

Excerpts taken from www.nytimes.com, "Lin Does a lot by Not Doing Too Much" by Beckley Mason (February 24, 2013).

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

2013 NBA All-Star Game Highlights (VIDEO)

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 16:51:00 +0000

For those who missed the game, or who can't get enough, this video will do just fine. Enjoy.

Kobe Bryant & LeBron James: The Competitive Spirit at Its Finest

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:00:00 +0000

“When have I not competed?”

--Kobe Bryant, talking before the 2013 NBA All-Star Game in Houston Sunday night, reminding fans and the media about his ever-present competitive spirit, despite starting in his 15th All-Star Game.

Kobe Bryant has been able to avoid complacency throughout his 17-year career. The NBA All-Star Game's all-time leading scorer, Bryant finished with nine points, eight assists and four rebounds, but, most importantly, shut down Eastern Conference All-Star LeBron James at the end of the game when it counted. Bryant helped to preserve a West All-Star win on Sunday night at the NBA All-Star Game. In the fourth quarter, Bryant asked to guard the James, of the Miami Heat, the current NBA MVP. Bryant blocked James shot twice during crunch time.

When asked if he was surprised by Kobe's defensive performance, James said: "No, he does it all the time. I am absolutely not surprised. It was all in good spirit. It was just two guys who love to compete, (who) love to go at it. It was a lot of fun."

"It's fun to be out there with them," New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony said of James and Bryant. "It's fun to see. It brings the best out of everybody, as you can see…I love that competitive spirit, that competitive nature in Kobe and LeBron."

Despite his Lakers' being a long-shot to even reach the playoffs, Bryant remains motivated for more titles.

“I was concerned about reaching the first one, and the second one, the third. There’s always that concern, which keeps you prepared, keeps you on edge."

--Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers' All-Star, discussing his championship hunger.

Excerpts from the nytimes.com (February 15, 2013), washingtonpost.com (February 18, 2013), usatoday.com (February 18, 2013).

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

The Misunderstood Majesty of Rick Barry

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Fri, 08 Feb 2013 00:30:00 +0000

"...Rick goes his own way. Superstars always do. They all think differently. If Rick has a drawback—and it's not really a drawback, it's just Rick—it's that he is not very patient. He can't understand why a guy can't play the game the way he does. That is a fault of all superstars. You may say of these people that they aren't regular guys. Well...they aren't."

--Al Attles, former Golden State Warrior head coach and teammate of Rick Barry.

My first exposure to NBA Hall of Fame legend Rick Barry was about 1967. As a 12-year old boy in the far-away, West Texas desert wasteland of El Paso, Texas, I received a Christmas present from my family. The gift was the sports simulation board game, the Big League Manager (BLM) Pro Basketball Game. As many sports fanatics born around the same time know, this game was the equally nerdy, primitive pre-cursor to the video games of today as well as computerized sports fantasy leagues. I became addicted to the board game while playing with my brothers and friends. My addiction to the game included a fascination with my new favorite team: the San Francisco Warriors (This 1967 team edition was based on the 1965-1966 season).

Up to that time, I had been a fan of Wilt Chamberlain and the Philadelphia 76ers team. I regularly watched the televised NBA Game of the Week which often highlighted the big three: the Celtics, Lakers and 76ers. But this crazy board game changed everything.

Though I was extremely fortunate to have Rick Barry on this team as a rookie, in my mind, the Most Valuable Player of BLM was Guy Rodgers, the Warriors' point guard. His assist rating was through the roof and was the obvious catalyst for the hot shooting of Rick Barry and Jeff Mullins. My Warriors accumulated assists and points at an astounding rate, often routing such powerhouses as the Boston Celtics, the Los Angeles Lakers and the 76ers. Afficionados of the game might be reminded that these players were limited in the amount of time that they could play in each game (which, of course, was correlated to the average amount of time they each played in each real game during the regular season). I don't remember if I stuck to that limit, especially if I played solitaire.

Needless to say, as some children did (and, I suspect, others did not) I quickly grew up and left the Big League Manager game behind to gather dust or be ruined by the flash flood waters of the desert thunderstorms in our leaky basement. Though I continued to be an NBA fan throughout my adult life, I rarely thought much of my 1965-1966 San Francisco Warriors, much less Rick Barry. However, Mr. Barry continued to star in the real world of the NBA.

Ironically, it wasn't until I began my career as a psychologist and focused on my specialty of sports and performance psychology that Barry began to re-emerge as a major influence. In fact, it wasn't until I started seriously researching the mindset of a champion that Barry's career looked so impressive and instructive.

Rick Barry's basketball career is well documented for how disliked he was. He is as much an NBA legend for how he was shunned and hated as much as for his Hall of Fame accomplishments. But this article is not about the more well-known aspects of his personality. This article is about excellence and perhaps that is where Rick Barry's career is most important and interesting. Despite the scandalous aspects of Barry's career, Rick Barry is what excellence is all about; warts and all. I leave the scrutiny of the warts to others.

As most fans and detractors know, Barry is the only player to lead the NBA, ABA and NCAA in scoring. The ABA merged with the NBA in 1976 and now ceases to exist. Among many other accolades, between the two professional leagues, Barry was a 12-time All-Star, nine-time all-league first teamer, and scored more than 25,000 points during his career. Averaging 30.6 points per game, he led the Golden State Warriors to the franchise's only championship, in the 1974-75 NBA season, garnering the Finals MVP award, and has since been named to the list of the NBA’s 50 Greatest Players of all time.

