Collegiate Prep Basketball Academy

Amazing how far behind and how far out of touch the highest level of the game actually has been for 20 years. 😂🤦🏻‍♂️🏀

Teaching basketball to kids in the US is becoming a bit muddled, and the NBA is seeking solutions Victor Wembanyama's on-court warmup session before games when he played in France would last for about an hour. It consisted of plenty of stretching, lots of passing and dribbling drills, then a little bit of shooting. “It's what you're taught to bring to the game,” he said at the time, a year o...

Daddyball gone too far?
Like I have said for over a decade, it’s always a tough pill to swallow when you have to try out for someone that is not daddy or you are not paying directly.

https://www.wisn.com/article/father-son-sue-high-school-basketball-coaches-over-playing-time-being-cut-from-team-waunakee/60748458?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR20juUYwJTCzxNWqsB1TJQu9jx1SmV0Nrhq8oZGsOrUKs-Dsnk_y3DwKI4_aem_AXblQZR2JIJM_-SLK8ZiXvUQdEZgm4vjUpIGb9syvOPBsmKEZVjw9Dgmv5yUbmF9VjnT-CLdtsaKMcskxuCvFql6

Father and son suing high school basketball coaches over playing time, being cut from team The Waunakee family claims the lack of playing time was in retaliation for speaking out against the coaches.

Great read and very true. Not exclusive to Louisville either as this was the way of the game ere’ where.

I grew up playing pickup 🏀 against grown men at parks. There are so many lessons you learn as a kid (ages 11-17) in that environment. Here are some for my younger generation of hoopers that missed out on blacktop courts with “toilet bowl” double rims👇

1️⃣ Role Player- No one cares how highly ranked you are in your class, you’re a role player w grown men. You are the kid & learn how to take good shots bc they’re limited, play w energy bc you’re young, defend & make plays bc you won’t get picked up.

2️⃣ Be efficient offensively- When a grown man, OG with pride, decides to defend you he will shut you down. That’s a different level of physical play, strength & smarts.

3️⃣ Compete for your life- Winners stay on, losers go home on a busy day at the playground. There might be 5 teams waiting to get on the court! You compete every play bc if you lose there is no guaranteed pool play games lol. This lesson is so underrated in my opinion with AAU.. “It’s hard to be hungry when you’re always fed.

4️⃣ Respect- You learn how to stand up for yourself, how to gain respect, how to compete & give respect. You appreciate how pure it is to win for the sake of winning, not for a trophy or ranking. Respecting the game & the OGs who pour into you that we’re great or made mistakes in life that are trying to keep you from those potholes ahead.

🙏 I might be the last generation of those types of kids bc AAU has grown into a year around “pay to play” business. I played AAU but not until HS & the majority of my MS/HS years was pickup ball at parks or against the college/pro players that came back home in summer.

There are many benefits in AAU but it’s done a masterful job of selling the idea that kids have to play early (ages 8 & up). They don’t. Development is key: skills training, building confidence & IQ & also taking breaks!

S/O to my parks in Louisville that taught me: Iroquois & Wyndotte

All real basketball players have shot with a ball like this before

…..and the metric crowd says he wouldn’t be able to play in todays game because he never shot 3’s. 🤦🏻‍♂️😂

As I send my 3rd communication in 24 hours to the current generation of coaches and field phone calls from random parents who are irate with their coaches of which I have no control over as they are all independentnt contractors.
However, by days end you can bet whatever transpires today there will be one of 2 outcomes:

1. Mediocrity will be spun into heroic acts that rival William Wallace

2. Phony victimization will be spewed by blaming the refs, the schedule or some other delusion to maintain achievement.

One of my life mantras though, you don’t blame kids for the sins of adults. 😉

https://twitter.com/SNYUConn/status/1746287983320273398?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1746287983320273398%7Ctwgr%5E26df34d816a15e31fcaba25666953b8126152762%7Ctwcon%5Es1_c10&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2024%2F01%2Fuconn-geno-auriemma-nil-deals-angel-reese-lauren-park-lane

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Possibly the Most important thing you'll read this Year...

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schulz, the creator of the 'Peanuts' comic strip.

You don't have to actually answer the questions. Just ponder on them. Just read it straight through, and you'll get the point.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America pageant.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remember the headliners of yesterday.

These are no second-rate achievers.

They are the best in their fields.

But the applause dies.

Awards tarnish ...

Achievements are forgotten.

Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here's another quiz. See how you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Think of five people you enjoy spending time with.

Easier?

The lesson:

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money ... or the most awards. They simply are the ones who care the most.

