"And if an epitaph be my story, I'd have a short one ready for my own: I had a lover's quarrel with the world." -- Robert Frost
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Friday, June 26, 2009
RIP: Mikaeel Jackson aka Michael Jackson
Mikaeel Jackson, your soul was too gentle for this world. May you finally find peace now.
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Defense Wins Games
From today's WSJ (6/25/09), "American Kids Flunk Basketball 101," Michael Beasley laments his lack of defensive prowess:
[A]s concerns build about his...rough transition to the NBA, last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat, finally conceded a fundamental flaw: No one, at any level in his basketball career, had asked him to play defense. And especially not in AAU. “If you’re playing defense in AAU, you don’t need to be playing,” he says. “I’ve honestly never seen anyone play defense in AAU.”
AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union, a national youth basketball circuit. When I coach youth basketball at the local community center, I emphasize defense. Whoever plays harder defense gets more minutes if I have a vacancy. I also reward kids who play defense by praising them every chance I get. Defensive drills are fairly simple. I call them "rebounding and hounding" drills.
No one teaches kids defense anymore, even though you can't win games without it. Michael Jordan was voted defensive player of the year in 1988, and also racked up nine NBA All-Defensive First Team honors. The San Antonio Spurs recently won several titles with their hard-nosed defense. The Boston Celtics didn't win any titles, not even division titles, until after 1957--exactly when defensive stud Bill Russell started suiting up for the team. Defense is key to winning in basketball. The Phoenix Suns have found this out the hard way--although they would score 120 points on a regular basis, they haven't been able to win a title in recent history.
Beasley is talented, but his doesn't seem to have the killer instinct necessary to play defense. He's more of what I call a "pretty boy" player--content to shoot easy baskets and not sacrifice his body for the sake of a play. The opposite of the "pretty boy" mentality? Dennis Rodman and Chris "Birdman" Anderson.
[A]s concerns build about his...rough transition to the NBA, last year’s No. 2 overall pick, Michael Beasley of the Miami Heat, finally conceded a fundamental flaw: No one, at any level in his basketball career, had asked him to play defense. And especially not in AAU. “If you’re playing defense in AAU, you don’t need to be playing,” he says. “I’ve honestly never seen anyone play defense in AAU.”
AAU stands for Amateur Athletic Union, a national youth basketball circuit. When I coach youth basketball at the local community center, I emphasize defense. Whoever plays harder defense gets more minutes if I have a vacancy. I also reward kids who play defense by praising them every chance I get. Defensive drills are fairly simple. I call them "rebounding and hounding" drills.
No one teaches kids defense anymore, even though you can't win games without it. Michael Jordan was voted defensive player of the year in 1988, and also racked up nine NBA All-Defensive First Team honors. The San Antonio Spurs recently won several titles with their hard-nosed defense. The Boston Celtics didn't win any titles, not even division titles, until after 1957--exactly when defensive stud Bill Russell started suiting up for the team. Defense is key to winning in basketball. The Phoenix Suns have found this out the hard way--although they would score 120 points on a regular basis, they haven't been able to win a title in recent history.
Beasley is talented, but his doesn't seem to have the killer instinct necessary to play defense. He's more of what I call a "pretty boy" player--content to shoot easy baskets and not sacrifice his body for the sake of a play. The opposite of the "pretty boy" mentality? Dennis Rodman and Chris "Birdman" Anderson.
NBA News
NBA News: San Antonio picks up R. Jefferson, practically guaranteeing a Conference Finals appearance, while Cleveland adds an aging free throw bricker who couldn't get it done with Nash, Amare, Hill, Barbosa, and J-Rich.
How does San Antonio manage to consistently improve its team at a reasonable cost, while other teams throw a Hail Mary?
Richard Jefferson is going to be a wonderful addition to San Antonio. He's a proven scorer and a stand-up guy. San Antonio's major issue will be keeping players healthy all year. They also need a consistent three point shooter. Bonner is a good shooter, but he's been inconsistent in the playoffs.
How does San Antonio manage to consistently improve its team at a reasonable cost, while other teams throw a Hail Mary?
Richard Jefferson is going to be a wonderful addition to San Antonio. He's a proven scorer and a stand-up guy. San Antonio's major issue will be keeping players healthy all year. They also need a consistent three point shooter. Bonner is a good shooter, but he's been inconsistent in the playoffs.
Finally! Public Pensions Exposed
Thank you, Craig Karmin, for your June 24, 2009 WSJ article, "Group Shines Light on Hefty Government Pensions."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580096328044597.html
Pension funds provide guaranteed payouts, so even though public funds lost a collective $1 trillion last year, their retirees' monthly checks are unchanged. And the funds' solvency is ultimately backed by taxpayers.
By the way, apparently, the California School Employees Association, a union, represents 230,000 public employees. And that's just one union. No wonder public sector unions have so much power in Sacramento.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580096328044597.html
Pension funds provide guaranteed payouts, so even though public funds lost a collective $1 trillion last year, their retirees' monthly checks are unchanged. And the funds' solvency is ultimately backed by taxpayers.
By the way, apparently, the California School Employees Association, a union, represents 230,000 public employees. And that's just one union. No wonder public sector unions have so much power in Sacramento.
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Gov. Sanford Confesses to Affair
I used to really like Gov. Sanford. I wrote about him previously here. He admitted today that he cheated on his wife with a woman in Argentina. Ironically, one excerpt from an earlier speech he made mentions judging others based on their actions:
[T]he Bible says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father that’s in heaven.“ Hopefully, by the way in which you act. The way in which you make decisions.
Two Republicans have been outed as morally deficient in less than a week (than other man is Nevada's John Ensign). Maybe this is God's way of forcing the Republican Party to stop catering to the religious right and to convince them to return to old-time republican principles: small government, low inflation, personal humility, and anti-unnecessary wars. Or, maybe it's just karma for spending millions of taxpayer dollars going after Bill Clinton.
I hate to smile at anyone's misfortune, but I did manage a chuckle at one of the names given to this scandal: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." By the way, Jenny Sanford has issued her own statement. Click here to read her heartfelt words. I predict she'll hold public office someday in South Carolina.
[T]he Bible says, “Let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father that’s in heaven.“ Hopefully, by the way in which you act. The way in which you make decisions.
Two Republicans have been outed as morally deficient in less than a week (than other man is Nevada's John Ensign). Maybe this is God's way of forcing the Republican Party to stop catering to the religious right and to convince them to return to old-time republican principles: small government, low inflation, personal humility, and anti-unnecessary wars. Or, maybe it's just karma for spending millions of taxpayer dollars going after Bill Clinton.
I hate to smile at anyone's misfortune, but I did manage a chuckle at one of the names given to this scandal: "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." By the way, Jenny Sanford has issued her own statement. Click here to read her heartfelt words. I predict she'll hold public office someday in South Carolina.
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