Greetings this Holiday Season...As we wind down the year of 2011, and reflect upon the experiences, some good, some not so, and yet some wonderful, we need to make sure that we understand clearly, that we're learning, improving our knowledge on and off the court, grasping leadership opportunities daily (that we never knew were so important), making right decisions on and off the court and most importantly, having the experience of ongoing development in our academic and athletic environs...Wow!! T'aint that a "textFULL" reminder of 2011...!! :-) 

Okay, so for those who have just completed their Christmas Tournaments and their coaches are focused upon the upcoming conference season, we must daily remind ourselves that this "part" of the season, the middle, is where we begin to see our advancement, our improvements, our self confidence and our overall approach to the game aspire to new levels of success, meaning the opportunities for such abound, just for the "taking", no prodding from Family, teammates, coaches, just ourselves, a cognizant observation and conversation within that reminds us to "get busy...leave it on the court everyday, bust some prime USDA Hind Quarters and relax once the final buzzer has sounded..."...

For those individuals who have struggled philosophically, emotionally and physically (injuries, etc.) this season, don't despair, please...Know this: your value to your Teammates daily is paramount to the TEAM'S SUCCESS, even if it means you, as one of 1-12 players, struggles with your shot, your finishes, your FTs, your self confidence and your "stats", you will miss this golden opportunity to "grow" to another level of personal attainment with this wonderful game, abandoning ALL that makes up the fun aspects of being on a team, win or lose, the trust and confidence YOUR Teammates FEED off of your positive support model...So what if your minutes have been reduced when the team struggles in games, and you "feel" the pressure of NOT scoring like you should...Did you REBOUND? Did you BLOCK OUT your opponent so your Teammates could rebound? Do you sometimes "FORGET" your responsibilities to TALK on Defense, calling out Screens Left and Right? Did you forget to block out on a Free Throw...Have you made this game so personal that you're not having FUN anymore? If so, then take a DEEEEEEEEEEP BREATH....hold to the count of 10...eyes closed...and exhale slowly through your mouth and RELEASE every freakin negative thought you may have about YOURSELF (1st!) as a basketball player; how you FEEL about your Coach(es); how you LIKE certain players on your Team but not others ( YOU MUST RESPECT YOUR TEAMMATES ALL WAYS, not necessarily LIKE THEM)...If you NEED to repeat this EXERCISE, then do so, however many times it takes to "CLEANSE" your competitive basketball mind of the JUNK that YOU'VE ALLOWED to take a place upstairs...Let me ask you this: when your hands get dirty, and you know they are, do you pick up food with them (chips, french fries, candy, cupcake, burger, apple, orange, etc.) or do you wash, cleanse your hands before eating? Then WHY do we allow ourselves to get "dirty" from OUTSIDE GERMS (comments from teammates, coaches, friends) ATTACH themselves to our psyche, emotions of the moment/day/practice/game, and THINK that everything is "HONKYDORRY" and we can ENJOY ourselves before/during/after any engagement with Family, Team and Friends...WE MUST LEARN how to "cleanse" our minds of negative thought processes that weigh us down and overwhelm us in the end (of practice, games, at home when Mom or Dad ask us how everything is going...)...So, what I'm sharing here is INVALUABLE "gems from the gym" elements on "how" we can clean ourselves up DAILY, before practice/games and AFTER same...You gotta do this, if you don't, you'll go nutz trying to play the game with a shovel in one hand and the ball in the other: it won't work...it won't work...it won't work....If it does, call me, we'll go into business together and become rich and famous like Famous Amos Chocolate Chip Cookies... 

Okay, I know, forgive me, please, it's been soooooooooooooooo long since I've seen and spoken to most of you, yet I sense we each have "suffered" through some emotional trauma related to our play, our team, and perceived lack of success SO FAR THIS SEASON...Bah HUMDATBUG!! NOW...TODAY...NOT TOMORROW...get'er done and have some FUN!!

Happy New Year Everyone...we'll be teein it up again NEXT weekend, and I hope for those to whom this email speaks to your heart, please don't go mute and NOT communicate with your parents and myself about what you're thinking, feeling and holding back deep down within that Warrior Spirit WE ALL POSSESS!!

Much love to all...

Coach t

Just wanted to wish each Student Athlete and their Families and very Happy Thanksgiving and day together, free from distractions and attractions, other than the presence of each Family member helping Mom in the kitchen either before or after your sit down celebration...

There is sooooooooooo much for each of us to be thankful for today and actually everyday, really, but we sometimes get waylaid by the events of normal daily living: late getting ready for school, how we look, tests pending, hungry ('cause we were late and didn't eat breakfast), need gas in the car BEFORE going to school, forgot something, didn't finish paper night before, wondering if we're going to practice hard today, forgot my shoes and gear, have a Drs. appointment, etc...

Sound familiar? Okay, so back to Mom again and 'what' YOU can do today to help Mom out: ASK!! It might even be the DISHES!! Whoa! I know that's something that you really don't want to "offer" to do, but guess what, DO IT!!

Then, take the time to sit down and write on a piece of paper what this day means to you and how much you enjoy all the work that Mom puts into the special day, and share it with your Mom...Think about it: it's the ONLY DAY that Mom and can really delve into making all those special delights from the Turkey to her special dressing and gravy, along with the vegetables and of course the homemade desserts...Wow!! So, take a moment to reflect about what your Mom puts into this special day for HER FAMILY and especially for each your siblings, Dad and perhaps another friend, Family who are joining the Day...I know, I know, Dad usually has the TV on getting ready for the Packers/Lions football game, but YOU can smell the Epicurian delights emitting from the kitchen, and visualizing how it's all going to come out on one table for all to enjoy...Now, if you are "distracted" by the temptation of the internet: Facebook, music videos, You Tube, texting and just isolating yourself, shame on YOU!! Get with it!! BE THANKFUL to your Mom and Dad, share it with them with a note OR at the table with a simple: "I am so thankful for the support I continue to receive for school and sports in my life right now from all of you, I am really thankful for that, and this day REMINDS me to do just that: BE THANKFUL for the love and support all ways...

 

Parents: thank you for your continued support and kind words with our training program that we hope is developing the necessary leadership skills and basketball disciplines that will always reflect the values and sportsmanship that your Family believes in life and competitions, respectively...I wish ALL MOMS a Happy Thanksgiving today, that the moment you sit down and embrace the vision of your Family sitting together, no phones ringing, no tv distractions, just you and the wonderful miracle of life blessing you daily at this moment, especially, Happy Thanksgiving..and I wish all DADS a Happy Thanksgiving as well, one that they know their hard work, provisions and sacrifices make this day of "reflections" possible to enjoy and memorable...Happy Thanksgiving...

 

To our Student Athletes: thanks for giving your Best Effort each and every time out during our training sessions, we know how much each of you wish to be successful off the court and on the court, and that experience is really a reflection by you at the end of each season, an experience that no one else can relate to, remember that, and now, here on Thanksgiving, we have another "reflection" of sorts, one that precedes our high school season which is about to commence, and for those who are already engaged in competitions, look upon your Mom and Dad, sister(s) and brother(s), and realize how much you've GROWN emotionally, physically and spiritually, all elements that make you thankful for their love and support...Happy Thanksgiving to you as well!!

As I said earlier, we have NO TRAINING this weekend...but will regroup the following weekend...have a wonderful weekend, seize the love, celebrate your Family...

God Bless, 

Coach t

My "take" on what happened at Penn State this past week...it's a long longer story than normal, but will help parents and kids to know why I am different than most coaches you would ever meet in youth sports today... 

Okay, this is been on my mind for over 30 years and perhaps even longer...my first experience of 'hearing' about a elementary school teacher and 'mentor'-type individual who preyed on unsuspecting young boys came from an experience I was made aware of over 35 years ago in Independence, California...

I had made a decision in my "sportslife" to move on from playing professional basketball overseas and get "on" with life as I "renewed" it back in the good ol USA (1974)...The opportunity to be involoved with kids in youth basketball and also as a volunteer as a Juvenile Justice Commissioner in Inyo County, the largest county in the State of California, was an experience that paved the way towards how I became the "advocate" for all children participating in youth sports today...

I worked part time with the Juvenile Probation Department in Inyo County, and Mr. John Lee, Chief Probation Officer at the time, took me under his wing and taught me many things about the troubled youth in this county that I will always remember and apply those lessons learned with the knowledge and skills to communicate with any young person today...

As a volunteer JJC, we would meet and discuss the "whys" of our issues with juvenile miscreant activities in our county and what could we do about it...I was so smart, I suggested that instead of sending our kids down to Los Angeles to the California Youth Authority 'camps', we needed to keep our delinquent boys, ages 11-17 in Inyo County...Why is all of this important, I'll tell you why...There was a young juvenile ward of the court who I had to transport from Independence, California to LA, and drop him off at this facility in Los Angeles...the drive was a 3 hours plus, and the conversation was intense...His name was Michael C., and I was suppose to transport him in my "cage" backseat as I was transporting him...well, as you can imagine, here is this young fella, scared to his toe cuticles, heading into the unknown, frightened like a spider monkey seeing an Orangutan for the first time...Anyway, I broke the "rules" and allowed Michael (his peers never addressed him with his last name, even teachers also) to sit up front with me for the long drive south...He "taught" me more about the "issues" of our rural area in terms of "not" helping kids with learning disabilities and broken family issues unlike any book that could have ever taught me during my time in the Probation Department...

Michael told me he "did" these miscreant activities (breaking into cars, shoplifting and getting into fights) to get help, any kind of help, as the beatings he endured at home from an abusive father making him think about doing things that were worse than he could have ever imagined at the time...Now, he was finally getting "help" in the way he never ever suspected: locked up in a "displaced" venue for troubled youth, an "disHONOR" Camp, so to speak, but unknown to me in terms of the stuff that was ongoing there...Michael and I became "new" friends on this trip and I told him that we stay in touch and that he could contact me anytime and I would "listen" to him...Just that WORD alone made all the difference in the world in his mind: "...someone who cares and will listen to me..."...When I transferred him over to the facility director, and walked the grounds to visualize what exactly Michael's life would be like daily, at first glance it appeared "safe" and I blindly thought Michael would flourish in such an environment...The 'camp' had outside sports fields, wood shop, small farm operations with a garden, chickens, etc...When I was ready to leave, Michael was summoned to say goodbye, and I hugged him and told him to write me and "let's stay in touch..."...

A month went by, and I heard nothing from Michael, so I called the facility and spoke with the Director there and inquired as to how Michael was doing...She said he was "struggling" with the discipline and structure of the programs there and was in solitary confinement several times...It was here that I became "aware" of something bigger that I could have ever imagined: "bullying and abuse within the confines of this facility..."...I asked my boss, Mr. Lee, if I could make a special trip down and visit with Michael and do a "research" on the overall advantages or not of our assigning Wards of the Court *(Juveniles) to this venue... 

The conversation and experience I had upon my return visit to this camp changed my whole outlook on how we (adults, parents, teachers, coaches, mentors, religious figures, etc.) "assume" other administrations can "reform" troubled youths...Michael met with me and broke down, uncontrollably, he had bruises on his arms and a healing black eye...It took me over an hour for him to "open" up and tell me the horror of his experience after one month...He was attacked by 3-4 gang members at this facility, and told me he had to "do" things or they would 'kill' him, and he couldn't do anything about it because "they" controlled this place...mind you, over 100 kids were at this 'honor' farm (kids who would "only" serve 6 months or less...the abuse he endured and was forced to do made me sick...The tears and fears he shared scared me so much I wanted to TAKE him back to Independence with me right now...I told him that he would be protected from this point on and I would try to have him relocated back to our city, Independence, as soon as we could...

I hugged him, said a prayer with him, and said not to worry about any repercussions from this conversation, that he would never be subjected to this type of abuse again...We parted, I immediately met with the Supervisor there, shared my story and concerns and told them that Michael's life is in danger and that it was their responsibility to separate him immediately from the general population there...that I was informing my boss, Mr. Lee of the issues and circumstances surrounding Michael's incarceration at this time...I called Mr. Lee, told him verbatim what I had just endured and experienced in conversation with Michael and "can you please get the court to release him to our custody RIGHT NOW, I fear for his life, etc..."...Mr. Lee told me he would speak to the Judge and see what he can do on his end and that he was going to speak with the authorities there...I was also instructed to "come home...", and leave it to him and others to help Michael at this time...People, I was so distraught with Michael's sad story, I sped back to Independence from LA and was stopped by the Highway Patrol for speeding on Highway 395...the Patrolman saw my "State" car, ID and License and the "cage" in my undercover State Vehicle, that he let me go...He asked me "why" I was going so fast...I told him what I had just experienced and was distracted just trying to think about how I could change the system of reforming our misguided youth in Inyo County and NOT send them away...He was very understanding and told me to "take it easy" and get home safely...I did...

The End to the Beginning of a new story...Within two weeks, Michael was released from this facility and returned "home" to Inyo County to a Foster home in the area...I was not allowed to return to the facility to pick him up as I was considered persona non grata by the Supervisor there and Mr. Lee didn't want me to get into it when I picked up Michael...guess he knew my "Irish" temper...Michael's subsequent relocation and counseling helped him tremendously and the foster family provided the model to follow that he never experienced before in his young life and he recovered... 

What happened next was the most incredible experience I can ever share with all of you who just think I was and have been a "basketball coach" in the NBA...My trip back from the California Youth Authority farm the second time, inspired me to come up with an idea that even Mr. Lee considered at the time, but didn't "know" anyone who lead it until we had become close friends: he, my mentor with troubled youth, and me, the willing student of life who cared and wanted to help anyway I could...The launch and operation of the "Boys Group Home" of Independence, California was underway...yours truly became the Director with NO relief help for the first 6 weeks (really!!)...6 boys were assigned to this home, and I was the cook, father, brother, teacher and coach all in one, at the young age of 27...We laughed together, cried together and yet learned something new about ourselves and respect for others daily...During the first six months of our operation, we had a total of 12 boys go through the  program, ranging from 30 days to 6 months 'lockup', which was far from anything that the California Youth Authority would ever endorse...One young person, Eddie L., age 12, gifted pen/pencil artist and "tagger", was in our program due to his miscreant activity that ranged from tagging, shoplifting, sniffing glue, minor in possession and stealing from parked cars at Park Trailheads in Inyo County...Eddie was the youngest and "weakest" of all the boys we had in our program that year...he wasn't any taller than 4'6" and I had to give him four rolls of quarters, two in each pants pockets, to weigh him down when he was outside and the wind was blowing...anyway, Eddie told me about his young life, the lack of supervision from his drug induced parenting model (mother and seldom seen father), and how he was labeled "runt" by his peers and "dared" to do things he shouldn't do in the community...he got caught, obviously, and similar to Michael, was just screaming for attention and help...Eddie told me he really liked school, but because he was always getting into trouble (fights with others, disrespecting teachers, etc.), he hated going to school also...I asked him if they (school) provided any counseling for him and his mother, and he said at the time, a social worker came by but they never saw her again...he then told me about an assistant "principal" at his school (Big Pine Middle School) that was a "bad" person, and he was in "charge" of discipline, etc...Eddie told me that this guy was taking advantage of boys who were getting in trouble and that it was not "nice" what he was doing to some of them...Whoa, I said to myself, "...what the hell is going on here...?"...without going into detail with me, he said he never "gave in" to this guy and it was then that he became a truant, not wanting to EVER go back to that school again...I immediately contacted Mr. Lee and asked him to come over and sit down with Eddie and myself as it was really a serious issue going on in Big Pine, California...Mr. Lee came over, took notes, told Eddie he was a "brave" young man to speak up and that he was going to help others so this wouldn't happen again...he told Eddie to NOT say anything to anyone as the (authorities) had to do background checks and investigate this and if said he told me and Mr. Lee about this conversation, they may never "catch" him and charge him...Two months later this "educator" was charged as a pedophile and sentenced to prison...the number of boys was more than several, ages 10-14...Eddie, under our program was successfully released back into his community with a Foster home and finished high school...

Okay, why is this reflection and this long, longer story than you would/could have ever imagined from me? Because WE, as adults have to "raise" our children in our "village" daily and embrace those young people who are friends with our children, and yet their circumstances in their home lives and sports lives might raise our awareness and we're wondering "if' there's something that they would like to talk about or share with us that will help them through their sadness, etc...Listen, Folks, all I'm asking here, saying is this: "...know your kids friends, understand their fears and needs, and most of all LISTEN to them now, so you too can help them to help others less fortunate and preyed upon by unsuspecting so called "leaders"...

As you know, I have NEVER closed our training sessions and remind parents to ALWAYS be sure to observe the "coach model" of your son/daughter training, playing, being coached in ANY activity by a volunteer coach...IT is OUR responsibility to make sure our children are safe, protected and encouraged to communicate WHENEVER a coach, teacher or other adult member of society tries to take advantage of them, or verbally abuses them for mistakes, the way they play, and just general negative imprinting upon their young psyches...Can I get an Amen, here?

To the voices of our children, may your hearts be heard by us all...

Coach tom  

Fears: often times we (Student Athletes ) forget that our Parents have nothing to do with the "process" of what "Tryouts" mean at the Interscholastic level of competition, whatever sport it is today...Why? Well, let's reflect a moment...Our Parent(s) sign us up for soccer, baseball, softball, swimming, tennis, football, LAX, and other activities as well at an early age, remember?...this "process" commences at the early age of 6 years old...so, for the next several years, we "learn" (hopefully) how to be on a team, practice, learn the rules of competition, how to wear a uniform properly, and hopefully understand the sportsmanship involved in each activity...During this process, our Parents make a decision for us to be "trained" by a professional or facsimile instructor who may or may not be qualified, per se, (limited knowledge of child psychology today in youth sports participation and proper fundamentals player development), and this investment on their part is really honest and hopeful...Honest in its initial application: developing the skills set to be successful in competition and gaining the self confidence to "advance" (play on a Select Team sometime soon) and maybe evolve into a position on the team in high school someday...Hopeful that their (Parents) expectations was a worthwhile investment towards individual achievements, etc...So, here we "arrive" at high school, and we're required to sign ourselves up, NOT our Parents this time, for the first time, as they are only required to "sign" the medical waiver (Insurance release form), sign the Honor Code and adhere to the Schools' required rules and regs when a Student Athlete in extracurricular activities...It is here, that the first emotion of "fear" when in high school, out of the class room and onto the field of competition begins: "...am I good enough to make the team...can I make the Freshman Team...JV Team...Varsity...will I start (whatever level of tryout I experience)...will I actually play..."

Peers: "...wow, I didn't know that there would be this much conditioning and work without the ball...I don't know if I'm strong enough to compete...geeze, he/she is so much more skilled than me, plus they played for one of the best Select teams...I haven't grown much this summer...I don't know if I like this "setup" as much as my Dad and Mom do...what if I shoot airballs...what if I make mistakes...what if I get my shot blocked...what if they steal the ball off my dribble or pass and cut...what if the coach(es) don't like me...I can't shoot very well outside (Coach t says: "...who can TODAY?")...I'm not strong enough...I can't stop anyone One on One...a Grasshopper jumps higher than I do...what do I tell my parents after each day of tryouts...wow, there sure are some better players than me trying out, look how well they shoot, run and jump, they're really fast, stronger, etc...why does the coach encourage these players and compliment them more than me and the other kids trying out...what if I don't make the team..."

Insight: Coach t believes that we can overcome all FEARS daily before we lace our shoes up for tryouts...How? Simple: visualize those elements of your skills set that you do have confidence in and focus on the ONE KEY ELEMENT that NO PEER can MATCH: Your BEST EFFORT!! Yep, think about it: "I am going to hustle and work harder than anyone else there, not drop my shoulders when I make mistakes, because Coach t says "...mistakes are part of the learning and developing process in organized sports...no one plays perfect...BUT...if my sports DNA is my Best Effort, then WHO can deny that aspect of my game that will ALL WAYS stand out before coaches and peers...?"...Then when I step on the court with a basketball, I am going to shoot some layups first on a side basket, make them all, then shoot some bank shots to make sure my "release point" is consistent and I am balanced when I shoot from the outside; then I'll warm up with the ballhandling drills Coach t taught us, and all the time just FOCUSED on the opportunity to demonstrate and exhibit how much I love this game and can hardly wait to show the coaches and my peers that I may not be as good as they are YET, skills set-wise, BUT I know I will outwork them at both ends because of my BEST EFFORT...Boohlyah!! I am going to be supportive of my new teammates during this tryout, complimenting them on their passes that helped me score or a teammate, support those who make mistakes, telling them it's "okay, don't worry about it..."; talk on defense, calling out screens left/right, switching properly, containing my opponent with the ball, pushing them to the sideline or baseline, knowing that I may 'stop' them, but they are not going to get a layup off of me;  reminding myself to be sure to block out the shooter and also block out inside and have my arms in a ready/rebound position, and lastly, reminding myself what Coach t always talks about: "being a leader on and off the court..."...Wow, what a Blueprint, right? So, let's reread this, talk about it with our Parents, and prepare for the one of the most exciting experiences in the game: Tryouts!!

