Out of Mississippi in one piece...

Man, it feels good to be home. That was an interesting trip to say the least. We lost 78-70 to Mississippi today and headed right to the airport to get back home so we can sleep in our own beds for a change. Whew! Although we lost the game, I thought that we took some positive steps in the right direction. We had 25 offensive rebounds, led by 4 at half and were aggressive the entire game. Considering the travel we did the guys had some energy and were excited about playing. We had a stretch in the second half where we had a couple of turnovers in a row and that allowed Ole Miss to come back and take the lead. There were two stretches like that and we could over come it. We got some positive results from some guys and that's what's important. An SEC team on the road and the officiating was as even as you could expect. Don't get me wrong, I hate losing and I think we should have, could have won the game. We will get a good night sleep and practice tomorrow at 12 noon.

The Road LESS Traveled

Ok...so you have got to hear about this day we just had. First, Thanksgiving was cool, we had a great time and I thank God everyday for the blessings he has and continues to give me. I think the fellas really felt as tho they really gave back to the community by assisting Bea Gaddy with their feeding of the homeless at Patterson Park. We practiced afterwards and then went on our separate ways to enjoy Thanksgiving dinners.

This morning we arrive at the BWI airport for what was suppose to be a 11:30 a.m flight only to find out that the company that booked the flights, scheduled the tournament etc. gave us a different flight time a week earlier and changed it without informing the assistant coach who handles travel etc. Well, in the first time ever for me...We missed the flight! Let me state again...I have never missed a flight! There are huge ramifications if we don't make it to Mississippi for the game but we can't focus on that at the moment. We end up on separate flights thru Charlotte then all but 4 were on the same flight from Charlotte to Memphis, where we were scheduled to practice and stay for the night. We all at least arrived safely into Memphis. We checked into the hotel around 7 p.m then headed over to the Forum, where the Memphis Grizzlies play and practice, to practice and go over the University of Mississippi's stuff. Practicing on an NBA floor was probably enough to geek our guys up to get by the fact that we spent all day in airports. Practice lasted an hour and a half and we got them something to eat and now I'm updating da Blog before I shut it down. Yeah...long day ya'll, but da show must go on...and we betta be ready to play! We play at 1 p.m...actually later on today!

I wanna THANK U....

Yes we are practicing today. Yes, it Thanksgiving and we practice every Thanksgiving! I like to have the guys get a good workout before they get their grub on. Actually every Thanksgiving we go down to Patterson Park and help feed the homeless with Bea Gaddy! This Thanksgiving they said they need us for set up and delivering the food from the church to the gym. We will also help take clothes and food off trucks and move them to a location that they can distribute to the folks that need em.

The fellas always have enough time to then spend with their families or where ever they are spending Thanksgiving. I always take my son with me because I think it's important that I make sure he gives back as well. We start practice in a circle like we always do and I start by stating what I'm thankful for and we go around til everyone has a turn. Let's get it on....I'm thankful first of all that the Lord has blessed me with another day, a healthy loving family, an opportunity to coach and affect lives. Preciate it!

Classic N ding

Monday afternoon on the Morgan State campus and I'm about to call it a day...on campus anyway. I have tape to watch and evaluate for the next week. We lost our last game of the Glenn Wilkes Classic in Daytona Beach to Wisconsin-Green Bay yesterday morning and flew home last night. We were down 2 at half and still didn't shoot well from the field and we once again put the opponent on the free throw line too much. We are going to have to do a better job defending without fouling. We play one more game in the Glenn Wilkes Classic on Saturday November, 29th at the University of Mississippi (I still sing that spelling whenever I write it. lol). It is an exempt tournament and it only counts as one game for the NCAA allowable games but obviously counts as 4 games on your schedule and record. We will continue to work and get better. There were some positives during the tournament and we have to build on that. Playing on the road out of conference is also a beast.

The fellas have today off and we'll get back in the gym tomorrow after the guys lift. We will practice Wednesday and Thursday morning then participate in a Thanksgiving dinner deal for the homeless, like we've done for the past two years and then fly to Memphis on Friday. We have to fly to Memphis to get to Oxford, Miss where we will practice on their floor, play Saturday at 1 p.m and return back to Baltimore Saturday night. That will complete our participation in the Glenn Wilkes Classic.