But, what was really behind his success?

A Desire for Greatness

“It’s really upsetting to me, because I love greatness. I love to watch greatness in anything. And that’s the part that bothers me, coaches are supposed to be able to make people better. By making your player better, you make your team better. And that’s your goal as a coach, to have the best possible team.”

--Rick Barry, discussing his high standards, his view about coaching and many players' inability to take coaching well.

"He was a great artist. A Mozart. A Picasso. A Caruso," said Lou Carnesecca, who coached Barry for two seasons on the New York Nets. "I'd diagram a play, and Rick would instinctively see four or five options that I'd never even imagined. In 35 years of coaching I've never had another guy like that."

In 1965-66, as a rookie, under Coach Alex Hannum in San Francisco, Barry averaged 25.7 points per game, In his second season, Barry took his talents to another level. He averaged 35.6 points and scored 38 in the All-Star Game.

"His intensity was unbelievable," says Mullins, a guard on that team. "Night after night he was brilliant. No one could stop him. He was a threat to get 50 every time he stepped onto the court."

The Warriors took a Philadelphia 76ers team that had been voted the best in NBA history (prior to the Chicago Bulls' Michael Jordan-led dynasty in the 1990s) to six games in the playoff finals before losing, and Barry's 40.8-point average is still the highest in a championship series.

The Price of Perfectionism

"He was such a perfectionist," says Butch Beard, who played with and against Barry. "He wanted the game to be perfect. And when it wasn't, he would jump all over you. He didn't mean it maliciously, but it could be very intimidating."

This persistent pursuit of greatness, excellence and, perhaps, perfection was both a blessing and a curse.

“It has its good qualities,” says Barry, “but it also makes you frustrated sometimes with things. But it probably was a bonus in that I would never be satisfied with what I did, and so that meant I kept working at it to get better, which is a good thing.”

Billy Paultz, a friend and former teammate of Barry’s, told Sports Illustrated in 1983, “If you got to know Rick you’d have realized what a good guy he was. But around the league they thought of him as the most arrogant guy ever. Half the players disliked Rick. The other half hated him.”

Even Barry once admitted, “I didn't have a lot of tact.” He notes that a part of trying to be the best means being unrelenting and not accepting mediocrity.

Despite his maddening nature, during his post-NBA playing days, Barry was considered to be one of the best color commentators in the history of television sports.

Free-Throw Mastery

One of the many skills that made Barry unique and so effective was his incredible free throw shooting.

“It's the only part of the game that’s a constant,” says Barry, who memorably used an underhand method to shoot 90 percent from the line during his 14-year professional career. “It’s always the same distance, it’s always the same ball, and it’s always the same size basket. It’s the only part of the game you can be selfish and still help your team.”

“Why in the world can anybody —” says Barry, the perfectionist, pausing a moment to gather himself. He restarts. “How can you live with yourself if you can't make four out of every five free throws you shoot? I just don't understand how guys can do that — how they can possibly go to sleep at night without having nightmares about the fact that they can't shoot 80 percent from the free-throw line?”

A Sign of the Times

“I was the best free-throw shooter in the game for a long, long time,” he says, “and nobody ever copied the technique. It's hard to believe, especially in today’s world, in basketball, everybody copies everything that’s successful. But yet, when it comes to shooting free throws, nobody’s trying to copy it.”

Barry is astounded by the mentality of modern-day NBA players.

“It's all about the ego. It’s … all … about … the … ego. They don’t think it’s macho enough for them, and that’s fine. If you’re shooting 80 percent or better, great. If you’re not shooting 80 percent or better, then you better think about making some kind of change.”

“If anybody used that as a reason not to do it, then they’re stupid,” he responds. “That’s ridiculous. Just look at my record. That’s a ridiculous reason not to go ahead and do something that enables you to be better at what you're doing. That would be a stupid decision on somebody’s part. What affect does my personality and the fact that when I went out there I rubbed some people the wrong way because I went out there to kick people’s asses instead of going out to make friends, what would that do with the fact that I made 90-something percent of my free throws? I mean, that’s crazy.”

Execution of the Perfect Free Throw: A Lesson

"Every shot that you take, you have to take it exactly the same way every single time the ball is placed into your hands," he says. "I don't care if it's bounce the ball off your head three times, bounce it off your stomach, kick it with your knee, I don't care what your routine is, you have to do it every single time."

Barry thinks the mental game is a large and under-appreciated aspect of free throws. He says having a set routine is important because in a critical moment, you won't think about making them, but rather simply go through a consistent and familiar progression.

"The last thing you want to be worried about is, 'Oh, God, I've got to make these to tie the game, or win the game,'" he says. "Go into your routine, like you've practiced thousands and thousands and thousands of times. So your entire being is focused on what? Your routine, not the situation."

With his trademark underhand technique, Barry says the shooter has to be old enough or big enough to hold the ball properly. As he explains it, the shooter's palms should not go underneath the ball with what may come to mind with the typical "granny shot."

"Your hands have to be big enough to get over the top of the ball properly," says Barry. "And your thumbs should be even."

"Everything you do in the game, at least if you're playing it properly, your arms are up in an unnatural position," he explains. "You've got your arms up playing defense, you're shooting the ball up there, you're rebounding up there, and during the course of a game, you're going to get a little tired. When I get to the free-throw line, my arms are hanging down in a totally, completely relaxed, natural position. So I'm not going to get tense and tighten up or anything, because I'm in a totally natural position."