Feel free to email me your fears, doubts and overall lack of self confidence if you wish to discuss this further...That is what makes our Student Athletes more prepared than most: we talk the walk...we visualize success before the lights go on...we know the 2 Habits in Basketball...we know the 2 Ways to play the game...we know the 3 Speeds, and will use them when applicable...and WE KNOW how to react, act and respond to adversity, because Coach t says: "...adversity and/or failure and mistakes are the beginning of developing the courage to compete..."...

Let's get'er done!! Begin now, today for tomorrow's success...Bottom line: have Fun...have FUN!! Always...

Coach t

Mathematics is a significant part of the game. Statistics, percentages, time/distance increments and the geometry of the game all make basketball easier to understand and to play. Basketball math can make points with a clarity easily comprehended.

On Offense without Ball & Defense

Perhaps the best example is using math to illustrate the importance of moving without the ball and playing defense.

There are 32 minutes in a youth game.

If you play all 32 minutes, how much time do you spend playing offense? Playing defense?

The answer is half on each.

If you are not the point guard, how much time do you actually spend having the ball in your hands? 1 to 2 minutes.

What are you doing the rest of the time?

This is where boys get blank looks on their faces! Moving without the ball. Cutting, screening, and getting in position to rebound a shot.

Now, how many of the 16 minutes spent on the defense are you actually playing defense?

Rarely does anyone fail to realize that you must play defense the entire time your team does not have possession of the ball. Which means you cannot rest on defense.

The point regarding the importance of defense is solidified.

Statistics & Percentages

The individual scoring statistic is the most detrimental basketball statistic in basketball. The stats you should pay most attention to:

• Opposing team field goal percentage.
• Assist/Turnover ratio.
• Your field goal percentage.
• Rebounds- Opposing and yours. Offensive/Defensive
• Free Throw percentage.

Time & Distance Increments

A large part of basketball is based on time and distance. How long can you stay in the key, how long can you dribble the ball while being closely guarded, and how much time can you have the ball in the backcourt, etc…

Distance is more about the geography of the game- Spacing. Because small distance can make such a big difference, it is important to know the distance from the basket to the free throw line, the 3 point line, to half court. Or how wide is the key or the court.

Know the score, the time and the situation. In many instances the time and situation have something to do with one another.

Geometry

Basketball is a game of angles. Passing angles, dribbling angles, screening angles, cutting angles, and defensive angles. Utilizing incorrect angles in these areas can result in costly mistakes.

Hello again…I know, I know: “where have you been, tom?”…Let’s just say this: I’ve been a busy camper over the last several months, beginning with my Best Effort Camps & Clinics for kids in Seattle, Tukwila and Renton community centers…We had a great summer together…

I also visited the Bay Area to help Coach Bob Hill and Frank Matrisciano (Personal Trainer of the Highest Degree) at a summer-long program they operate…Frank is the gentleman who trained the NBA’s #1 pick, Blake Griffin, for a couple of years while he was attending Oklahoma as an underclassman…That experience was terrific for several reasons…Beginning with working with Patrick Patterson and Daniel Orton of the University of Kentucky and Anthony Goods (formerly of Stanford), and Ed White (former Yale player)…There were about 18 players at the maximum training in the morning with Coach Hill (longtime NBA coach) and running sand dunes in the afternoons with Frank…Great stuff there…will redo that trip again this summer…

While there, I was fortunate enough to visit my high school JV coach, Ned Averbuck and his Family…Ned is and has been one of the most incredible positive influences in my life as a young neophyte in life as a teenage student-sometimes-athlete, teaching me and my teammates the values of working as a team and trusting one another through hard work and best effort always…he and his wife, Maxine, were gracious hosts to my visit in Sebastopol, California…Beautiful city, beautiful home, beautiful people…She is an artist, author and Grandmother extraordinaire…Ned is also an artist, a graphic “live” artist, meaning his work is on a court, not canvas, the colors being participants in his basketball academy, the abstracts defined by their unique skills set, but all blending together as a model of discipline and execution…And to think, I was invited to participate and “add” to his academy…That was one of the highlights of my summer experiences for sure…

Then in September, I was fortunate enough to have the wonder-filled experience of visiting Belfast, Ireland, Madrid, Spain and Boom, Belgium…All basketball related experiences…Belfast, Cork and Dublin, Ireland, were the cities where my Coaches Who Care, International coaches training clinics took place…I cannot begin to describe the exhilarating anxieties of being in my late Mother and Father’s parents country…First, growing up in a parochial academic environment and seeing photos and hearing stories from our Catholic teachers about the religious issues between Protestants and Catholics, and their hatred for one another and that same disdain carrying over from generation to generation in Belfast and all of Northern Ireland…Scary stuff for sure…And here I was in the middle of it all…Accompanying me was my good friend and assistant coach, Larry Stone of Seattle…LStone has helped me before in my clinics and is also a former youth select team girls coach in Seattle…He was kind enough to take the time from his busy schedule to accompany me on this trip and film the program until he returned to Seattle before my departure…We had a great experience together, teaching kids in 3 different cities as well as working with the coaches…

Madrid, Spain…that was an in-between trip, leaving Belfast for 3 days and accepting the FIBA (International Basketball Association) Hall of Fame Award Posthumously on behalf of my Family in honor of Pete Newell, my late father…That experience was an emotional highlight, culminated by thanking those in attendance for the opportunity to celebrate Coach Pete’s contributions to the modern game of basketball…Oscar Robertson was also inducted at the same time, both men representing the Gold Medal winning 1960 Olympic Men’s Basketball Team…

Fast Forward: well, I’m into my coaches training program once again…here in Seattle, Tukwila and Renton, Washington…It is such a great joy to have this opportunity to help volunteer coaches with learning how to teach young participants how to play basketball…Too often, we see former players in high school and perhaps college, become volunteer coaches in youth sports, self-believing that their ‘knowledge’ of playing and competing automatically qualify them to coach kids at the elementary, middle school and teen age levels (AAU)…Little do these coaches realize that they can’t coach basketball unless they teach the game (fundamentals, rules and habits) first…That’s where our program comes in as a mentor of sorts…I really enjoy the challenges associated with these annual trainings…Coach Ernie Woods, former NW college basketball icon, assists me as well…Together, we have provided a genuine template for volunteer coaches to draw from, and hopefully implement with their respective teams…Fingers crossed every season…

Now for my annual “Gem from the Gym” for parents, kids and players alike…

I made this statement awhile ago, during an interview with  a sports journalist in Canada during a break in one of my clinics/camps...I share this with all of you this Holiday Season, as a reminder about what you do have control over when you're on any team, especially basketball...Merry Christmas, Happy New ALL Year and thank you for your commitment each time we train, each application on our repetitive moves, and more importantly, thank your parents for me, please, for their trust and confidence that I am helping you become more knowledgeable and efficient as a Team Player...Being a Leader is a Feeder...being negative is Destructive...Teach yourself how to be Constructive and Productive...Coach tom

"I think every player on any team has the potential to be "great"...Great as a sub...great as a backup Point, Post, Forward or an end of the bench player who never gets to play but is invaluable to his/her team in practice because of their hustle and effort plays...Great as role player...Great as a Team Player...Great in the locker room...Great in the community, volunteering to help where help is needed...Great at making "value decisions" socially...Great in school...Great with fellow students and fans and in the stands." tn 2004

Part II of my Presence to all players at any level in basketball and sports in general…This reflection is to, hopefully, disarm the angst and disappointment that may be affecting parents, kids playing on a team now, and the overall emotions attached to being on a basketball team today…

As a Starter: This position on a basketball team is one that is earned a couple of different ways today: one is that if you possess innate basketball skills or a unique skills set (ballhandling razzle dazzles; shooting prowess; pogo stick jumping ability; elongated length not present in other teammates, etc.), then there’s a pretty good chance that you will be given the chance to shine…Now “given” this anointing, one has to bring his/her skills set everyday in practice and/or games, less the coaches lose confidence in your abilities and then you lose your self confidence and joy of playing, which means it is NOW no longer fun to lace up the sneakers, put on the gear and get out on the court…I do NOT know ANY participant and/or player in organized basketball that has not experienced the personal feelings and thoughts to “quit” playing at one time or another because of not having fun anymore with the game…Really, it has been this way for many many years and the many many tears of all players…This I know about basketball: it is an activity of adversity personified, daily, but in reality, diversified in so many facets of the game itself: turnovers, air balls, missed layups, missed FTs, poor defense, injury, social issues off the court, insecurity about playing in front of others, etc…So, when it comes to being a “starter” in high school, you enter a rare strata of “expectations and revelations” in basketball at ANY level: Sadistic Statistics overtake the reality of being a Team Player and just playing to continue getting better and helping the team succeed…In other words, for some reason, parents and kids think that “if” they start they NEED to SCORE POINTS and START if the opportunity is going to evolve towards the “next” level of competition and maybe, just maybe a scholarship that would reward the parents for the monetary “investment” in summer AAU tournaments and playing interstate games…The “rare strata” is definitely an eye opener to expectant Dads and Moms, trust me…and the kids themselves…Let me explain the “why” here…

IF a player in high school is NOT playing to the level of expectation (coach/parents), AND the team is losing, well, it is known as the “deep freeze” in basketball jargon: kids go mute, because of frustration…parents go batty wanting “answers” from their son/daughter, coach, other parents…and coaches having self doubts about skills of player(s) and second guessing “choice” of player(s) starting…Conversely, the kids on teams that ARE winning early, and everyone happy, to a point, STILL have an expectant level of results, thus “persecuting” their minds and psyche over and over again daily, until they have a “better” sadistic statistic (points, points, points…assists, assists, assists…rebounds, rebounds, rebounds…) that they can “sleep” on…Sounds crazy doesn’t it? It IS!! What we all need to do PRIOR to any season is sit down, independent of one another (parents, kids and even coaches), and write down 5 “expectations” of what each envisions for the upcoming season…Then, on the other side of the paper, write down the “revelations” that you fear most with your expectations…Example: starting or not…scoring or not…lots of playing time or not…better than others or not…adversity and not overcoming same…When you complete this exercise, you really and truly now “enter” a strata level of reality, that is healthy to you and your sportslife son/daughter that will evolve over the course of 3 parts to the season: the beginning, the middle and the end…Try it, it’s not too late…

IF you are a Substitute, active off the bench: this is a critical position in basketball, much like soccer, in that one HAS to be ready to perform on a moment’s notice: “teammate gets hurt…teammate starts off poorly…teammate not ready for prime time…teammate not playing defense…teammate playing selfishly…teammate not bringing leadership…teammate not executing…”…Substitute “teammate” for “Starter” and now you understand how very very important the “Sub” becomes to every team…This I know well: NO TEAM HAS 5 PLAYERS WHO PLAY EVERY MINUTE OF EVERY GAME AND PLAYS PERFECTLY…Do you know such a player? If so, please contact me directly…So, back to the “Sub” role: YOU ARE THE GLUE to any team’s success…You have the responsibility to be like a Fireman when you hear your name called, and the Fireman hears the bell for a call of action: respond, adrenalin rushing like a Winter River’s runoff, KNOWING exactly what the team NEEDS from you at that point in the game…HELP…Never ever take your position on any team lightly, EVER…If your best role on your team is to come off the bench to “spark” the team on Defense and Offense with your intelligence, skills set, best effort, well so be it: be the best freakin Team Player that ALL YOUR TEAMMATES and Coaches and parents could ever imagine or observe…I LOVE Subs, Bench Players, Role Players off the bench, Backups, you name it, whatever you want to call them, THEY ROCK!!! Parents understand this: Coaches in high school sometimes LOSE sight of player development, and will inevitably “pigeon-hole” your son/daughter because they’ve seen them at an early age in the program and unless they grow to 6’5” or above, will continue to pigeon hole them UNLIKE a college coach who evaluates high school talent this way: “intelligence on the court and off…skills set…player understands ROLE on team…has innate Team Player skills…integral part of team’s success…listens in timeouts as a Starter or “sitter”on bench…”, and there are other elements that college coaches take mental notes on, believe me…So, keeping this “pigeon-hole” mentality in place and your mind’s eye, you will now understand why I am not so supportive of AAU high school select ball, when in fact attending any college basketball camp during the summer months will be more beneficial to helping your son/daughter “see” firsthand and listen closely to “what” a college coach looks for, remembers about what he/she sees at THEIR camps regarding each player’s participation, and ultimately build on one’s confidence level when they return to their respective school programs…Booohlyah…now we’re gettin somewhere!! Okay, so now that we have “discovered” the all important role and position of the “Sub”, I think it’s safe to say that ol coach here has “tweaked” the egos and psyches of both parents and kids…oooops, maybe even coaches too, if they have continued to read on here…very few have the kahonees to do such, which doesn’t bother me in the least…I’m about helping parents and their student athletes at this point in my sportslife…

The “No Play Day” Sub on every team: This role player is really an important asset to each team as well…as long as they understand and accept this role without malice or disgruntled feelings towards coaches, teammates and parents…Every team has 1-2 players who may never wash their uniforms after a game or games…They don’t mind, they’re happy to be a part of the team and do a GREAT job supporting each teammate along the way…Their role is defined earlyon in high school basketball: they are limited in their skills set compared to others they practice during the season…They invariably get “pigeon-holed” by a coach this way: “he/she is limited, won’t PLAY at the next level, anyway, BUT has been in program for last 6 years (feeder program included)…”…The most important fact here is this: usually these players have decided AFTER they get their license to drive and have the privileges of driving a car of their own, their commitment and focus changes dramatically>they no longer want to put the time in to improving their skills set, strength and conditioning and establishing attainable goals…It is a phenomena of sorts, that is natural and expected at the interscholastic level, sometimes to the extreme disappointment of their parent(s), and in that demise, you immediately see the parent separate from other parents’ interests in the team’s season, success or not, just a quiet separation from expectation…What a shame…for the student athlete, because they decided to make a choice as to what was more important at that time in their life (structure of team skills development) and their parents (“I can’t believe I spent all that money on AAU ball when they were in the 7^th, 8^th and first two years of high school…”)…Do you see any similarities in my examples here, as a parent of a starter…a Sub…and a non-descript team member? This much I do know: without these team players on the bench encouraging their teammates’ efforts and supporting them during the game, on the court and when they come off, basketball would be a sorry example of what a Team Sport should be…

Take care, Happy Holidays to each and every one of my friends in this wonderful world of family sportslife today…Much love, Coach tom

People often believe that clutch players step up when it counts and perform better under stress.  But economist Dan Ariely studied how NBA basketball players performed in the playoffs and found that "clutch" players scoring performance as a percentage was no different in the final five minutes of the game vs. any random five minutes of the game.

Ariely was interviewed by Marketplace host Ky Ryssdal:

Ariely: So first of all we asked people if they believed that there are clutch players, and people believe that there are clutch players. People also agree on who the clutch players are in the NBA, so everything seems fine. And when we look at how many points these people who are called clutch players score in the last five minutes of the game, compared to a randomly chosen five minutes of the game, they actually score better.

Ryssdal: So then the money that they get is money well spent by the team, yes?

Ariely: Well, that's not clear yet. Because remember that even if they get more points, there's two ways to get more points. One is to increase your percentage scoring, and the other one is just to try more. So we looked at their performance, not in terms of absolute scores but in terms of percentages. And what do you think happened now?

Ryssdal: I don't know. That's actually a good point. So LeBron James and Kobe Bryant and those guys, are they actually better percentage wise when the pressure is on? I don't actually know, that's a good question.

Ariely: And the answer is no. The answer is no. Their percentage keep the same. I mean they're all good players, by the way, they're the best players there are. But they don't seem to have any clutchness. And this goes both for field goals, and for free throws.

The key is that while the performance was no better, it was no different despite the high stakes.  Consistency matters.

And then because they are consistent, other players on the team get them the ball more.

Ariely: And you can think about there's a group coordination mechanism, where these guys believe they are better, the coach believes they are better, the team believes they are better, so they get the ball more frequently, and they try more. They just don't succeed more. But there's kinda of an arrangement that says that they'll succeed more.

The story is available on July 6th edition of Marketplace, at about 18:07.

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Danny Westneat's column in the Sunday Times is a must-read.  He chronicles the journey he takes as a sports parent:

• being screamed at by a mother when volunteering as an umpire for a softball game of 10-year olds
• watching a basketball game of 7-year-olds being stopped because of parents treatment of a referee
• him yelling at his 9-year daughter to hurry up between ballet and softball practice (with one ballet slipper and one softball cleat on)
• questioning his daughter for sitting on the bench

Does this sound familiar?

Forget the kids. It's the parents who are losing it.

In a 60-day period from mid-April to mid-June, my kids went to 104 out-of-school organized activities. Deliriously I toted them up the other day. Baseball, soccer, basketball and softball games. Practices for all of the above. Piano and ballet lessons. Recitals. Choir rehearsals and concerts.

:

The doctors and researchers and social workers have focused all along on the wrong party. We kids are all right. It's you parents who need a timeout.

Seattle, May 2nd...I have returned home via Korea and Canada today, happily accepting the itinerary that brought me home to the NW once again...I enjoyed immensely the last 3 plus weeks in the Far East of Russia, especially the last city on my clinics' visits...We spent 9 days in Yakutia, the Consul General, Mr. Tom Armbruster, his wife, Kathy, and Jenya, the Russian National who works in the State Department with Mr. Armbruster...

Yakutia, Capital City of Yakutsk, largest State in Russian Territories...Population: 250,000...Ethnic Origin: Eskimo...Language: Yakutsk, native tongue, and Russian...Resources: 2nd leading Diamond mining producer in the World (25% of the World's diamonds produced here); Gold, Silver and Oil are the largest producing minerals and fossil fuel in Russia...By the way, this territory has the largest collection of Fossil Tusks in the World...The Woolie Mammoths are originally from this area, meaning the indigenous people of Yakutsk have more knowledge and experience than most educated anthropologists (as to "where" to fine the bones, etc...)...Food Staple: Fish, fresh, naturally frozen and then eaten the same way, tasty too, I might add...potatoes, small spuds, but tasty tatters for sure...Weather: it was sunny for 8 out of 9 nine days, only being cloudy when I left on day nine...It was around 55-60 degrees, and in the evening, a little cooler in the evening, low 40's...Winter? Get ready for this: -70 F!!! That's right, MINUS 70 degrees Fahrenheit!! Imagine those wintry days and evenings...I can't even imagine, shucks, when I was in Changchun, China, last year, coaching in the CBA, the coldest I believe, it was close to 20 below there several times in the evening...so cold that my bones STILL remember, and funny thing was, when I heard about the "-70" my bones reverberated the same recall of anything minus Fahrenheit!! Remember, this area is known as the Perma Frost topography in the Far East of Russia...General Impression: the most wonderful culture I have ever encountered...you would not believe the warm smiles, shining countenance and hospitality of these indigenous people...truly amazing, they love life, culture and their Families very much...their rich history as a proud people and culture is intact and will be for many many years to come...

Before I begin my recount of this trip leg and clinics, I'm going to give you some ideas on the City of Yakutia and their highways also...and life as I saw it...

Business Opportunities:                                                                                               a) Car Wash 4 months out of the year...every car, and I mean every vehicle is dirty, one because of the snow melt, and also because of the perma frost warming up on the surface, meaning lots of puddles, dirty streets and roads...

b) Shock absorbers and Springs shop: the chuckhole "capital" of the world is best described this way: every three feet there is a chuckhole, some deep, some not so, some with water (the real dangerous ones if traveling fast) and some not...the demanding affect on any vehicle though are the constant impacts to the frame of each vehicle, big and small, as they travel through and around this city...They never need to "post" the Speed Limit anywhere in this city, mainly because the chuckholes maintain an average speed of 20 or below...There are NO lowriders in this city, unless they're operating on low tires inflation...

c) Les Schwab Tires: now this business would never lose customers...even though most of the miles are driven in town and surrounding area, the constant pounding of dancing treads upon chuckhole after chuckhole, well you can only imagine this "Guaranty" goes by "Number of Chuckholes Visited" and not "mileage"...I saw more outside "blister" or "bubble" size bulges on front and back tires, I couldn't believe it...I guess they continue to drive the car under these conditions until they can't...

d) Sneakers and Boots Store: for sure, as you won't sell flip flops or sandals here...I think most of the people can hardly wait to put on their sneakers again and get out of the wool inserts of their boots from Winter and early Spring weather...Nine Inch heels or 4" for that matter need not be imported, although I did hear a couple in the lobby of the hotel where I was staying...I figured that women bring a change of shoes to public places, rotate from boots to heels and hear their toes sing in unison: "free at last...free at last..."...

