Comedian W.C. Fields, while riding in an air balloon, yelled to the ground to ask, “Is this Kansas City, Kansas?” When told he must be lost, Fields replied, “Kansas City is lost. I am here.” Not many people go through life with the certainty that Fields did. Fear of the unknown and the fear of […]
This article from US News sheds some light on what motivates children and adolescents. It compares and contrasts pupils in the United States and China. It says that up to a certain age, pupils in both countries are motivated by a desire to please their parents. Then things change. As they move into adolescence, according […]
Diego Maradona’s ouster as Argentina’s soccer coach renews the debate over great players and their potential to be great coaches. As this Sports Illustrated article points out, Maradona’s recent experience as a World Cup coach ended far less successfully than his stint as World Cup player. And so it is with many athletes. So often […]
Today posting resumes after a hiatus to finish a book I wrote with Gary Pritchard, called “10 Things Great Coaches Know.” It turns out that Opening Day of the baseball season, the final game of the NCAA basketball tourney and an episode of “Dancing With the Stars” all intersected. And what unites these three apparently […]
Last night comedian Don Rickles was a guest on Craig Ferguson’s talk show. Rickles is a legend who gained fame through his good-natured insults. Sure enough, the minute he got on the stage, he jabbed everyone in sight: the host, the audience, everyone. Pretty soon everyone in the building was in stitches. Rickles’ comedy is […]
“To achieve the impossible, it is precisely the unthinkable that must be thought.” — Tom Robbins What is the most important job of a coach? Some people would say to teach. Others would say to motivate. But there is a third job, one that goes with other two: to inspire. A great coach can help a […]