Rather than shooting the free throw with just one hand like every other shot in the game, with his method Barry emphasizes the benefits of using both.

"I control the flight of the ball with two hands, not one," he says. "The technique itself is a soft shot, and it's feel, so much feel, and control.

"The way I teach it is you open up the basket -- the ball has a chance to go in the entire circumference of the basket ... almost two balls can fit in the basket. When you shoot flat, the first-third of the basket is taken out of play, and in essence, you're shooting at a smaller target. And, it's not as soft a shot. [It's] not necessarily a higher arc, but the way that the ball comes, it's coming from such an angle that as it goes up there, the arc is pretty good on it, so you still have a good portion of it that it can go in, but it's a much softer shot. If I shoot a free throw and I missed it a little bit and it hits the rim, the ball hits very softly. If you take a shot and shoot it from up high and go to the basket, it's going to hit much harder than it would going underhand, much, much softer."

After taking a comfortable base, feet spread comfortably apart about shoulder-width, Barry continues his routine by taking a deep breath and positioning his wrists correctly. Then he dips down and prepares to release the shot.

"Just before I'm ready to shoot, I would just make a little cock of the wrist, which puts it into a total natural position, and it was kind of like my trigger to go," he says. "When I bend, there's no motion. There's no movement of my arms, there's no movement of my hands – nothing happens. As I come up, I start to take my arms and swing my arms toward the basket, and that's where you get the feel, to how much effort do I have to put into that arm swing. That's where you have to practice."

"Then it's a matter of the feel of when I actually take my hands and, when I get to about chest level -- parallel to the floor -- I just roll my hands together, and finish," he says. "It's that simple."

Finally, Barry, concludes with a few last pieces of advice about his signature shot.

"It's like anything else," he says. "If you're going to try to do it, you've got to go out, come and learn the technique and then you have to go out and practice it over, and over, and over again. Just make sure you're practicing it properly. But it's repetition. The more you shoot it, the better you're going to get. It's like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it. The whole thing to doing it, as I said earlier, you have to have the proper technique, then you have to practice it enough to get the feel, and you have to continue to practice until you gain confidence in yourself that you're going to make it. And once you get that, it just keeps getting easier and easier and easier. You have to believe in yourself that you're going to make every one that you take. I never, ever thought I was going to miss a free throw.

"Anybody -- anybody -- can become a good free-throw shooter. If you have somebody working with you on the proper technique and you practiced it enough and get confident in yourself, you can be a good free-throw shooter. Your size means nothing. It's your technique."

Seeking to Improve and Perfect Every Aspect of His Game

During his playing days, Barry was also considered the best passing non-guard in the NBA. He recorded 19 assists in one game in a game in 1976, then a record for a forward.

"...People have this thing about scoring points. I was taught to play the game from a total concept, to be able to do everything reasonably well, some things extraordinarily well. If a guy is simply a great shooter and he has a bad night, he's a liability. If I'm not shooting well, I'll try to be an asset in other ways. So many players are limited in what they can do—and some of them are called superstars. A lot of players don't know what it is to make a pass. It's not that they don't know how; it's just that they're not looking for anybody," said Barry in 1977, two years after leading his Golden State Warriors team to the NBA championship."

The Source of His Perfectionism

“He was a perfectionist,” Barry says of his father Dick. “But it’s probably a better quality to have. I strive for perfection. I also realize I’ll never be perfect, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try to be perfect. I mean, you’ve got to have pride in the things you do in life. That's one of the things my father instilled in me, was a great sense of pride.”

He adds, “Every sport is a game of mistakes. The team or the person who makes the fewest mistakes in their sport usually is the one who wins.”

Provoking Dislike

"The manner in which I play provokes a reaction, either positive or negative," Barry admitted in 1977. "But I don't want people to hate me. I know that people judge me as a person by what I do on the floor," he said. "But I'm just not the same. No one sees me the other way. When you first get an image, you can never completely change it. I know a lot of players the fans think are wonderful guys who are the biggest jerks you'll ever meet. Off the floor, I'm a pretty easygoing, honest person."

"He's an extraordinary guy. There's nothing he wouldn't do for you," says Mike Dunleavy, who, along with Paultz, was Barry's best friend on the Rockets, with whom Rick ended his career. "But he lacks diplomacy. If they sent him to the U.N. he'd end up starting World War III."

The Championship

With Barry at his best and leading the way, the Golden State Warriors won their only NBA championship when they swept the Washington Bullets in 1975. Barry scored 118 points, still the record for a four-game championship series, and was named playoff MVP.

"To this day I can't find adequate words to describe the feeling I was overcome with when we won," Barry says. "I went into the locker room and cried. I cried and cried. It was terrific. It was absolutely terrific."

An Intense Will to Win

Unfortunately, Barry and the Warriors could not recapture the magic. The next season the Warriors lost 94-86 to Phoenix in the seventh game of the Western Conference playoff final at home. Barry's 20 point performance was criticized soundly, but without merit.

It was suggested that Barry was so disgusted by his teammates' play that he deliberately quit on offense, as if to say, "Go ahead, win it without me." Barry now says, "Anybody who knows me knows that there's no way in the world I'd intentionally do something that would jeopardize an opportunity to win a ball game, especially when we had a chance to win a championship. There's no way in the world I'd do that." He's angry now, banging his fist on the table. "I didn't pout. I didn't try to prove a point. It means too much to me to win."