Crimes you won't see in Yakutia:                                                                                 a) Purse Snatchers...Why? Because they would end up spraining an ankle trying to run away and cross any street that has chuckholes...

b) Bank Heists: with the average speed of vehicles 20mph, and the traffic lights not synchronized, any perp and his accomplice who is waiting in a car for the getaway, well, you can only imagine how helpless they would be 2 minutes after the crime...

c) Bike Stealing: unless you have a pair of pants that are fanny-packed with Condor Feathers from three dozen condors, you would...if a young man, quickly realizes that the effects of hitting, rolling and avoiding chuckholes is hazardous to your manhood, you might consider trying out for the choir because if you were a soprano before your crime, you became a canary voice afterwards...thus, there aren't many bikes in town here...

d) Pickpockets: when you have to dress with several layers of clothes for 9 months out of the year, you've got no shot at trying to lift anyone's wallet here...

e) Auto Thefts: most people leave their vehicles running, to keep them warm inside and the engine warm as well, and their doors locked as well...seems everyone knows each other, and if someone were to "take" a vehicle, they would be caught soon enough by the pockmarked sideroads and traffic congestion on the main thoroughfare... 

Where to begin: Chuckles...upon arrival by Yakutia Airlines, we arrived in the late afternoon, and were greeted by the local VIPs from the State Government's Office and other representatives that were with the Youth Sports Ministry Department...Okay, you gotta picture this scenario, a "newell classic" for sure...We taxi to the tarmac area, waiting, as there is no "ramp" for unloading, and a tractor hooks up to the front landing gear and backs our aircraft into a holding area...A stewardess comes to me, Tom Armbruster and his wife, and tells him in Russian (he speaks fluent Russian) and says we are to depart the packed plane first...Hmmm, I think to myself, this is interesting, being treated as VIPs in a foreign land, Russia, no less...So, Tom and his wife line up first, Jenya, translator, second, and me last...I had my hat on, as the wind was blowing a little bit, and I didn't want to mess up my hair for the cameras below...So, the first three step off the plane, then myself and LOW and behold, I hit my head on the door entry of the plane, so hard that the stewardesses caught me from behind, and I  soon saw a species of birds flying birds in my semi conscious state that I've never seen before, and thought "wow, this city has some strange looking birds...", until I realized that I had my "bell" rung...As I regained my unstable balance thanks to a couple of Russian stewardesses, I look out from the top of the portable ramp and see Policemen with bullet proof vests on holding what looks like Uzzis...a Brinks Van...a couple of more unmarked vans, and then several people below shaking the hands of Tom, his wife and Jenya...I slowly walk down the steps and still groggy, figure out that we must have some "security" arranged for our visit, and the VIPs that are greeting us must be the "ones" getting such protection...Wrong! It turns out that the plane was carrying a whole lotta of Rubles, not Rubies, and the Brinks Guards were there to unload and carefully guard the transport to the local bank...Whew, that was a relief...After meeting the luminaries on the tarmac, we were taken by private vans to our hotel, the Hotel Tyginn...Out of 5 Stars, I give it a Four Star for sure...Great rooms, service and restaurant...

Official Dinner: upon checking in, we had 15 mins. to "unwind" and walk next door to a very nice restaurant for an "Official" dinner with the Minister of Foreign Relations, Minister of Foreign Business and Development and a woman named, Anastasia, a Yakutsk Native, who lived in Fairbanks for 10 years, understood and spoke English very well, and her position in government was with the North Forum Administration, that was working with the US and other countries on a global initiative that dealt with economic, education and environmental issues...The dinner was a traditional cuisine from this region: frozen white fish, caught in sub zero temperature, preserved as such when filleted; another white frozen fish, small cut squares, eaten frozen, with a couple of special sauces, and lastly the main course, which was choice of a horse I'm sure I bet on one day and lost at Emerald Downs (which I passed upon), or fish...I chose fish, and it had a great egg souffle' mushroom cover on top of it, and let me tell you: it was deeeeelicious!! I coulda eaten two of them, but this was an "Official" dinner and I didn't want to embarrass my country and our Hosts...but I would have if offered...The visit by our Consul General there, was very very timely, as they were so thankful and happy to have him and his wife accept their invitation to visit their city...Tom Armbruster is a tremendous Patriot, representing our Democracy and values so well in foreign lands...He made immediate friends and fans of this VIP group, and we haven't even begun our agendas yet...Needless to say, the first evening was an indication that we were going to have a grrrrrrrrrrrrreat experience here...

The Week in Yakutia: April 21, morning meeting at the Minister's Office with our Consul General and their Minister of Foreign Relations...this was an hour meeting and then we went off to meet the Minister of Sports, for a short meeting and lunch with him as well...Both meetings were with the purpose of "developing" future relationships and contacts for improving relations and programs for Yakutia...I was so well received by the Minister of Sports (and all the government people as a matter of fact), as he said that basketball was a fast growing activity and that "we need to teach our coaches better methods so they can teach the players..."...well, those that know me, know that was music to my ears, as I love to teach coaches how to leach kids and right away, before my first coaches clinic was to take place two hours from now, I knew that this trip was going to be fantastic...and it was...

Basketball Clinic #1: April 21, Afternoon...there were close to 200 men, women and kids in attendance for my first session...I was told that we would have anywhere between 60-150 coaches and thankfully there were only around 45 total, and then 30 when the program completed the next day (many coaches were working and took lunch at the same time as the first session and could not do same next day...)...The team I had for demonstration were high school boys, ages 15-18...Good group of kids...labeled one kid "Kobe" as he was more "noticeable" than others in an outspoken way, and yet lacked the overall skills to be recognized as a "Star" player, but I went ahead and asked him if I could call him "Kobe", and of course he said in perfect English: "YES!!"...His twin brother was more subdued/humble in our two days, whereas "Kobe" was always telling others what to do, even if it were/was wrong, and the players followed..."Kobe" did so many pushups for us, I think he became the strongest players in 7 hours plus of clinic time on the floor...He finally "got" the picture that there is one voice, the coach's, and that if any corrections are to be made, it is by the coaches only...We got along well, and he ended up following me around to other venues to listen to my instructions...Guess discipline has a way of "connecting" even with the most outspoken individuals...He and his teammates were terrific models and had a great time, or so they tell me...The coaches in attendance were very attentive and anxious to learn how to "teach" players the proper fundamentals and how to develop players skills...Evidently, I am the first foreign coach and/or domestic (Moscow Pro coaches) to visit Yakutia in many many years, and teach the coaches there about the game...We learned many new simple lessons today and the following session, that I knew this would be another great experience in a different Far East Russian city...I presented simple warmup drills with the ball that would empower the kids to practice on their own without a gym necessary, and the importance of always incorporating combination drills that would enhance their overall skills both on offense and defense...They understood well and hopefully will implement into their practice plans...Want to hear something crazy? They only play 10 games ALL SEASON!! Can you imagine? They practice over 275 hours on the court, excluding game times, and I couldn't believe it...When I heard this, I told them they were very lucky to have such an impact in a teaching environment to prepare their students for 10 examinations...They laughed but were curious as to why I would be so supportive of fewer games and more practice times...Basically what I stated to them was this: if you have more time on the court with your team, then the "formula" for developing your system has a better chance to succeed than not, that your fundamental disciplines on offense and defense will always stand strong and be the foundation towards the team's success...They thought otherwise until I explained the thought process of "look at soccer...look at track and field...look at swimming, wrestling, even the local orchestra, they perform only once a week in some cases, and practice very hard and very long in between, so why can't your players be prepared for the same competition on a weekly basis? Herein is where the problem arose...NBA games are televised weekly there, 3-4 times a week, and the kids and coaches see how many games are played there (USA) and how many are played in their nation's Premiere League (2-3 per week) and wish they could play more also...Told them to relax, as coaches, as the fewer games you play, the less grief you get from parents!! They all laughed at that one!! It's the same universally: Kids want to play, play, play...Coaches want to practice, practice, practice...Parents want to win, win, win...and Officials want to quit, quit, quit...

Shaman and Assistants Bless our visit to the next city over from Yakutia: Okay, there are 8 people in a Van traveling for an hour and a half to a very small city named, Ogulesk (spelling is most definitely incorrect, sorry about that)...Along the two lane paved road that was similar to an hour and a half roller coaster ride that was semi-level and made us all feel like two of the four wheels (left driver side wheel and rear passenger side wheel) on our Van were missing...We endured remarkably well, as the topography was similar to the wide open range area of Montana with mountains in the far distance...spectacular, actually...So, we're low flyin along this highway and heading up this long hill to the top of a ridge, tall pines on both sides of the road now, pretty I am saying to myself...Then we stop alongside a relatively new wood framed single story building with a parking lot...We park to the side of the road, and Sergey, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Relations and Business Development, informs us in perfect English (remember, he studied at Oxford at the age of 16): "this is the boundary of the next city we are visiting for the clinics, and this is a Visitor's Center and we have a ceremony that is being presented to us by a Shaman and his support staff...This was all news to Tom and myself, as we were "along for the ride" and of course accepted this treat gladly...The Shaman is dressed in a Bearskin Hat, Pelt is definitely an Indigenous Eskimo, sculpted features, narrow eyes that sparkled, strong hands and a wonderful smile...He lights a fire to a handful of small kindling pieces in a fire pit, and then begins to chant and raise his hand with the Horsehair-end baton to all of us standing before him...His aides were holding these beautiful Chorons (hand carved wood bowls that for centuries were used for milk and water to drink from...These chorons, by the way, were gifts to me by our Hosts while in Yakutsk, and each one is different in size and touch, what an incredible culture...Back to the Shaman, so he finishes his words of prayer to the Spirits in the Valley, asking them to "bless" our kindness for coming to share with "our" people, "bless" our travels safely, and then he brings forward the ritual of drinking from the Chorons, fermented horse milk and having fresh baked flat bread, shaped like a roll, but completely flat, but oh-so-good...It was a like the Catholic tradition of communion is the only way to describe this experience...Once we finished this ritual, he asked us to turn towards the Sun and raise our arms high to accept now the blessings from the Great Spirit and in their Yakutsk native tongue, chant with him...I chanted like I was part of Sha Na Na, let me tell you...The Sun was warm, not a cloud in the sky and the moment was beyond a Kodak capture...Incredible...

The "next" Cities for clinics: We turn off the main highway (similar to the N/S Highway in Colorado) and enter into a small city, the name again of which I cannot share at this time, but will later in life, I'm sure)...This appearance had Tom and Kathy visiting with teachers and local leaders as well as students in a High School classroom to discuss American Diplomacy, commerce and language arts with the people in attendance, while I was across the road in the local and only community gymnasium addressing coaches (20 and kids and parents)...This group was lively in that the kids we had on the court as models were both boys and girls, ages 12-18...They were so excited to have this foreign coach who used to be in the NBA come to there village (less than 5.000 people), which I found out later that most of the kids in the cities I visited went online and found my name and basketball life through Google.com...The amazing "links" in life today that brings the worlds apart together...We were here for an hour and a half and then on to the next village...We arrive on the outskirts of the city limits about 45 mins. later, and again we pull off to the side of the road as there is a delegation awaiting our arrival...This time there is a Princess ('cause that's the way she was dressed: like a Princess), and she has a Choron with milk in it and a large loaf of bread that I will tell you now is BETTER than any San Francisco Sourdough that I've ever had, and I know my sourdough in the world of breads...The Mayor is in the group and he welcomes us as did is wife, and we each take a sip and break off a piece of bread and the "Official Welcome to our City" is on...The Mayor is Anglo in appearance, and a Yakutian resident, not your typical Indigenous Eskimo that is so prevalent in the Territory...We get back into the Van and Kathy Armbruster comments to me about how "good was that bread!!"...? I told her it may have been the best I've ever had, and Sergey must have overheard our comments because the next thing I know, we're in the Van and the bread is in my lap and we're encouraged to partake (gladly for sure)...That bread had about as much a chance of not being consumed by everyone in the Van as a hungry catfish finding a juicy worm that fell into a lake...This city, and please, forgive me on the name, I misplaced my itinerary and can't find the English translation of this city, so bear with me...The main resource coming out of this city is the gravel and concrete "pit" yards...It is a very small city by Yakutia comparison (population 10,000+/-)...the roads here are well paved (and rightly so...) and I think a car warranty would be "safe" in this city on wheels, windshields and mufflers because of it...We all accompany the Mayor and his wife and a couple of other people to a Tunisian-owned restaurant in the city, relatively new (4-6 years old) and have a wonderful lunch together and receive gifts from his Honor for this epic visit by the Amerikansts...We leave for the gymnasium that is 5 minutes away, and has just been completed in only 9 months of construction...It is built upon the perma frost as well, and the gym level is up two stories...They did a great job on design, simplicity and providing a venue for their youth sports and development...The floor was even, the hoops I had concerns about only because the brackets that anchor into the wall from the backboard would not hold a suspended baby's crib, and I ain't talkin about Twins!! The rims were NOT breakaways and the high school boys team that I used in this clinic had a couple of players who were 6'5", and I'm sure anxious to "see" if they could finally dunk on this hoop...As I explained after the clinic to their Director of Youth Sports, "be careful with this attachment to the wall and not having breakaway rims (wondered how that was translated to Russian?), as there will be someone or others who will try to "dunk" and accidentally hang on the rim and their weight will cause this basket to collapse..."...He smiled and looked and it dawned on him, that "yes, he is right, we will have that problem..."...Fingers crossed for him and the poor kid that gets caught with the rim around his neck...

Clinic: I had about 16 players, all high school age boys, and they were terrific models to use as demonstrators...It was funny, because most of the kids in this remote village looked like they came right out of Bellevue, Washington: blond hair, blue eyes or hazel, tall and lanky...Found out that there's been a large contingent of immigrants from Germany, Holland and Finland that had sought employment in this city (construction), and these children are the offspring example of global migration that would surprise you in this region...There were about 10-12 coaches, and at least 80 boys and girls in attendance, all very attentive to our visit...I was amazed to see the number of hands raised when I asked the proverbial question: "how many watch the NBA on TV here..."...90% of them acknowledged "yes"...Now THAT blew me away...Why? Because if that is the only model of American hoops they see each year, I think they're seeing a glorified level of athleticism, individual play and attitudes that aren't necessarily common in our country and organized programs (MS, HS and Intercollegiate)...we were on the court for two hours and it sure went by fast...we worked on ballhandling drills and passing drills that the players and coaches could easily implement on their own...We also did a combination drill, where we had a defender moving his feet on a half court slide versus the ball handler who had to change his dribble and direction after two bounces...Huge success...Tom Armbruster helped me here with the kids and we wrapped it up well...The Mayor and Director thanked us and told us how much they appreciated our visit...Another wonderful day in hoops heaven...

The Yakutsk Presidential Library: On our return trip to Vladivostok, we stopped off at the Presidential Library, designed and built for a former Russian Federation President, Yeltsin and a famous Yakutsk Scientist, Nikolai ...The venue was well designed and the collection of memorabilia is fantastic: all original letters from leaders around the world and personal gifts from same...We spent an hour ther and it was well worth the "stop"...

The Yakutsk Zoo: Now this is a place that PETA would not hold their annual fundraisers...The gentleman whose vision it was and is today, was our host and led us on a 50 min. tour of the outdoor reserve...By our North American standards, this would probably rank somewhere between 1-3 out of 10 stars...Keep in mind, this is a work in progress and the director is doing his best to build and create a more attractive and stable environment for the Indigenous Yakutians to "call" their own...I saw Russian Wolves, Big Brown Bears with big brown claws, Razorbacks (2) that were about as ugleeeeee as ugly could be described in Webster's...then there were the Rudolphs without red noses, some pure white, some without racks, but large and beautiful all the same...Saw some leopards also that were bigger than kitties...I was taken aback by the end, but Kathy Armbruster told me that "this is really a work in progress,tom, and he has a terrific idea and mind to replicate what he has seen in America and other Zoo cities on the planet...

Return to Yakutia and Celebration of Victory Day and Soldiers Memorial: Okay, you will now know that I am nutz for sure: I PLAYED in a game with other Russian Men, uniforms and all, along with Tom Armbruster, Consul General, who was on other team...I was selected by my newest "best" friend, Sergei, whose two sons, Valentin and older brother, name slipping my mind (like many other things these days), attended a basketball camp for two hours the day before...Sergei talked me into playing in this event and I agreed ONLY if Tom Armbruster played as well...I figured we both would be on the same team and do "our" thing to best represent the two man game and teamwork...Wrong...We both were on opposite sides and the way we set up this whole appearance and playing was that we could only play in the first qtr., as we both had to attend a Ceremony at the Opera House an hour later...Good thing for the "other" cultural demands away from hoops...it saved my heinie for sure...The Game: Okay, so I have a uniform with number and of course it's Red and White...nice silk...haven't worn something like this in about 30 years...The only issue were the shorts felt like they were designed by Nate Robinson, as they went below my knees about 8"...I changed that immediately by double rolling the beltline seam over and bringing the bottoms right above my knees...I mean how can one play with shorts that feel like someone is "scratching" your shinbones as you walk and run?? Now I KNOW I'm really old school, right?   So we start the game and I told Sergei that if he were to pass the ball to me in Post Position and everyone move off the pass, screening for one another and all, I'd find someone open and pass to them...This translation was loss  somewhere between Moscow and Yakutia, because after a missed shot they would immediately start passing me the ball to bring it down court and that meant that I would be really working "overtime" in this exhibition...After about 4X up and down the court on missed or made shots, I stop at halfcourt and bend over and grab the bottom front of my silkies to catch my breath and identify the "shooting stars and planets" that were now in my vision..."...one of the referees stopped to ask me if I was okay, to which I replied: "I'm fine thank you, do you have an extra whistle? As I could help you now better than I can play..."...He laughed...First time I've ever had an Official "laugh" with me on the court as a player or bench coach...Kodak moment for sure...And his English was very good...My "planetary-moment" pause subsided and I resumed my cardio exercise by getting into the game again, both ends...I played the middle on our 2-1-2 Zone and pretended I was somebody I wasn't: Intimidator, Exterminator, Eliminator...No, I ended up being a pretty good "pretender"...I rebounded the ball in front of me, put my hands up on defense when drives came down the paint and acted like I knew I what I was doing, playing with players who had NO CLUE who this Amerikansk dude was who spoke no Russian at all...Fortunately, Sergei was the quintessential teammate: he was the team leader and made the team roll at both ends...At the end of the first quarter we were up by 14 points I believe, Tom Armbruster played well, but was on the "short" team in a figurative sense: only 5 players until the last 2 mins. of the 1st Qtr., and then only one player above 6'1"...Whereas we started 4 players including myself that were 6'3" and above, no taller than 6'5"...At the end of the qtr. and saying goodbye to Sergei and teammates, and his lovely wife, Olga and the boys, Tom and I hustled to the Van to go back to the hotel and shower and change our clothes for the event at the Opera House...

The Opera House: how's this for an "experience" as a spectator: nonstop perspiring for two hours on my part!! Seriously, I hustled back to the hotel, cleaned up, changed and on the way to the Opera House, I started sweating more and more, not dizzy or anything, just basically overheated from the exhibition less than 25 mins. ago...Fortunately, this episode brought back immediate memories of yesteryear when I was a youngin and use to play for hours and afterwards would find myself still sweating like an Arkansas Sweat Hog, so this meant after 30 years, NOTHING had changed in my metabolism and post workout recovery...I just sat there and kept wiping the beads off my forehead and neck, smiling left and right and telling those around me "I'm fine, thank you..."...Finally, after awards were presented by the President of Yakutsk to Leaders in the Community, I stopped sweating...Glory! And then the Opera and Entertainment of Cultural Artists began...What a treat that was...Most of the Hall emptied upon the conclusion of the Awards ceremony, but we stayed and I'm really happy we did that...Young and old, musicians, choirs, singers and variety acts all demonstrated great talents and made the whole experience of that day even more special...And when the curtain dropped, it was the end to my trip to Yakutia that began 7 days earlier...But I still had two more clinics to do the next day: high school boys and girls program for Basketball coaches at the schools in the region there (about 30 coaches)...went extremely well...and then in the afternoon another camp for kids only, ages 9-14, boys...This is where Sergie's oldest son participated and did well...We had about 50 kids in that setting, and my assistants were 3 coaches who attended my clinics earlier at the beginning of my trip...How blessed was I to have them there and volunteer with me...They did a GREAT job at the shooting stations we set up, perfectly demonstrating to each boy the proper mechanics that they had been taught by Coach Newell to teach kids...It is in that model to follow that reaffirms in my heart and mind that we're succeeding in teaching coaches how to teach kids basketball...Glory!!

