Growing pains

Kali'a had an interesting point after our game today at Aiea gym. We were short-handed, much more than I'd expected — the guys who were bowling in ILH matches, that really caught me off guard (with them we probably would've beat Kapolei Canes). So Kali‘a asked why I don't ask more guys to come to the games.

Between the blog announcements, the emails of the blog announcements, me putting the info on Facebook and constant texts, by the time I get every bit of information and game video links and everything else out, I am FRIED. If I had to call every player and parent individually to beg them to show up to every game, there would be nothing left of me. I do have a full-time job. I do take it seriously. And I take everything we do as a Thunder Ohana seriously. So many parents make so many sacrifices for our keiki.

I know Kali‘a makes an extra effort often to get in touch with guys to remind them about our game schedule, that he needs them to show up and help our team compete and win every time we have a game. I consider Kali‘a a great team leader. But even he's getting the same kind of frustration I've had over the years when teammates just don't seem to have the same passion they once did. Maybe they're more into their girlfriends. Maybe they would rather go to the mall. Maybe they just don't have the drive anymore and the dream of playing college basketball is less important. Who knows?

But as for me, I'm supposed to call every player individually for every single game..?  We've had 127 games since Winter season began. Mulitply that by the 20+ players we have on our Varsity, JV and Intermediate/13U rosters, and then add in all the parents. I love all of you guys, but there's no way I have the time or energy — especially while I'm driving — to get in touch individually with every single player and parent about every upcoming game. Can't be done!

I wouldn't mind doing it if I actually had the time. But I don't. People sometimes ask me how I have the time to coach. I always tell them the truth: We have awesome parents who help out a ton. They check the emails and texts and blog posts and updates on changing schedules. Some of our players do the same. Some don't. I don't know why they don't keep track. Maybe they're used to their parents doing everything for them.

When we get to the point where all our Thunder players understand that the commitment to building a great team is on their shoulders, then they will grasp success and embrace every challenge. That comes with maturity and maturity comes with time. Hopefully, not too much time because these years go by so quickly. One blink, and the school year is gone. One blink, and you're too old to play 13U and Intermediate anymore. One blink, and high school is pau.

You want your teammates to show up for every game? Talk to them. Expect the best from them and yourselves. I've done enough talking. If you love the game and love your team, be there. Talk to each other. Us adults do what we can do, but we can't manufacture unity and commitment. You guys either got it or you don't. For the most part, it seems you do.

I checked yesterday for the first time in ages. Counting winter season, we have 84 wins and 43 losses (including tonight's game).

(Correction: We've played 123 games as of 9/2/15, won 85 and lost 38. I made a mistake counting the games that we have scheduled later this week. And we had a forfeit win earlier in the year that I missed.)

This fall, we're a combined 15-4 even though only 3-4 players are showing up to practice daily. You may see this as success, winning two JV titles, taking an Intermediate crown on Maui (with just 7 players). That would be true, it is success. What happens from here?

Do you become a dominant team as juniors and sophomores? Or do you sink into this complacency and flatline until you become seniors and juniors? Oh, I don't know the answer to this. It's out of my control and I can only hope we have the kind of hunger that drove our earliest 17U team (2011) and 13U championship team in Anaheim (2013). Or that hunger we had in Spring of this year when 15 to 20 players were coming to practice and scrimmaging.

This complacency in attitude and work ethic is the same exact thing we're seeing in the first half of every varsity game this fall. Whether it's a high school or college coach or manager at a restaurant or an athletic director or principal who calls me and asks detailed questions about the work ethic and true character of any of our Thunder keiki over the years, I always tell the truth. Kids will be kids. Nobody's perfect. But when they ask me about the future, I can't project anything aside from what I see in front of my eyes. Now really does count, and whatever each of us invests now with time, attitude, energy, old-fashioned sweaty work ethic, that's what builds a future,

I sure as heck hate liars. The last thing I'll ever do is lie to anyone in authority who asks me the most basic questions. For the most part, I've had a lot of great memories and thoughts to share with people when they've asked. I hope it stays this way, even though I have reason to have my doubts lately.