Despite his failings, his personality, and others' view of him, Rick Barry has been to the mountain top. Perhaps, it has been worth it all. Perhaps, he wouldn't trade it for anything. Nevertheless, Barry knows how to excel and how to win.

"...I do know this is what basketball is supposed to be all about. We made reality out of fantasy. This is the type of season you only dream about. It just doesn't happen. I guess that makes us the lotus. I have a friend, a priest," he said. "When things look bad, he always says that from the mud grows the lotus."

--Rick Barry, Golden State Warriors, October 1975.

Somehow, and only in retrospect, I feel like I was on-board for the ride. Thanks Rick, and Congratulations!

Excerpts from forbes.com (December 11, 2012), sbnation.com (December 13, 2012), thepostgame.com (January 30, 2013), "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness" by Tony Kornheiser, Sports Illustrated, April 25, 1983 and "A Spendid Warrior Who Know His Onions" by Ron Fimrite, Sports Illustrated, May 9, 1977, and "When Golden State Glittered" by Pat Putnam, Sports Illustrated (October 27, 1975).

One Shot at Glory vs. Sustained Success

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:07:00 +0000

Of course, all eyes are now on the Super Bowl in two weeks time. It is a media event, a grand spectacle that captures the imagination of an entire nation every year.

But, make no mistake. The NFC Championship Game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Atlanta Falcons was a great game, particularly for students of the game. Only one team could represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, but I believe that both franchises have the opportunity for sustained success, competitive excellence and a long championship-quality rivalry. What did we learn from this outstanding game? What really happened? What will happen in the future?

Confidence is an extremely fragile thing for individuals and teams alike. How a team responds to losses of this type and magnitude can easily dictate the short- and long-range future of a franchise. How losses are analyzed and interpreted can make or break a team. How players and coaches react to the criticism from fans and the media can have a profound influence on the mindset and culture of a franchise. Confidence can be enhanced or self-esteem issues can be created by what the players and coaches do with their post-season assessment and learning that is done in the off-season.

Both team must be able to see this game as a stepping stone to greatness, evidence of success, an indicator of excellence and a valuable learning opportunity. Regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, both teams can build upon this superb season and improve.

It is likely that we will see the future Super Bowl champion as "the winner" and their opponent as "the loser." These labels can be deadly to teams, whose winning chemistry is fleeting and fragile at best. Many will look at the newly crowned winner with admiration and respect; and the other as a complete failure, an embarrassment to their city, their division and their conference, unworthy of its position as the representative of said group. Additionally, it is a mistake to look superficially at the stylistic differences in the quarterbacks, the offensive and defensive schemes and packages, the coaching and players personalities and style. Jumping to conclusions about the validity of one's team's characteristics, strategy, culture and philosophy over another can be highly misleading.

For example, the Falcons' head coach, Mike Smith, is often seen as a stoic, low-key leader who maintains a calm demeanor. The loss to the 49ers will shine a critical light on these coaching characteristics and many will scoff at his style and personality. Also likely is the notion that his outward game face contributed to the loss.

One the other hand, Jim Harbaugh, the 49er head coach, is a high-energy, frenetic, volatile bundle of emotion and hyperactivity. In the glow of a 49er win, it will be argued that Harbaugh's approach is more effective; a flavor of the month, prerequisite coaching style of the future and a necessary ingredient for success. That would be wrong. Obviously, both styles can (and do) work and neither should be changed or copied.

Despite the loss, the Falcon's offense has become a highly talented, precise, well-oiled machine that seems highly structured and controlled. The entire team led the league with the fewest penalties and penalty yards this year, suggestive of a highly disciplined and focused team. This team is just right for the New South, the steel and glass of an upscale Atlanta. The loss to San Francisco could alter this perception and create a need for change when little is needed.

By contrast, the 49ers are characterized by an aggressive, explosive, athletic, and star-studded defense. A caffeinated team like this accurately reflects an undisciplined and unbridled franchise. This style may perfectly suit a West Coast, Silicon Valley team. Offensively, Colin Kaepernick, who won the starting quarterback job from steady veteran, Alex Smith, is the epitome of that loose, freewheeling approach. Smith has always been seen as the opposite of Kaepernick: a game manager who despite his effectiveness was seen as a liability as a quarterback of a championship team. However, true or false, the Kaepernick-influenced 49ers style works for them and would not necessary work in other situations with different personnel.

Even if the 49ers lose in the Super Bowl, their recipe for success has been established.

The conference championship game was a viciously fought battle between a proud franchise with a history of winning and a rebuilt franchise learning to win one step at a time. However, neither franchise had approached this level of competitiveness and success since the mid-1990. The proud 49ers are 5-0 overall in their Super Bowl appearances and eager to have the opportunity to win a sixth. Over the past half-decade, the Falcons has slowly but surely developed into a regular season, home field juggernaut that has only recently won its first playoff game with this core of management, coaches and players.