Only thing good about Sunday was that we arrived home safely and that the Redskins won! Gotta find something positive baby!

No Time 2 b licking Wounds...

It's Sunday morning 9 a.m and I'm sitting in the lobby of the Hilton in Daytona Beach, Florida. We've had our pre-game meal and scouting report session and I'm waiting for the fellas so we can walk across the street to the Ocean Center to play our last game of the Glenn Wilkes Classic. We play Wisconsin-Green Bay at 11 a.m and then jet right out to the Orlando airport for our flight back to Baltimore.

Yesterday we got our butts kicked! It was one of those games. At half time we were down 8 and only shot 18% from the field with no 3 pointers and I thought man...tough half but it could have been worst. The first 5 minutes of the game and the first 5 minutes of the 2nd half are very important and we didn't get off to a very good start in the 2nd half either. Utah is a good team with a 7-2 NBA center and I thought the first half we played him pretty tough. He had 2 fouls and our center, as of right now (Rodney Stokes, who's injured will be the center and Kevin Thompson can move to Power Forward), was doing a great job defending him and taking it to him on the offensive end. This was the first time since I've been here that we didn't make a 3 pointer in the entire game. Tough day, it happens but the Sun came up this morning and we have to keep it moving. Mama said it would be days like that! Utah was very discipline team and really shot the ball well. We had a game like that last year vs Niagara out in the Cable Car Classic. It happens, like I said. It's how you respond is what counts. We ended up winning 22 games last year so, keep it moving. It's been a good experience for us and we will take what we need to grow and move on. Just like life...bumps in the road only make you stronger! I love challenges baby! If everything was so predictable why play the game! The fellas are filling up the lobby now so let's get it on!
Yeah...it's the day after and losses feel worst the next day for me but when you have to play again the next morning...it's no time to dwell in the past!

OUCH!

That HURT! Enough said....

Black Listed!!

Ok...so I was awaken at 6:25 a.m by my cell phone buzzing on the bed. It was my son, wanting me to give my wife the fastest directions to his high school so he can make it to his 7:30 a.m practice on time. Well, first of all you get up on time...no I didn't say that, but I was thinking it! :) They seemed stressed enough...lol. I hooked them up but now what...I'm up and once that mind gets going...the energy flows! I've got the song "Tie My Hands" (by Robin Thicke featuring Lil Wayne) on my mind, it's a song about New Orleans, rebuilding and the after affects of hurricane Katrina. Great song! I play it on my iPod and get moving.

We won the first game of the Glenn Wilkes Classic yesterday. It was a good team win vs Marshall University. A team win, cause everybody contributed. I was proud of them for bouncing back after the tough loss in NYC. After the game I went back to the hotel to chill while the assistant coaches scouted the rest of the field for our remaining games. I happen to catch a show on HBO called "The Black List". Wow! It was a powerful and I'm gonna try to get it to show to the fellas on one of those long bus rides we have during the season. The show was a series of interviews/testimonies with prominent African American figures (entertainers, athletes, artist, political figures, dancers etc. all kind of folks) discussing their "Ah" moment or significant moments in their lives. They shared in depth details of what helped get them through the barrier(s). They talked about events/people/moments that made impacts on their lives and you could feel the sincerity. Well, at least I could! Put it this way, I really enjoyed the piece! Colin Powell talked about hearing that people always referred to him as the token black or that he only had his position because they needed a black (folks don't really know you or your struggle so press forward young man...be above the nonsense). Puffy reflecting on how he carried himself and spoke of himself as the next Berry Gordy while a student at Howard University (positive thinking/ you are what you think you are). One of Al Sharpton's closet friends was James Brown (You can process your hair & lay it back to son! LOL), naw, Sharpton had some good stuff too! Just a lil light moment ya'll...

After watching some tape on Utah, our opponent today, I shut it down. Utah has a 7-2 center and big time shooters on the perimeter. In other words...a huge challenge looms folks! But that's what this thing is all about! Dream big baby! Dream Big! I'm excited and want to jump it up RIGHT NOW! We got shoot-a-round at 10 a.m and we play at 4...

Life's a Box of Chocolates...