Return to Seoul and on to the USA: the next day, April 30th, I left for Seoul, Korea, and accompanying me on my drive to the airport from Vladivostok, was the State Department's Resident (Beijing) Psychiatrist, Dr. John Stennett...We soon became newest best friends, discussing our mutual interests in the Chinese culture and experiences there, and his upbringing and education...So we spent the next 5 hours talking about kids, life and the world...He is an intriguing person in his own right, and I know that our Ex-Pats who visit with him are very fortunate to have someone who can help them if ever the need arises...It's not easy for our fellow Americans to live abroad and conduct diplomatic relations when sometimes people in these different countries don't necessarily like us like green peas on a plate...Kudos to Dr. John...keep doing your great and wonderful works, Doc!!  I arrive in Seoul late at night, check into the Ramada Hotel, this time taking a TAXI and NO BUS that would drop me off at a Factory and tell me "this is Ramada"...I ended up meeting up with my former Host, Coach Chung, who is the former Men's and Women's Olympic Team coach from back in the 80's, and is now semi retired, still coaching on occasion in Japan, with the women's pro league over there...I wasn't sure if I was going to meet up with him or not, as he travels so much, but indeed I was able to speak to him...We ended up going to lunch nearby the hotel at a traditional-style Korean restaurant, which means that you sit with legs crossed OR slide them under the table, whatever is comfortable...His wife and one of his former National Women's Players joined us for lunch...wow, what a delight each course of lunch turned out to be: we only had 10 dishes, all fresh vegetables and tasty morsels that honestly, I couldn't tell you what it was, except it was very very good...Coach Chung asked me if I would have time to visit a Private High School for girls and do a clinic for the coaches there and players...I said "of course, I'd be happy to do this, Coach Chung...", and after lunch we were on our one hour drive to Seoul to the school and gym...

Korean Clinic: now keep in mind, this was not on my itinerary whatsoever, but when a friend/coach asks me "if" I could help him/her out, y'all know me well enough to understand how excited I was to share the game with them...We had a blast!! First off, we learned how to pass and cut and screen away better than they have been executing before, and of course I asked the coach if it were alright for me to revisit this simple fundamental, and she said "of course Coach tom..."...Anyway, this 3 person drill is an excellent Part Method exercise as it reinforces the fact that there are only 3 players involved in any half court play: The Passer/The Screener/The Receiver...each executed sequence is a discipline, from the correct pass to the Wing, to the Step Off and Screen Away to the Receiver stepping off and having a target to the Passer to receive the pass and now Jump Stop and Square Up for a shot attempt...When all of the kids rotate lines and learn the proper mechanics and disciplines from this Position Drill, we add a few more Offensive One on One moves and one can immediately see the improvement at each position...I am so happy the Head Coach was taking a video account of this clinic...Next we worked on Defensive Rebounding, as their coach told me that this is one of their biggest weaknesses...So we went 4 on 4 with me being the "shooter" with no Defender, and I saw right away what the problem was with her "top" 4 players/starters...they would WATCH the ball come off the rim FIRST and EXPECT someone else to REBOUND the ball, INSTEAD of anticipating the miss and getting the rebound themselves...The blockouts were pretty good for the most part, but the hesitation issue loomed as their nemesis in being consistent when it came to Defensive Rebounding skills...I have this saying, or perhaps someone else's, "There is no Hesitation in Anticipation"...From this drill I was asked by Coach Chung and the Head Coach of the girls team if I could introduce a Zone Offense vs. 2-3 Zone...well, I told them I have a simple Triangle Offense titled "Blue Stack High (www.Hooptactics.com)" that would really help them attach ANY and ALL half court zones...I introduced this without Defense in the beginning, slowly walking each player through the sequence and spacing areas of responsibilities, and then we put in 2 Defenders (on ball and on Post), then added another and finally all 5 Defenders...What we learned together was like painting by the numbers until finally the "artists" (players) began to free-stroke what they just learned...This was the BEST group of players at any level I've ever taught the Blue High Stack to that picked it up so quickly, and I attribute that to their outstanding Head Coach and her assistants...I later found out that this team was the #1 Girls team in Korean High Schools...What was the level of skills of these girls? They would be one of the Top 2 teams in the State of Washington 3-A...They're small overlall, but so quick and STRONG fundamentally in passing and ballhandling...very impressive...We finished the clinic, Coaches were thankful, happy as were the players and they all in English thanked me profusely...It was a very nice way to spend an off day in Seoul before the flight home on May 2nd...

Conclusion: Read a great book on this trip, Outliers by Malcom Gladwell...Great read and insightful reflections that help understand better the "world" we play in daily...The whole experience from beginning to end was an epic journey into cultures past, sports future presently and diplomacy at an unheralded level of respect and kindness...Wow...I thank Bridget Gersten, Dima, Jenya, Victor, Bear, Vlad (young translator in Yakutia, who spent a couple of years in Philly as an exchange student, helped me out alot during my stay in Yakutia), and of course, Tom Armbruster and his wife, Kathy...What a wonderful group of associates, co-workers and new friends that made this trip a complete success...I also want to give a "shoutout" to Lee Larson, The Larson Legacy, and a Clackamas, Happy Valley resident in Oregon, for his suggestions and support for Coaches Who Care, Intl. and our endeavors to teach coaches, parents and players about the game of basketball...Thank you very much...Excuse my "delay" in posting this blog entry so late upon my return, as I was waiting for the proper information regarding a couple of cities we visited in the Yakutsk Territory outside Yakutia...It is good to be home and in the gym again, doing what I enjoy the most: teaching kids in a gym about the game of basketball...Thanks for your patience with my musings and I hope you found it A-musing...Coach tom

Washington State now has the nation's strongest laws in protecting young athletes from severe brain injury. 

In October 2006, Zacn Lystedt, from Maple Valley, suffered a concussion in a middle-school football game and returned to the game without a medical evaluation. He took several more hits, and 60 seconds after the game ended, he collapsed. He suffered a traumatic brain injury, one that put him in a coma for months and requires extensive therapy more than two years later.

The Zackery Lystedt Law, the first bill Gregoire signed Thursday morning, was proposed and passed to prevent injuries like Lystedt's -- or worse, deaths from similar trauma.

:

The law requires that when an athlete has suffered an apparent brain injury -- whether in a game or practice -- he or she cannot return to play without the approval of a licensed medical professional, which includes certified athletic trainers.

The Governor signed the bill on Thursday, May 14th.  See http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2009221799_headinjuries15.html

Area Coaches Answer Parents and Student's Questions and Help Understand Athletics Today

Family SportsLife Today presents the fourth annual symposium "Expectations and Revelations: an Insight to the Process of Intercollegiate Recruiting". The symposium will be held Saturday May 30, 2009, in the Assembly Room of Hec Ed Pavilion. Registration begins at 8:45 AM and the program runs from 9:00 to 12:00 PM.  Directions are available here. Representatives from the following programs will participate in a panel discussion and answer question on the subject of identifying prospects and how the process begins towards recruiting a high school student athlete.  This program is for parents and kids at the Middle School and High School levels of interscholastic sports. The symposium is FREE and refreshments will be provided. Canned food donations for Northwest Harvest will be accepted. Panelists will include representatives from the University of Washington, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, Northwest College, and St. Martins University.  Basketball, baseball, volleyball, and other sports will be represented.  Former athletes will also share their experience.

What's Next? What are the opportunities for college scholarships? How does the college recruitment process work? What if my son or daughter is not an athletic superstar? What options are available beyond division-I schools?  What about post-graduate opportunities?

Panelists will include:

• Keith Cooper, St. Martin's Men's Basketball coach
• NW University, Kirkland, NAIA Men's Coach John VanDyke
• Dave Wainhouse, Seattle U's Assistant Baseball Coach
• UW Men's Asst. Coach in basketball, Paul Fortier
• representative from Seattle U's Men's basketball
• Al Mustante, co-author of "Keep Playing!  The Six Step Game Plan"
• Coach Barry Mestel, President of Winning Ways, Orlando, Florida

 

Special Thanks

• This program is made possible by the following Community Support Programs:
• University of Washington, Intercollegiate Athletics
• Seattle Pacific University, Intercollegiate Athletics 
• Seattle Sports Advisory Council
• Coaches Who Care, Intl.
• The Ram Restaurants 
• FamilySportsLifeToday.com
• All Panelists and Testimonials by former Student Athletes  

About Family SportsLife Today
FamilySportsLifeToday was founded in 2006 by former NBA Coach Tom Newell, high school Coach Guy Perry, and technologist Jay Arnold. FamilySportsLifeToday.com is dedicated to assisting volunteer coaches, parents and participants develop better teaching models and motivational methods, bringing families to improve the dynamic of the youth sports experience. FSLT provides Internet radio podcasts, news articles, documents and resources for youth coaches, parents and players at http://www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com/

FamilySportsLifeToday organized the first televised basketball game with hoops raised to 11-feet in June 2007, kicking off a national discussion on the state of professional basketball. See http://www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com/ForLoveOfGame

About Coach Tom Newell
Tom Newell was the first NBA coach to coach a Chinese Basketball Association team, the Jilin Northeast Tigers in 2007-2008.  Coach Newell blogged about the experience at http://www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com/blogs/tigers  Previously, Newell was an Assistant Coach for the Seattle Supersonics, Director of Player Personnel for the Indiana Pacers, and Scout for the Golden State Warriors.  He also was an Assistant Coach for the WNBA's Portland Fire. 

Tuesday Evening, April 21...Well, finished the clinics here in Vladivostok in fine fashion again as the coaches were very appreciative once again for Coach tom's visit ala Lee Larson, former Clackamas Girls Basketball Association Volunteer coach (Oregon)...We wrapped up this afternoon's program with an observation of a high school basketball tournament in the gym where we held our clinics the day before and earlier in the morning...We finished the morning program with an assignment: what to look for when "scouting" a team...I presented as suggestions examples of how a coach could assess the strengths and weaknesses of an opponent by first watching how serious or not the teams were in warmups...Were they making their layups, shooting more 3's than game shots in the offense, shooting FTs, focused, serious, etc.? Then when the game begins, what type of defense are both teams employing out there, and what 2 players are the "feature" players in both teams' offense, because most teams have "only" two legitimate scorers in high school, universally, unless of course it's a powerhouse/stacked high school team...Next we discussed how the players come off the court and where they sit on the bench: close to the coaches so they can hear what he's thinking, saying and knowing that at some point the coach WILL put him back into the game...or...does he retreat with shoulders shrugged, slowly stepping towards the end of the bench? You see, I have this theory, that ALL players who demonstrate a selfish attitude when substituted and CHOOSE to act out before God, Flag, Cheerleaders, Mom, Dad and Grandparents that "woe is me, I'm NOT playing now and I don't like it...", they are about as ready to go back into a game like a cooked turkey tryin to fly out of the pot...No way, Jose', will ANY player who displays this type of attitude has any chance to redeem himself or herself when they make the Team Game of basketball personal...Give me 10 kids who cheer for one another, are eager to encourage their teammate when he or she is struggling and the coach is focused on the game and forgets to "touch" the player with a kind word or pat on the back to absolve any guilt the player might feel at the time...Now I know there are high school coaches out there who would disagree with me about that last statement, but the fact is, KIDS are KIDS and they NEED to be reinforced with positive constructive comments, NOT dirty looks or discouraging comments that finish the competitive courage of the player for the rest of the game...It's the same EVERYWHERE in the world of amateur sports, trust me, I've seen enough games to comment from experience...On to the game...

The game: One team is from Blagoveshenk (where I took the train for 72 hours roundtrip) and now they too were on that same schedule TO Vladivostok...the other team was from Harbansk, about halfway between Blago and Vladivostok...So, you have one team that took a day and half to get here, and the other team 18hrs...NOW this should be an interesting "warmup" to watch, as they both arrived on Sunday evening, they could have even been on our train...Anyway, I missed the warmups due to an interview I had to do but was able to "catch" the opening tip and watch the next 4 qtrs...Evidently, Blago was not ready to play prime time as they could not make their layups early or late in the first half, plus they had no answer for a very very talented 15yr. old 6'5" Brockman-Halogen type athlete...Imagine watching a kid who plays both ends of the court with the heart and passion of Jon Brockman and KNOWS how to dominate with a simple rebound outlet downcourt pass for a layup; has an incredible first step off an upfake on a jumper that would make any Radar Gun on WSP (Wa. State Patrol) pitch at such a high level you'd think he was speeding INSIDE a gym...yeah, that impressive...I was so intrigued by his play after 5 mins. I told Victor, my translator, that this young player has a chance to be very special someday...Anyway, all the "bad" things that you cringe at when watching a poor team struggle which Blago was doing here before us, were unfolding play after play, missed layups, no transition defense, poorer half court execution on offense and defense, etc...and NO, the two coaches of this high school team DID NOT attend my clinic last week in Blago...to bad, we coulda helped them a lil bit, I think...Back to the young Kirilenko-motor player from Harbansk: I just had to meet this kid after they won by 30...and I did...and he speaks English very well after studying it for the last 5 years...he just turned 15 last month...Anyway, his coach, a volunteer of 27 years experience, and a veteran youth coach who developed two players for Russia's National Men's Team, attended both days of my clinics here in Vlad, and we became "newest" best friends...Little did I know how well a model of coach he was until watching him in action...very positive, played all his players throughout the game, and generally demonstrated a demeanor that would inspire any level player...

Clinics Wrapup: so we met after the game and discussed what we saw and all agreed that the other team could not stop nor have an answer for the talented Big Player from Harbansk...We discussed how timeouts have to be towards making adjustments and not finger pointing as was the case with the other team's players and coaches, frustrated for sure, but worse was the dejected, downtrodden body language as each player yearned for the last seat at the end of the bench and mind you this bench has 20 chairs!! Visualize 2 coaches sitting close to the Scorer's Table and then about 12 chairs separating them from their players...yeah, THAT bad...The conclusion was the other team DID NOT prepare even in warmups, as they missed layups there and acted tired already BEFORE the tipoff...Yikes!! We then watched a DVD production that Lee Larson produced through his foundation a couple of years ago when I accompanied him on a humanitarian basketball clinic in the Northern Highlands of Guatemala, San Marcos de Atitlan...I wanted the coaches to see how in other parts of the world how coaches are taught, how young players play and how much fun both players and coaches have when involved in an activity such as basketball...It was an interesting response by the coaches, as they could not believe how happy the players appeared and how they just kept playing through airballs, turnovers, no complaining or making excuses or finger pointing and then finding out that the coaches there are also volunteers and had never had an NBA coach come to teach them also, similar to the Vladivostok coaches here...They wanted to know the "level" of talent there also, as they really couldn't tell one way or another...I told them that the players were mostly under 6' tall and the girls under 5'...they laughed at that and I told them it was true...they still laughed...so much for "leveling" with them...

Closing ceremony: gave the coaches certificates again and we exchanged hugs and handshakes and pleas to "come back Coach tom...", I told them I was, next Wednesday for a day...then back to Seattle...got a laugh out of that one...you know me...Anyway, I was pleased overall with what we accomplished and learned anew once again...I really really love these volunteer coaches, they truly wish to learn new drills for skills and proper teaching methods...I had one coach comment to me in front of the other coaches that he had  "never met a coach like me before in his life...that I have been to Moscow and attended coaches clinics there and outside Moscow, to learn from the best, yet they would keep their distance from us, never greeting us like you, or asking us for questions, caring about what we need for our teams...", and then asking me if all American coaches are like me, which I kindly replied not in the NBA today, although you might find several that would sign an autograph, but I'm not sure they would take the time to "ask" you how they could help you with your team...I said there are college coaches who would help them and gladly answer questions too...Guess the egos of being a "Pro" coach allows one to have a unseen "moat" around his persona...Bob Hill, former Sonics coach would NOT fit that category whatsoever, nor would George Karl, as they both enjoy discussing the game with coaches at any level...not surprising, they're both teachers...Pop from San Antone might also take the time and Larry Brown also...D'Antoni also I believe...Nate Mac too if asked...so I guess that leaves about 25 coaches left who may not take the time...I challenge ANY and ALL NBA coaches to forget their itineraries when doing international clinics and literally "sit" with the coaches and listen to their questions as opposed to teaching without listening...just a suggestion...

Piano Concerto later that evening: well, I just experienced a Vladivostok cultural happening: a Moscow Philharmonic Conductor who also moonlights in his hometown as a Concerto Pianist...He lives in Vladivostok in the "off season" and plays on occasion when he is available...what a Master he is...Michail Aekadyev...he is probably in his late 50's, but let me tell you this: he is a MASTER!! Wow...he gave us Bach, Lidst and Taichovsky...and let me tell you, I don't know what a C-Minor is when it comes to music, but I gave Mikey an A-Plus for his effort and demonstration...Wow!! Plus he got enough flowers from local fans to open a Florist for a week, and enough kisses from adoring females that would make Hugh Hefner jealous...I mean this gentleman has such a graceful hands coordination on the keys that I marveled continuously in awe...Shucks, I have a hard enough time trying to play Jingle Bells for my Grandson on a piano...As I watched him, and thought about how he has "arrived" in his career, being a Maestro in one of the World's most famous Philharmonic Orchestra's, yet, he chooses to continue to "play" from his heart, sharing what he loves most, music...now THAT is passion and soul combined...I learned many lessons tonight being entertained by this talent...This all came about by the Consul General's office offering me a ticket to attend along with Avi Dede, Voice of America broadcaster visiting Vladivostok and another Far Eastern city on behalf of the State Department...He lives in Arlington, Virginia...

On to another Far Eastern Colder City: Yakutia...tomorrow evening I leave for Yakutia...one week of clinics there...Mr. Tom Armbruster and his wife, Kathy are joining me for this trip...Supposedly we'll have 60 volunteer youth coaches in attendance for the weeklong program...I am really excited about this next clinic, although I was told that it is still very very very cold there...Good thing I brought my Roooskee Bearhair hat...you know the ones that Krushev used to wear back in the day...I have a nice black one...fits well too...shucks I LOOK like a comrade now, what, with my goatee and all...Okay, I'm off to bed, it's after 1am again and I'm beginning to feel a little tired...thanks for taking the time to read my stories...all the best, have a safe week...Coach tom

Vancouver, Canada...April 11, 2009...Awaiting connecting flight to Incheon Airport, Seoul, Korea...Down time: 2 hours plus...What to dos: not much...

Flight Experience 11 hours later: Window seat on an Air Canada 767...Gentleman next to me was about as calm as a Raiders fan sitting in the middle of Seahawk Diehards at Quest Field...for 11 hours...Sleep deprivation non control has set it for sure...Little did I realize how small a Window seat can become with an overactive aisle person...

I was very very impressed with the Audio/Visual tech display screen that this aircraft had...Wow!! I mean it has EVEREETHANG!! Where else can you sit for 11+ hours and be thoroughly entertained before your very eyes...The plane arrived on schedule and safely and that is the keyword on this trip: safely...

Incheon, Seoul...I made a reservation online through Priceline.com, which has proven to be a pretty reliable resource for hotels and travel, I believe...So I am at the baggage claim, and the beginning of sleep deprivation is setting in...How do I know this? Simple: I'm trying to remember what my two bags look like that I packed...After watching the carousel go round and round like a Merry Go-round, it dawns on me that there's only couple of bags left by now and two have to be mine...Good deduction, Miss Patrick, my 5^th Grade elementary teacher would have been proud of my logic...Now on to “getting” to my hotel for an overnight recuperation before the flight out on Monday morning to Vladivostok,Russia...

Outside Incheon Airport...after receiving information from a kind young Korean bi-lingual regarding where the Ramada Song Do Hotel is in Incheon, and she letting me know that the “easiest” is to take the public bus, I set off to the curbside and begin my adventure...She wrote down in Korean for me the name of the hotel and location, or so I thought...I get on the bus, smile a whole lot with the driver and give him my piece of hope for R & R...He looks at it, speaks to me in Korean and points out his window like “overthere?”...I and nod in agreement with “overthere”, a word more dangerous in geographical terms than nautical at this point in my mind...