The Falcons' quarterback, Matt Ryan, played two wonderful halves of football, one in the Division Playoff against the Seattle Seahawks, and one in the the first half of the 49er game. His precision and surgical-like dissection of the defenses in each game was impressive, masterful and highly effective. He led the Falcons to seemly insurmountable leads in each game. In the first half of each game, he appeared in full control of an explosive offense. Ryan displayed a gift for execution and technical abilities found in few quarterbacks. Critics of Ryan point to his inability to run effectively or improvise on the fly as a fatal weakness, especially in contrast to Kaepernick.

What the Falcons seemed to lack after halftime in each contest was the flexibility and the ability to make adjustments that would allow them to continue to dominate the game. It appeared that they succumbed to the natural tendency toward complacency that often follows short-term success. They shifted to an mentality that focused on the avoidance of losing rather than winning. This mindset prevented them from finishing the game with a flourish. They became tentative, cautious, and protective; wishing for the game to end as it were. Rather than keeping the pedal to the metal, they rode the brakes.

In contrast, it appeared that the 49ers second-year quarterback, Colin Kaepernick, was more flexible, more resilient, more creative, with a greater capacity to adjust to the evolving game conditions. His ability create a balanced threat to run or pass kept the Falcons defensive on their heels, particularly in the second half. The fatigue this created within the Falcons' defense was a key to the 49er victory (as well as the Seahawks' impressive comeback). The victory was a team victory attributable to many facets and factors beyond the young man in the quarterback slot. A win or a loss in the Super Bowl should not blind the 49ers to their strengths, build over time and attributable to much hard work.

From this game, the Falcons can learn and improve simply by learning to adapt and finish. They were able to close out games and win in close (sometime ugly) games in the regular season but seemed to wilt under the increasing and extreme championship pressure of the playoffs. It would be too easy, to place excessive, confidence killing blame on Matt Ryan for this loss. It would be equally unfair to point toward a porous defense or an ineffective offensive running game for the loss. The Falcons' performance must be seen within the context of a highly successful regular season, and two almost perfect halves of playoff football against highly competitive and excellent opponents.

Despite a season of objective success, losing in the playoffs is often followed by intense criticism, second-guessing, loud calls for complete overhauls of coaching staffs and player personnel, and knee-jerk reactions. Questioning of commitment, effort, talent, excessive age or youth is prevalent during the off-season. Despite the fact that only two NFL teams have achieved more this season, the Falcons and their AFC counterpart in so-called failure, the New England Patriots, are being raked over the coals.

Regardless of the outcome of the Super Bowl, all the Final Four participants, the Falcons, Patriots, 49ers and Ravens would do well to carefully and logically assess their seasons, keep their wits about them, and avoid panic and overreaction to celebrate and build on a job well done. Only in this way, can each franchise capitalize on the hard work and success of this incredible NFL season. They must cultivate a mentally tough mindset that keeps them on the road to sustainable championship-caliber contention for the long term.

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Newly Confident Sloane Stephens Upsets Serena Williams

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 15:42:00 +0000

“Last night I was thinking about it. And someone asked me, ‘Do you think you can win?’ And I was like, ‘Yeah, I think so.’ But I wasn’t too clear about it, and this morning when I got up I was like, ‘Dude, you can do this. Go out and play and do your best.’ ”

--Sloane Stephens, female professional tennis player, after upsetting Serena Williams in the 2013 Australian Open.

Stephens snapped Williams' 20-win streak 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 in two hours and 17 minutes. Stephens has never won a title of any kind. She beat the best player in the world to reach the semi-finals in Melbourne. She will meet Victoria Azarenka. She is the first American teenager to reach a semi-final of a grand slam event since Serena at the U.S. Open in 2001.

Excerpts from nytimes.com and theguardian.com (1/23/2013).

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The Origins of the Creative Flow State (VIDEO)

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 20:44:00 +0000

In his classic New Yorker article published in 2000, The Art of Failure, Malcolm Gladwell made the distinction between "choking" and "panicking" He emphasized the notion that choking is the act of thinking too much, while panicking is thinking too little. Obviously, neither act is conducive to peak performance, success or excellence.

Perhaps, the probability of choking is increased by overpreparation, while the probability of panicking is increased by the lack of preparation. It could also arise from fear produced by the emerging awareness of the lack of preparation or the perception of threat or failure based on a lack of preparation.

Freestyle is a style of rap, with instrumental beats, in which rap lyrics are improvised, i.e. performed with no previously composed lyrics, or "off the top of the head". The improvisational nature of freestyle is similar to that of jazz. This quality is likely to create the the impression in many people that there is not considerable preparation or discipline involved.

Relatedly, Allen Braun, the chief of the language section of the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD), said that the same cognitive functions displayed during freestyle rap are used by athletes.

”If an athlete starts paying attention to what they’re doing, how they’re going to move their body to catch a ball, they’ll clutch and they won’t do it.”

He is not wrong; however, there is more to freestyle than meets the eye. The ability to improvise is based on extreme amounts of practice, intense preparation, and even a great deal of study and analysis. The skill of improvisation could not be mastered without hours of trial and error, practice, and diligent rehearsal. At that point, effective improvisation can occur.

Similarly, only through this preparation can athletes perform and improvise as the situations evolve on the field, court, or track.

Many creative endeavors are mistakenly seen as simple acts of expression or manifestations of raw talent that need very little cultivation or development. In fact, the opposite is true.

