The Meaning of Sports in Birmingham

Today's blog post was written by Justin Cunningham.  Justin is a senior Finance major at the University of Notre Dame and is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching, a course taught by Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan of Play Like a Champion Today.  This spring, Justin will be assisting a local high school baseball team.

In the first week of December, football players at the University of Alabama-Birmingham received life altering news. Due to financial difficulty at the University, UAB President Ray Watts and officials in the athletic department decided to shut down the school’s football program. UAB became the first major college program to close its doors in nearly two decade.  (University of the Pacific closed in 1995.) The players did not receive much notice or explanation other than a suggestion that “the numbers didn't look right.” While the news of a Division I football program shutting down is both shocking and upsetting, it also makes me question if we have lost the real meaning of sports.

When I first read the story, I began to think of how unfortunate it was that the UAB football program was not making enough money to continue. I began to wonder how the players of the team felt that they would have to change schools to still play for NFL scouts with the hopes of getting drafted. I thought about how this would affect their chances of reaching the professional level. However, reading the players reactions made me realize that the issue was something completely different. 

Obviously, all of the players were saddened by the news. Junior offensive lineman Cameron Blankenship (#71 pictured below) recounted that “[he] has never seen so many grown men cry in [his] life.” From the freshman to the seniors, the news that they could no longer play for the university they chose to attend and play for did not go over well. Tristan Henderson (#88 pictured below), a senior tight end refused to hold his opinions to himself. Henderson was furious that the decision was made for financial reasons. As a former MP in the Army who did a tour in Iraq, Henderson is one of the older leaders on the team at age 26. He told a story of not knowing how to answer his 3-year-old sons question of what they were doing with the program. He continued by voicing his concerns for the younger players on the team. As a senior, he would not have a future playing at UAB either way. However, he felt for the young players that are only 17 or 18 years old and traveled thousands of miles from home to join the UAB program. Listening to the passion in his objection, you start to realize that is was not about the money for the players. They were still promised their scholarships, but football and UAB meant more to them than free schooling. Blankenship recalled that “the one thing that got to everybody was when he told [them] that he cared more about UAB than [they] did.” It was never about numbers for the players. It was about playing the game and being a part of the team they have come to love.

                                   

This story brings up an important problem in the world of athletics today. The presence of financial benefits and profit in sports has sullied its true meaning. Sports are not about making money. Of course, it is a career in the world today. However, the essence of sports is the joy that athletes take in playing. The essence of sports is about being a part of something bigger and greater than yourself. It’s about coming together as a team and competing, growing, and improving. That is all that these players wanted. As Henderson asserted, “some of these [players] came from 3,000 miles miles away and came right here to be a part of this. To be a part of all of this.” 

It was never about the money for these players. Obviously the scholarships mean a lot to the athletes, but they play football because it’s a game they love. By canceling the UAB football program, players were forced to change schools or surrender something they love. Blankenship explained that “football is [his] life, and it’s been [his] life for a very, very long time.” While he recognized that he owes a lot to UAB for helping him become the man he is, he “couldn’t live with [himself] if [he] didn't play [his] senior year somewhere.” Blankenship, like many of his teammates, must leave his school and home to continue playing the sport he loves. We may have lost what playing a sport truly means to these athletes. 

Parental Support Is Key

Today's blog post was written by Anthony Rabasa.  Anthony is a senior Film, Television, Theater major at the University of Notre Dame, and is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching course taught by Play Like a Champion founder Professor Clark Power and Program Director Kristin Sheehan.  Anthony is also a defensive lineman on the University's football team. 

It is very easy in today’s sports world to get caught up with winning and reaching goals. I believe that it is important for parents and coaches to know that when a young athlete is competing, the most important thing to them is that they just have fun. Thinking back to my own experience, I remember when I first began playing football. I would look forward to Saturday mornings because I knew it was game day and at the time, playing football was--and continues to be--one of the more fun experiences I have ever had.

When parents get too involved in a young athlete's development on the playing field, I believe it takes a personal toll on the athlete. Parents must let the coaches and athletes work together to improve in certain areas where the athlete needs improvement. My parents never really got involved with my coaches when I was a growing youth athlete, but they were always there to support me in my role. Naturally you want your child to be a superstar and have them always excelling on the playing fields. However, this is not always the case.  Even if the young athlete is not the play-maker or the superstar, he or she is still a valuable contributor to the team simply because they’re on the team. Telling a young athlete that he or she is doing well on the playing field will encourage them to do better.  I have found that this is especially true if the parent continues to tell their children that they are getting better every single day.  Speaking from experience, this really does go a long way.

Photo Credit: Columbus High School Football Team, Miami, FL

 If you were to take a close look into high school football playoffs, which are just wrapping up across the country, you can see a lot of examples of a parental relationships with athletes. My high school, which this year's state runner-up. Many things came to my mind when I began to think about my high school program. I happened to stumble upon an article on my high school home page, and it talked about how parents, and the crowd in general, at the semi-final game were outstanding. My alma mater was down 13 points at halftime, but the crowd remained calm and did not let a second go by without motivating my old team. I believe this is a great example of parents and a community coming together to motivate a team that has come so far and has made the community around them believe that they can win any game. That right there is a key component to winning, and that’s exactly what my team did. 

Florida State Academic Intgrity in Question

Today's blog was written by Jeni Houser.  Jeni is a senior American Studies major at the University of Notre Dame and a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching course taught by Play Like a Champion Today founder Professor Clark Power and Program Director Kristin Sheehan.  Jeni is also a middle blocker on the Notre Dame Volleyball Team. 