Friday morning and there's still some residue from the lost to Man..hat...n the other night! We arrived in Daytona Beach, Florida at 7:45 p.m by bus after flying to Orlando. The flight was jammed packed and I couldn't wait for the plane to stop and my aisle let me stretch my knees. Man...a 6"5" cat squeezed into that window seat. I usually get an aisle seat but upon check in...I discovered that they had assigned my a seat and that was that. Sit down slim and be happy we held the flight up for U! No...I don't ride in First Class...I know that's what you were thinking! :) Since we are on the topic of checking in...you know how you have a funny feeling and kind try to express it and the person you're addressing kind of blows you off? Well, when the cat was checking me in and he tagged my bag he didn't place it on the belt. I was patient but then asked if he would place it on the belt so I could make sure the bag arrived when I did. Well, you know he gave me the..."man this dude is tripping, let me do my job DUDE" type of thing and then put my bag on the belt without looking at me. Yeah, a no look pass type of thing!

You know the rest of the story. My bag didn't come in and would be scheduled to get in at 11 or 12 midnight and then Daytona is an hour and 20 minutes from Orlando so...no PJ's tonight homeboy! So Mama...I couldn't brush my teeth before I went to bed! It wasn't my fault! :)

We checked into the hotel (The Hilton) and went immediately across the street to the Ocean Center (arena where we will play) and had practice. We didn't go long and really just walked through some of our upcoming opponents stuff. Afterwards we had dinner at Bubba Gumps! Bubba's was good! They had the N.F.L playing on one television and the movie Bubba Gump on the others. There was Bubba stuff everywhere. They even come out and played a fill in the blank game of Bubba Gump questions! The whole team participated! It was cool and the food was good too! Our trainer had grilled Mai-Mai with a lemon sauce and said man, this was amazing! Amazing dude? Come on...our table got a big kick out of that. Just like ya'll just did.

Hey, we play Marshall at 2 p.m today in the Glenn Wilkes Classic so thought I would share before shoot-a-round this morning. Run Bubba run!

Growing Pains R...A Pain N da....

Ah...the frustrations of blending new players into the system! We lost to Manhattan 61-60 last night (we were up 1 with 15 seconds left and they hit a shot with 5 seconds left) and like always it feels worst the next day! Not taking anything away from the teams we've played but we just are sloppy at times and it's mostly coming from the bench. Lazy passes, forgetting plays or assignments and lack of concentration. Now, I know that it's early in the season and things take time but...Damn! We have to also figure a way to stop fouling so much. Again, we out scored the opponent from the field, 3 point line and on rebounds only to have them shoot 26 free throw to our 15. If we make some free throws it's a different outcome too.

Well I guess this is growing pains so we will stay the course and grind it out. We go over the sets, out of bounds plays and press breaks everyday so there really is no reason why these guys aren't picking it up. There is an adjustment to the level of play but...man. That's my job though...so I'll figure it out. We leave today for a three game in three day classic in Daytona Beach, Florida. We play Marshall tomorrow, Utah on Saturday and Wisconsin Green Bay on Sunday morning then head back to B more. Wish us luck!

Game Day Morning...

We had a staff meeting til 1 a.m so I slept in a lil this morning. Just checking wit my guys...a lil maintenance making sure everybody is good. The bus leaves at 10:15 for our 11 o'clock shoot-a-round at Manhattan College. Shoot-a-round typically last for about an hour and a half. Sometimes you might not be able to get a shoot-a-round time but for the most part the hosting school accommodates you. As a coach you try to get a chance for your squad to get use to the floor (sometimes there are dead spots etc), the rims (sometimes they are tighter, looser etc.) and the shooting parameter.

Pre-game and film will be at 3 p.m...we play at 7. I slept good...thanks for asking! LOL I'll get my run in after shoot-a-round, watch a lil more tape and chill! I don't answer my phone on game day...

Man...let me get to this bus, ya'll gonna make me late! :)

U can have whatever u like....but I don't cook 4 everybody!