Twenty minutes later, the Driver comes back, awakens me and motions to follow him as I have arrived to my destination...I look out the window and all I see is a Factory that has an SK sign on the entrance, international flags and a whole lot of security guards with holsters and Glocks on their hips...thinking to myself: “...hmmm, the Ramada really takes care of its Guests...”...I point to the Driver and he smiles, nods and points to “overthere” as my point of arrival to the destination...Smiles and pointing should never be considered an affirmative action towards correctness when one or both parties have no clue where they are, what they're doing and what to expect should the location be wrong...which this was...

I roll down the entry towards the Security Guards and one looks at me, stops and calls for backup (yes, I do KNOW how to interpret 'voice inflections' very well)...His partner appears from an office and I say hello to both and the latter says “hello” back...I pull out my Priceline.com confirmation, all in English and think for sure, he 'knows' English because he smiled and said hello back...Wrong...He looks at the paper, gets on his walkie talkie and about 3 minutes later, anoter officer appears out of a tanned Hyundai Security SUV...He obviously is the Boss, Supe, Chief, you name him, that's what he is: in charge...He shakes his head, points out towards the main thoroughfare and says something to the gentleman who was trying to help me that I can only interpret: “overthere...get him overthere...”...And “overthere” I followed, not having a freakin clue if I would end up “underthere” after being “overthere”...I follow the young Lt. back out onto the busy street and he is now going to hail me a Taxi to take me from his “SK Factory” compound to the “SK Ramada Hotel in SongDo District”...overthere, I'm sure...

A Taxi pulls over, conversation between the Security person and Female Taxi Driver begins and five minutes later I am encouraged to get into the back seat and through smiles and finger directions, realize that I am on my way again...I was really encouraged when I noticed on the back window of this Taxi a sticker that read: “Professional Women Drivers Association” member in ENGLISH, which I must confess is the most incredible 'order' of acknowledgement for any American male/tourist in any foreign country...Now I know why my late Father was impressed with the Koreans and how they drive...

30 minutes later the Driver pulls up to the Ramada, almost two and half hours AFTER I arrive in Korea...I am so excited...a room, a shower, a bed, a time to relax after 17 hours of travel...I get to my room and it was perfect...I was hungry yet more tired than famished at this point, so I turn on the TV to see what programs they have in English...They have CNN, ESPN and a host of other international programs as well as their domestic...I lay back and now it is Korean time 7:30pm and I didn't awaken again until 3:15am Monday morning, Easter Sunday in America...I was full of energy once again, and made some complimentary room coffee and surfed through the TV stations to find the Masters LIVE...Wow!! I proceeded to witness Tiger and Phil Mickelson play a round of golf that would make any non-golfer understand how difficult it is to focus and concentrate on taking a long shaft with a abnormal head on the end and swing down and through on a ball either on a prop (tee) or laying on the grass...So, for the next 3 hours I watched the Masters in Korea from my TV...Great moment in sports TV...

Vladivostok, Russia, Monday afternoon arrival...2:30pm...Two hours ahead of Korean time...I am met at the airport by Dima, the Russian Public Affairs person who works in the American Consul General's Office in Vladivostok...Dima is the principle person in charge of coordinating my program/clinics in Siberia on the Russian side, and Bridget Gersten, American Attache' who is Dima's Supervisor, the lead person arranging my itinerary and public appearances in cities, Universities and before the Press for interviews...Between the both of them, they have everything pretty well established, coordinated and arranged for my departure 9 hours later to Blagoveshenk, Russia via Trans Siberian Railways...I am immediately taken to Ms. Gersten's compound/house by Dima, as she will arrive in an hour from work to go over everything with me and make me comfortable before we leave for Blago...Ms. Gersten is on her last duty station obligation here in Vladivostok, as she and her husband will soon be relocated to the Consul General's Office in Bogota, Colombia for the next 4 years on assignment...She is very excited for the change of venue and opportunity to have her husband and herself working together in the same city...I am happy for her opportunities, and more impressed for her and her husband's act of patriotism abroad, representing all that is good about our Democracy and values as a very young country compared to the rest of the world...We owe them and others a tremendous amount of respect for their service...So, the next times you travel abroad, keep in mind the professional dedication and services we have empowered with individuals and couples who have chosen to serve our Nation globally and extend the model of our values and democracy and human rights to the Free World...Our State Department should be commended over and over again for their undying commitment to have emissaries abroad be an extension of all educated and well trained Americans serve on our behalf and make our future travels outside the USA safer and eventful...

Vladivostok Train Station: 11:45pm...”Bear” picks up Dima and myself from Bridget's house and transports us to the Train Station...It is cold, dark and I am thinking to myself: “self, not many people would ever understand NOR even consider what you are undertaking at this time, for the next 36 straight hours on the same train...”, but then again, we already “know” that I am a lil diffrnt...

Sleeper Car # 34-36 on Trans-Siberian Railways...ah, let's see, there is Dima and Victor (my first translator when I was in Vladivostok, Russia the year before) and myself sharing this 4 bunk bed compartment...Size? Imagine a bath a half room with two lower benches and two upper for sitting and sleeping purposes...for the next 36 hours...Imagine also this compartment is a walkin closet the size a small Rancher house's Master Bedroom closet...a 6X6X9' room with a sliding door for privacy...Pictures will follow, hopefully...

The sleep-through-the-night was uneventful at best, a rolling left to right, iron wheels upon iron rails evolving slowly, gaining momentum and I assumed speed, the couplings reminding me that we were continually attached to other cars attached to a locomotive somewhere a quarter of a mile ahead of our compartment...

Tuesday morning, sunrise and the beginning of an uneventful but illustrative panoramic topography of South Far East Russia...Desolate at best, a frozen tundra or perma frost perhaps, not much to describe other than it appears to be a rural, hard life that many people endure, generations upon generation, accepting fate as decree for existence in a predisposed life and culture for existence...No thank you...

Physically my back is as sore as doing a dozen squats with knees bent standing next to a wall for two minute intervals...the only difference is that I feel I have done 100 of these over the last 36 hours...We are approximately 1 hour out of Blagoveshenk right now, and Dima informs me that we will have the local TV station meeting us at the Station upon arrival for an impromptu interview, as I am the first American basketball coach to travel to their city to teach the game to their coaches and speak at the local university on sports and recreation from my experiences...I am little concerned because one, my hair is not combed, I have the breath of many buffaloes, and I need to get my bearings “right” regarding walking and riding once again...Numb and Numbmer, this word by the way is a “newellism” courtesy of Trans-Siberian Railways...and I am for sure “numbmer” than the day before...and I think to myself, Dumber...The latter because I realize I accepted this opportunity and experience to return to Vladivostok and the accompanying two other cities without “thinking” of the reality of travel and hardship of isolation (by train 72 hours roundtrip), but, I have been blessed by my acquaintances of both Dima and Victor, two wonderfully kind humans whom I consider “best” comrades now...Victor, by the way, visited me in Seattle on his way back to Vladivostok, last July, when he was returning from a business meeting in NYC then...I took him to my favorite Irish Bar on Queen Anne, Sully's, where he made immediate new friends in Marquess and Patrick, both co-owners of this fine establishment...There were others that he met there and who graciously accepted him into the fraternity of reputable notables of Sully's...

Okay, not sure when I will be sending this transmission out, but hopefully Jay Arnold, my compadre' and partner with Familysportslifetoday.com program, will cut and paste to our Blog...I will keep you up to date on the goings on and itinerary, which by the way, begins today, in the afternoon, after arriving in Blagoveshenk at 9:30am and commencing at 2pm on the local indoor gymnasium...

Less I forget: how would I describe 36 hours on a train? Hmmmm, it is similar to being a Dryer with a pair of Levis whose brass buttons rap against the wall of the dryer, without the heat on, prone, not fetal in position of rotations/circular motions...or like a riding in an old '56 Plymouth that has no rear springs and the only cushion is the seat you sit upon when hitting a rut in the road...or like a having a small sharp pepple in both shoes and you have to walk a mile before you can remove them...or like a window seat on the back of a dark bus with a driver who hasn't slept in 30 hours...I think now you get the visual...Welcome to Siberia...

The Mysteria of Hysterisa in Siberia for basketball...

Blagoveshenk, Russia...City Population 250,000 plus/minus...We were met at the Train Station by Yuri, one of the most incredible young coaches in basketball I've ever met...He was the Host and organizer of this program here, and did a tremendous job setting it up...I can't begin to express how impressed I was with his professionalism and organizational skills...Exceptional to say the least...The city itself has the largest streets/thoroughfare I've ever seen...Also, keep in mind, less than a quarter of mile across the Amur River is China, yes China...They have undertaken a “new” city construction development, one to rival their cross border neighbors in Blagoveschenk...The number of high rises and construction cranes is phenomenal, according to Yuri, who was born and raised in Blago, and attests to the fact that the “new” China is well on its way to “lure” tourists from the Motherland to their city...Presently, the river is still about 4” thick with an ice cover...Word is “maybe” next month it will melt enough whereby boats will be out on the water again...Hard to imagine or experience being in a city where in April it's still 20degrees outside during the day and colder at night...there is some leftover snowbanks, but melting a little bit more each day....

Hotel Drushav, Blago...What a nice room overlooking the river's bay and seeing China so close...The bed was not as comfortable as the furniture in this large suite, but it didn't matter, it was more comfortable than the sleeper cot on the train, trust me...Hotel breakfast, lunch and dinner was very very good...Simple, tasty (lots of chicken, fresh vegetables, fresh made rolls) and vanilla ice cream with a couple of peaches was a wonderful dessert...

Session One: this began 4 hours after arriving in Blago, approximately at 1:30pm on Wednesday afternoon...We began with a Press Conference at the venue where the coaches program took place, Pedalogical University of Blagoveshenk...Yuri is a teacher of Physical Science there (25 years now) and their team's coach...He has been the most successful coach in history of the school's program...I met him last year in Vladivostok when I made my first clinic there in February of '08...The Press Conference was very surprising to me, one, because there were 6 TV cameras and reporters as well as numerous newspaper journalists as well...Why? Evidently, I am the first Foreign Coach to visit their city and teach youth coaches (boys and girls, middle school and high school) in 30 years...And this includes their own coaches association where they have not had coaches come from Moscow to share their knowledge of the game with youth coaches here...30 years of no visiting coaches, neither domestic or foreign...Now you know why the big hype for my visit...it went very well...Also in attendance were the coaches who were going to attend our program as well as Professors from the University who were curious about this American coach who took a train from Vladivostok to their city to share his knowledge with local youth coaches...Guess you could say I was a “novelty” of sorts...Happy to oblige the curiousity...

Tom and his “funny guy” humor...I introduced to the coaches in attendance my “observations” of how I see a player today when evaluating them in practice and competitions...It's actually very simple: players are either a 30w...60w...90w...or Halogen...When I defined each level of wattage a player is ID'd, the Russian coaches laughed in unison...And I did this in our first 30 minutes together? Now I knew I had their interest and attention to this American coach whom they heard about from Yuri, the organizer, and they too were excited to see what they might learn about teaching players how to play the game the right way...

On court presentation: this followed one hour after the classroom program...How do I describe the court by which I am suppose to work upon? Imagine a very old warehouse, high ceiling, windows on the side walls, rising from a 4' level to 8' in height...no tint or shade by the way...Now to the floor surface...Imagine two inch planks, side by side, no tongue and groove, installed over 70 years ago, NEVER sanded or replacement boards to this day, painted over and over and over with lead based paint, some areas of the court with uneven planks (the better players I'm sure used these locations for wicked crossover moves, no doubt J); now to the sidelines: imagine a sideline that is 6” from the walls and the ENDline at least a foot and a half...Pictures will follow, trust me, I kid you not...and I haven't even LOOKED at the baskets yet...I was extremely careful and sensitive to my hosts, and Victor and Dima about commenting whatsoever on this court we were going to use for the next two and half days, not that I would, but I am sure they were wondering if I could even conduct the drills properly...I just marveled at the whole visual before me and how my late Father, Pete Newell would have had a wonderful chuckle about the court and sidelines...I can hear him telling me in his quiet quick humor: “tommy, that Coach must be a great defensive coach with Traps full court and on the sidelines throughout the game...!!”...He'd be right, because that's immediately what I thought about also...Okay, now raising my head and eyes towards the basket, it was an equally incredible basketball relic too...it was suspended and anchored to the brick walls, evidenced by years of bolts coming out of the wall hundreds of times I'm sure as the college students wanted to demonstrate their dunking skills as they evolved with the game over the years of new players on the school's teams...The plexiglass backboards were extremely clean and almost new, about two inches thick...the rims were breakaways...nets were new also...

Before I commenced on the court, I was told by Yuri that I had a team of 12 players to use as models...They ranged in age from 14-18 years of age...Their coach was also one of the attending coaches, which helped me make sure that if I needed to split up the teams to two half courts I had someone to “watch” them also...I'm introduced by Yuri to the team and coach, and it was as always a “new” experience for me in another foreign city, greeting and meeting new charges, new players who are wondering who this coach is that “wants” them on the floor when he is teaching...For the next two and half hours we had a fabulous time together, both attendees and players alike...And Victor did a magnificent job translating, I am so lucky to have such a patient, willing assistant trying to understand my humor, the keywords in basketballspeak and of course answering the questions that the coaches would invariably ask...Dima was the Camp photographer, and I am sure he has the pictures to illustrate my reflections in Blagoveschenk...

Sauna Visit after Day One...My body is tired, really tired from the 36 hours on the train, and 5 hours on my feet upon arrival...Victor informs me that Coach Yuri (Host) wishes to take us to the local Sauna Club, that it will be very relaxing...Well, I gotta tell you, I hear Sauna and immediately I'm thinking what you're thinking, so I hesitate a little bit, wanting to just get back to my hotel room, change clothes, jump into the shower and get some rest...but...I relented and did not want to offend Yuri and his kindness and accepted with Victor the invitation to “go to the Sauna...”...First off, I have never been to a Sauna, but have had friends who had one in their homes, etc., or used one at one of the NBA teams I use to coach with, but NEVER a Private Club sauna...until now...So, we arrive at this very well designed building, relatively new, and walk downstairs, me following my two comrades and thinking to myself, “newell, you big dummy, what did you agree to get yourself into NOW...?”...We open this door and there is a receptionist, a woman, mid 30's, hadn't missed a meal all winter, giving us each a plastic bag put our shoes in, and giving us each a pair of flip flops in exchange...THEN I am given a bouquet of dried birch leave branches...Not really sure what the heck this is all about until Yuri through Victor informs me “it's part of the Sauna experience in Russia...”...I immediately tell the woman through Victor, “thank you, but in my country when one receives flowers they're usually with blossoms and fresh cut...”...Well, you can only imagine the laughter that ensued from that comment...Now we proceed to the “change room”...By the way, we are given bags with towels, wash cloth and pajama-like shorts and wrap around top...I now ask the question: “ah, Victor, is this an ALL men's private club?”...he asked Yuri, and Yuri said “of course, this is the one place where women cannot bother a man when he wants to relax and go to the Sauna...”...What happens next was the most exhilarating, relaxing experience I would have ever imagined...We put on WOOL beanie (half inch thick!!) and walked into the Finnish Sauna (there are 4 types in this Club) and this has Eucalyptus emitting from the steam, and it was fabulous...there were a couple of other men in this sauna and they immediately wanted to know from Yuri “who is this Amerikansk?” in Blagoveshenk? Yuri explains who I am and where in the US I live and they were surprised that I would have come to their city, and now their sauna...All the while this dialogue is being exchanged I am breathing in fresh Eucalyptus and sweating beyond profusely, I am what is described as a “full on DRIP”...I think I lost 5 lbs. in that first sitting...Then we leave after 15 mins. in there and have a choice to jump into a very polar cold pool...a very hot pool or a semi warm pool that had a Hydroplane “jet” Jacuzzi that turned out to be my “best” friend to my back that night...After 5 mins of pool time, we then went into the “next” sauna, which was a Swedish HOT steambath, and it was here that I understood “why” the birch leaved bouquet was given to me...Yuri had soaked these leaves in an oak bucket of extremely hot water and let it simmer while we were in the first sauna, me not knowing what was about to ensue in the immediate future of my saunize experience...As we were getting ready to go into the Swedish sauna there was another sauna next to this one and a guy in there was standing on the bench and beating himself with the branches like he was a bad bad boy...I stopped and couldn't believe what I was witnessing...Victor then tells me that Yuri told him to tell me that we too will use the branches in the Swedish sauna also...This much I know: I ain't about to beat myself with branch leaves for no reason...but then again, I'm in Russia...So, we go into the Swedish room, and it is very very HOT, searing almost (now I know how Tuna must feel when seared...), and I sit up on the second row and it is really really hot, too hot, so Yuri tells me to move down to the first row, lay on my stomach and put my feet together and relax...Hah!! He then takes the leaves and proceeds for the next 10 mins. to beat the everlivin evil that may or must have been in my life for the last 10 years!! I mean it was unbelievable...the ball of my feet got smacked, up to my shoulder blades and I gotta tell you: it was an incredible feeling, the oil from the branch leaves came out, mixed with the perspiration and all, I could feel oils and other chemicals that shouldn't be in my system leaving at that point...Then we jumped into the polar pool for 20 seconds and then into the very very hot pool for 10 seconds and on into the semi warm pool...Trust me, it was the most exhilarating experience I could have ever imagined...Then one last sauna out of 4 (I told Yuri I had enough already), a conventional radiant sauna with heater elements on the side...that was probably the driest of them all and really didn't do much for me...Anyway, that was the Sauna experience in Blagoveshenk and one I won't soon forget...

Overview of Clinic Days 2-3: what a fabulous experience...We learned so much about teaching first and coaching second, it was really fun to see the enthusiasm of the coaches...We had coaches, men and women, who coach kids ages middle school and high school, all volunteers, educated in physical science, but not so much in the process of coaching a team, especially basketball...I sensed thatt our exchange would not soon be forgotten...They were excited to learn how to introduce the Triangle Offense and simple options that could evolve from this offense, as well as how to defend one on one on the perimeter and Post Play Defense, basketball methods that defined player development issues that they did not know how to address per se, until now...We went over warmup drills for skills, shooting drills, Disruptive Pressure Defense stations that teach disciplines as well as principles that can help a team be more successful in their matchups...

The Players as models: one player in particular stood out above them all, literally, and that was Timothy...he must be at least 6'9”, long armed and hands twice the size of mine (and I can palm a ball) and a GREAT eagerness and passion for the game...Timothy is only a young 18 year old, brought to Blagoveschenk from some outside Siberian small village by Yuri, given an opportunity to gain an education (high school and college) through his basketball experiences...He has only played hoops for two years, and let me tell you, NOW I truly understand when I remember reading about Olajuwon taking up basketball when he was only 16 years old in Nigeria...Timothy is the most natural “big” I've come across in my international travels in a long long time...He's a natural leader by his effort and example and his teammates look up to him as well, and NOT because he towers over them...I used him as model for our Post Defensive moves, � deny, Full Front, � push up baseline and he picked up on it so well and quickly, it was exciting for me to see how well he adapted...Next we learned the basic Post Play moves, beginning with the Jump Hook after stepping off and the counters that follow that sequence of read read attack plays...Afterwards, I sat down with him and Victor and asked him if he liked basketball and if ever thought about becoming a “great” player...His eyes opened wide and he said “of course, I want to play in the NBA someday...”, and he said that with a straight, serious countenance...I was NOT caught off guard whatsoever by his “vision” as he has dream to believe and realize someday and wants to develop beyond what anyone from his village, including his mother would have ever thought when she agreed to let him come to the big city for education and sport...I told him that he would have to work very very hard and that it would not be easy at all, and he nodded...I told him that he would have to make serious social choices in his life, off the court with the friendships he develops, leaving drugs and alcohol aside and focusing on one thing: self discipline...He looked me in the eye, and said “I know, I am doing that now...”...Clearly, I am sitting with a young man that may be in the NBA someday because he “sees” himself doing that...Wow...I asked him if he had any questions and he said, “I would like to have a drill that will help me with my left hand (he's right handed) and be just as good as my right hand around the basket...”...We went out onto the court and I proceeded to introduce him to the Mikan Right/Left hand step hook shot, which he picked up on right away for never having been taught this before...What a kid...what a GREAT potential...Wow!! I said goodbye, asked him one last question: “what kind of student are you...?”...To which he honestly replied and said “not as good as I should be, Coach...”...I told him that education is the balance to his dreams, that without applying himself towards school he could never realize his full potential as you can't always play basketball, and the lessons you learn in a classroom and reading a book will be more valuable than any game you score many points and get many rebounds...He then says, “I know I must do better in school and I will...”...I told him that he must study English next and that if he does well in school and English I will bring him to America for college...He was very excited and said he hopes that he can do that someday...Stay tuned...I am blessed beyond words to have this experience, Folks, and the blessings of my family's love and support for my endeavors...

