Jay Bilas- Essay on Toughness

 

Toughness” – Jay Bilas – ESPN .com

I have heard the word "toughness" thrown around a lot lately. Reporters on television, radio and in print have opined about a team or player's "toughness" or quoted a coach talking about his team having to be "tougher" to win.

Then, in almost coordinated fashion, I would watch games and see player upon player thumping his chest after a routine play, angrily taunting an opponent after a blocked shot, getting into a shouting match with an opposing player, or squaring up nose-to-nose as if a fight might ensue. I see players jawing at each other, trying to "intimidate" other players. What a waste of time. That is nothing more than fake toughness, and it has no real value.

Jay Bilas- Book on Toughness, My Takes

Several years ago Jay Bilas wrote an article on toughness which went viral in the basketball world. High school and college coaches all reprinted the article and shared it with their players. (I have it reprinted on this blog.) Bilas said the motivation for writing the article was a reaction to how a commentator used the word "tough" to describe a physical and perhaps a dirty player. The basic premise of the article was "toughness" is more about an attitude and a self-discipline vs. a physical characteristic.

In his book on the same topic, Bilas looks at the characteristics of tough people. He seeks out people in sports and business who are tough in their approach to sport and life.

Toughness Can Be Learned
"Toughness isn't physical. It has nothing to do with size, physical strength, or athleticism. It's an intangible, an attitude, a philosophy. Some people may be born with the aptitude to be tougher than others, but I believe that true toughness is a skill that can be developed and improved in everyone."

Jay Bilas- Book on Toughness (Some Excerpts)

Jay Bilas’ book- Toughness is an outstanding read for both players and coaches. Here are some excerpts from Toughness: 

Successful players and teams don't just assess themselves by records or statistics, but by a standard of excellence that goes beyond a final score.

Self-evaluation takes honesty, and the toughest teams and players do not con themselves. When I was playing for Coach Mike Krzyzewski of Duke, he was often harder on us after a win than after a loss. He would identify areas of concern for our team and for individuals as "slippage" from our standards, and he was quick to point out that a lesser performance might have beaten our latest opponent, but it would not beat the best teams coming up in the future.

Double The Talent, Triple The Bond: Twin And Triplet Athletes

I taught high school psychology and I took my fair share of psychology classes. So I read my share of “twin studies.” The basic premise of most of these studies was to compare if identical twins were more likely to share a characteristic than fraternal twins- so trying to get at the nature vs nurture question. 

According to the stats- in natural births, there is a 1 in 250 chance of having twins and 1 in 10,000 chance of having triplets. 

When one thinks about twin athletes at Galesburg HS, the first names that come to mind are Albert and Elbert Kimbrough (GHS Class of 1957). They were two of the all-time great athletes in GHS history. 

Galesburg: A Prairie City’s Past- Test Your Knowledge

 

#1- Who was the founder of Galesburg?

#2- The founder’s house is located at the corner of what two streets?

#3- When they mapped out Galesburg, the original NW corner of Galesburg was at the corner of what two streets?

#4- When they mapped out Galesburg, the original SW corner of Galesburg was at the corner of what two streets?

#5- When they mapped out Galesburg, the original SE corner of Galesburg was at the corner of what two streets?

#6- When they mapped out Galesburg, the original NE corner of Galesburg was at the corner of what two streets?

#7- Union Hotel was located at the corner of what two streets?

#8- A plaque recognizing the site of Galesburg HS’s location from 1906 to 1959 is at the corner of what two streets?

#9- A plaque is on the wall of Galesburg’s oldest restaurant. What is Galesburg’s oldest still running restaurant?

#10- Where did a Presidential Debate take place in Galesburg?

Caitlin Clark- If I Had A Daughter…

This story was written originally on July 11, 2024 after Dave Wood and I went to Indianapolis to watch the Indiana Fever and Caitlin Clark. I had generously been gifted two tickets by a Knox alum with Fever season tickets. And if there is a basketball game someplace- Woody is ready to go. This post describes our experience at the Fever game. 

Peterman’s Pick- Analyzing Illinois High School Basketball

If you study the history of Illinois HS basketball, you are probably aware of some of the early coaching legends. There were some great coaches in Illinois in the 1920’s, 1930’s, and 1940’s. 