I tell you what, it's Tuesday morning and as I fix my children pancakes and sausage, it feels a helluva lot better after a W. Yeah...I fix hot breakfast almost every morning. I'm like a short order cook some mornings...if my baby girl wants French Toast, then dag nab it...she's going to have French Toast. "She can have whatever she likes...."T.I baby! :)

We were able to execute alittle better last night but we still have a ways to go. I guess that's not all bad because some coaches have a theory that if you are perfect early, it'll be tougher later. We are playing hard and that's a start but we have to execute and have consistency in our effort and focus. It was a good win and a positive step, just gotta keep stepping.

Marquise Kately cramped up alot last night and had to get an I.V before he left the gym. The trainer reminded the fellas to drink plenty of fluids and to definitely eat. Young folks don't always understand that you have to really take care of your body. They eat juke food, skip meals and don't drink enough water. Now, we played at La Salle Saturday, at home last night vs UMBC (Monday), at Manhattan Wednesday and we travel to Daytona Beach, Florida for 3 games in 3 days (Friday, Saturday & Sunday). That's a tough stretch and their bodies will be very important and reverent to their ability to produce. We leave at 12 today and will practice at Fordham University this afternoon, have a walk thru at Manhattan Wednesday morning and play at 7 p.m. Somewhere in between there we will eat cause as of 5:30 this mornin...da kitchen is CLOSED! Daddy put you a plate in the refrigerator baby! Don't hate Ya'll...she's a daddy's gurl! :)

Put that Weekend Trash Out!

Wow! Glad that weekend is over. It was a tough weekend for my teams. We lost a tough one at La Salle, the Morgan State football team took one on da head to South Carolina State and the Skins dropped one to of all teams....the cowgurls! Im not sure which one hurts the most! The good thing is...Monday starts a new week!

We play UMBC tonight at home at 7 p.m. So I have my routine that I follow at home and will shave, workout, get a hair cut and relax. Oh yeah, I gotta order the fried Turkey for Thanksgiving! If you haven't had it fried...whew you don't know what you're missing! Anyway, we will have shoot-a-round at 2 and pre-game meal at 3. Hey, let me get my children to the bus stop...man Blake needs to get that trash. Trash day is Monday's and Thursday's...lol this weekend the trash bag was definitely full of a whole lot of %#@*! Damn... to the Cowgurls!

That's Y some folks like to eat at HOME...

Folks always talk about how tough it is to win on the road. I'm not from that school because I always preach that you play the way you play...give us two baskets and a ball and let's throw it up! I've been saying that since I've been coaching and that's what I stress to my teams. The only problem is that you assume that everything else is even. La Salle played well enough to win and that's all you have to do so congrats to them but man...when you don't reach the bonus in a game...it's pretty ridiculous! It's was a tough lost and I didn't think that we played well. We still had a chance to win the game down the stretch and we made enough mistakes of our own. Just because I'm venting to ya'll doesn't mean I expressed it that way to the fellas. I mean we made the same amount of field goals, we made 4 more 3 pointers and had 19 offensive rebounds. They made up the difference at the free throw line. I guess that's why they call it Home Cooking! Aiight, enough of that! We just have to get better! Thanks for the motivation!!

A loss always hurt more for me the next morning. It's like I respect the game, congratulate the opponent and start to focus on the next game, then the next morning I have that hole in my stomach. But it's on to the next opponent. We will watch film today of the La Salle game just to tighten up the mistake that we made, then watch tape of UMBC (our next opponent) then practice for a while. UMBC is a NCAA tournament team and Randy Monroe does a good job with his team so we got our work cut out for us. That's what this thing is all about tho! I love this game! Skins vs Cowgurls tonight ya'll!!! Here's hoping the cook feels at HOME tonight too! :)

What Time is IT???

We arrived at our hotel yesterday around 2 p.m and had a chance to chill before our 20 minute ride to practice. Teams generally practice at the game site the night or day before the game. Now, it doesn't always happen, sometimes because of scheduling conflicts etc. the floor is not available but for the most part, teams get the opportunity to practice on the game floor. Mostly everyone is afforded an opportunity for a shoot-a-round. Shoot-a-rounds are usually 5 to 6 hours before the game and teams use it to walk through the opponents scouting report. In our case the shoot around would mean, we'd have to shoot around at 8 a.m and we just think it more important in this particular case for the fellas to get the sleep. We will have pre-game meal 4 hours before the game and then have the guys get taped and be on the bus in time for us to get to the gym/arena an hour and a half before game time. In this case, because we didn't use the shoot-a-round time we will get to the gym/arena 2 hours before so the fellas can have some extra warm up time.