Post Clinic Ceremony: on campus, in one of their classrooms...by the way, I didn't mention how “old” and dilapidated this university was did I? Let's put it this way: the EPA, FEMA, OHSHA, Fire Department and HEW department would collectively “shut” it down in a heartbeat...Trust me, it's that bad!! Yet, they don't complain, nor do they worry about whether or not they have an elevator to take them up 4 flights or lighting in the hallways to see where they're going, no they manage, more interested in receiving their education than complaining about something they have no control over anyway...I also by the way, met the President of this fine institution, right before our first session on the second day...He was very gracious and kind, and was very appreciative of my coming to teach coaches in his city...I also spoke to a class of his PE students and a teachers about our students and their PE classes and post graduate opportunities...It was all in all a great experience for each of us...

Friday night: back on the train again...aaaaaaaaaaaaarggggggggggghhhh!! I was NOT looking forward to this return trip, believe me...We left at 9:37pm, not 9:36 0r :38, 9:37, and this time I was having reservations about the return trip, only because my lower back was sore from standing and teaching the last two and half days...Yuri was so kind to take us to the railway station, what a great person...I met his son earlier in the day, a student at the university, and on his father's team...his name is Sergei...very shy, smiles a lot and speaks quiet English, and speaks it well...His Dad wouldn't let Victor translate, so Sergei and I got along great...Yuri also has a 12 year old boy that he says will be a multi sport athlete someday because he loves all sports...Somehow, I get the feeling he will indeed...

The Iron Horse going “backwards”...I fell asleep uncomfortably, and for the next several hours tossed and turned like a fish out of water tangled up in a fisherman's line...nothing worked, and my back ached...I guess it was around 9 when Victor, Dima and myself finally awakened to the rolling swayback of this Iron Horse and it was here that I realized I may be in for a long long ride, both mentally and physically...Fortunately, Victor and Dima were able to ask the Dining Car Hostess if I could sit in the car and operate my computer...she said no problem and I have been here for the last 9 hours, occasionally getting up to let the circulation begin again in my derriere...I know that you are wondering if the train this time is any better than the first ride...The compartment is the same size, although a little quieter...the car itself is completely full, as this is Easter Weekend (their Orthodox Easter Sunday is tomorrow) and I think many folks are going to visit relatives for the weekend...Anyway, the claustrophobic feeling of NO fresh air in the compartment was bothering me beyond description, and I was beginning to understand what Aleyxandr Solzhitzyn (sp) described about his Siberian “Gulag Archilepago” experience when he was a young dissident in this country...When you hear about Siberia and the hardships of life here: it's ALL TRUE...very true indeed...these rural life citizens have been living in a seasonal hell I'm sure for centuries, and yet they have their peace and quiet...yes, the winters are seriously cold and dreary, but very seldom do you hear them complain, at least I haven't...We, as a Nation are so blessed by our Democracy and system of Constitutional Rights...so blessed...

Get this: my laptop does NOT play DVDs!! I have this laptop I picked up in China last year and for the first time, I decided to take it with me and watch DVDs on the train...turns out I don't have the proper “downloads” to read the DVDs and therefore can't access them UNTIL I do such...72 hours on a freakin train, 6 DVDs and I can't watch ONE!! AAaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrggggh!!

Sunday Morning, Vladivostok Hotel: Glory!! Arrived by train to Vladivostok, 36 hrs. later, 7:30am...This is the same hotel (for those who remember my blog from Vladivostok last year), and I was hoping that perhaps their bathrooms had “fresh” water and the decline of malordorous particles emitting from it...It DID and DOES and HAS!! In fact the room actually has a new rug, new tiles and smells purrtier that Freshener used in cat litters...I think I will get some much needed rest now...I am suppose to have dinner with the Consul General, Tom Armbruster and his wife this evening at their residence...Tom is a GREAT Patriot and representative of our country in this city and region...He is so actively involved in the community as a whole it's really a pleasure to meet such a wonderful example of our Diplomatic Corps...After submitting this blog, I think I'll try to get some shut eye for a minute or two...Tom and I will be traveling together to Yakustk, Russia for a 4 day clinic, leaving on Wednesday early afternoon...This will be his first time also visiting this territory and I'm sure he'll be a great model to follow in our clinics...This particular city is well known for its natural resources: gold, silver, diamonds and other non edibles I understand...Another “first” experience for the coaches there, having a foreign coach visit and teach their volunteer youth coaches about the game of basketball...I am looking forward to this clinic for sure...Tomorrow, Monday, I am conducting a two day clinic here in Vladivostok again...The coaches are excited to see me again, or so I'm told, we'll see how excited that translation is...I will have my high school model team to use again, and from what I understand, they had a tremendous season this year and they all are really looking forward to seeing me again and learning new skills from drills...Stay tuned...

Postscript on the Train Ride: I cannot begin to tell you how difficult a return train ride can be when your body aches (lower back)...I had no idea how my body would respond to such a transition from court to compartment...just an FYI for those who desire to travel the Motherland of Russia someday by train...Okay, let's see if I can load this puppy up and over to the blog...

Hi to the Families and players who have been wondering “where in Russia is Coach tom today...”...All the best to everyone...Sincerely, Coach tom

Coach Tom Newell and Jay Arnold talk with Patricia Marino and Alan Musante on their book Keep Playing - The Six Step Game Plan. The Non-Superstar's Guide to Playing Your Sport in College.

After investing so much money in kid's sports over the years, many parents believe the return on investment is in scholarships or grants in helping their student athletes go to college and play in college.  P.J. and Al talk about their experience in supporting their daughter Alexis with a college search--their daughter was a junior varsity athlete and a late bloomer.  They took the initiative to contact college coaches, broadened their search beyond NCAA division-I, and investigated walk on opportunities.

"There is a world of opportunity in college that I don't think student athletes and their parents find out about early enough in their high school experience.  Our book is a primer for parents explaining how to open the door, especially for the kid that is not highly recruited, not all-league, not on the top of their AAU team," said Mustante. 

"You have nothing to lose. Why close the door?  Let some one else tell you 'no'.  Don't shut the door on your self," explained Marino.

Their research and lessons learned are in their book and web site, which they hope will be helpful for other parents.  See http://www.youcanplaycollegesports.com/

Webmaster's note:  my apologies about the echo on Coach Tom.  It sounds like he is recording from the locker room!

(and grandfather and great-grandfather)

It isn’t everyday that you lose someone with all the aforementions above in ONE day…unexpectedly…I am so happy that last Saturday, November 15^th, I placed a call to Papasan (my reverent address to him as he was well known in Japanese Basketball Circles as 'Petersan’)…Keep in mind, please, that NO ONE ever calls Pete Newell during a live broadcast of a football game, baseball game, basketball game and/or Horse Race, especially if the Kentucky Derby had the horses in the paddock area for viewing…I didn’t call during live action, rather I learned many many years ago, that “if” you wanted to speak to Coach, Pete, Papasan, Mr. Newell, you better have a very good reason OR during a Timeout…He hated Timeouts! So, remembering this was the day that Cal was playing the Beavers of Oregon State University, and it was also being televised live in the Northwest, I figured I had a great chance to “catch” him in the 4^th Qtr. when there was a critical timeout and at least 2mins. were to be exchanged in conversation…I was perfect on my timing…As the Official raised his hands in motion signaling the TO, I had already begun my dialup…Why the 4^th Qtr.? There weren’t any other games on until later, which meant that he would have the commercial distraction to disregard OR my call…

Rog (my wonderful caregiving brother under me) answered the phone and said 'just a minute’, and handed the phone off to Papasan…”Hello…tommy?” Hey Papasan…how are you? The Bears are hanging in there aren’t they? PN: “I like this quarterback kid…can’t remember his name, but he has real courage out there when he steps back to pass…” TN: “So how are you doing?” PN: coughs a little and replies “Not so good…I have to go to the Drs. on Monday and they’re going to check to see what’s wrong…I have difficulty breathing right now, lots of stuff in my chest…” TN: “Are you staying warm?” PN: “oh yes, Roger has been really good taking care of me, Pete ah, Greg, ah Roger, ah dammit, tommy…” (It was here that I KNEW he was okay as that is the same exchange that’s been a staple of conversation over the last 50 years... my 3 brothers names and then remembering me…and he did that with all of us…)

I knew that I had at least half a minute before the commercial was over (watching my own screen) and it was here that I told him about Chris, his Grandson, being the new Boys Freshman Basketball Coach at Eastside Catholic High School…he was so excited and elated to hear about that…PN: “that’s great, tommy, he’s going to be a great teacher and coach someday, you watch…he really listens well and studies the game…I am happy you told me this…” TN: “how did you like hearing about Ashleigh bringing you another Great Grandchild?”…PN: “oh, that’s wonderful…please tell her I am so happy for her…how is she doing? How’s my Paige doing?” TN: “both are doing well and ask about you all the time, hoping your feeling better and taking care of yourself…” PN: “tell them I don’t move so quick anymore but I can laugh…How’s Elaine? TN: told him she was well and was asking about him as well and hoping he was taking care of himself…PN: “Rog has been a godsend, tommy, he has done so much for me…I have not been sleeping very well at night and he’s always right there for me…he really has taken unbelievable care of me…be sure you and your brothers understand that…” TN: “ I know, Papasan, I know, and he has done an incredible service to keep you healthy and well these last several years…” PN: 'yes he has…yes he has’…

The game comes on, 8 mins. to go, Cal down 27-21 with Cal having possession…he tells me: “I think Cal is going to go down the field now and score…I feel they can do it with this quarterback (he couldn’t remember his name, I told him 'Reilly’)…it was here that I wanted to stop, one because his voice was tailing and two, it was LIVE action now, and that means the timeout is over and I need to finish the dialogue…TN:”okay Papasan, great to visit with you, take care of yourself, stay warm, I’ll call you on Monday and check in…I love you very much…PN:”okay tommy, I love you too, tell everyone there I love them also…take care, talk to you next week…”…Boy was that a PROFOUND closing comment: “take care, talk to you next week…”…Did he ever, read on…

Pete Newell passed away on Monday, November 17, 2008, approximately at 10:45am unexpectedly and without a doubt the “way” he would want to leave his incredible “ride” of 93 years…He told Earl Shultz, former player, as he sat in his favorite chair at Earl’s house in San Diego, “I’ll just take a little nap right now before Jerry (West) arrives…”…he closed his eyes and expired…quietly, no pain and suffering…his terms…no live games on TV, no timeouts, no nurses, doctors, examinations, phone calls, doorbells, awakenings, reminders, bathroom visits, changing clothes or having to eat when not feeling up to it…no, Pete, Papasan, Coach Newell, Mr. Newell took a deep breath and relaxed during live action…Wow…

Has he EVER talked to me this week!! The outpouring of love, kindness and respect by former players, camp players, coaches (globally), friends and relatives, has been the most humbling and remarkable experience I have ever witnessed in my life…Did he ever mean to “take care, talk to you next week…”…Whew…The emails, calls, voice mails, text messages and flowers have been so kind, I can’t begin to describe the surreal feeling that has overtaken me the last 48hrs…As an example, Derrick McKey, former Sonic and Pacers player, and Big Man Camp participant, called me out of the blue, 3 hours after Papasan passed away, telling me how sorry he was to hear about “your father, and how he helped me like you did also, tom…I just wanted you to know I was thinking of Coach and how many players he helped in their careers…”… Part sympathy? Part reflection? No, not now, this was from his heart, as it was with the 300 hundred other calls and emails and messages I received…Did he ever “talk to you next week…”, the voice inflections here, transcends any phonics recognition of foreign accents and email narratives, all identifying in their own selfless grief of losing a friend, a confidante, a mentor, a coach and especially their teacher…Have I been down? Most definitely…am I hurting? Not so much hurting as much as I feel like a bowling ball has been dropped on my tummy after I exhaled while laying down…The void is not so much a blank stare or a listless emotion, rather, it is a numbing sensation, kinda like when I went to my first overnight camp during the summer and saying goodbye for the first time to my Dad and Mom, scared worse than a King Kong mask on a tall kid visiting the same porch for Trick or Treat on any Halloween back in the early childhood days…Yes, a sensation that vacillates between a teargate and ego-posture, but in the end, so weak and sad for the moment, yet relieved that he is not suffering any more, although he wouldn’t 'fess up to that completely…Summary: I’m getting better, stronger each hour…

Shout outs to the community at large…basketball community that is…I can’t thank Earl and Karen Shultz enough for their undying love and affection for Papasan since the day Earl graduated from Cal back in ’61…he and Karen adopted Papasan into their lives and Rancho Sante Fe in the year 2000…They found the perfect Townhouse, setting and of course Del Mar being 10 mins. away, made the decision really easy when one researches “how” he ended up there…Earl Shultz was one of those unspoken and unheralded players that was often mentioned about the Cal Bears Finalists years at the NCAAs…he was by far one of the BEST defensive guards I have ever seen in basketball, and inspired me later when I played shooting guard in college and loved guarding the other team’s best guard…He was NEVER intimidated by any opponent, especially a Bruin or Trojan! Thank you Earl, Karen and Bob Wueste for your love and care of Pete…

Roger: whew…you will never hear about Rog’s divine interventions (middle of night episodes with Papasan), sacrifices and of course overall caregiving extraordinaire skills when being Papasan’s Shepherd these last several years…Thank you Rog for your love of Dad, thank you for the many personal sacrifices you made to take care of him, from Drs. appointments, the store shopping, his every beckoned call, and of course his “social schedule” and calendar, I’m sure one that rivaled any sitting-elect President…No, you are the ultimate Team Player, the Captain who listened and stayed close to the action daily, the one who chose to sacrifice his personal well being for that of his father’s…and made him so proud and humble for this love and devotion…YOU, are the hero here, Rog, and I thank you so much for keeping him on his “ride” all this time…

Cousin Yoli and Ken McKenzie…Papasan’s spiritual partners on Sundays and breakfast companions afterwards…Gosh he really looked forward to Mass and the visits with you and your Family after Church…thank you so much for “being there” also, extending your Family’s love and kindness to Uncle Pete…he loved all of the Villars (Papasan’s sister, Catherine’s family name) very much and of course the attention and kisses from your children…

To Pete Jr. …Pete was a wonderful joy to his father, celebrating with him his induction into the California High School Basketball Hall of Fame several years ago…I remember Papasan telling me about it, not once, not twice, but several times over, he was so proud of Pete’s accomplishments at Santa Cruz High School…Pete painstakingly took time away from his profession as a High School teacher to be with Papasan when he was recovering from his 2005 surgery, and between he and Roger and the late Stu Inman (former San Jose State Men’s coach and long time NBA Executive), Papasan was able to recover beyond the expectations of conventional medical wisdom: “no one in their late 80’s, losing 70% of one lung can expect to live very long after...”…Wrong…they forgot, he had a Big Man’s Camp coming up in the summer several months away and had to get ready for it…and he did…Thanks Pete for being there to help Rog when he needed relief and assistance…you too, made Papasan so proud with your success and the fact that you were able to take his idea of a Tall Woman’s Camp and implement this program with Bill McClintock…that was a great feat in itself…as well as taking over the Big Man’s Camp as Court Director…

To my Brother Greg: he was so happy for your children’s activities, from show horses by Taylor to jumpers by Peter…you made him so proud of their accomplishments and future successes…he also was extremely happy to receive your letters of late, and how happy you were at this time in your life…reuniting with your children, being an integral part of Peter’s education at Glendale Community College…Yes, he would tell me about your letters and share what was going on with Peter and Taylor…thank you for staying so close to Papasan…he knew now his 'ride’ was about over, on his terms, everything in place…

To ALL those Angels-in-disguise out there, and you know who I am talking about: former players, acquaintances, Doctors, scribes, ADs, coaches, current players, NBAers, foreign acquaintances, nurses, waiters, hostesses, owners, horse enthusiasts, friends, relatives, trainers, whomever I have forgotten, thank you thank you thank you, for your love and support during the most difficult time of his life when our late Mother, Florence , passed away 24 years ago last month…You have no idea how important your roles were when his “ride” came to a complete halt, and he went into a deep, saddening moment that as a son, I had never witnessed before in my life…Your phone calls, your visits, your schedules to include him on your trips, all of these made the difference in Papasan “getting off the ride” or continuing…Obviously, he continued, and we were all blessed for his extended journeys…He only made 5 videos and co-wrote 6 books at that time, plus a number of appearances all around the country…yes, YOU ALL had a hand in Pete’s survival at that pivotal point in his life…Thank you so much…

Finally, I would welcome any and all testimonials from one’s personal experience(s) with Papasan, Pete, Coach, Mr. Newell as I will be putting together a compilation of all for publishing later…thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences at this time…tom newell

---

Editor's note: Thanksgiving week there will be a Private Funeral for the family. In addition, there will be a Memorial Celebration for Pete Newell at Loyola Marymount University in LA, at Shaker Heart Cathedral on Monday, December 15^th, Open to the Public.

SportingNews talks about Dexter Pittman, who got his first start after attending Pete Newell's Big Men camp last summer.  "He told me I was a beast," Pittman said.  "He told me I was one of the biggest big men he had ever had through the camp."

Pittman said Newell told him to keep improving his feel for where a defender is without looking at him.

thank you so much for your kind, caring thoughts and comments at this time...I've lost a great friend, mentor and father now, and this whole experience has been undeniably a most humbling event...His influence on teaching the game and keeping it simple for players and coaches at all levels is the mantra that will always be associated with his contributions to the game...I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate the time and love he shared with you as a Coach, Player, Parent and Fan in the greatest Team Sport the world has ever witnessed...On behalf of the brothers Newell, keep it simple, praise the effort always in your kids play, and always teach the difference between a "good habit" vs. a "bad habit"...Sincerely, tom newell

...with the loss of Pete Newell today.

 Please leave your thoughts and best wishes for Tom and his family in the comments.

- Jay and Guy
FamilySportsLifeToday.com

 

 

August 3, 2008...Paul Simon made this recording a well-hummed tune for many many years...And I still hum it on my "arrival" date and even some days and months before my first cry...

Okay, where and what has ol tommyboy been up to of late? Well for starters, I just finished the Seattle Parks Best Effort/HopeHeart Institute camps for kids...We had close to 1,000 kids, ages 7-14 (with very very few 13-14 year olds in attendance: DANGER!!)...The kids were terrific, the help I had was terrific, having Greg George and Greg Peters from Northwest University help me for the last 5 weeks...They both are tall and imposing "teddy bears", trust me...GGeorge is 6'10 and GPeters is 6'8...They were positive models to the kids each day...I have been really blessed over the last few years to have such wonderful "models to follow" with our Best Effort Camps..

This week we're doing the Best Effort program at the Tukwila Parks Community Center and then over to the Renton Parks Center in the afternoon...Coach June Daugherty is representing the HopeHeart Institute in these two programs and I will be reppin the Best Effort model...June is one of my ALL TIME FAVORITE people in basketball...She loves the game, the players and kids who also love basketball...We have been close friends for a long long time, and together with her husband, Mike, I think they'll turn the program around over there on the Palouse...She suffered a Heart Attack last Spring and recovered, but it was a touch and go situation for sure...HopeHeart Institute of Seattle is a non-profit organization and they have been a terrific partner this summer in our camps...The packets that Laura Suter put together for the kids on the last day has been the true highlight for the camp experience...They provide info on proper nutrition and exercise for BOTH Parents and their children...I am really happy to have met Greg Ritter, Executive President of this organization and his able-ready-to-help staff...What a TEAM they have...Wow!!