Academic dishonesty has been a common theme in sports for the past year now, and it continues to come up in relation to the current football season.  Florida State is not the only college facing accusations this season. My own university, Notre Dame, recently expelled five football players for the entire year because of academic dishonesty. For a few of them, this expulsion marks the end of their college career because they ran out of eligibility.   Now the University of North Carolina is under investigation for years of academic fraud on a massive scale. Florida State has also been in the news recently, and JameisWinston may or may not be the problem this time.

Notre Dame suffered a heartbreaking loss against the defending national champions this fall, but in my opinion, we handled the tough situation with class and dignity and that is why the University is so widely respected. In an article on the current situation at Florida State, however, a professor from Florida State (and an admitted fan) questioned the morals of his university’s academic code.

In his essay, the professor proceeded to tell readers that players and athletics staffers would threaten professors to pass the players so they would be eligible to play in the bowl game and upcoming season. These professors were occasionally scared for their lives when backed into a corner by players who supersede their strength and size. In the Play Like a Coaching manual it would seem that the Florida State Coaching staff is teaching players how to be bad role models, as opposed to teaching them the significance of getting an education and that everything on the field should come with time. Though winning may be the most important aspect to many of why we play and watch sports, nothing is more significant than the dignity that one will walk away with win or lose. I believe that Notre Dame is able to walk away from a win or loss with their heads held high because we are well respected for being the bigger team at the end of the day. 

A Note to Parents

Today's blog was written by Austin Wuthrich. Austin is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching, a course taught by Play Like a Champion Today Director Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan.  Austin is a senior double major in sociology and computer applications, and is a right-wing on the Notre Dame Hockey team.

Dear Parents,

We know that you love your young athletes. This is a note of advice based on my experience as an athlete.  

Please do not ruin your kid’s relationship with you and with their sport by having unrealistic expectations.  

All parents want the best for their kid.  Parents want their children to achieve their full potential in whatever they are doing in life.  This is natural, and great.  However, there are certain ways to handle these expectations, hopes, and dreams for your kids and one of them is by being supportive and understanding of your child.  

Many parents want their kids to be the super-star, and some make it very clear that their kid is more important than another athlete.  As an athlete, I've found that these parents are difficult because they are always nagging the coaches or other athletes, which can cause a lot of drama that the team does not need.  Another result of this constant nagging is that children can begin to resent their parents if they are always yelling or trying to control the coach behind the scenes.  I've seen it happen too many times--from my days on pee wee hockey teams to elite national teams.

Parents need to have realistic expectations of what their young athlete’s capabilities are.  This idea of a son/daughter becoming the next superstar in their sport is such an exhilarating thought but it can permanently damage the relationship with the child in question.  This is for many reasons, but in my opinion it is mostly because the parent will never be satisfied with their child's performance and forget that they are just kids having fun.  Parents should be having fun watching their kid having fun and should be supportive of what their children are doing.  

Parents, please remember that athletes are often most vulnerable right after a game.  Therefore, the things that parents say to their athlete on the car ride home from a game can be remembered for a long time.  This is why parents must always remember that they are their child's support system and what they say and do can affect a kid’s future (athletic or otherwise) more than anything else.  Please remember that great memories for both parents and their little athletes can be made through their athletics, so make sure all those memories are positive by being supportive and realistic.  Finally, parents, please know that even though your young athletes don't always express their gratitude for this support, we are all very grateful for everything you do to help us along the way.

Austin Wuthrich on the ice.
Photo Credit 247 Sports, CBS.

Sportsmanship on the Gridiron

Today's blog post was written by Tom Malin.  Mr. Malin is the Athletic Director at East Catholic High School in Manchester, CT.  East Catholic is a new Play Like a Champion partner, and the reigning Connecticut Girls High School Soccer Champions.  Throughout the fall season, the East Catholic Eagles have been embracing all aspects of the Play Like a Champion philosophy, and last weekend's football game is just one more example of this successful approach.

It was a cold, frigid Friday night with temperatures hovering in the 20s and a wind chill factor that put the temperatures in the single digits. The East Catholic Eagles (8-3) were playing the Bulkeley Bulldogs (2-9) under the lights at Dillon Stadium in Hartford.

The game was competitive for the first half, with the Eagles leading by the score of 14-8 but the strength and numbers of the East Catholic team enabled the Eagles to pull away with a convincing win on the last game for both teams. 

The great experience for players for both teams was the fact that the game was played with mutual respect and good sportsmanship! The highlight of the evening was after the game was completed, the teams met with their coaches, and then players and coaches from both teams met at the center of the field and heard some inspirational words from the East Catholic coach. Once the inspirational talk ended, players from both teams high fived and chest bumped each other. Each team left the field feeling a little better about themselves and the other team. 

The Athletic Director from Bulkeley High School stated, “the end of the season was difficult with our low numbers, but we finished with players who were the heart of our team and it appears that your players and coaches have the same heart and passion for the game.”  

For the East Catholic Athletic Director, “it was a great example of sportsmanship and respect that the players and coaches had for each other. To be able to have both teams meet in the center of the field and exchange friendship was something to see and witness. It truly showed that sports can be fun and a great avenue to learn values and life lessons.”

The Matheny Manifesto

Today's blog was written by Ryan Watt. Ryan is a senior at Notre Dame and a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching, an undergraduate course taught by Play Like a Champion Founder Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan. 

Recently in my Foundations of Coaching class here at the University of Notre Dame, I was presented with a letter that former major league catcher and current St. Louis Cardinals manager Mike Matheny once wrote to the parents of his son's little league baseball team.  It has since come to be known as the Matheny Manifesto. This letter struck me as one of the finest explanations of both a coaching philosophy and the role parents should play youth sports.