Exactly why we have never used total points, point differential or point margin as a means of measurement for ranking or tiebreakers here at Collegiate Prep.

1. Why would you reward or punish a team for a particular style of play?

2. Why would you encourage teams to run up the score on others unnecessarily?

Simple basic logic. Unfortunately in the new era of statistic mercenary players, commissioners concerned with likes, views and ratings and the media only concerned with money and advertising we have succumbed to the culture of attempting to “manufacture drama” as opposed to allowing players to play and teams to compete.

We are all living in big brother’s real life “Truman Show”.
😊

Jayson Tatum’s Outburst Exposes Ugly Truth About NBA Tournament

In the ever-evolving landscape of American pro sports, the NBA in-season tournament has emerged as a thrilling spectacle. This innovative addition, designed to keep fans on the edge of their seats, has injected unparalleled excitement into the season, fostering better team dynamics and offering fans a fresh perspective when they least expect it. However, beneath the surface lies a deeper, more contentious layer that Tatum’s outburst exposes the ugly truth about the tournament’s tie-breaker system. This revelation brings to light the unintended consequences of a structure that, while aiming to enhance competition, has inadvertently led to questionable tactics and uncomfortable scenarios for players like Tatum and his colleagues.

Recently, Celtics sensation Jayson Tatum spilled his unfiltered thoughts on The Point Forward Podcast, discussing the highs and lows of the NBA In-Season Tournament. Tatum, alongside Andrew Iguodala and Evan Turner, delved into the heart of the matter, highlighting an incident that left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Tatum’s gripe stems from a pivotal game against the Bulls on November 28, where the Celtics held a commanding lead. However, the tournament’s tiebreaker policy, anchored in point differentials, compelled Boston to keep their stars on the court and mercilessly run up the score against Chicago.

In a candid moment, Tatum revealed, “I remember I tapped Torrey Craig. I was like, ‘Yo bro, I don’t really want to be out here right now.’ It just didn’t feel right.” The forced decision to exploit the point differential tiebreaker led to uncomfortable tactics, such as intentionally fouling Andre Drummond to boost the score—an action that didn’t sit well with Tatum or Bulls coach Billy Donovan.

Beneath the surface, this controversial tiebreaker system not only places undue pressure on star players but forces them into compromising positions against their friends and fellow competitors. The league’s attempt to create excitement through point differentials has inadvertently pushed teams to embarrass opponents and overwork their key players.

While the in-season tournament has undeniably injected adrenaline into the NBA season, it appears some wrinkles demand attention. The clash between competition and respect, as exposed by Tatum’s revelations, suggests that the tournament’s structure may need refining to maintain fairness and integrity.

In the grand theater of American sports, the NBA in-season tournament stands as a captivating experiment. Still, as controversies unfold, the league must heed the warning signs and ensure that the tournament’s future remains both thrilling and respectful.

Process vs result.

Being steady and consistent will always achieve a higher yield and it becomes a habit that is applicable in all phases of life.

Posted by former MLB player Jacob Turner on Twitter.

They cut Mike Trout.

The greatest baseball player of our generation.

The story you have never heard and the lesson to learn:

Back in 2008, I was a high school junior.

I was an up-and-coming baseball player and my first big break was an invitation to the USA baseball team trials.

You see each year USA Baseball brings in 100+ of the best baseball players in the country to try out for the 18u national team.

That year, USA Baseball had arranged for two players each to stay with a host family.

My roommate was a player named, Mike Trout.

Mike had incredible athleticism but was from the Northeast so he didn't come into the event on the "hype train" like some of the top prospects from California, Texas, and Florida did.

We both performed well at the event and made it to the final stage of the trials.

Here USA Baseball chose the final 18 players for the national team.

Mike didn't make those final 18 players.

Fast forward 15 years and Mike is the best player of a generation. A surefire Hall of Famer and arguably one of the greatest baseball players of all time.

Funny, how life works sometimes.

Look the lesson we can all learn from this is life is full of things that are outside of our control.

You will be told no.
You will suffer adversity.
You will face disappointment.

Accept it as part of your journey.

My friends, we focus far too much on the end destination and completely miss the beauty in the journey.

The come up, the adversity, and the struggle are what you will talk about one day.

It makes the destination worth striving for.

So, the next time you face a setback, remember Mike's story.

Local writer who covered my high school when I played ‘85-‘89.
How much has changed in 21 years? 🤔

Athlete's Oath: Advice to athletes, coaches and parents (Editor’s note: To honor Michael Muldoon’s incredible life — he passed away in the spring of 2022 at the age 60 — and his 35 years here at The Eagle-Tribune