Okay, so I leave after a short and sweet update...will be blogging again from Houston as I leave on Wednesday to train several NBA players for a week...Then I come home or arrive in Portland for our oldest daughter's, Ashleigh's, wedding...Yikes...NOW I really KNOW I am getting old...Our oldest getting married to a terrific fella, Brian Fortune...he too is a graduate of Linfield College...works as a Real Estate Executive in Hillsboro...Has a nice jump shot too to go along with his overall Men's League Game...I "scouted" him out folks, you know, that's why they call me "Tonto"...Take care, drive safely, wear your bicycle helmets when ridin the streets ANYWHERE!! Lots of love, Coach tom

July 4th, 2008...Happy 4th to all...I hope you're day is safe and filled with the essence of an alder-smoked rib or steak that made you enjoy the weekend...Me? Well, let's see...the Karma gods or gremlins "blessed" me with a GREAT start last night to the long weekend...I gotta call from my son, Chris (Bo), informing me that our car was stopped at Exit 49/Castle Rock off I-5 with a V-belt in shreds...Hmmmm, I said to myself, this is sounding like a baadddd start to a nice weekend...He and his Mother, my wife, Elaine, were returning from visiting our daughter, Ashleigh and her son, Carter and his father, Brian...Everything was "onkee doree" and that of course is what I call the "Beach Warning...be careful!!"...Needless to say, I ended up driving down I-5 to pick them up and return them to home...the car of course being towed back to Longview, awaiting the fateful return of a certified mortician-mechanic to begin his assessment of the damage done...I got a chance to "look" at the car before we returned to Seattle...Fortunately, there wasn't any collateral damage to the rest of the engine (as I could see "it": radiator damage, hose connections, oil residues), so, in one sense, I was relieved...Now, I'm trying to figure out how to get back down there next week and pick it up...plus, this really puts a cramp in my plans, as our Best Effort Camps begin in Seattle next week for the next 5 weekdays straight...Somehow, I figure there's a "reason" for this latest experience, so it probably means I'm about to meet someone new, or learn a new lesson along the way...but...I gotta tell you: it ain't a whole lotta fun drivin the corridor between here and PDX...

Okay, on to another memory link from this week: The beleaguered Sonics and the demise of political figureheads as sports enthusiasts...I read with great interest and intrigued, the commentary by Jerry "Heizah" Brewer and Stevie "FullofWonder" Kelly...Man, those two Cats were clinical pathologists in another life, trust me, 'cause their "reads and writes" were some of the best reflections I've read in a long long time on the Sonics issues...

Am I sad? Am I indifferent? Am I disappointed? Am I pizzed off? Am I depressed? Am I angry? Am I ambivalent? Am I ______? Well, let me tell you my true thoughts on this subject...After being in the NBA as a Front Office executive (Pacers Director of Player Personnel/Asst. GM '84-86), Asst. Coach on the bench in Seattle ('86-'90), New Jersey Nets ('90-92) and the Dallas Mavericks ('93-94), I learned this much about the NBA: it's truly a BUSINESS ONLY, there is no allegiance to fans in the stands...UNLESS you're the Lakers, Celtics and Knicks...I mean, really, did you ever think that being in the Far NW, that NYC would be interested in "what" the paying fans felt (not the corporate entities who STOPPED supporting the retention of suites and sponsorships) ...I mean, afterall, that the NBA is FANtastic, 'cause Dyan Cannon tells me so....ooops that was in the late '80's...Then of course when the Celtics finally broke down and introduced Ladies with Bodies Dance Corps to rival the team (keep in mind, THIER record was one of the 3 worst in the League over the last 10 years!!!), Uncle Red Auerbach couldn't take it anymore and ASKED to "get me outta here....now....what's this league comin too?"...and HIS wish was granted...As for the Sonics faithful, I have a poem for you, an Ode to the Sonics so to speak, that perhaps will reflect upon the past and remind one of the future when it comes to sports...                                          

                                                  An Ode to the Sonics Past        

The Team was introduced to the Northwest as an Expansion...

Little did anyone know that over 40 years later...

It would become a "relocation"...

The Sonics became a treat and a favor...

For many diehard fans who needed pro sports beyond television...

Embracing future Legends as adopted children in an everchanging NW culture...

It was only when Sir Lenny became Head Coach that the Sonics would complete their mission...

Only to lose the status and confidence of many as a Team contending for renowned "stature"...

Oh how I revel in my reflections of the many practices and games that filled my daily life as a Sonic...

From Xman, Dale, Nate and Tommy to the arrival of Shawn Kemp and the success of George Karl...

And yet, upon reflections, I see now that those memories and respect is no more than Historic...

You see, my friends, fans and former players, your life was a void, filled with minutes of joy and angst...

From "sweet" 3s by Ellis to the steals by The Glove and the slams by the Reign Man...

No one, and I mean no one can ever take away the heart and soul of the modern Sonics team...

The voice of Kevin Calabro, his resonant reminders of spectacular plays as smooth as Lake Chelan...

And yet, we ALL feel betrayed, abandoned, disjointed from the rest of the basketball world and dream...

No more Rookies to assess...no more Free Agents to critique...no more Squatch...no more no more...

Do we rise up and speak our peace? Do we take up arms (sans High Fives) and demonstrate against this reality...?

Or do we learn from this lesson in life when it comes to sports: "in the end...it's not about the outcome or score..."

It has everything to do with money, money, money, money...and in that realization you will always find mortality...

I thank the Sonics and the many players and friendships I've made over the years when we moved here many years ago...

And I will always hold high the notion and heartfelt love and experience that we were ONE...Team and Fans...Thank you!!

 

Okay, enuff of that sentimental stuff...shoot, next I'll be eatin Quiche or something fluffy like that!!

I've been busy, and it seems I'll be busier than a worker bee lookin for a new hive...I hope my New Balance sponsorship over the last 5 years will continue to support our community service endeavors this summer...I received an email 3 weeks ago telling me that "we have re-structured our model and we are pulling back from branding and community oriented programs such as yours...this due in part to the economic issues that have affected the National economy today..."...Hmmmm, by my account, I'd say MORE people are going to be BUYING more tennies than NOT when you see the Gas prices going up each week...Shucks, one can get at least 5 thousand miles on a pair of NB Cross Trainers walkin to work, no?? Anyway, wasn't expecting "that" email notice and now I gotst to scramble and figure out how we're going to finish strong and positive to the end of our camps...

I've missed YOU ALL and my fingertouches on the laptop, and it seems that you have also, as there have been many readers who have emailed me and wondered if I was "ever" going to write again...I apologize...It's true: "absence makes the heart (for writing) grow fonder..."...So, let's see if my inspiration towards your desire to read my rants and what nots on a Scorecard will continue more regularly than recent non-posts...

Take care, hope y'all are having a GREAT SUMMER...Big Shoutout to Kristen O'Neil!! Booohlyah!! She just signed with the Storm and let me tell you: she has a "MOTOR" for the game and will bring a special presence to this team before the season ends...I've had the pleasure of being a teacher in her later basketball career at the UW and Euro league to work with her on her game...She works harder than ANY female player I've ever worked with, and that includes Jackie Stiles, who at the time was off the charts when I was an Asst. coach with the Portland Fire, WNBA, '02...She can play 3 positions defensively and offensively, not afraid of ANY matchup assignment and role that Coach Brian Agler dictates...If you haven't checked out this year's team, do so...they have one of the best coaches in basketball in Brian Agler, and the collection of talent on this team this season, if healthy to the end, have a chance to do something that NO OTHER Pro team has ever done in Seattle: WIN TWO Championships!!! Go Storm!!  All the Best, God Bless, Coach tom

Postscript from Parent Symposium May 31st, UW Hec Ed Assembly room...

First off, I want to humbly thank each panelist who joined in our program last Saturday...I know how each coach made the necessary sacrifices from Family, work and "day off" to accept my invitation to be a part of this uniquely arranged forum...I can't begin to tell you how impressive it was to those in attendance and online viewing our livestream program for 3 and a half hours...Wow!! The parents and kids in attendance all gained invaluable information that will help families understand intercollegiate recruiting and the process of same, now and in the immediate future...For that alone, I am so happy we were fortunate enough to have the support from the coaches, the UW Athletics Department, Athletics Directors from Seattle U, and Seattle Pacific University, including Stan Morrison, AD at the University of California, Riverside, who, along with his Staff members, went online to watch and listen in on our program...Thank you...

The most thought provoking result from this event was the fact that parents and kids still DO NOT ACCESS the free website www.ncaa.org to seek the necessary information that will enlighten their knowledge-base (or not) on the subject of requirements and eligibility rules for becoming an NCAA Student Athlete today...I certainly hope that in the future, the audience, both online and in attendance will share the information and encourage their friends and other family members to log on to the NCAA website and from there carefully assess the values and traditions that have been established for many many years by this organization...

Okay, if you really "want" to know how it went, what was said and presented as advisory reminders, then I suggest you check in with our Home Page to see when we will have the symposium online for your observations...

Again, thank you parents and kids for taking the time out of your schedules to be a part of this program...Your questions and interests in learning from our panelists for the benefit of your child(ren) is complimented well from our end...This just means that we need to do a better job of getting MORE parents, kids and coaches "tuned in" to this model/template of information today, meaning stay tuned...we'll do this again next Spring...Coach tom

Monday afternoon...day after camp...

Okay, so this much I know: I'm intrigued by the travel opportunities that basketball has provided me on my journeys...I mean, I was in China in January, Vladivostok, Russia in February and now Fairbanks, Alaska in June...Wow...

I am here assisting a former Sonics player who is a very close friend of mine, Clemon Johnson...We've known one another through our association with the Sonics back in the day when I was an Assistant Coach on the bench with Bernie Bickerstaff ('86-'90)...Clemon is one of those uniquely talented ex-players, who has quietly gone about gaining the necessary experience and understanding as a basketball coach by taking himself to the "Top of the World", Fairbanks, Alaska, as Head Men's Basketball Coach of U of A, Fairbanks...

This will be Clemon's 2nd season in Fairbanks, and he is as excited as a proud Papa awaiting the "birth" of his 2 child in 5 months...He will have 8 new players on his squad, his recruits, and return only 3 lettermen from the season before...

Why am I here? Right now, we've just completed the Position Camp for the last 3 days on campus, and it went very well...We had around 16-17 players, boys, ages 13-17 and varied level of skills...some terrific, some not-so-good, but all possessing a willingness to want to be taught and learn something new about how to improve their skills and game...I am blessed because when we're on the court, the kids really come to life, eager to execute properly and most definitely getting "stronger" when they miss layups...That's because Coach Newell has a rule: "You miss your layups with no defender on you...What happens when you play in a game WITH a defender?...Right, you miss it worse!!"...The "reminders" I use to help them focus better on this mis-skill: pushups...5 for each layup missed...Yesterday, lil Oba, all 5'4" of him missed 8 layups during our drills...I slide up to him and ask him: "Oba, how many pushups do you have to do today?...He goes "I've got 40 coach and COUNTING..."...So I told him he has 2 hours to do his layups and he smiles a relief of salvation from having to do them all right then and there...So fast forward here, we're 5 mins. away from practice being over and we're finishing up and come together as a team and break...Oba comes up to me and thanks me for helping him and I acknowledge his gratitude and tell him to be sure to get his rest tonight...He said he will "after" he gets through doing his pushups: now it's over 60!! I tell him that he worked very hard today and that his effort more than made up for his missed layups, BUT he must work very hard NOT to miss as many tomorrow as he did today...He's so excited, one, because he doesn't have to do the pushups, and, two, because he knows that this ol coach "likes" him as a player, even though the ball is bigger than his face and an Alaskan Hound is longer than he is on all fours!! I love Summer Basketball Camps...the kids are wonderfully bright and excited for the daily event and usually there are 3-4 kids that just stand out in their personalities and application...They're usually the "Lil Caboose" that can't make it up the Hill who end up reminding me why I love to teach this game...Their eyes and eagerness to learn far surpass any disappointments and distractions the older players may cause me, because the lil fellers are trying so hard to do the drills the right way...God love them...what a treat to teach!!

Monday, June 9th...afternoon...Team Camp begins in 3 hours...looking forward to seeing the "talent" up here...Shucks, if I were a high school player playing soccer, basketball, football and/or baseball, I guarantee you I'd be outside until midnight every night playing, practicing, etc....I mean, think about it: outdoors with the sun shining until 1 in the morning!!?? YOU HAVE TO LOVE THAT ENVIRONMENT, and I would imagine that I'll be seeing some interesting play over the course of the week...Stay tooned, I'll fill y'all in the observations...Coach tom

 Update:  The local newspaper had a story announcing the clincs at http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jun/10/newell-slates-hoops-camp-all-coaches/. 

Our symposium, "Expectations with Revelations: An Insight into the Process of Intercollegiate Recruiting" will be held Saturday May 31, 2008, in the Assembly Room of Hec Ed Pavilion at the University of Washington. Directions are here.

Registration begins at 12 noon and the program runs from 12:30 to 3:30 PM.

Representatives from the following programs are scheduled to participate in a panel discussion and answer questions on the subject of identifying prospects and how the process begins towards recruiting a high school student athlete.

• University of Washington: Leslie Tuiasusopo, Volleyball; Paul Fortier, Men's Basketball; Loree Payne, Women's Basketball
• Seattle Pacific University: Jeff Hironaka, Men's Basketball
• Seattle University: Joe Callero, Men's Basketball; Dan Kriley, Women's Basketball
• Northwest University (Kirkland): John Van ***, Men's Basketball
• University of Nebraska: Sunny Smallwood, Women's Basketball
• Eastern Washington University: Cheryl Sorenson, Women's Basketball
• St. Martin's: Keith Cooper, Men's Basketball
• Bellevue Community College: Coach Ernie Woods, retired NWAC Hall of Fame coach
• Coach John Bowers: former D-IAA College football recruiter, current Ballard High School Football Head Coach

This program is for parents and kids at the Middle School and High School levels of interscholastic sports. The symposium is FREE and refreshments will be provided.

"I attended the symposium previously and had a lot of questions on how the college application process fit with the athletic recruiting for my son. Tom and his panel of speakers did a great job of outlining the parent's role in their child's athletic future, what the student should realistically expect beyond high school, and how colleges approach scouting, recruiting, and scholarships," said Pat Ulhman, whose son Ryan Roarke is a Cornell University graduate.

Donations of Food items for Northwest Harvest will be greatly appreciated and gladly accepted!

Questions will be presented to the coaches as well as parents learning about the various rules and regulations related to their children becoming NCAA Eligible for recruitment. Materials will be passed out to each family in attendance.

For those not able to attend in person, the program will be broadcast live over the Internet at www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com/tv

Our upcoming symposium, "Expectations with Revelations: An Insight into Intercollegiate Recruiting..." will be broadcast live over the Internet. People who cannot attend the event in person should go to

www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com/tv

to watch on Saturday. The program will run from 12:30 PM to 3:30 PM Pacific Daylight Time.

If you have the latest Adobe Flash Player, you should be able to watch the video. This is a free download.

Injuries can be devastating to a young athlete, but also are a common part of sports. Coach Tom Newell discusses with Dr. John Thayer, who specializes in sports medicine, how to avoid injuries, how to recognize them, and how to deal with them, both as an athlete and as a parent.

• Do playing in multiple sports increase the chance of injury?
• What are the most common injuries? 
• How do I recognize whether an injury is something that needs treatment?
• My son or daughter is taking their injury really hard.  How can I best support them during their recovery?  

Dr. Thayer is a othopedic surgeon at Proliant Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.

We're proud to announce that Family SportsLife Today is holding a FREE Symposium for Parents and Student-Athletes to be held at University of Washington on Saturday, May 31st entitled "Expectations with Revelations: an insight to the process of Intercollegiate recruiting today...".

The event will be held at the University of Washington, Hec Ed Pavilion, Assembly Hall, Saturday, May 31, 2008, from 12:00 -3:30pm. Middle School and High School parents and their student athlete children are invited to this FREE program.  Pre-registration is encouraged by joining
www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com.

This program features college coaches as Panelists from various areas of intercollegiate sports. Division I, II, III, NAIA and Community College representatives will present their recruiting insights and information for parents and their student athletes on what identifies a prospect today when they evaluate a student athlete playing interscholastic sports.

The representative Universities and Colleges from the Puget Sound will include coaches from Seattle University, Seattle Pacific University, St. Martin's College, Pacific Lutheran University, University of Puget Sound, Northwest University, Bellevue Community College, and the host school, the University of Washington. The sports being represented in this symposium will be the following:

• Men and Women's Basketball
• Volleyball (D-I, D-II)
• Men and Women's Soccer
• Football (D-I, D-II)
• Track and Field
• Fast pitch Softball

Also featured in this extraordinary program are former intercollegiate student athletes from the various levels of intercollegiate athletics and their respective sports. Certified professionals from Strength and Conditioning training programs will also provide information for parents and student athletes.

Topics will cover:

• Identifying a student athlete "prospect" today. Where and when are they first discovered?
• The "first" contact: is the beginning of "expectations"?
• The Parent's role in supporting their student athlete today in middle school and high school sports.
• How a Parent can best prepare for understanding the eligibility related to NCAA Clearinghouse rules and regulations today.
• Important information and dates to remember.
• Core subjects that are pre-requisites for eligibility standards per NCAA Clearinghouse rules.
• Select Team programs: does it help to be on a "Select" team today or not?
• What age should individual training, such as Strength and Conditioning programs be initiated?
• Sports Nutrition and your student athlete today. The importance of eating well and staying healthy.

The program is FREE to the Public. The program is FREE to the Public.

Refreshments will be available.  A question and answer session will follow the presentation.  Questions for the seminar can be submitted in advance to FamilySportsLifeToday@gmail.com.  Before the event, we'd like Parents to fill out a survey on college recruiting at www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com/survey.

Registration will be open from 12:00 - 12:20pm.  Pre-registration is recommended at www.FamilySportsLifeToday.com. Seating is limited, so it is important to register online now for this event. 

Donations of Food items for Northwest Harvest will be greatly appreciated and gladly accepted!

This is the third program of its kind. The inaugural program began in 2001 at Seattle Pacific University and was widely acclaimed by all parents in attendance at that time. The second program was hosted on the campus at Hec Ed Pavilion two years ago, and all parents in attendance came away with a better understanding of what college coaches think when they identify a "prospect" for their sports programs.

Dallas Maverick owner Mark Cuban posts frequently on basketball, technology, media, and business on his personal blog, BlogMaverick.com. His post on April 9th asks whether 18 or 19 year-olds are ready for the personal, financial, and business decisions that go along with their new career.

From the perspective of an NBA owner, maturity is far harder to qualify than talent. Can he manage the personal side of his life ?

Can he deal with all the obligations that come with living on your own, and being in a job that requires you traveling more often than not ?

Does he have an understanding of financial principals ? To a 19 year old kid without financial training, a million dollar contract makes him a millionaire. There is no concept that 50pct goes to taxes and that by the time he pays his bills, he has a great job, that pays great money, but he isn't at a level that allows him to spend without limit. Unfortunately, there are far too many agents that won't have the tough love conversations with their clients until its too late.

Read the full post here.

The Seattle Times has a story today on Seattle U's plans for a major fundraising campaign. Increases in the university's endowment will be used for new facilities including a new library and hi-tech classrooms, new scholarships, a fund for travel for religious study, and new fitness center and athletic facilities.

Seattle U leaders say that part of the challenge for the future is reaching out to students' secular interests -- like basketball -- while maintaining the college's religious roots...

The push to rejoin NCAA Division I basketball, after Seattle U dropped out of the West Coast Conference in 1980, also remains a priority for [Seattle U President Rev. Stephen] Sundborg. That despite a setback last year when the member schools from the West Coast Conference said they weren't interested in expanding any time soon. Sundborg said it will just take more time. He plans to spend $1 million more on athletics each year in hopes of elevating Seattle U to a standard at which the school would be more welcomed in the division. There is also $20 million earmarked from the campaign for the new fitness center and to upgrade athletic facilities.

The Time's editorial board expresses their support for the campaign here.

The New York Times ran an article on March 10th talking about how parents have the expectations that high school sports and select teams will lead to a path to college.  They are often disappointed, given that college scholarships only cover a portion of the full bill.

"People run themselves ragged to play on three teams at once so they could always reach the next level," said Margaret Barry of Laurel, Md., whose daughter is a scholarship swimmer at the University of Delaware. "They're going to be disappointed when they learn that if they're very lucky, they will get a scholarship worth 15 percent of the $40,000 college bill. What's that? $6,000?"

See the full article here.

April 6, 2008...Sunday afternoon...

I LOVE the Final Four...no, I LOVE college basketball in March and April as it truly defines teams' characters, courage, resiliency, hope, and the ability to push through adversity, no matter what the score is...

Watching UNC's demise last night on TV, was a painful exhibition and had to take Coach Williams breakfast and lunch and make it feel like a Maytag Washer on the Bering Sea...As a Coach, you always hope and pray that your players are mentally "ready" to compete, NOT JUST PLAY, and I got the impression that Carolina was ONLY ready to play, not compete until it woke up after halftime...I mean, imagine: 40-12 during Kansas' first half run, and in between the TV's and Carolina's timeouts during this tsunami-like offensive wave by the Jayhawks, Carolina had no answer...they were just flat outplayed...WOW...WOW!!

