Still Sound Advice

I was digging around in an old briefcase when I found a copy of this letter I wrote in 2010. I still believe what it says and, since the Olympics have started, I think it's still timely.

When Coach Herb Brooks was selecting the players for what was to become the “Miracle on Ice” hockey team of Olympic history, he turned down a player that everybody thought was better than some he had selected. When he was asked about it he said, “I don’t need the best players, I need the RIGHT players.”  What he meant, of course, is that the best players don’t necessarily make the best teams. The success of next year’s basketball team will depend on how well you learn to be the “right” players. As I am sure you have noticed, I believe the success of a team (and it’s CHARACTER) is determined by how well they play defense. Defense is plain hard work. No headlines in the paper, no cheers from the crowd. The player that dedicates themselves to defense understands what 12 time NBA champion Bill Russell calls “the secret”. What is “the secret”?  It is the idea that “team” is the only thing that matters. No individual statistics, no personal agendas, just the “team” winning. Good defense says something about the kind of person you are. I hope you remember the things we discussed about defense.

 The “right” players also know something about fundamentals. They can dribble and pass. Shoot free throws and jump shots. These are things you can practice in your backyard and basement. The “right” players know how to motivate themselves to practice the basics.

Finally, just a general observation about athletic competition.  In 1988, Wisconsin born speed skater Dan Jansen went to the Olympics as the world record holder in the 500 meter event. Sadly, he went to the Olympics knowing that his sister Jane was losing her battle with leukemia. On the evening before his competition, he spoke to his sister by phone even though she was too ill to respond. In the early hours of the morning, Jane died. Dan Jansen went on to race, but he fell in both events. He competed out of respect for his sister and for his sport. Four years later he returned to the Olympics and once again, even though he was the world record holder, he failed to win gold. He said the experience taught him that “winning” is not just having the most points at the end. “To persevere when the odds are against you and to do your best, that is what wining really means.” That is what I hope you take from your athletic career. I want you to feel like you did something as well as you could without any regrets. I have enjoyed coaching you this summer.

Coach D

(By the way, Dan Jansen went back to his final Olympics in 1994 and finally won a gold medal. To celebrate, he took a victory lap carrying his 1 year old daughter, Jane.)