Kobe Bryant is truly one of the greats in NBA history although many people are unaware of his endurance. In addition, he often plays despite serious injuries.
He's no Michael Jordan in this department as you will see from the following paragraphs but he's gritty:
Bryant has played a full complement of regular-season games four times in his career, including playing in all 50 games during the lockout-shortened 1999 season. That falls far short of the threshold established by Michael Jordan, who played 82 games in nine different seasons, including his final one in 2002-3.
Tim Grover, Jordan’s former trainer, has worked with Bryant for the past few years to address what Bryant felt were physical weaknesses, which he declined to specify. With age, Bryant has defied the significant injuries that nagged him earlier in his career.
In the 1999-2000 season, he missed the first six weeks with a hand injury. He missed games with a cut finger in 2003-4 and 14 games with an ankle injury the next season. He has had two knee operations during his career.
The entire NY Times article can be found at the following link:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/23/sports/basketball/23kobe.html?ref=sports
Happy Gswede Saturday!
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Montana, Gretzky and Smith on Same Team (not Joe, Wayne or Will)
The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.
All 3 sons seems to have a good future. The link to the full story is below.
Happy Gswede Wednesday!
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Quarterback Nick Montana is the son of Joe Montana, who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His backup is Trevor Gretzky, whose father, Wayne, won four Stanley Cups and proceeded directly to the Hockey Hall of Fame after retiring as the N.H.L.’s career leading scorer.
One of Nick Montana’s favorite receivers is Trey Smith, a junior who is developing into a Division I prospect, Redell said. Trey’s father is the actor Will Smith, who has cleared his schedule so he can attend every game.
All 3 sons seems to have a good future. The link to the full story is below.
Happy Gswede Wednesday!
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Quarterback Nick Montana is the son of Joe Montana, who led the San Francisco 49ers to four Super Bowl victories and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2000. His backup is Trevor Gretzky, whose father, Wayne, won four Stanley Cups and proceeded directly to the Hockey Hall of Fame after retiring as the N.H.L.’s career leading scorer.
One of Nick Montana’s favorite receivers is Trey Smith, a junior who is developing into a Division I prospect, Redell said. Trey’s father is the actor Will Smith, who has cleared his schedule so he can attend every game.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/sports/14oaks.html?emc=eta1
Thursday, October 1, 2009
The Greatest Team You Never Heard Of
Kareem has always been an ispiration both on and off the court - this story is one of the reasons why. A few paragraphs and the link to the entire NY Times article are below.
Happy Gswede Thursday!
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Abdul-Jabbar’s Labor of Love
By HOWARD BECK
Published: September 30, 2009
Based on Abdul-Jabbar’s book of the same name, the documentary summons the musical, cultural and intellectual history of the Harlem Renaissance to tell the story of the Rens, an all-black New York team and, as Abdul-Jabbar calls it, “the greatest team you never heard of.”
The book was published in 2007. Abdul-Jabbar has been working on the film since then, with an expected release in February, during Black History Month. His mission is to convey the rarely told story of professional basketball’s roots.
“Everybody thinks it started in 1947, with the N.B.A., and they have no idea what professional basketball was like prior to the N.B.A.” Abdul-Jabbar, a Hall of Fame center who is now an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, said during an interview at the Armory. “In that era, it was a time when sports were segregated. A lot of people I talked to, interviewing them for the documentary, didn’t even know that the N.B.A. itself was segregated for its first three years of existence.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/sports/basketball/01jabbar.html?emc=eta1
Happy Gswede Thursday!
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Abdul-Jabbar’s Labor of Love
By HOWARD BECK
Published: September 30, 2009
Based on Abdul-Jabbar’s book of the same name, the documentary summons the musical, cultural and intellectual history of the Harlem Renaissance to tell the story of the Rens, an all-black New York team and, as Abdul-Jabbar calls it, “the greatest team you never heard of.”
The book was published in 2007. Abdul-Jabbar has been working on the film since then, with an expected release in February, during Black History Month. His mission is to convey the rarely told story of professional basketball’s roots.