In terms of philosophy, Matheny outlines 3 main goals for his baseball team's season:

1. To teach these young men how to play the game of baseball the right way
2. To be a positive impact on them as young men
3. To do all of this with class

You would be hard-pressed to find more valuable goals than these three for a coach, especially at the youth level.  It was quite refreshing to see that no mention of winning or team performance was mentioned within these goals.  In recent years, youth sports have all but become consumed with a 'winning is everything' attitude even at the lowest levels of competition.  It was nice to see that Matheny was instead focusing on growth and development, which is the true value of youth sports.  Coming from a man that has played, coached, and succeeded at the highest levels of his sports this was an especially powerful message.

Matheny really encapsulates his message when he says, "We may not win every game, but we will be the classiest coaches, players, and parents in every game we play."  This is the same message by which Matheny was coached during his youth baseball career. Matheny drives home the value of this approach when he runs down the success of his own childhood team.  Nearly the entire team went on to play collegiate baseball and Matheny along with 3 others reached the professional level.  He (wisely) does not promise this same future success for his own players, but he stresses that classy play does lay the foundation for success. 

In terms of the role of parents, Matheny calls on them to act as a "silent, constant, source of support."  This is an incredibly powerful message in this age of "helicopter parenting" and epidemic levels of overzealous sports parents.  I think we've all experienced at some point the parent coaching from the stands. This constantly shouting of tips and directions or demands for their kids to perform does no one any good.  Matheny encourages this silence because he doesn't feel that any additional pressure should be put on these young athletes.  They will face enough pressure from him and the coaching staff getting them to play the game the right way with class, and respect.  He points out that the athletes also frequently put too much pressure on themselves and each other to perform already.  Matheny wants his players to have an opportunity to develop a love for the game rather than be overwhelmed and pushed away by excessive pressure.

What Matheny does want parents involved in is the continued improvement of his players when they are away from practice and games.  He stresses the importance of repetition in skills such as pitching, hitting, and fielding.  It is important for parents to realize that coaches only have a limited time where they can work with each player.  It's up to parents to facilitate their further growth by taking some time to play with their kids.  It's through this off-field time that parents can shine rather than trying to take over the time that the coaches do have with the players.

Overall, this letter presents an excellent jumping off point for coaches looking to both establish a positive development based philosophy and address the growing issue of parental interference in youth sports.  I think all youth coaches would do well to consider the message Matheny has brought to the table, I know I will as I continue my work in athletics as a coach.

The Inspirational Lauren Hill

Today's blog was written by Kevin Byrne.  Kevin is a senior at the University of Notre Dame majoring in marketing in the Mendoza College of Business.  Kevin is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching Course taught by Play Like a Champion founder Professor Clark Power and program director Kristin Sheehan.  Kevin is also a middle distance specialist on the Notre Dame Track and Field Team.

Lauren Hill never imagined her college basketball career would have this big of an impact.

On her 18th birthday, Lauren committed to Mount St. Joseph University in Cincinnati to continue her basketball career.  She received terrible news soon thereafter when she learned that she had a brain disease called Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Gliomas (DIPG) and was given less than two years to live.  Recently, an MRI showed that the tumor on her brain had progressed and that she most likely would not make it until the end of the year. 

Her love of the game and her desire and courage to play one last game has inspired countless people to send their support and praise for Hill’s cause.  On November 2nd, Hill and her Mount St. Joseph teammates opened up their season against Hiram College at Xavier’s Cintas Center.  The 10,250 tickets for the game sold out within 30 minutes.  The game received an NCAA exemption to be moved up to November 2nd from November 15th to accommodate Hill.  Hill’s positive outlook about her terminal diagnosis has already earned her the Pat Summitt Most Courageous Award, which is normally given out to a player or coach at the Final Four in April. 

Celebrities and athletes like Mia Hamm, Richard Sherman, Andy Dalton, and Randy Foye have all shown their support for Lauren Hill.  As an athlete that has lived her life as a champion, she has inspired many people.  Former WNBA player Sheryl Swoops said that Hill is “...the true definition of a fighter, warrior, and competitor.”  A foundation has been set up called Layup4Lauren  where people can accept the challenge by performing a layup with their non-dominant hand which is how Hill feels while playing basketball with DIPG and then donating to brain cancer research.

Lauren Hill is an inspiration to countless people and her determination to play the game she loves  is a reminder to all of us to never give up. 

Infamous Jameis: The Moral Problem of Valuing Winning over Everything

Today's blog was written by Joseph Fisher. Joe is a senior Chemistry and Business double major at Notre Dame and a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching course taught by Play Like a Champion Founder and Director Professor Clark Power and Program Director Kristin Sheehan.  In his spare time, Joe is doing a coaching practicum as a volunteer assistant boy's tennis coach at a local high school.  The opinions expressed in the blog are Mr. Fisher's, and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Play Like a Champion Today.

When do you draw the line between success in sports and doing the right thing?  It really depends on whom you ask the question to—if you were to ask that question to the football team at the University of Notre Dame, they would say that their line is drawn very early in the sand.  The Fighting Irish, just earlier this season, suspended 5 players from practice and games on the suspicion of academic dishonesty.  These five players represented several major contributors for the Irish from last season, but the decision still stood.  In this situation, it seems that Notre Dame is placing academics above football.