After practice, we headed back to the hotel to shower and go to dinner. After dinner we watched film and went over the scouting report. This is the toughest part...now the anticipation starts to really dig atchu! The time before the game ALWAYS gets me! Not the nervousness, just the AN...TI...CI...PA...TION of wanting to play! I would just as soon jump it up at that moment!

After watching some more tape last night, checking on my family and rapping to my cousin and a buddy of mine, I turned on "KEM" on my iPod (the lil portable stand joint) and hit dream land hard. Now I'm up at 5:30 a.m to shave, workout, relax and get my mind right. Damn...you would think I'm playing huh? It's the same routine for 30 some odd games baby! Gotta LOVE it! We play at 2....

U Drink Sprite?

Yesterday the speaker was a woman named DeNita Turner. DeNita has a company called Image Builders and Image Builders is a....da...da...da...daw...a image consultant company. She has many corporate clients but her the client most relative to da young bears in the room is the N.B.A. She works for the N.B.A, individual teams and individual players themselves. The league has vested interest in their young stars understanding the big picture and it really makes sense to use her services. I could name names but the individual names of the players are not important. Wish I could say my name was on that list, especially, earlier in my coaching career!

Well she conducted a session that had the guys captivated! She taught us and helped us to really understand a lot about our team and the fellas individually! It was a great session and had plenty class participation. She shared some the names of the guys/companies that she has worked with over the years and the heights each was able to achieve once they understood and accepted reality. Your image is your brand and as a teacher, you get a certain amount of satisfaction when something you've been trying to teach is repeated by other folks in, let's say...a different language. I'm always preaching body language to the fellas and it's importance and hopefully they get now. Thanks DeNita, I really appreciate you sharing your wonderful insight and knowledge with da bears! Hopefully there is a great R.O.I!!! Time will tell...the bus leaves at 11:30 this morning and we have practice at 3 p.m at LaSalle. What time is it!

"But you R not AT... your Big Momma's house right now!"

Ah...that dreaded day after the day off! Man, if you have children, it's like gettin your kids back after they've spend the weekend or in some cases the afternoon with their grandparents! God bless grandparents, so don't get me wrong but when your children come back from them...man, you have to re-learn 'em how things go at home. I'm going to be the same way as a grandparent if the good Lord blesses me to be, cause that's what "Big Momma's" and "Pop-Pop's" do! Well, it's the same effect after your team has a day off, in some cases. You go through explaining or re-explaining to guys that they have to focus, pay attention and follow the rules, etc. then proceed to teach them whatever it is that you are trying to teach them that day. This is more so the case with young teams or teams with new players on it.

Wednesday was no different at Hill Fieldhouse in B-More. It was a tough practice but we made it through and Thursday and Friday's practices will be preparation for LaSalle University, who we open up our regular season with Saturday afternoon in Philly. The fellas have a speaker today at 11 a.m then we will get it on at 3:30 p.m.

Is a Day Off, really a Day Off?

Tuesday was the fellas day off. This is the staffs time to catch up on paperwork, double check grade progress, clean up practice plans and gather all tape and info on upcoming opponents. Most of the guys come thru the office anyway. Some guys come through on their way to class, the training room for treatment of injuries or just to stick their heads in to say hello. It's funny because you want to give guys a break or a chance to gather themselves but that day off can be a beast too! The reason I say that is because when you have the guys on a consistent basis, the kind of stay in a flow. They hear your voice, the message, the plays and they develop a routine. When they take that day off, if they aren't mature enough they drift, their people (whoever that is) get in their ears and they break the mental routine. Now, I can hear some of you say, "Man, what is he talkin bout?"