“Everybody thinks it started in 1947, with the N.B.A., and they have no idea what professional basketball was like prior to the N.B.A.” Abdul-Jabbar, a Hall of Fame center who is now an assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, said during an interview at the Armory. “In that era, it was a time when sports were segregated. A lot of people I talked to, interviewing them for the documentary, didn’t even know that the N.B.A. itself was segregated for its first three years of existence.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/01/sports/basketball/01jabbar.html?emc=eta1
Friday, February 20, 2009
Becoming President easier than Head College Football Coach?
You wouldn’t think that in 2009 it would be more likely for an African-American to become president of the United States than to be hired as head coach of a top-20 football program. But that seems to be the case.
Of 120 teams in the N.C.A.A.’s Bowl Subdivision, the top tier of play, only seven have black head coaches.
(Above is from the NY Times link below)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/opinion/20dungy.html?ref=opinion
Two African-Americans have won the Super Bowl in recent years yet the top level of college football has a weak record of black head coaches.
Why?
This paragraph, written by former Indianapolis Colts Coach and Super Bowl champion Tony Dungy sums up the why: (full article is on link above)
With the progress that has been made in terms of diversity in politics, in other collegiate sports and in professional football — Edwards, Smith and Tomlin all got top jobs in the N.F.L. — why is college football hiring so far behind? At a seminar last spring in Indianapolis with other N.F.L. and college head coaches and university athletic directors, I asked that very question, and was enlightened by the responses of those directors. The biggest factor, they said, was the involvement of other people associated with the universities. It was not just the president and the athletic director who made the hiring decisions — alumni and boosters were involved, and the presidents often felt pressure to hire coaches the boosters would support.
One reason colleges should improve in this area comes from the same article:
February is also the month that high school football players choose the colleges they will attend in the fall. While it’s an exciting day for those seniors, it’s a disappointing day for me. You see, many of those players who choose the top schools are African-American and yet almost none of them will get the opportunity to play for an African-American head coach. Of 120 teams in the N.C.A.A.’s Bowl Subdivision, the top tier of play, only seven have black head coaches.
Will they bold enough to do the right thing? I hope so as we don't want to see the great strides made in racial relations begin to go the other way.
Gswede
Of 120 teams in the N.C.A.A.’s Bowl Subdivision, the top tier of play, only seven have black head coaches.
(Above is from the NY Times link below)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/20/opinion/20dungy.html?ref=opinion
Two African-Americans have won the Super Bowl in recent years yet the top level of college football has a weak record of black head coaches.
Why?
This paragraph, written by former Indianapolis Colts Coach and Super Bowl champion Tony Dungy sums up the why: (full article is on link above)
With the progress that has been made in terms of diversity in politics, in other collegiate sports and in professional football — Edwards, Smith and Tomlin all got top jobs in the N.F.L. — why is college football hiring so far behind? At a seminar last spring in Indianapolis with other N.F.L. and college head coaches and university athletic directors, I asked that very question, and was enlightened by the responses of those directors. The biggest factor, they said, was the involvement of other people associated with the universities. It was not just the president and the athletic director who made the hiring decisions — alumni and boosters were involved, and the presidents often felt pressure to hire coaches the boosters would support.
One reason colleges should improve in this area comes from the same article:
February is also the month that high school football players choose the colleges they will attend in the fall. While it’s an exciting day for those seniors, it’s a disappointing day for me. You see, many of those players who choose the top schools are African-American and yet almost none of them will get the opportunity to play for an African-American head coach. Of 120 teams in the N.C.A.A.’s Bowl Subdivision, the top tier of play, only seven have black head coaches.
Will they bold enough to do the right thing? I hope so as we don't want to see the great strides made in racial relations begin to go the other way.
Gswede
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
73 and Still Shooting Hoops!
One thing that I WILL NOT be doing is playing basketball (heck, I don't play now) at 73 but this story is inspiring for those who do wish to be active at at any age.
This man has obviously taken tremendous care of himself and he is reaping the "Hoop Dreams" fruits of his labor!
Remember, it is never too late to exercise and get that body moving. Since my half-marathon on September 6 in Sweden, I have been less than stellar in my running workouts. That will soon change.
A few paragraphs from the article are below. You can click on the link for the full story.