The creative process involved in freestyle is crucial for successful rapping. The creative process requires a state of consciousness where we experience a task so deeply that it truly becomes enjoyable and satisfying. Excellence and success in rapping is often a result of Flow or the Flow State, first identified and popularized by the work of Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi. He is the universally hailed as the father of Flow and after decades of researching the characteristics of the “optimal experience” he wrote Flow: The Psychology of the Optimal Experience. Freestyle is a great example of importance of Flow as an ingredient for success.

The popular rapper, Eminem, brought freestyle to the masses in the film "8-Mile," Eminem, along with Lil' Wayne, is considered by many to be the pre-eminent freestyle rapper today. In an interview above, Eminem, displays the deep understanding and passion, the spontaneity, and the raw emotion that are the foundation of improvisation. Here he describes his history and approach to freestyle. As the interview evolves, he mentions several important key elements in development of his particular style and his ability to improvise. These elements have important implications in their application to any performance situation or opportunity. These elements also are a source of creativity.

Initial failure, disappointment and/or rejection.
A period of disenchantment or quitting the activity altogether.
Re-emergence from failure or quitting.
Re-dedication or obsession with activity
Motivation and challenge of "figuring out the puzzle."
Strong need to study, study, study (mastery of the craft through practice and analysis).
Appreciation of those who have gone before him.
Discovery that this is "what I want to do with my life."
Activity provides individual a source of strength, a voice, emotional outlet, or a means of expression.
Provides a sense of belonging, teamwork, and/or comraderie (though, it can be an extremely solitary endeavor at times).

It is clear that the seminal experiences that Eminem described were the necessary ingredients for him to learn his craft, ultimately, perform at a high level and receive the critical and popular acclaim that he has received in the past decade. Thus, successful improvisation and creativity are products of hours and hours of intense and focused preparation.

Read more at http://www.inquisitr.com/458510/rappers-brain-in-flow-researchers-study-science-of-creativity-by-watching-freestyle-rap/#FFl7WvrDpsVom5D1.99

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Russell Wilson, Rookie QB, Loves the Pressure

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 14:54:00 +0000

“I love it when the game is on the line, when everyone else is nervous and I’m excited.”

--Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks rookie quarterback, discussing his mindset with under pressure.

Wilson played the game of his life in the NFC Divisional Playoffs against the Atlanta Falcons. Down 20-0 at halftime, Wilson lead the Seahawks to a comeback in which they led 28-27 with 31 seconds left in the game. Although, the Falcons kicked a game-winning field goal to defeat the Seahawks, Wilson was already looking forward to next season.

“The greatest thing about it is, we get to look forward to the next opportunity,” Wilson said.

Wilson passed for 385 yards on 24 for 36 passing, his career high, in his second playoff game. Wilson completed the first 10 passes of the second half and rushed for 60 yards in the game. The passing total was the highest in history for any rookie quarterback in an NFL playoff game.

Wilson, an unheralded third-round draft choice, emphasized the Seahawks' resilience in coming back. "What defined the game was our attitude," Wilson said. "The way we played, and our resilient focus to play the game at a high level for the rest of the game.

"Anybody watching this game that knows football knows that was an unbelievable comeback, unbelievable game and an unbelievable atmosphere against a very, very good football team in the Atlanta Falcons."

Excerpts from nytimes.com, bleacherreport.com and seattletimes.com (January 13, 2013).

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Joe Flacco Has The Ravens Believing in Him

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sun, 06 Jan 2013 19:26:00 +0000

“When you lose three straight, people look at the quarterback, that’s part of the job. I think a lot is made and sometimes it really isn’t that much, and it’s not my job to really listen to [the criticism], so I don’t. … I believe in myself. I believe in this team.”

--Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens Quarterback, who leads the Ravens today against the Indianapolis Colts in an AFC wild-card game, despite a current three game losing streak.

Flacco has displayed resiliency as a fifth-year quarterback. He has now led the Ravens to AFC North titles in back-to-back seasons, and has another shot at a playoff run.

The Ravens have won at least one playoff game each year since Flacco became their starting quarterback as a rookie in 2008, and they are going back to the postseason this year. His individual performances, however, haven’t matched his team’s success.

Over his career, Flacco has only completed 60.5 percent of his passes in regular-season action, and has thrown at least 10 interceptions per season. His postseason numbers are even worse.

While he has won five playoff games in four seasons, he has completed just 54.3 percent of his passes for 170.2 yards per game in nine career playoff games, and has an even number of touchdowns and interceptions thrown with eight apiece.

In spite of his overall success, Flacco is not seen as an elite quarterback by many critics. This year Flacco was the 12th-ranked passer in the NFL with 22 touchdowns, 10 interceptions and 3,817 yards.Though, it is doubtful that the Ravens would be back in the playoffs without his leadership.

“I think it says that he’s a very good quarterback, number one,” Head Coach John Harbaugh said. “It also says that he has a lot of determination, a lot of pride, and he was able to handle that. That’s probably the biggest thing. You have to have thick skin, skin like an armadillo.”

His teammates spoke highly of what Flacco was able to do with his back against the wall.

“I’ve always said that he’s handled the pressure better than anybody I’ve ever seen,” running back Ray Rice said. “He’s done a great job handling it – and as I said, we go as Joe goes.”

“I think Joe plays big every week,” tight end Ed Dickson added. “When Joe is in the zone, he looks like one of the best quarterbacks out there. We told him as an offensive group that we have his back. … I think Joe stepped up big and he showed a little emotion today.”

It appears that the Ravens have committed to have Flacco as their long-term quarterback. He is in the last year of his contract and many expect him to re-sign with the Ravens.