Well, some guys can handle it. Some guys can't. I just want them to be able to stay focused or refocus when it's time to. When you think about this generation of kids, they've got all kind of things to keep them occupied. I don't think they have enough reflection time. Time to think about things that may have occurred or things that could effect them. The young people today have iPods, cell phone (where they r texting at unbelievable speeds), computer games, face book, my space and often times are dealing with serious issues on their owns. Now, when do they have time to reflect properly. Yeah, we deal with an incredible amount of things as adults but these kids...they haven't learned to appreciate patience or hard work and sacrifice. Some obviously have but we're talking about the majority. Some of them have been raised by people who were subjected to this kind of lifestyle and some were or are being raised by folks that are single parents (even some where both parents are there is tough) and doing the best they can to just survive.

There my friends, (No, it ain't John McCain speaking) lies the importance of teachers, coaches, the people that run the Rec, the neighbors (the solid ones) and mentors and respecting their time with our young people. It really does take a village to raise a child! I count on my children's teachers, coaches, instructors, responsible relatives and older friends to set them straight if they venture outside their lanes. Wow, I really went on a tangent huh? Preach, preacha! Sic....jus playing. It's just my opinion from my few years observing folks all the time!

All that cause I'm trying not to give these cats a real day off huh? LOL Damn...I miss prack tiss!!! It keeps me from writing these long a$$ blogs.... :)

Back N Da Day!

Monday is always a day people drag into work...NOT IN HOOPS BABY! Everyday is a new exciting day ya'll! After watching more tape of our scrimmage vs Mount St Mary's that took place Saturday afternoon, it was clear that I needed to spent some extra time with the point guards. I need those cats to really understand where I'm coming from and what I want done. Point guards should be an extension of the head coach on the floor. We (all three PG's) spent time watching tape separately and discussing their teammates, situations and the objectives of the game. We then had a film session with the entire squad and I took that as an opportunity to share some history of the game and how my generation learned how to play the game. I told them that they don't have to wait until they get to the 40 & over league before they start to appreciate the game.

In other words, I'm trying to get them to learn to appreciate the finer point of the game and value possessions. We I was growing up we would have pick up game with a who's who of; Len Bias, Johnny Dawkins, John Battle, Brian Ellerbe, Anthony Jones, Adrain Branch, Brian Waller, Dominique Pressley, Kelvin Johnson, Tom Sluby etc.. I could go on and on but point is, is that it was 35 deep in the gym and when you finally got an opportunity to play, you didn't want to lose cause it would mean that you had 6 or 7 downs before you would get on the court again. Now, if you think guys didn't value possessions in that situation...you're crazy! It pressure each possession and you better be confident if you were going to venture out and take a shot that everyone else didn't expect you to take. Even before that time, when we were younger and went to the court (i say court because we didn't always have an gym to go to) the older cats made you earn your way to play with them. You could walk up to the court and ask if a guy had his team and he would say yes and you would look around and it would be 2 people on the side. You'd look back and say, "you got yours?" and he would look you right in the eye and say, "yeah slim." Now, I know some of ya'll are cracking up right now...cause we all been there!

Then another guy everyone knew could really play would walk in and the guy with next would go, "Yo, you trying to run?" and would also take two guys off the losing team when his chance to play came up. You would look around like, what the *#@? is going on? But the reality is that, until you got a chance to prove yourself on that court, cats treated you with NO respect. Eventually you would earn the cats respect and have a chance to play wit da big boyz! You had better play defense tho! Cause one of those older cats that didn't like sitting on the side after a loss, would cut your a$$ in a minute! lol

Well, Monday's practice was crisp and the fellas did have bounce and focus. Next we'll have to see how they will respond Wednesday after a day off. Remember, the NCAA rules say you have to give them a day off every week. I wish I could send them back in time to the courts we played on...that would learn 'em!!

Da Day After....

Well, the scrimmage at Mount St Mary's didn't go our way. I got the report from the coaches while on my drive to the Atlanta airport. Seems the fellas relaxed alittle...that youth thing ya'll. We are always trying to teach em how to prepare to compete before you compete. Hey, I'm just glad we were able to get some bump in before our first official game on Nov. 15th at LaSalle.