Gswede
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http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/sports/ncaabasketball/10player.html?ref=sports
For a guy Mink’s age, two-a-days are a likely reference to multivitamins, not double practices. But while shooting around in a neighbor’s driveway in the summer of 2007, he realized he still had his shooting stroke. So he sent e-mail messages to eight tiny colleges near his home in Knoxville, Tenn. Perhaps a small school could use a guy with an old-school push shot.
Mink said he joined the Air Force in November 1956 and played regularly in military tournaments for four years. He then went on to a career as a newspaper editor, continuing to play basketball in recreation leagues. Since retiring in 1999, he and his wife said, Mink has kept active by playing golf, walking, hiking, skiing, even hang gliding. He has published a book, “So, You Want Your Kid to be a Sports Superstar,” and along with his wife, edits an online travel magazine
Late in that game, Mink entered and found himself open in the corner. He gave a pump fake, and the defender ended up draped over him like raccoon coat. Calmly, he hit both free throws. The Hack-a-Mink strategy had failed.
This man has obviously taken tremendous care of himself and he is reaping the "Hoop Dreams" fruits of his labor!
Remember, it is never too late to exercise and get that body moving. Since my half-marathon on September 6 in Sweden, I have been less than stellar in my running workouts. That will soon change.
A few paragraphs from the article are below. You can click on the link for the full story.
Gswede
--
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/sports/ncaabasketball/10player.html?ref=sports
For a guy Mink’s age, two-a-days are a likely reference to multivitamins, not double practices. But while shooting around in a neighbor’s driveway in the summer of 2007, he realized he still had his shooting stroke. So he sent e-mail messages to eight tiny colleges near his home in Knoxville, Tenn. Perhaps a small school could use a guy with an old-school push shot.
Mink said he joined the Air Force in November 1956 and played regularly in military tournaments for four years. He then went on to a career as a newspaper editor, continuing to play basketball in recreation leagues. Since retiring in 1999, he and his wife said, Mink has kept active by playing golf, walking, hiking, skiing, even hang gliding. He has published a book, “So, You Want Your Kid to be a Sports Superstar,” and along with his wife, edits an online travel magazine
Late in that game, Mink entered and found himself open in the corner. He gave a pump fake, and the defender ended up draped over him like raccoon coat. Calmly, he hit both free throws. The Hack-a-Mink strategy had failed.
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Boston Celtics - Right Frame of Mind
Last year was the right TIME
This year, they seem to have the right FRAME OF MIND
Will there be a 2nd Consecutive NBA Title for the Celtics in June 2009?
I wouldn't bet against them although I hope my Lakers can battle their way back to the NBA Finals.
Below is a paragraph (and link) from a NY Times article on the cohesiveness of the Celtics.
Gswede
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Garnett also reminded the team of ubuntu, a South African concept introduced by Coach Doc Rivers last season to underline the importance of selflessness, unity and teamwork: When the team is elevated, the individual is elevated; when the team is diminished, the individual is diminished.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/sports/basketball/05rhoden.html?ref=sports
This year, they seem to have the right FRAME OF MIND
Will there be a 2nd Consecutive NBA Title for the Celtics in June 2009?
I wouldn't bet against them although I hope my Lakers can battle their way back to the NBA Finals.
Below is a paragraph (and link) from a NY Times article on the cohesiveness of the Celtics.
Gswede
-----
Garnett also reminded the team of ubuntu, a South African concept introduced by Coach Doc Rivers last season to underline the importance of selflessness, unity and teamwork: When the team is elevated, the individual is elevated; when the team is diminished, the individual is diminished.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/05/sports/basketball/05rhoden.html?ref=sports
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
The Bradyless Bunch
This is sort of like going to a Springsteen concert, waiting for the Boss, then hearing a bow-tied announcer tell you, "Bruce cannot be here tonight. Someone else will be fronting the E Street Band."