"In terms of arm talent, he's a top five guy," Rich Gannon, pro football analyst says. "For a 6-6, 245 guy, he's very athletic. The question for Joe is about stepping up — with Ray Lewis retiring, Joe is going to have to step outside his comfort zone and be more demanding of teammates, play more of a demonstrative leadership role."

Excerpts from Bleacher Report.com (12/17/2012), USA Today (1/4/2013), ESPN.com.

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Ricky Rubio Works to Get Back to the Court

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Thu, 06 Dec 2012 13:33:00 +0000

“It’s everything. I want to improve in everything. I know I can do good things. I can do it even better. I want to improve my skills like passing, like dribbling, like scoring, like leading the team.”

"I just want to be better."--Ricky Rubio, 22-year old point guard for the Minnesota Timberwolves, who was injured in March of this year.

Rubio is working hard to return to his spectacular rookie form and beyond. He is tenacious and like all highly successful professional athletes has a great degree of perseverance and determination. He has the willingness to fight through the difficult and slow process of rehabilitation. He is willing to endure the pain, suffering and hard work to get back to the status he reached last year, his first in the NBA. He is committed to being the best he can be through hard work and sacrifice. He has a continuous improvement mentality that requires him to focus on the day-to-day task of getting better, step-by-step. He pushes himself and does not let up.

Would you work this hard to rehabilitate and improve?

Excerpts from Grantland.com (December 5, 2012), article by Joan Niesen, "The Place for Doubt in the Celebrated Return of Ricky Rubio"; and the book, Razor Thin: The Difference Between Winning and Losing by Luis F. Valdes (2012).

You Suck!: The Pressure to Win Immediately, Win Always, and Win Forever

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Sat, 01 Dec 2012 17:57:00 +0000

NOTE: Today, as I write this blog, it was reported that Kansas City Chiefs football player, Jovan Belcher, killed his girlfriend and then turned a gun on himself at the Chiefs' training facility. He proceeded to kill himself. This is the fourth current or former NFL player to have commited suicide in the past eight months.

Though, we do not yet know the circumstances behind this tragedy nor can we make a case for any specific factor contributing to this apparent murder-suicide, the Chiefs are 1-10 and mired in an eight-game losing streak that has been marked by devastating injuries and fan upheaval, with constant calls the past few weeks for GM Scott Pioli and Head Coach Romeo Crennel to be fired. The situation has been so bad this season that Crennel fired himself as defensive coordinator.

The Chiefs lead the league in turnovers, cannot settle on a starting quarterback and are dealing with a full-fledged fan rebellion. The Twitter account for a fan group known as Save Our Chiefs recently surpassed 80,000 followers, about 17,000 more than the announced crowd at a recent game.

With this as the back drop and lead-in to my post, I am disturbed by another (and, perhaps related) significant trend in sports.

The Los Angeles Lakers fired Mike Brown on November 9 from his position as head coach after a 1-4 start.  Under Brown, the Lakers struggled to an unacceptable 0-3 start, the first time the Lakers have done so since 1978-79, the season before Jerry Buss bought the team.

Brown began his tenure as coach at the start of the 2011-12 season, leading Los Angeles to a 41-25 record (.621 win percentage) in the lockout-shortened 66-game season. The Lakers suffered a second-round exit from the NBA playoffs in a five-game loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder. The Lakers were expected to make a big improvement over last year with the offseason acquisitions of Dwight Howard, Steve Nash, and Antawn Jamison.  However, Howard is getting back to normal following back surgery; while Nash has been out much of the season with an injured leg. Jamison began the season languishing on the bench.

Since hiring Mike D'Antoni to replace Brown, the Lakers are 3-4; not a great improvement. The Lakers do not look significantly better after the change and in some ways look worse. Though Dwight Howard is looking better, Nash is still out. Did Brown deserve such a quick hook?

On November 25, 2012, Gene Chisik, Head Coach of the Auburn University football team, was fired. Chisik, with Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton as his quarterback, led the Tigers to the BCS national championship in 2010. However, things turned around quickly. Auburn completed its worst season in 60 years two Saturdays ago.

Auburn finished 3-9 overall and 0-8 in the SEC, its worst conference record ever. Chizik was fired immediatelyafter losing to Alabama 49-0. Auburn must buy out Chizik's contract for $7.5 million. Have Chisik's skills eroded so quickly? Is he no longer the coach he used to be?

"I’m extremely disappointed with the way this season turned out and I apologize to the Auburn family and our team for what they have had to endure," Chizik said in a statement. He added, "When expectations are not met, I understand changes must be made."   Really? Does Auburn deserve more?

Three weeks ago, the San Francisco 49ers replaced their quarterback, Alex Smith who possessed a a league-leading 70% completion rate and a fourth-in-the-NFC 104.1 quarterback rating. Smith led the 49ers to a 13-3 regular season record, and a berth in the NFC championship game last season. He was benched for a second year QB Colin Kaepernick after suffering a concussion. On Sunday, with Kaepernick at the helm, the 49ers were upset by the Seattle Seahawks. The 49ers are 8-3-1 at this point in the season.

Finally, the San Antonio Spurs were fined $250,000 for keeping four starters out of a scheduled game with the Miami Heat this week. The players were not only keep from playing, but sent home by the team to rest. NBA Commissioner David Stern fined the team and issued this statement: “I apologize to all N.B.A. fans. This was an unacceptable decision by the San Antonio Spurs and substantial sanctions will be forthcoming.”