Some of the stats they texted to me were, "we were 9-21 from the free throw line, they were 22-30. we had 21 turnovers and 9 assists, they had 20 turnovers and 12 assist and Marquise Kately scored 1 point." Wow! The little things are always muy importante! We will really focus on free throw shooting this week in practice and start going over the scouting report of LaSalle around Thursday. Today's practice was one of those that you just want to get thru. The guys were a little tried but they really needed to fight thru this one. I recommended ice baths for a couple of guys to bring their legs back faster. It's time to grind it out baby...got to get er done! The day after is always tough but I like going the next day while things are still fresh in the guys minds. I'll watch the tape sometime this evening and sit down with the point guards tomorrow to discuss the game in further details. We'll watch the tape as a group later in the week but I feel it's important to help the point guards understand where I'm coming from and that can only happen with extra sessions. Man...let me get a bite to eat so I can dive into this game. Hell, I got time...the Redskins don't play this week. For real they have a bye next week too! Ya'll get it later.... :)

Sittin at da Dock of the Bay (Airport)

After getting about two hours sleep last night, I'm sittin in the Dulles airport waitin on a flight to the ATL. I'm on my way to the home going service of my beloved Aunt Peggy! The day started at 3 a.m, left the house at 3:30 and the flight leaves at 6. We arrive in Atlanta at 7:50 a.m and will drive 1 hour and 45 minutes to Dadeville, Ala. The viewing is at 12 noon service starts at 2. Our flight back is a 8:50 p.m so we'll be really humping to get back to ATL by 7 something for the flight home. We'll get back around 10:30 p.m and to da house at 11:30. Long day ya'll...

For Example...

Practice, was better yesterday than the day before. During my pre-practice talk, I touched on the importance of team work and how we have examples of it around us all the time. I used the results of the Presidential race as a classic example. There was clearly a lack of discipline in the Mcain camp as Palin wasn't following instructions, wasn't coachable and allowed information to get out time after time. There also was a fury of excitement when she first was named to the ticket but the Obama camp never wavered. Barack Obama handled the race with class and followed the game plan of his advisors (coaches) to a 'T". I also pointed out how organized and discipline the Obama camp was and the ending results showed how important those two aspects were. Hey...we are always teaching. Everyday is an opportunity to learn something new! Hey I got practice

These are my Confessions...

The speaker yesterday was a successful entrepreneur that lives in Prince George's County, Maryland. He is one of the funniest people I have ever met in my life. We play golf from time to time too, well, I play...I not sure what we'll call what he does. LOL! Hey it's my blog...it's like being on stage and having the mic. :) Well, anyway he is a former Crack addict and he detailed his story of how he was a high school basketball player, went to college to play basketball, had never used drugs before college and never had sex before college either. I could have left that out but...it adds to how straight of an arrow he was. He left college as a graduate but also as a drug addict. He talked about hanging with his buddy, who was a drug dealer, after graduation and that he had a plan to sell drugs and invest the money etc.. Hey, he was a Finance major! But he started using his own drugs more and more and moved on to start smoking crack. Any-who, he then spoke about how he hit rock bottom and was standing in an alley in Washington, D.C having smoked his last rock of crack. He told the fellas that he thought about all the things his mother had done for him and that he knew he could do better than that. He took himself home, told his mother that he needed help and day by day he got better and that next month will be 20 years that he's been clean. He acknowledged that he also couldn't have done it without God. He was even a feature on 60 minutes. November 4th, he drove down to Petersburg, Virginia on election day to knock on doors and drive the elderly to the polls to vote. He said, "Man, Obama had to win Virginia", that's why I wanted to do extra. Giving back baby! Thanks for sharing "Bear"! That's his nickname ya'll...

Wake Up Everybody time 2 teach a Nu Way...

You would think that after Barack Obama won the Presidential race, the excitement around campus and the speech I gave them dudes...they would have had extra energy in practice today. NOT! I heard the campus was off the hook last night and I'm sure my guys were in the middle of it. Maybe it's a generational thing cause Cats just aren't as self motivated as they use to be. Whatever you do on your time is fine, just don't let it effect my time. Yeah, I know what you're thinking...but these cats are like this a lot. I try to give them something everyday to help get them going! And I mean Everyday! So you can imagine the energy level you need as a coach to approach practice everyday! Come on...ya'll know I'm down wit my man da nu Pres. but I gotta still learn these cats how to be responsible. I know, stop trippin, it's a blog ya'll...I know the proper lingo is to teach but, learn em hit the point betta.

