Fundamentals matter, and if you bring your game along with that, everybody gets better as a team. I can only wonder how good we would've been with more practices as a team. For now, shooting/ballhandling workouts Mon-Wed. Same place, same time: Makiki Park, 4:00 p.m.
As for all the extracurricular activities during the game, the league director, Stephen Chong, spoke with the Owls' coach about what happened only after the game — when one of their players dropped an F-bomb on me during the handshakes. He said that if that player causes any more problems in the future, he'll be banned from the league. The Owls' coach, Brad Swanson, sent me an e-mail later and asked if I could confirm which of their players cussed at me. I think the coach is genuine, but I also don't care about that anymore. The time to correct that was right there on the spot, not the next day or week. That's the reality about discipline in the real world. Anybody who cusses or does worse, then walks away before anything else can be said ... that's how a lot of people are today. It's cowardly, but that's today's world. A lot of people run and hide.
I like people who are willing to face each other man to man and resolve a situation immediately. That's how problems get solved.
All the stuff that they did during the game — one guy trying to punch John (I learned after the game and reported it to the league for future reference), another guy constantly grabbing our guys' shirts — the league has nothing to say about that.
I like people who are willing to face each other man to man and resolve a situation immediately. That's how problems get solved.
All the stuff that they did during the game — one guy trying to punch John (I learned after the game and reported it to the league for future reference), another guy constantly grabbing our guys' shirts — the league has nothing to say about that.
I have something to say. I think we showed great character in playing the game and not getting caught up in the immaturity of other teams. It would've been so easy to stoop down to their level and get involved in something useless and stupid like a brawl. Instead, we played our game best we could and almost pulled out the win.
Don't you guys realize that the reason why people will cheat and try dirty tricks is because they really don't believe in themselves and their teams? You know and I know that we can beat ANY TEAM in 17U. The only exception I'll make is Lanakila, and even they are beatable if we play well and they struggle. It's happened before; we were down 17 to them, rallied to tie it in the last 7 seconds, and they hit a halfcourt shot to beat us. In Palolo Gym. This time, you have to realize that these kids from MPI are short on confidence and they knew we would eventually make a run. That, we did, and I'm proud of the way everyone stuck together despite the circumstances.
Today summed up our offseason in a nutshell. We showed a lot of hustle, worked together sometimes, and at other times, our lack of team practices — I'm talking about at least 10 players at our workouts — showed when we needed to make crisp passes and threw it away. It showed when we missed free throws, let their dribblers go right through the middle as we gambled on steals instead of playing team defense, riding the ballhandler right into a trap.
I ask so much from you guys because I KNOW FOR A FACT you can play basketball at the highest level in 17U, but this happens only with diligence, dedication and unity. For today, I saw glimmers of all these, and most of all, I saw GREAT CHARACTER. I know the Lord has blessed each of us with a unique love for the game of basketball. He has also blessed me with the time and energy to spend with each of you at all these games and practices since March. It's been total fun and I wouldn't trade a single day, not a single minute or second for anything else.
The guys with the most love for the game show up every day, or close to it, and I can't ask for more than that.
The guys with the most love for the game show up every day, or close to it, and I can't ask for more than that.
Time is short on this earth, and I know deep down that if I can spend all my free time helping you get better at the game through constant work, daily repetition and encouragement, my time will have been well spent. It's that simple!
Each of you guys, stay focused on the priorities of life and do NOT allow anything else to deter you. It's your choice to give up time and energy to improve, to push yourself, to help your schools become better in every way. It's a new opportunity every day. You're blessed. Go make the most of it and the fun will follow.
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