Jameis Winton
photo courtesy of ABC News

When you look at the Florida State University football team though, the difference could not be more apparent.  The way they have handled the current Jameis Winston situation has many people questioning FSU’s motives.   Winston is the Heisman-winning quarterback at the school, and this isn't his first "situation." Is FSU more focused on football than doing the right thing?  If not, why are they still allowing Winston to play amidst allegations of sexual assault and being paid for over 2000 items with his signature?  This is also after he was arrested for stealing crab legs from a Publix.  Where does it stop?  People look up to Winston (or at least did, before all of this happened).  As last year’s Heisman Memorial Trophy winner, he was supposed to exemplify the best of college football, both on and off the field.  Winston clearly has not matured enough to truly exemplify the best of what college football has to offer, and FSU is hurting from a publicity standpoint because of his recent antics.  The fact that FSU still has not suspended him shows that they are placing football over morality in this situation. 

The problem is that they are forgetting what exactly the definition of Champion should be—it is not just about winning and being the best team, but more about playing with class and morality.  One cannot truly be a champion unless they are humble enough to acknowledge that they have something truly special, and should be honored to be a champion.  Jameis Winston has clearly not accepted or understood this fact yet, and he is acting out of selfishness.  He is placing himself above his university and his team, and he doesn’t seem to care.  Every time he gets in trouble and gives a press conference to apologize, it is the same line: I’ve let down this university and my teammates, coaches, and the fans of FSU football and I’m sorry.  Only he doesn’t mean it.  It is an empty sentence, read from a script that he did not write, and one that he has no feeling or conviction for.  This is the exact opposite type of person that kids should be looking up to, yet Winston doesn’t seem to care.  Jameis is all about Jameis.

When Playing Like Champions Means Losing with Class

Today's blog was written by J.C. Obringer, a former Play Like a Champion intern and a sophomore at Ball State University.

Everyone wants to win that championship, there are thousands and thousands of teams that compete for various championships across the world.  For the past several weeks, Little League teams from across the country and around the world have converged on Williamsport, Pennsylvania to compete in the Little League World Series for the World Championship.

There have been several stories that have come out of the Series this year.  One of the most moving was not about winners or a stellar play, but instead about what happens when the team loses.  What do you say to a hand full of 8-12 year boys that are starting to tear up right after losing the biggest game of their lives? David Belisle could not have said it any better.

One of the hardest things as a coach is teaching these young boys and girls that it is not all about winning. While winning is fun, you can't win every game. One of the toughest lessons to teach kids is that winning isn’t everything.  At a young age kids are very competitive and want that win. Belisle made it clear that pride is really what matters.  As a coach the best feeling in the world is watching your kids have fun. Seeing them lose isn’t fun. But, as Belisle said,  if you fight and never give up, at the end of the day you are all winners. When they walk away knowing they did the best they did and they are walking off the field with the best thing anyone can take away from the game is: Pride.

David Belisle made it clear that he was not mad that they lost and the only thing he would be sad about is not being able to coach this group of boys anymore. This is a great example of the impact a coach can have on their players.  These kids will remember this journey for life and who lead this on this journey. This speech is what you look for in a coach--developing kids and preparing them for the next level, in sport and in life.  

Captain Clutch

This past week, Derek Jeter participated in his 14^th and final all-star game. Jeter has become the poster child of the Yankees and, largely, has been the face of the MLB for the past decade. He also is the captain of the New York Yankees, which is a huge honor, since he is only the 11^th official captain of the team. Jeter is the longest tenured captain of the team as this is his 12^th season as captain.  His on and off field performance.

Derek Jeter is very well known all around the major league baseball. He is known as a leader and is well respected. Were ever he goes, he is treated well, even in towns that typically "hate" the frequently successful Yankees.  You would think that some teams fan base wouldn’t care for him, but wherever he goes he still is well-received because of the way he acts as a person. This was made blatantly clear in a viral ad done by Nike in his honor last week. He is one of the most poised athletes in the game. Younger players look up to him, and many want to be him. He is a role model on and off the field. One thing that sets him apart from most players is his off the field attitude. While he is often in the media, it was rarely negative issues that would damage his  or his team's reputation. By and large, he is the role model you would want kids looking up to.

Every team looks for one of these players that can lead their team through thick and thin. Jeter did so and this is the nickname "The Captain" came from. He will always be looked as a leader and as his last year come to an end, you can bet the Yankees will work to honor everything he has done for them as the model athlete, team member, and leader.

LeBron: Back for Good?

Today's post was written by Natalie Schmid, a Play Like a Champion Today intern.  Natalie is a rising high school junior and a member of her school's swimming and soccer teams. 

King James is back in Cleveland, and media attention is, once again, on him. This begs the question: Is LeBron just coming home and being loyal to his home in Ohio or is all this just to get more attention and more money? When LeBron left the Cavaliers to go to the Heat, the whole fan base was devastated—people even burned his jerseys.  However, now he is back, and the Cavs organization is welcoming him back with open arms.  Fans also seem to be welcoming him, luckily for LeBron, or he could have had a real tough time back in Cleveland if they had not.

LeBron is coming back to the Cavs like a hero saying that he will win championships with them. This could be true, but one thing that is certain is that LeBron coming back to the Cleveland is that he is getting a lot of publicity and the season has not even begun (and his last team just got definitively beaten in the NBA Finals.) Is publicity the real reason that LeBron switch back to the Cavs? One could argue that this is an entirely money and publicity-driven move, but then again, it LeBron could just want to go home to Ohio.

photo courtesy of sbnation.com

LeBron James grew up in Ohio and began his professional life there. LeBron has said that he always knew he wanted to go back to Cleveland eventually, I guess now is that time. But for whatever intention LeBron has now, there still is the fact that he left Cleveland for championships and money with Miami. There is a certain expectation in sports that you are loyal to your team. Even in professional sports where playing well is the athlete’s job, there is still team loyalty that happens (and fans often associate players with specific teams.) And King James did not exhibit that, so could this just be another stop for LeBron on his quest for many championships, or is it returning to his roots to stay?

