NEW CASTLE —
Psst! Want to know the secret to a long and successful basketball career?
There are no secrets.
There are no magic pills.
There’s you. There’s your ball. And there’s your dream.
Go get it.
What? You were expecting a quick fix? Sorry to disappoint you.
Know what the difference between you and Ray Allen is?
About 500,000 practice shots taken.
And about 300,000 practice jumpers made.
That’s it.
“If you really want to do something, you'll find a solution. If you don't, you'll find an excuse.” — Brian Kramer
If you’re a high school player and the only way you got into a WPIAL playoff game was to buy a ticket, you better rethink your offseason workouts.
They’ve started already. Whether you have or not.
Someone, somewhere is draining step-backs, floaters and pull-ups.
Someone, somewhere is sweeping and ripping and dripping ... with sweat.
Someone, somewhere is skipping rope.
Someone, somewhere is filled with hope.
Preparation breeds confidence.
She’s going to be all-section.
Because she’s putting in the time.
That’s why.
“The master in the art of living makes little distinction between his work and his play, his labor and his leisure, his mind and his body, his information and his recreation, his love and his religion. He hardly knows which is which. He simply pursues his vision of excellence at whatever he does, leaving others to decide whether he is working or playing. To him, he's always doing both.” — James A. Michener
Ever heard of Kobe Bryant?
He’s often on the court, doin’ work, before the sun comes up. Conditioning, shooting, lifting.
He’s 34 and has been in the NBA since 1996, and he’s still dunking on youngbloods.
After thousands of practices.
After hundreds of regular season games.
After dozens of playoff games.
After five NBA titles. And two Olympic gold medals.
Kobe is still hungry.
Even better, he still LOVES the game.
How about you?
Have you ever really thought about why YOU play?
You won’t have trouble getting up shots if you’ve got the love.
You won’t even realize you’re working on your game because it’s just what you do.
You wanna be a starter? Work harder.
Wanna be the best? There’s no time to rest.
Get focused. Get busy. Get buckets.
Just get your butt to the gym and get to work.
There’s you. There’s your ball. And there’s your dream.
That’s all.
Go get it.
Tim Kolodziej
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About Tim Kolodziej: Tim is director of new media at The News. His blog appears each Thursday.
Discussion
Tim Kolodziej: Don’t got game? You still got time
- Tim Kolodziej
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Tim Kolodziej: Want true gratification? Then delay it
Whether you are an athlete, an entrepreneur or a stay-at-home mom, you will be faced with dozens of temptations today. For better or for worse, your life depends on your choices.
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Tim Kolodziej: You know, this isn't my day — and it's not yours either
“This isn’t my day.” I’m going to step out on a limb and guess you’ve heard that statement before. You may have even uttered it a time or two yourself. Maybe just this morning.
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Tim Kolodziej: Just one word is keeping me — and probably you — from excellence
We all need to take a good, hard, scary look at exactly what it is we’ve been created to do. The thing that makes our heart race and brings a smile to our face. The thing that not only YOU can’t live without — but neither can WE when you are doing it.
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Tim Kolodziej: Yes, I do have a ‘nice team’ — and I'm OK with that
“You have a nice team, Coach.” I used to HATE hearing that while shaking our opponents’ hands following a game.
You may as well question my manhood. Or insult my mama. Or try to take my lunch money. Them’s fightin’ words, you know.
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Tim Kolodziej: Horror, and plenty of heroes, at the finish line
Man, do I miss running. All the miles. All the smiles. Even the personal time trials. There’s nothing like lacing up the kicks, cranking up the music and losing yourself, stride by glorious stride, for the next hour or so.
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Tim Kolodziej: Some lessons we can learn from the Final Four
So, what’s your excuse? I mean, what do you tell people when they ask why you’re still stuck in the same (fill in the blank)? Enough, already. You’re busted.
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Tim Kolodziej: Now THIS is why I coach!
I don’t normally ask this of you, but I have a favor. Please watch the video I've attached before you read my blog today. Mere words can’t begin to describe what you’ll see, so it’s better to sit back and allow the visuals to invade your senses.
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Tim Kolodziej: As Easter nears, I must ask: why me?
Why me, Lord?Why? What did you expect me to do? Who, exactly, did you expect me to be? How, exactly, did you expect me to act? How did you expect me to have the strength to deal with THAT?
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Tim Kolodziej: We were watching, 'Canes, and we’re so glad we did
To all the moms and dads who lugged their kids to all the games, through all the snow and sleet and road construction, be heartened: The lessons your children learned by watching New Castle play are priceless.
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Tim Kolodziej: We can do better than ‘just livin’ the dream’
“Just livin’ the dream.” I’ve probably heard that phrase dozens of times this year — and it’s always used in a derogatory sense.
In essence, people are really saying, “I’m stuck and I don’t know how to get out.” OK, maybe. - More Tim Kolodziej Headlines
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