Stretching Ourselves

I believe sports can allow an athlete to realize they are capable of more than they have imagined. An athlete can on the athletic field do something individually or as part of a team which shocks them. Obviously such an achievement is exciting. But the real value of doing something like this in athletics is if it provides a lesson to use in other, more important areas of life. Maybe these kinds of experiences allow an athlete who is planning on college to set a higher and more challenging goal in their studies. Maybe they realize they can set higher career goals.

The following short essay by author Jon Gordon, deals with this topic--

Great Summer

We had a great summer of basketball. We had over 40 high girls involved in our summer basketball programs. We had a lot of girls improve their skills and get better this summer.

Kevin Garnett's Demand

Kevin Eastman, Boston Celtic assistant coach told an interesting story about Kevin Garnett. 

When a player is traded in the NBA, when he first meets with his new head coach, there are some horror stories of players who immediately issue selfish demands to their new head coach. "I expect you to get me 15 shots per game." "I need to play 35 minutes per game but don't play me over 40 minutes per game." You get it, selfish demands.

Pictures from ND

Coach Rux coached vs. former NFL QB, Gary Hogeboom.
More recently Hogeboom was on Survivors, which
Coach Rux and he talked about. 

Register-Mail- Summer Programs

At this point, no rosters are set in stone, but summer activities -— camp and league — for the possible members of the Galesburg High School freshmen, sophomore and varsity girls basketball teams began last week in preparation for the upcoming season.

Girls who will be in the second grade through the junior high level have also been participating in a summer camp with just the junior high level players also playing in a summer league.

The camps end today, but the leagues, which mostly take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, run through July 6.

On the varsity level, two freshmen, two sophomores, four juniors and six seniors have been taking part in the activities.

Lou Henson & Sarah Main

Lou Henson was in Galesburg and ate at the Landmark. And guess who was working at the Landmark?

I actually had lunch in the same diner Lou was having lunch in the 1980's. We were in Mt. Carroll and Lou was at a table across the room. I believe he had some family connections or early career experiences in Milledgeville.

If I had been at the Landmark today, I would have just shouted out- "Bo Knows Basketball!!" And Sarah would have been embarrassed about me like always.

Jay Redfern's story on the visit----

http://www.galesburg.com/blogs/jay_talking/x465793075/Jay-Talking-Weekend-in-the-Burg-what-did-Lou-do

Training Camp

This month I had the opportunity to read Jon Gordon's book- Training Camp. I was encouraged to read it after finding out it was required reading for the players and the coaches of the Philadelphia 76er's. The Boston Celtics required their players to read another Gordon book- The Energy Bus.

Gordon's books are interesting reads for athletes, leaders, and business people. He delivers his message through a fiction story. So you have the motivational messages unfold within the story lines. In Training Camp, Gordon talks about 11 traits of the "best of the best." 

William Allen- Memorial Day

Plaques at entrance of GHS.
Plaque at entrance to Galesburg High School
dedicated to the 64 faculty and students
killed in World War II. 

There is a plaque near the entrance to Galesburg High School to honor students and faculty who have died in service of our country. On the plaque honoring WWII dead, there are 63 GHS students named and 1 GHS faculty member named who all died in WWII.

It is hard to put the magnitude of this loss in perspective. From the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 until VJ Day on September 2, 1945, the United States was at war for 45 months. That means in Galesburg from 1941 thru 1945, there was a funeral for a GHS student or faculty member roughly every 21 days. The War effected individuals, families, and obviously communities.

Title IX Complaint at Macomb

A parent of a Macomb HS female athlete has filed a Title IX complaint, with specific focus on fact they have the girls sports use a second gym which the mother considers inferior.

It will be interesting to see the results of this, as many of you are aware, Rocky and Quincy still use a "secondary gym" for their girls sports also.

Macomb, Ill. —

The Macomb Board of Education responded May 15 to a Title IX inquiry alleging inequalities between boys and girls sports at Macomb Senior High School, and as a result of that inquiry, the district will begin providing girls participating in a sport practice at Washington Street Gym — a facility located several miles off the high school campus — with round-trip transportation from the high school.

Coaches Have Favorites?

This is great quote from Get Recruited--

Get Recruited ‏ @NCAARecruitTips

My favorite players are the ones that work the hardest in the classroom + in the floor. = Favoritism.

Wonderful Surprise

Dan Sullivan and I reliving Milwaukee Bucks
Camp days with "Smedley."

Saturday, April 13 we were invited to party for Kyle Barshinger. Kyle was home from college and his birthday is on April 17. Amy told me to make sure to get a card for Kyle. We were going out to eat at Sully's at 6:30pm and then going to the party for Kyle at Side Trax at 7:30pm. At about 6:10pm, Amy asked if I had gotten the card- I had not. She told me to go get one. So I hurried to Walgreen's and got a card.

GHS After 41 Years

The Quad City Times ran an article about the WB6 where they mentioned in boys sports, GHS has not won a WB6 title in baseball, track, football, or basketball since 1998. It mentioned that was 54 total seasons without a championship. People are quick to come up with explanations for success and lack of success.

On the girls side, GHS has won only 1 WB6 title in the last 8 years in basketball, volleyball, track, and softball.

In these 8 "major" sports as determined by the QC Times, 50% of them have not won a single conference title in the last 20 years. Only one of the sports has won more than one conference title in the last twenty years.

Brother Mark With Friends

Mark with Bo Ryan

Mark with Jordan Taylor

Twitter- High School Athletes

The following recruiting tip was posted by an agency involved in helping high school players with the recruiting process--

"Every college coach I know say they've stopped recruiting a player based on their online updates w/ disrespectful language."

Some simple advice to high school athletes--

1- Don't use profanity on twitter.

Jason Shay- Thanks For Your Help

I found when I first starting coaching, the most effective way to learn was to talk to other coaches. Some coaches are very open and very sharing, other coaches can be very secretive. In coaching girls basketball, some coaches could be very condescending and would not give me the time of day. Fortunately I have had many coaches who have patiently listened to my questions.

I have really appreciated Jason Shay’s willingness to listen to my questions, and his willingness to share his expertise. Jason has been a tremendous resource to me. Not only is he willing to field my questions, he is one of the most knowledgeable basketball coaches I have been around. There are a lot of things pretty impressive about Jason as a coach.