As an athlete I believe LeBron won’t betray his Cavaliers again by leaving. As much as it is a job for him, the loyalty and community you feel with teams cannot be ignored. I believe he won’t ignore it, and that LeBron is in Cleveland to stay because it is where he started and where he will likely end his career when he is ready. While he certainly benefits from the publicity, I do not think that LeBron’s return to Ohio is not just for media attention, he is there because he grew up there and is ready to win championships there too. LeBron seems to have grown up a lot over the past several seasons, and despite winning championships in Miami, I hope he is now ready to actually PLAY Like a Champion in Cleveland.

Welcome? Home LeBron

Today's blog was written by J.C. Obringer.  J.C. is a rising sophomore at Ball State University majoring in Sports Administration and Digital Sports Production and is interning with Play Like a Champion Today this summer. 

 How do Cavs fans feel?

“LeBron is going home” has been headline news for the last few days. LeBron James, one of the biggest names in professional basketball right now, decided last week to sign a contract with his former team--the Cleveland Cavaliers, returning to his home in Ohio. LeBron was drafted by the Cavs and played seven seasons with them before "taking [his] talents to South Beach," to play for the Miami Heat, and famously boasting of countless championships with his new team.

Photo courtesy of  theheraldng.com

When LeBron left for  Miami, Cleveland fans were not happy.  Fans despised James for leaving. Despite seven years with the Cavs, the team (and the city) hadn't won a championship in more than four decades and it seemed that James only talked about how he wanted to bring a championship to Northeast Ohio. He left with a lot of unfulfilled promises. James wanted to win one for his hometown team he said, but then he left to win championships for South Florida. When he left fans were very salty, they burned his jersey on national tv, destroying anything and everything that had a link to him and his name. He was known from then on as a traitor, and was often reminded of his status when he returned to Cleveland with the Heat.

Photo courtesy of glogster.com

But now this “traitor” is coming back. How is he going to be received? Cleveland fans are now faced with the issue of what to do as a fan?  These fans who never wanted to see this man again, now have to welcome him back with open arm. Many fans spent the past four years actively cheering against him in every game.  He left with all these unfulfilled promises that he made. How should they treat him when he comes back?

Photo courtesy of realclearsports.com

I feel like they have to welcome James back with open arms. For one thing it’s the right thing and the only thing to do. Team owners don’t want any hostility between James and Cleveland. Fans want a championship team they can be proud of, but this won't happen if the environment is not good. The team is bringing LeBron back because they know with him on their team, they have a good chance to win a NBA title. Yes, all fans were very upset when he left, but now that he is coming back you have to get over what happen in the past. LeBron isn’t a bad guy, the world didn't end when he left, the Cavs just didn't win any championships. At the end of the day fans need to remember he’s just a basketball player and he’s human just like everyone else. Fans also need to remember that he's back on the team now, and he can help them win.

Post-Game Sportsmanship

Today's blog was written by Natalie Schmid, a Play Like a Champion summer intern.  Natalie is a rising high school junior and a swimmer and soccer player on her school's team.

One of the toughest times to be a good sport is after a big game, whether you win or lose. Most of the time we think about bad sportsmanship coming from the opponent who lost the game because they might be angry about losing, but what we don’t think as much about it the winner’s sportsmanship. After a big game the winners are entitled to be happy and celebrate, just as the losers are bound to be a little upset, but there is a fine line as to how much is too much.

Often times, professional athletes do not set the best examples of sportsmanship, especially with after game interviews while the emotions running still high from the game or match, but this was not the case after this weekend's men’s final at Wimbledon. The final match this year at Wimbledon was between Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer.  After a hard-fought match Djokovic came out on top and Federer saw his would be 18^th Grand Slam title slip away.  The match was a classic, with amazing serves and volleys throughout. Following the match, though was when the sportsmanship shined. Djokovic was quoted saying, “Thank you for letting me win today” to Federer just after saying that, “It is by far the best quality tennis…that I’ve ever been a part of.” Djokovic does such a nice job of acknowledging how good his opponent is and doesn’t just gloat about his victory.  These comments were especially touching as int he past, Djokovic has been criticized for excessive celebration, so it's good to see that he realizes he is a role-model.  Federer also showed good sportsmanship from the losing end saying, “Winning or losing it’s always something special and something you’ll remember” and then later saying, “The disappointment of the match itself went pretty quickly.” Two professional athletes on such a large stage, there is no doubt that their sportsmanship will be an example for many young athletes.

Photo courtesy of New York Times, credit: Sang Tan

Sportsmanship can be one of the hardest things to master as a young athlete because for most people, playing sports is a way to compete. Competitiveness is a fun thing, especially in youth and high school sports because it makes the games so much more intense, but after being so intense it can be hard to snap back out of that mindset and remember it is just a game.  For the winners, after a hard fought match they are so proud of the victory that all they want to do is celebrate.  I know this feeling, but I also know how it feels to lose a tight match.  All athletes need to remember to practice sportsmanship like Djokovic and Federer did. They should recognize the hard fought game and celebrate the quality play that happened while still being happy about the victory. Whereas the losers have a right be disappointed that they didn’t win, but should also celebrate the game and the effort given just as Federer did. Games are, after all, meant to be fun. 

Sports Parents

Today's blog was written by J.C. Obringer.  J.C. is a rising sophomore at Ball State University majoring in Sports Administration and Digital Sports Production and is interning with Play Like a Champion Today this summer. 

I have grown up around sports my whole life.  My parents were standout basketball and collegiate volleyball players. I always enjoyed playing sports with them. Over time, however, as I played more and more, I realized that while they loved sports, my parents never pushed me to play. In fact, it was quite the opposite. They always told me if I didn't want to play, I didn't have to.  But if I wanted to get better, I needed to practice, which they couldn't do for me. They never forced me to practice or anything. I did it on my own. There are always some parents that want their kids to be the greatest athlete ever. They push their kids so hard that they lose sight of what really is the point of playing sports: kids having fun.