Spurs' Head Coach Gregg Popovich maintained that “my priority is my basketball team and what’s best for it.” Popovich has done this before, without being fined, when he felt resting his players would be beneficial in the long run. Obviously, Stern felt that the pursuit of a win in one game was more important for the integrity of the league than for the championship pursuits of one team.

What are we to make of these firings, benchings, and fines? My take is that the sports world is reflecting the win now and win at all costs of our society. Despite a lack of evidence that any of these actions would be improve these teams, these decisions were made. Each decision was costly, but was made with immediate improvement as the desired outcome. None of the decisions seem to make any real difference, especially when seen in the short-run, which is why the changes were ostensibly made.

Are our expectations and standards as fans, administrators, commissioners, teams and players unrealistic? Is our winner take all mentality all out of whack? I think so.

Should we strive for success and excellence? Of course. Should we expect maximum effort? Surely. But, do we deserve and demand perfection? Is winning everything, all the time? Our evidence and experience should tell us that we can't attain it or sustain it. More importantly, this mindset is counterproductive, and, perhaps, unhumane.

Exerting excessive pressure to win now, win always, win forever doesn't necessarily improve performance, in the short or long-run. More importantly, both the short- and long-range implications (selfish play, inconsistent performances, lack of teamwork, excessive emphasis on money, loyalty, drug use, cheating, etc.) are much more costly. It's time to reflect and look closely at our values and expectations of ourselves, but more importantly, of others.

What kind of perfectionistic expecations and standards are you harboring?

Excerpts from businessinsider.com, nytimes.com, AL.com, and aol.sportingnews.com/

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The San Francisco Giants Make Their Luck as a Team

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 15:38:00 +0000

“It’s amazing what a team can do when they set aside their own agenda and that’s what they’ve done all year. Really, it’s been a beautiful thing to watch. The only thing that bothered me through all this was that I kept hearing people say we were lucky. We were getting the breaks, the bounces. You don’t luck into 94 wins. You don’t luck into the postseason. You don’t luck into the World Series. You don’t sweep a great team like the Detroit Tigers by being lucky.”

--Bruce Bochy, San Francisco Giants' manager, discussing how the Giants won their second World Series in 24 months.

The Giants are World Series champions because of their emphasis on pitching excellence. This emphasis is truly important in the postseason where hot bats can rarely be counted upon. However, perhaps more importantly, they value team play as well.

“We’ll still keep a low profile. That’s who we are as people. That’s who we are as an organization.
We don’t promote ourselves. That won’t change. That will never change.”

--Giants' general manager Brian Sabean.

Are you a team player? Are you selfless? Can you describe your team or organization like the Giants describe their championship team? Do you hire selfless people who can set aside their own agenda? Can you achieve excellence any other way?

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Mental Conditioning is About Focus, and Freshness

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Thu, 08 Nov 2012 15:44:00 +0000

“I think any time you get that break, it can be a good thing if it’s utilized properly. I think there definitely was a sense of relief from all of us – coaches and players – of just not having a game-plan last week, and having the whole mental pressure of coming up with a game-plan, and each day thinking about game-plans and adjustments. … The weight of studying for a final exam, if you will. You’re grinding through a week of preparation and then you go for the final exam. After you’ve had eight of those, it’s nice to have a week where you don’t have to study, you don’t have to game-plan, and you don’t have a final exam. You don’t have all the mental adjustments you have to go through. Now this week, we’re back into that and hopefully we have a little bit of a freshness, or a better approach to it than that after eight weeks of doing it.”

--Bill Belichick, head coach of the New England Patriots, following a mid-season bye week.

Mental conditioning is certainly about focus and intensity, but is it also about staying fresh and combating mental, emotional and physical fatigue.

Do you take regular, systematic, structured breaks to recharge? Do you find your thinking more creative, more effective after a break?

Make sure that you plan downtime. Make sure that you are not just escaping or procrastinating. Give yourself permission to take a break to recharge the batteries. Escape and procrastinating is not as satisfying as a structured, planful break to decompress.

Bill Belichick understands this as well as anyone. Belichick has taken his team to 5 Super Bowls and won 3 of them.

Excerpt for ESPNBoston.com (11/6/2012).

Razor Thin: The Difference Between Winning and Losing (VIDEO)

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Wed, 31 Oct 2012 00:56:00 +0000

Razor Thin: The Difference Between Winning and Losing

Matt Ryan's Resilience Keeps Falcons Flying

noreply@blogger.com (Luis Valdes) — Mon, 15 Oct 2012 03:31:00 +0000

"What's impressed me more than anything is probably his resiliency of not playing our best the last two weeks and still being able to have success and get the outcome that we wanted. His ability to handle those types of situations is impressive. He's had 18 fourth-quarter comebacks in four years and six games. Matt, he's a guy that doesn't get rattled easily. You've got to have that. He's a calming influence across the board for the entire team."

--Mike Smith, head coach of the Atlanta Falcons, talking about quarterback Matt Ryan's mindset and leadership.

The Atlanta Falcons are the only undefeated football team in the NFL after a last second field goal defeated the Oakland Raiders on Sunday afternoon.

Excerpt from "Ryan shows he knows how to win" by Ashley Fox, 10/12/2012, ESPN.com.

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