Dan Shaughnessy from the Boston Globe head the nail on the head with the above paragraph. "Sunday, Sept 7, 2008 goes down as the day the music died at Patriot Place", as he so honestly put it. The full article can be found on link: (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/09/08/welcome_to_life_without_tom/)
Brady's injury immediately made me think of the time my golfing buddy (16 handicap), lost his swing for an 8 week period. I (27 handicap) had never beaten him before but I seized on his unexplained weakness and battered him relentlessly 6 straight times and made sure he never forgot it during those wonderful weeks. After he regained his touch, I never came close to winning again but those times were awfully sweet.
Opponents of the Patriots should have a similar mindset and take the opportunity to put a profound beating on the Bradyless Bunch and let them know in no uncertain terms just how mortal they now are. In football, all that matters is winning so "kicking someone when they are down" is okay in this instance. An NFL career is short, and opportunities like this are rarely gift wrapped with a silver bow like this one.
I like Tom Brady and feel for him but the bad karma around Bill Belichick and the videotaping has now come back to bite them. As I believe, when you do good, good things usually happen but when you deliberately do bad or illegal things, it is just a matter of time before fortune frowns on you.
Fortune may not smile on the Patriots again for a long, long time.
Patriot Fans, don't for one minute think your team is going to be any good this year! Not a chance. Emotion and Loyalty may cloud your judgment but you know in your heart that this team will be lucky to be a shade above ordinary.
I played college sports at the highest level, (Division 1 basketball ) and the MAIN reason were my shooting skills. If not for my wicked jump shot, I would have played no higher than Division 2. Like me, Brady's Patriots had the luxury of playing at the top of their sport, the NFL. Without him, the Bradyless bunch has zero possibility of wearing that championship ring.
I am sure fans of the Patriots will rally around the new sheriff in town, QB Matt Cassel.
Matt may even have these thoughts about himself:
I have seen Tom Brady play,
Tom Brady's leadership skills and greatness are unquestionable,
Tome Brady seemed to be a friend to everyone,
Matt Cassell, you are no Tom Brady.
Gswede
Dan Shaughnessy from the Boston Globe head the nail on the head with the above paragraph. "Sunday, Sept 7, 2008 goes down as the day the music died at Patriot Place", as he so honestly put it. The full article can be found on link: (http://www.boston.com/sports/football/patriots/articles/2008/09/08/welcome_to_life_without_tom/)
Brady's injury immediately made me think of the time my golfing buddy (16 handicap), lost his swing for an 8 week period. I (27 handicap) had never beaten him before but I seized on his unexplained weakness and battered him relentlessly 6 straight times and made sure he never forgot it during those wonderful weeks. After he regained his touch, I never came close to winning again but those times were awfully sweet.
Opponents of the Patriots should have a similar mindset and take the opportunity to put a profound beating on the Bradyless Bunch and let them know in no uncertain terms just how mortal they now are. In football, all that matters is winning so "kicking someone when they are down" is okay in this instance. An NFL career is short, and opportunities like this are rarely gift wrapped with a silver bow like this one.
I like Tom Brady and feel for him but the bad karma around Bill Belichick and the videotaping has now come back to bite them. As I believe, when you do good, good things usually happen but when you deliberately do bad or illegal things, it is just a matter of time before fortune frowns on you.
Fortune may not smile on the Patriots again for a long, long time.
Patriot Fans, don't for one minute think your team is going to be any good this year! Not a chance. Emotion and Loyalty may cloud your judgment but you know in your heart that this team will be lucky to be a shade above ordinary.
I played college sports at the highest level, (Division 1 basketball ) and the MAIN reason were my shooting skills. If not for my wicked jump shot, I would have played no higher than Division 2. Like me, Brady's Patriots had the luxury of playing at the top of their sport, the NFL. Without him, the Bradyless bunch has zero possibility of wearing that championship ring.
I am sure fans of the Patriots will rally around the new sheriff in town, QB Matt Cassel.
Matt may even have these thoughts about himself:
- When Drew Bledsoe was injured, Tom Brady got his chance and became a star. Why can't I?
- I have always been a leader and I can lead this team.
- I am a good friend and people will respect me.
I have seen Tom Brady play,
Tom Brady's leadership skills and greatness are unquestionable,
Tome Brady seemed to be a friend to everyone,
Matt Cassell, you are no Tom Brady.
Gswede
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