You come across many types of parents, ones that don’t care about their kids sports, the ones that push to hard, the ones that want their kids to be the best out there, or want their kids to be just as good as they were when they played. The one type of parent that I find most upsetting to see is the parent that coaches their kids from the stands. I have seen kids that have been pushed by their parents so much that they hated going to a game or practice. They lost interest in the sport that they were playing.

Now you might say what does a 19-year-old college student know about parenting? I don’t have any parenting experience, but I have experience as an athlete and as a coach.  I have seen many of my friends' parents push too hard. I have also coached  7^th  and 8^th grade boys basketball, where I have witnessed parents "helping" from the stands first hand.  The over-involvement of parents was often most evident at practice when kids would show up and clearly not want to be there or when in games, my players would look to the stands for advice, not to the bench.  As a coach, this undermined everything we had been working on as a team.  On occasion, I would see parents that were the total opposite--they only showed up to drop off or pick up their son or daughter from practice and games.  I was very fortunate to have parents that were supportive, but not overly so.

I won't claim to be a parenting expert, but from what I've learned while working here at Play Like a Champion Today, I will advocate that all parents strive to Parent Like a Champion.  Parents should work to make sure their children are playing because the children want to be there, not because parents want them there. Parents, encourage your children to play. The love of the game is what keeps children playing. There are many lessons to be learned from playing sports, but only if the children (and the parents) are open to learning.

Love of the Game

Today's blog was written by Natalie Schmid, a Play Like a Champion summer intern.  Natalie is a rising high school junior and a soccer player on her local team.

Every team that enters the World Cup Tournament wants to win, but at what cost? Is it in the spirit of the game to come to an agreement with an opponent, so that you both get to the next round? That is exactly the question that faces both Germany and the United States right now. Tied in Group G right now with 4 points each, they both just need one more point from a draw to advance to the next round. So this brings up the question, will both teams just play for the tie and save their legs for later in the tournament? No evidence of any sort of deal between the Germans and Americans has been found, and they both deny that they will play for a draw in this next game.  Based on news coverage, both countries' fans are rooting for a win.  This being said, I believe that both teams will play “smart” in order to save their legs a little bit for later in the tournament. One way of doing this is to play a little bit of a slower game and just to play smart about the runs they makes and situations in the game they get themselves into. The situations that they are going to want to avoid will be getting any sort of cards, as well as plays that have high risk of injury. As much as players will attempt to avoid these situations, all involved in the game know that injuries and fouls are inevitable in any game. So is it worth it to agree on a draw to try and avoid these situations and advance to the next round?

Maybe it is, maybe it is not. Either way the competition aspect of the World Cup and love of the game will most likely bring fans a good hard fought game, with the two teams playing to win, instead of just agreeing to tie. The World Cup seems to do many things, but one of them is to bring to life the spirit of soccer in players', coaches' and fans' hearts alike. At the end of the day world cup games are ultimately unpredictable, and we can only watch as the Germans and Americans fight on the field for 90 minutes for the win, because agreeing to draw just wouldn’t be in the World Cup spirit.

As a High School varsity soccer player I know that the idea of an easy game sounds really good, so that you don’t have to play very hard. If faced with this decision in a High School Match it would be tempting to just play for a draw, but at the end of the day, I've noticed that everyone who plays past grade school has some competitiveness inside of them. With this competitiveness comes the will and want to win, and if given the option my team as well as most others I know, would play for a win not a tie. No one just plays soccer, or any sport for that matter, without some love of the game. That love of the game is what would fuel my team to play for the win, just as I believe Germany and America will play for the win. And I believe that we will win!

World Cup 2014

Today's blog was written by Tony Kim.  Tony is an intern with Play Like a Champion Today, a recent psychology graduate of Purdue University North Central, and an avid socccer fan. 

Eleven and a half billion dollars; let that sink in for just a moment.

Eleven and a half billion dollars is the reported amount spent on this Summer’s World Cup tournament in Brazil. And as the South American nation prepares to host those from nearly every corner of the footballing world, it faces its toughest task in handling the protesting citizens in outrage over the government spending for the tournament, rises in fares for public transportation, political corruption, and police brutality against the protesting citizens.  Though, the most visible issue today is perhaps the lack of consideration to use that money or an equivalent amount to improve the nations infrastructure.

The Brazilian protests are far from new occurrences. They truly began in 2013 with many of the issues previously discussed at the forefront while Brazil hosted the Confederations Cup—the prelude for the World Cup.  But with an event as extravagant and as famed as the World Cup, one would think that it would bring in an enormous amount of revenue for the host country which could hardly be protested. That notion, while sensible, is not always the case. Take, for instance, the data given by the study, “Tourism and the 2010 World Cup:Lessons for Developing Countries.” Although the money spent on the World Cup in 2010 attracted a number of tourists, the cost for each tourist amounted to a whopping $13,000. Not only that, but the economic impact that events such as the World Cup have on host nations are impermanent and rarely ever consistently positive.

So, with eleven and a half billion dollars being spent on the World Cup, the question of what it will yield still remains.  This enormous amount of money may also be part of restructuring for the 2016 Summer OlympicGames to be held in Rio, but in the end after all is said and done—will Brazil truly benefit? Will the citizens in protest today find any kind of resolution to the issues they stand and voice against? As seen by previous events as large as the World Cup or Olympic Games, the economic yield will most likely not be what is expected for the host country—thereby tagging the money spent on events such as these as borderline frivolous.