Arthur Trout at Centralia won three State Championships and 6 State Trophies, and won 811 games. 

Ernie Eveland at Paris won two State Championships and 5 State Trophies, and won 436 games. And Eveland also won 3 State Championships in Cross Country.

Duster Thomas at Pinckneyville won a State Championship and 5 State Trophies, and won 460 games. 

Dolph Stanley was highly successful at Equality, Mt. Pulaski, and Taylorville during this time period, including winning a State Championship at Taylorville. He won 8 State Trophies before 1950. 

HS Summer Games Wrap Up- Questions Every Player Should Be Asking

In Illinois, players workouts and games with their high school teams are probably wrapping up the last weekend of June. Hopefully it has been a great opportunity to work with your high school coach and understand the coach’s expectations. As these team workouts and games finish, it is important for players to take the time to reflect about how things went, and about their goals going forward. 

I would recommend high school players reflect on the following questions:

HS Summer Games Wrap Up- Questions Every Coach Should Be Asking

For many high schools across the nation, the month of June can be a wild scramble. Coaches go from the last day of school right into summer basketball. The players often are not in basketball shape, yet coaches want to do as much as possible in limited time. 

So this year, most of the Illinois HS teams are playing one last tourney the weekend of June 28. At that point, coaches are often ready to take their family vacations and decompress. 

Before the summer workouts get too far in a coach’s memory, it is important for the coach to sit down and take notes. The purpose of the notes will be to help prepare for the winter season, and also make next summer’s program more effective. 

So here are questions that are important for coaches to address soon after their summer programs end. 

Caitlin Clark- It’s A Long Season But

With the Fever this year, there have been some highs and some lows.

*** Inconsistent first few games.

*** Clark injured

*** Clark and Fever explode vs. New York Liberty

*** Fever win the East and will play for the Commissioners Cup

*** Fever looks dominate early vs Golden State and Las Vegas then falter.

It is a long season- 44 games, but having played 13 games, the season is about 30% over for the Fever. 

Knox College’s Tribute: Elizabeth Eckford Of The Little Rock 9

On my morning walk one morning, I came across this monument to Elizabeth Eckford at Knox College. 

In 1954, Brown vs Board of Education ruled that separate was not equal, and outlawed segregation in American public schools. While the federal government worked to support and enforce desegregation, some states resisted desegregation. 

Streaks Scrapbook- 1929 Boys Basketball- Sweet 16

I have had this ticket stub by my mom about 50 years ago. It was from her senior year at Galesburg High School. I have kept it on my desk since that time. I think I have kept it as a reminder of a connection with my mom. 

This past week, I was looking at the ticket stub and thought, I should go check out this tourney. And this is how I got started with this blog post- looking at the 1929 Galesburg basketball team. 

1934- More Things Change, More They Stay The Same

I was doing some research in the Galesburg newspaper from March of 1934. I came across the cartoon below. 

Corpus Christi At The 1935 Catholic State Tourney

 In 1935, Catholic schools were not part of the IHSA and held their own State Tourney. This tourney was being held in Decatur. Corpus Christi was one of 16 teams in the State tourney field. 

Corpus lost their first game but at this point won their first game in the consolation bracket of the tourney. 

Corpus Christi had won the 1934 State Championship. 

Streaks Scrapbook- Galesburg HS State Champs

This is a look back thru history at Galesburg HS’s 22 IHSA State Champions. GHS athletes have won: 4 Team State Championships, 1 Relay Team State Championship, 1 Doubles Championship, and 16 Individual State Championships.  

The first was the 1913 Boys Basketball team, and the most recent was Gauge Shipp in wrestling in 2023. 

Josh Eiker accounted for 4 of the 21 State Championships, Goff Eyre won two State Championships (one as an individual and one as part of a team), and Greg Whittle also won two State Championships (one as an individual and one as part of a relay).

Boys Track has accounted for 11 of the State Championships, while Boys Golf and Wrestling have each won 3 State Championships. 

Caricia Andrews in Girls Track has accounted for the only State Championship won by a female athlete at GHS.