We still have a couple of projected starters out with injuries. Hopefully they will be back by the first game at LaSalle University on November 15th. In the meantime we'll continue to put work in and attempt to get better everyday. We have a scrimmage at Mount Saint Mary's University Saturday afternoon November 8th. I prefer scrimmages to Exhibition game because you can stop and correct things, really talk to the officials and play extra halves etc.. NCAA rules allow teams to play either two exhibition games, two scrimmages or one of each. Unfortunately, I won't make the scrimmage because I have to attend my Auntie's funeral in Dadeville, Alabama. Coach Mc Clain will handle the duties of coaching the fellas Saturday, he was the first guy I hired and he does a good job wit the guys. I really hope we continue to take more positive steps. Wake Up fellas!!!!

THE CHOSEN ONE! One Nation...Under a Groove

One NATION under a groove...gettin down just 4 the funk of IT! WOW! Barack Obama is the next President of the United States!!!!! One Nation and We're on the MOVE...NOTHING can stop US now!

Unbelievable!!!! Hey people please believe in the IMPOSSIBLE! The PEOPLE have spoken! I can't SAY No More!!!!!!

The Man n da Mirror

I staring at… the man in the mirror…I’m asking him to change his ways. If we want to make the world a betta place…take a look at yourself…and make a… CHANGE! Michael Jackson’s joint hits the point doesn’t it? Each one of us has to look at our selves today if we want to change the direction of this country we need to get out and VOTE!

Today will mark history! Unbelievable! It’s not a racial thing per se, like we got a black president so...now! It’s a thing of, it’s fair and equal opportunity now! As a people, brought here as slaves, treated as second class citizens, not given an opportunity to learn or vote and to becoming President of the free world…DAMN! Barack Obama is the best candidate regardless of race. The cat has a unique view from both sides of the racial barrier but even the folks that named him couldn’t have thought he was going to run for President of THE United States wit that full name! Going feel real good…sha moan…make that CHANGE! Man, look the words up, that’s how da song goes and you try to spell “shamoan”…well I know he was saying “come on”, but it sure doesn’t sound like that. Mike was BIG back then…he was making his on words! Hey, if this Presidency thing don’t work out..look at the Man in da mirror! I voted...did U?

Enjoy every minute...cause, You never know

We had a good practice yesterday considering we were coming off our first successful scrimmage of the year. Normally, you have to check guys and put them back into their place because they don’t know how to handle success, however small it is. Now, don’t get me wrong, we played well but we still have a lot of work to do but it was a good start. Positive steps are all we want to take right now..

I’m glad we had a good practice at least, cause I got some disturbing news afterward. Everyone knows how close I was to my Dad, who past New Years Day 2006, well the closest person to him outside of my immediate family was my aunt Bernice “Peggy” Hill. Well Saturday didn’t start off well for her and unfortunately it was her last day here. :( Man, I spoke to her a little in the afternoon and…then... Cancer is a beast man and I pray one day that they will find a cure. My father and aunt were so tight growing up, when you saw one you saw the other. She knew more about the dude than anyone else. :(

Hey, she knew that we are going to have a Black President and was ecstatic about too! She told me in August, when I went to Alabama to check on her, that when her and my Dad were growing up, they never thought a black man could be Governor, let alone President. RIP auntie, I love you and will miss you! Muah!!! Tell Pop hey for me and I’ll see you guys on da other side…Damn!

What had happen was...

We got back from the University of Delaware around 7 or 8 pm. The scrimmage went well! The fellas had energy and bounce. We made a lot of mistakes but for the most part we played well! We played two 20 minute halves, like a regular game and we out scored them in both. Then we played another 20 minute half where we tried to get the reverses some minutes. I played those guys the entire time while U of D subbed guys in and out. Then we did situations (situations are, we are down 4 with ball, no time out and 2 minutes on the clock etc.) and we won some and they won some. It was a good trip overall cause we got a chance to play against some one else and we were able to get tape of it. Tape is the best teacher because it doesn’t lie. Sometimes guys will fight you to the end when you tell them some of the things they are doing on the court. Then you bring that tape out and…BAM! Oh, “I didn’t realize I was doing that!” The names and the faces are the only things that change baby! If you’ve coached anything at any level…you know what I mean!