 

Eleven and a half billion dollars; hopefully not money down the drain.

The Game of Life

Baylor basketball player Isaiah Austin was just given news that would seem to make all the hours of work that he put into basketball his whole life for nothing, or was it? Earlier this year, Isaiah, in his second year of college basketball, declared for the draft with the hopes of hearing his name called in the draft and eventually playing in the NBA. This dream was shattered when Isaiah found out during a standard physical that he has Marfan syndrome. This genetic disorder is very serious because it causes strain on the cardiovascular system along with other things. Most importantly for Isaiah, it meant he would not be playing competitive basketball anymore. 

photo courtesy of krnb.com

Isaiah seems to have his body working against his will to play basketball. When he was younger he had a complication with an eye injury causing blindness in his right eye. He overcame that obstacle by effort and hard work, but unfortunately this new diagnosis of Marfan syndrome spells the end of his playing days. It would seem again that all of his dedication and work have been for nothing, but Isaiah’s attitude and recent statements  prove the opposite. He says in one of his tweets, “But it’s not the end; only the beginning.” This attitude will help him accept the life he has been given and continue to achieve. While Austin is undoubtedly upset about not being able to pursue his dreams in the NBA, something that he has worked most of his life for--laying in countless tournaments, and practicing for hours and hours at a time-- this commitment was not for nothing. Austin has already committed to helping others, starting with working with the Marfan Foundation to increase awareness of the disease.

Some people chose sports as a career, but the majority of people who do sports do them or put their children in them for three other reasons: for the physical activity, for the skill development, and three to teach valuable life lessons. One of these valuable life lessons is how to pick yourself back up after you fall. This could be if  if you trip on your own or if you fall because of forces beyond your control; but however you get to the ground there is one thing in sports you always have to do, and that is to get back up and brush yourself off.  I believe that in any sport and any age this lesson is learned by athletes, including Austin.  While this past week has clearly been quite difficult for him, he has handled himself with such grace that the NBA drafted him anyway, thus fulfilling a lifelong dream of hearing his name called in the draft. Austin's experience of sports may not be giving him his dream career anymore but, it is giving him the tools to pick himself up after this, brush himself off, and continue on in the game of life. 

Sports and the First Amendment

 

Today's blog post was written by Kelly Scholl. Kelly is a senior Spanish major at the Univeristy of Notre Dame and a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching course taught by Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan of Play Like a Champion Today.

Freedom of Speech in the United States is one of the most honored and respected rights that we have in this country. One is free to express their opinions, no matter what they might be, and unfortunately also no matter whom they might offend. Freedom of Speech has recently come into discussion in the sports world with the issues that have surrounded Donald Sterling and the Los Angeles Clippers in the last few weeks. The blatantly racist remarks that were made by the owner of the Clippers were recently publicized, and it resulted in a lifetime ban from the NBA. There is obviously no room in the NBA for those with racist opinions, especially being that African Americans make up 76.3 percent of all NBA players, and eighty-one percent of players were of color (NBA RGRC). As an owner you have a responsibility to your players to make them feel appreciated, and especially respected in the workplace. Donald Sterling did not fulfill his obligations as an owner, or even a member of the NBA community.

I have heard some say that a lifetime ban was too harsh of a punishment, and that Donald Sterling has the right to express his opinions in his own home to his own friends and family. And while I agree that he has the right to express his opinions, however insulting and hurtful they might be, he is not free from the consequences of his actions. He has the right to say what he said, just as the NBA has the right to hold him responsible for his words. The players involved in his organization deserve to be treated with respect and feel safe in their working environment. A hostile working place based on race, such as the one created by the statements of Sterling, should not exist in today’s world. And I believe that the decision by the NBA to ban Donald Sterling was appropriate given his role in the organization and the way in which he was representing himself.

Many people are asking questions about where the NBA will go from here. Will a lifetime ban because of racist statements lead to a ban for others who are outspoken about homosexuality or other hot topics  in society?  Does this mean that anyone that has a controversial (or minority opinion) should be banned from the NBA? I do not believe these things are comparable, however, and anyways, we cannot predict the future.   The statements made by Donald Sterling were ignorant and offensive, and there needs to be a standard set for those that represent the organization. The NBA sent the message that such ignorance will not be tolerated, and if one desires to have opinions such as this they will not be a part of the community; especially not in a position of power. Donald Sterling was free to express his opinions in this country; the NBA is also free to hold him accountable for his actions.

 

 

 

 

Love of the Game, and the Other Players

Today's blog post was written by Michael McFadden, a sophomore sociology and psychology major.  Michael is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching, a course taught by Play Like a Champion founder and director Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan.

Although I was born and raised in Indiana, specifically South Bend, I grew up only spending a few gym classes a year on a basketball court. I became very interested in hockey before the age of six, and this interest developed into a twelve year hockey career. Growing up, I spent virtually no time playing basketball, the stereotypical, Hoosier sport of choice, because of the conflict between basketball and hockey season. It wasn’t until last year, my freshman year in college, that I spent significant amounts of time playing and loving the sport of basketball.

Unfortunately, hockey is not a sport that most people can easily play. There are many socioeconomic barriers to entry and this makes it a fairly exclusive sport; equipment and ice time are both expensive and difficult to come by in most parts of the United States. Hockey will forever have a place in my heart, but my recent interest in it has dwindled. Of course, Hockey itself has not become worse or lesser in my eyes. The feelings of a crisp, across-ice pass, a hard wrist-shot, and a defender-evading deke are ones that are irreplaceable. No newly-developed fascination with another sport could reduce the love I have for my years as a hard-hitting forward on my four-time city championship-winning and four-time state championship-losing high school hockey team. The memories and friends made along the way will forever be cherished. In spite of my love for hockey, basketball has truly become my recent passion.

I turned the TV on the other day with the hope that I’d be able to watch some sports. Sure enough, I had the choice between the NHL Playoffs and the NBA Playoffs. Without thinking, I immediately switched to the NBA Playoffs. My involuntary decision left me awestruck. It was just two years ago that I would have considered basketball to be an uninteresting and jejune sport that was infinitely inferior to hockey. Today, however, my immediate choice of sport is basketball. With the sound of Kevin Durant’s monstrous dunks and miraculous three-pointers in the background, I began thinking about the TV channel decision that I had just made.

Delving into my recent, involuntary decision yielded some interesting revelations about my social experience at Notre Dame as well as my past social experience in hockey. When I began meeting most of my current friends, we spent most of our time playing basketball together. Basketball served as an easy way to socially integrate; naturally, it wasn’t feasible to use hockey as a means to interact and get to know each other. Basketball, which meant anything from shooting around to full, five on five games back behind Keenan, started as fun, indirect ways to get to know fellow dorm members. Shortly, it became more than just an introductory rendezvous. Basketball transitioned into my friend group’s way of escaping reality, if only for a short amount of time. It became a way to enjoy our time with one another and to grow closer. Naturally, not only did I grow to love my friends, I grew to love basketball.

I finally realized that my recent love for basketball was not only a response to the sport of basketball itself, which I find to be extraordinarily brilliant, but also to the experiences that my new friends and I have shared and continue to share together. I developed a deep-rooted love for hockey after years of shared experiences with my hockey buddies. It wasn’t merely the sport that captivated me, it was also the relationships that grew over time. While I’ve learned a lot in two years of college, my new perspective on sports and their social roles in people’s lives is indispensable insight that I will never forget. Hopefully, I’ll avoid judging the worth or excitement of a sport based on the apparent amount of “fun” it provides. The value of a sport is not found in its rules and general gameplay, it is found in its instrumental social importance.

The Problem with Sports: Us

Today's blog was written by Morgan Smith.  Morgan is a student in the Social Foundations of Coaching course taught by Play Like a Champion Today founder and directors Professor Clark Power and Kristin Sheehan.  Morgan is a senior marekting major at the University of Notre Dame.

Muhammad Ali. The most notable boxer to ever enter a ring. He is a household name, renowned for his battles outside the ring as much as those fought inside it. So how do you know the most famous boxer in the world? Not the way you should.

photo courtesy of biography.com

Many remember Muhammad Ali as Cassius Clay (his given name), the Olympic gold medalist and heavyweight champion. His unique style of boxing jarred traditionalists. His speed allowed him to simply lean away from his opponent’s punches, rather than duck from them. He did not protect his face, opting instead to keep his hands at his hips. His brazen technique won him three heavyweight titles—the first man in history to do so—and finish 56-5 in his professional career, 37 of wins coming from knockouts.

You may recall his controversial persona. Ali earned a reputation for his cocky attitude, often writing poems detailing his own greatness or belittling his opponents. This, of course, pales in comparison to his shocking public announcement of his conversion to Islam in 1964, the day after winning his first heavyweight title. Cassius Clay joined the Nation of Islam, officially changing his name to Muhammad Ali and refusing to respond to any other name thereafter. Refusal became a pattern for Ali during the Vietnam War draft. Citing his religious beliefs, Ali refused to enter the draft. He was eventually tried and found guilty of draft evasion, after which he was stripped of his heavyweight title and banned from boxing for the next three and a half years. Luckily for Ali, the Supreme Court overturned his guilty ruling on June 28, 1971, acquitting him of draft evasion. Muhammad Ali went on to clinch two more heavyweight titles.

photo courtesy of NBC News

 We know of Ali’s physical struggles long after his boxing career ended. In 1984, “The Greatest,” as he was often called, received a devastating diagnosis: Parkinson’s Disease.  A progressive and degenerative disorder, Parkinson’s causes vital brain and nerve cells to malfunction and die, leaving the affected individual incapable of controlling his or her movements.

I’ll ask the question again: how do you know Ali? Probably not as a humanitarian, right? Yet, that is exactly what he is. Muhammad Ali stands as one of the most charitable athletes in history. He has provided 232 million (yes, you read that correctly) meals to starving persons throughout the world. He has spent months in countries like Indonesia, Mexico, and Morocco, hand-delivering food and medicine to children. In the United States, he has continued his mission of charity by visiting hundreds of soup kitchens and hospitals, participating in Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Special Olympics. He even founded the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center. Ali has received numerous awards and recognition for his philanthropic efforts, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom and Amnesty International’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

So, why don’t we know Muhammad Ali for his beautiful and charitable spirit? Why do we know him for his controversial involvement and athletic feats? I don’t have an answer for that question; and that is the problem.

Charles Barkley once said the now infamous line: “I am not a role model.” Well, that didn’t go over well. Our society looks to the men and women of sports as role models for ourselves and for our children. We want to be like Mike. We watch in absolute awe of LeBron’s 61-point game or Peyton’s seven touchdowns. But when they slip up, all hell breaks loose. Dwayne Wade’s “lovechild” scandal graced several tabloid covers. Richard Sherman’s infamous interview flooded SportsCenter for weeks. So, where’s the rest of it? Where are the news stories detailing Sherman’s work with underprivileged youth? They’re nowhere. We ask these athletes to be our role models, yet we never acknowledge them for it. We sweep the good stuff under the rug and run a highlighter over the indiscretions.

Muhammad Ali’s legacy leads us to a very stark realization: Maybe the athletes aren’t the problem. Maybe it’s us.