So, what do you do as a coach or parent directly affected by such a blowout and wonderment of confusion being associated with a team that's getting blow out (and TRUST me, as a Coach, parent or friend, you WILL experience this as a spectator or bench member)? Find the Arena's engineer and ask him to "pull the plug" for 5 mins. on the scoreboard and clock...The other suggestion, would be, to a more-than-usual exhorting to the players on the court with some heavy lovin encouragement...Seriously, think about this: if I'm playing and as a team I "overhear" someone in the stands callin for the " HazMat team to come in quick 'cause there's something definitely "unknown" goin on down on the court and someone NEEDS to check it out...", and I look at the scoreboard and then to the sideline, and all I see are coaches who are noticeably "balder" than before the game started (heads down) and then my head's up observing family and friends in the stands, and they've all got that expression of "Children of the Corn" look, well, trust me, if I hear screaming and yelling of positive encouragement NO MATTER WHAT, that's enough to get me through the "storm" and pick the energy up for myself and teammates...That is what happened to Carolina towards the end of the 1st half, they got some positive "love songs" from their fans and bench and closed with confidence... That run and the 2nd half run was reminiscent of Coach Dean Smith's great Carolina teams of the past...I wasn't surprised, and would not have been in shock IF the Tar Heels pulled off the greatest comeback in Final Four history...Why? Carolina has great, no GRRRRREEEEAAAAAAT basketball tradition and legacy paving its way in all competitions related to ACC lore and NCAA Big Dance games...Anyway, it was really fun to watch the energy and competitive matchups from both teams...

UcLA...hmmmm, that game did not surprise me in the least...I am not a big "fan" of Darrin Collison and he proved me "why"...As a "lead guard", one must take the responsibility of getting your team into the offense and directing the spacing on the floor as an "extension" of the Head Coach...That is what a "lead guard's" responsibility is and always will be...Somewhere along the way, during the 2As, he missed that chapter, paragraph, discussion or email, unfortunately, because he did not rise to occasion as his teammates did...The biggest GRIPE I have today at all levels of basketball is when a Big Post has position inside with a Defender playing behind him, THEN PASS THE FREAKN BALL to him and let him go to work: QUIT DRIBBLING and dominating the ball for 15 seconds, going from one side of the court to the other...I'm sorry, I don't get that at all...The one thing that I will always remember about Magic Johnson and John Stockton is that they truly kept the offense in the "flow" and kept the game simple in the half court with their decision-making and execution...UcLA did not have a clue on spacing, angles and proper execution to get the ball into the best passer on the team, young blood Kevin Love...He is truly a remarkably gifted young student/athlete for UcLA...I love his verve, his basketball quotient is "Bird-like", his love for the game is "Magic-like" and more importantly he HAS FUN playing the game...Wow...I did however feel that his back was bothering him early on in the 1st half (mid) as he did not run the floor nor move like he normally does, and his "pained" expressions during dead ball situations were obvious signs to me that it would be a long night for Kevin and his kidneys matching up with Dorsey and company...Let me say this: I certainly hope that Kevin stays at UcLa for another season, as he is one of the most wonderful models for ANY and ALL level basketball players today UNIVERSALLY speaking, and even though he is a bona fide Pro, there is no guarantee that he would end up with a veteran-laden team that would take the pressure off of him and he would develop accordingly...Having this young man on college TV hoops next season would encourage Dads to sit and watch with their sons and daughters how simple this player makes the game with his footwork skills, passing touch, and shooting the ball facing and back to the basket....plus he's not too shabby on defense either: block shots and rebounding both ends...

Memphis is the real deal...Coach John Calipari is one of the true teachers of the game today...he learned under Larry Brown back in the day at KU, and has been a student of the game ever since...He had the short lived experience of coaching in the NBA a couple of seasons after his first Final Four appearance with Marcus Camby and UMass years ago, and I think that experience alone (NBA Nets), helped him see what a coach can do with exceptionally gifted athletes...I'm tellin you now: that team could run with a lot of current NBA teams today...yeah, that good...Their point Guard Rose? WOW!! His feel and demeanor for the game is off the charts and he will soon be spoken in the same breath with Wade, Nash, Kidd and Chris Paul, who is a remarkable lead guard today in the League...Seriously, I haven't seen a better guard (Point) in college the last two years than this young man (19 years old)...He has a chance to be one of the "future" Stars of the NBA whose illuminations and success stories have yet to be written...

I have really enjoyed being home again in our beautiful country...I am so proud to be an American and have the opportunities to represent my country through basketball, you have no idea...The China experience was a terrific stay as was the Vladivostok, Russia clinics and visit...Know this, basketball is a peaceful medium, means, and an olive branch that melds all the differences, both political and religious to a level of respect and friendships that we can all appreciate and cherish forever...And I do...

Take care, more to come this week...BIG ANNOUNCEMENT coming in two days...A "must" for Parents and their student athletes to attend...There's NOTHING LIKE THIS provided here in the NW...FREE...FREE...Coach tom

Seattle, Washington...March 23, 2OO8...

Okay, I'm over my "rants"...maybe...I think that sometimes the World is flat when I read the papers and see the stories and comments of educated people (or are they?)...When I have been to various parts of the world, teaching the game to kids, players, coaches and parents, and complete my sessions for the day, I always have been able to collect my thoughts and reflections of the day by looking up at the stars and seeing the Big Dipper, Lil Dipper and other reminders of the universe bigger than our planet...And during these quiet moments, I remind myself just how small I really am, kudos to the late Buckminster Fuller, Astrophysicist, MIT, who inspired my mortality many moons ago when I lived in Belgium, when I could get up and down a basketball court professionally...He was a Professor of notoriety at MIT, and architect (Geodesic Domes) when he saw what was happening to our planet as he knew it back in the day (early 70's), and would greet his "new" enrollees with this provocative introduction to "life" as they didn't know it at the time: "Today, we learn about the universe..."...He would pull down a white screen in his auditorium and have the lights turned out and then project a slide of the universe on the screen...He would then take a pointer and explain the mysteries that they were about to engage upon and point to a "speck" on the screen and reflect: "this is Earth...so for anyone here who thinks they are significantly important in the grand scope of their existence...you're not..."...And that is his introduction to "his" world and theirs, and he would begin his class for the semester...I have never forgotten that simple explanation to our world and the universe in general, so now whenever I pause and reflect with my eyes towards the heavens, ol Bucky Fuller comes to mind, not a jump shot that Michael Jordan hit to win a game or a Home Run by Mickey Mantle...Little did I realize that my "awakening" would carry over from one continent to another, reminding me of my quiet reflections from years past to this present moment in my life...The last two weeks have been a burden of sorts, knowing that there is a region in the world whose people are suffering for being independent, meditative and most definitely peaceful...They too look to the heavens above, reflecting, wondering why they are tormented and abused by educated literates, censored for asking people in the "free" world to hear their pleas for help and assistance...I could name the country and the small region, but knowing that my blog is monitored and that I may someday return to this large country, I think it is best to not engage in a political war of words and critique, but trust me, as an Ambassador to the world in my small but effective way, I have some unfinished work to be done there in a peaceful application, and through that model, believe that one can do more with a ball that bounces and can be shot at a basket than a "scope over"...I pray for peace, world peace, and know that this summer of sports regalia will go on, but not without a distraction or two by the world's athletes in their own way...Let us all hope that their voices, performances and competitions will acknowledge the freedom of speech and expressions in non-violent manners will hopefully do more for affecting change than the other alternatives...Had to get that off my chest tonight so I can rest peacefully...

Hope all are well who take the time to read my musings and what knots now and then...have a great week and I'll try to blog again tomorrow...Happy Trails to you...until we read again...Coach tom 

With the close of the basketball season, Coach Tom Newell discusses how expectations turn into frustrations at the end of the season, especially for parents. Upon reflection, the target of that frustration is misguided.

More information on reflecting on the season and setting goals during the off-season is available at:

• "Okay, so NOW we have to address something that is really bothering me..." by Tom Newell
• Reflections on a Season Completed (episode #8)
• Upon Reflections Checklist
• Checklist for Choosing an AAU or Select Team
• Podcasts on AAU and Select Teams: part 1 | part 2 | part 3

Bob Knight, former coach at teams in Texas Tech and Indiana, introduced Coach Pete Newell at his induction into the Breitbard Hall of Fame in the San Diego Hall of Champions. He said "I don't know anyone that has contributed more to basketball over a longer period of time than Pete Newell has."

Video is available at http://video.nbcsandiego.com/player/?id=226045

Sports Illustrated's Chris Ballard reports on the dunk in the NBA, asking the question is it just two points, or an important part of the game?  Included is discussion of our "For the Love of the Game" exhibition, which raised the hoops to 11 feet. 

Some in the hoops community don't share Kerr's admiration for the dunk. "It's very bad for the game," that most esteemed of basketball men, John Wooden, once said. "If I want to see fancy play, I'll go see the Globetrotters." This is the fate of the shot: alternately celebrated and derided and, at one time, banned (from 1967 to '76, by the NCAA). Perhaps we're now entering the jam's postmodern period, when the shot itself no longer evolves but our feelings about it do. 

See http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/the_bonus/02/20/dunking0225/index.html 

February 17, 2008...I'm on our "hometurf" now, having arrived on Thursday night from Beijing...Jet Lag? Hmm, listen to this schedule: Friday afternoon went to Bellevue Community College and took in the Skyline HS vs. Issaquah HS game...Issaquah won going away, but not without having to overcome a double digit effort...then visited Seattle to see my close friend, Dave B., and politely excuse myself as "another" game beckoned my desire to watch another student of mine perform...This time it was Kentwood vs. Kentridge, with the latter winning handily...The young fella who I was observing was Josh Smith, Jr...Joshua has been a student of mine now going on 4 Springs and Summers...he is a gifted, patient student of the game, and has many many more competitions ahead of him...Then on Saturday morning, Coach Ernie Woods and myself took in a 5th Grade Boys basketball game at Canyon Park Junior High in Bothell, watching a very young and talented basketball aspirant by the name of Sean Perry, whose Papa is Guy, and the youth coach of Sean's team...It was a fun game to watch, as one team's mistakes lead to another's treasure and the disappointment to many parents in the stands...YIKES!!...and then as IF I didn't have enough American hoops to absorb, I attended the Northwest University vs. College of Idaho game...There are two players on NU's team whom I have helped over the last couple of years, and I wanted to see them while their season was still underway...NU won by 20...David Rengo and Greg Peters, the two players I know, came off the bench and contributed solid defense and timely baskets when the opportunity presented itself...It was so much fun to watch this level of competition, as the players compete just as hard as any D-1 player; shoot with accuracy like D-1 players, the only thing lacking may be that there aren't ENOUGH D-1 schools for players today...Greg hails from St. Vincent Grenadine, and is not afraid of competition "indoors" , considering he's only played outdoors all these years...

The date has now fast forwarded to February 26, 2008...I am sitting in a Starshucks "thinking" that I'll be able to "hookup" free and go WiFi...UNTIL, Howard-baby is now providing a "pillow" from T-Mobile to his bed and, of course, somebody has to pay for it: US!! So, after being able to on occasion, WiFi in China FREE at most Starshucks, I now have to "sign up" and pay which collectively and figuratively means another FREAKN Password!!!!....Does anybody out there get tired of the same ol schtick that keeps pressing us daily when we "want" something on an interactive basis? I mean at what point does Bill G. and Steve decide to tell their R & D Boyz to "come up with a simple voice activator that a "User" can identify him/her self with their favorite song...I'll give you an example: I'm in Cali and need to go WiFi and the prompt comes up "Sign In with Password"...And of course, I start singin the Beach Boys "I get around...round round round round round r o u n d...I get around..."...Then my IE illuminates my screen, I'm "on" and life is good...Or, I go to New York and same thing applies there in Grand Central Station...The prompt comes on, I go ahead and start belting out, Frankie Blue Eyes fav jingle: "New Yahwk New Yahk...", and all is good...Or, I go to Hawaii and belt out, Don Ho's Island Classic: "Tiny Booobles..."...Do you agree with me, how wonderfully simple that could and WOULD BE?? I mean NO ONE on this planet sings as BAD as I do, therefore my datavoice would either work or CRASH if someone TRIED to impersonate me signing on...Just had to revisit that issue again...I find myself digressing, regressing and depressing sometimes when it comes to the technology and convenience issues today when I blog and/or signon with memorybanks, fingerstrokes and other means for being "wired"...

Okay, spent 4 wonderful days with our Grandson, Carter, who is all of two-and-a-half-plus now and his favorite word is "NO"...We learn the words "Listen...and...YES" while I was there...Ashleigh and Brian, mom and dad, respectively, are doing a marvelous job of raising their babyboy today...I had so much fun with them...One day we went bowling and Carter got a Strike to my none and his Daddy was like *** Webber, makin contact with pins like he's ready for the "Pro Circuit"...I've never been much of a bowler, more of a "bawler" in my early years, as I didn't have much pain threshold for failing to keep the ball out of the gutter...I was so bad as a kid, I thought a great way to keep score for numbskillz like me in bowling, would be to count the NUMBER of pins that still stand AFTER you hit the gutter and come out onto the lane again...Let's put it this way, most of the bowling balls I used back in the day, were "retired" early and probably have been recycled as anchors for small boats...Anyway, that afternoon was totally fun...The next day, Carter wanted to take me to the Zoo and let the Monkees look at me and see how I reacted to them...So we went to the Portland Zoo, and I gotta tell you, it's really a nice, well thought-out venue for people to "view" endangered and captive species from our planet...Carter had a blast, his Daddy, Brian, had a blast and I was in awe of the whole experience...the only downer being the captive Eagle in a net enclosure, which I am hoping the only REASON this great bird is there, is because it is recovering health-wise before taking off for the wild blue yonder, otherwise, I'm bummed over looking at that exhibit...Next we saw a Sumatra Tiger pen...The Tiger was kickin back, BUT checkin us out closely, and I reminded Brian Captive Tigers today are not really happy "campers" as evidenced by the Tiger escapes in SF and now Hawaii...So, here we are thinking like the Tiger on the OUTSIDE "how" would this Tiger decide to leave on a moment's notice...It wouldn't be that difficult as this lil puttytat could leap a building on a single bound, and with that we moved on...It was a great visit to the Portland Zoo, and again, I highly recommend it to any and all...I also was fortunate to visit my dear friends, Lee Larson and Jim Dail from Clackamas, Oregon...The two of them together, coupled with me, makes us the 3 Amigos (hold the "salt"), and we had some great laughs about my experiences in China...It's been a wonderful reentry, Folks, one that has basketball friends, parents, kids and coaches touching base with me and welcoming me back and also for me to see LIVE high school playoffs action again, especially at this time year...I was really excited to see two young students of mine named to the SeaTimes HS All Star Team...Josh Smith, 6'10" (with his shoes on...last time I looked, that's what kids play with on the court...) and Lindsey Moore, 5'10" -/+...both are from Kentwood High School...Josh is a Post Player, sophomore, and comes from a wonderful Family...his lil Bro, J-Mon (Jeremy), is an 8th Grader who is a talent in his own right as well...Josh has been a part of our weekend group now going on 5 Springs/Summers now, and I can't tell you how much fun it's been to watch him grow as young man and Team Player...This young fella "gets it"...His Parents are truly "models to follow" when it comes to the balance between books and sports...Their philosophy is simple: "eat the food on your plate and you get dessert...", in other words: "learn in class, study and DO your homework and you'll get to PLAY sports..."...NOW THAT is a REFRESHING perspective isn't it? Lindsey will be attending the 3 Spring/Summer program with us this year, having been introduced to me by Coach Barbara Berry...Barbara is the Director of "The Way to WIn...", and has a wonderful teaching skills program that complements each of her players' developing skills as Team Players...Lindsey has a "motor" for the game, no question...she competes at a high level, won't back down to anybody and is NOT afraid to make mistakes, take a critical shot with confidence and ultimately make her teammates better with a pass, screen or help on defense...She too has two wonderful parents who are also terrific support models for Lindsey and her teammates...I am blessed by their successes on and off the court, and know that the other kids I've worked with over the years have evolved in a positive, mature way towards improving their leadership and life skills on and off the court, and having a better understanding of the "purpose" of the game overall...

Okay, I'm back in the NW again, jet lag over, I think, although I still have afternoon yawnings that coincide with when I would be going to sleep in China...I've never been into power naps, per se, only on tarmacs and long train rides in the mid afternoons, but I'm beginning to think that it may not be a bad "add-on" to my daily schedule...better than "nodding off" at 60 MPH on I-90 somewhere...I gotta run, have a VIM (very important meeting), that I hope will be shared with y'all before too long...Been workin on this for awhile now, and know that you will be happy to read the progress and advance notice of this "NEWell" event...

To those students and other players whose sportslife I haven't had the opportunity to bless and share the game with, I hope you enjoyed the "moment" of your season past, and if you are so fortunate to continue towards "State", that you have a wonderful experience and more importantly, SEIZE the MOMENT in your young life to grasp the essence of being on your team and sharing in the emotions and anxieties of warmups, playing, sitting and competing for a Championship...I've always believed that any team at any level that EVER makes the "tournament" in anything should always be considered a "Finalist" and to hold one's head high for the "Kodak moment" that no one can ever take away from them: the experience...All the best, God Bless...Coach tom My next blogit will address the frustrations of accepting "your" coach as your son/daughter's leader today...Definitely a subject we ALL need to revisit and learn from...tn

March 3, 2008...San Diego, California...

I am blessed to have this opportunity to be with my family and visit my father, Pete Newell, 92 years young, over this past weekend and tomorrow night's festivities of him being honored into the San Diego Hall of Champions program...He once was the General Manager of the San Diego Rockets before they relocated to Houston...He is very excited to be able to "live" this experience tomorrow night and we're so happy that he is with us now...Should be fun...

Now to the "heading" aforementioned...I am really REALLY concerned about the level of play that I have witnessed recently in high school basketball, both boys and girls at the 3A and 4A levels...First off, why is it that kids don't know how to make a correct CHEST PASS, BOUNCE PASS, OVERHEAD OUTLET PASS, PUSH PASSes, left hand/right hand? Why is it that kids don't understand that once you pass the ball YOU MUST MOVE WITHOUT IT or you might as well hold a Polaroid Camera and take pictures of the plays 'cause you're NOT a part of the motion any longer...Why is it kids don't talk on defense or anticipate helping a teammate when they get beat one on one? Why is it kids don't block out in late February when you know the coaches have taught them in October? Why is it kids hang their heads when they come out of the game and don't accept the fact that they're NOT helping the team with their mistakes or ineffective play and cast a dirty look at the coach or want to SIT at the end of the bench? Why is it kids who do start and then come out don't "cheer" their teammates who are still on the court competing for the TEAM? Why is it that some kids LOOK to the stands for support of their parents when they can GET ALL the support in the world from their coaches and teammates? Yeah, I'm BACK and not a "Happy Hooper" with the model I see on the courts today...Y'all need to listen to my podcast and hear my rant and suggestions to overcome the negativity that is surrounding our game today at the interscholastic levels...If I "stir" your emotions, good...If you think I'm "losing it"...you better have someone "film" you in the stands and YOUR son/daughter when they play or sit, then we'll see who's "losing" it...I am really upset at this time with what I see as a terrible slack-state of fundamental skills in interscholastic basketball in the NW...The "hype" that is being put upon young people today in newspapers and magazines, is unfortunate and setting up kids and parents for a "free fall" that is bungeecordless and doomed for a "post mortem" on one's high school basketball experiences IF the "expectations" are unfulfilled...Those of you, Parents, Coaches (all levels), Student Athletes and Administrators who KNOW me and my passion for the game, realize that I speak from my heart and trust me, my heart is hurting after watching basketball over the last three weeks in the NW...Listen to the Podcast to hear my feelings if you dare...Nobody ever said "Oral Medicines" were "sweet tasting", and trust me, this "prescription" is not sweet, BUT can HELP overcome the "nausea" that you (parent(s), student athletes, administrators and coaches) felt after the last defeat that eliminated you from District, Regionals, State and in State Finals...

Now I feel a whole lot better after getting that OFF my chest...thank you!! Okay, where do we go from here...Stay tooned, as I have a couple of events coming up for announcement that may or may not interest the parents and their student athletes...a Novel approach once again on my part to share with Family Sports Life Today in the NW...

I am soooooooooooo happy to be back in the NW and with Family and Friends...I thank you each and every one for emailing me over the last several months, encouraging my weblogits, and of course keeping me posted on your lives as well, on and off the court...Drive safe, buckle up and all the best, God Bless...Coach tom

February 3, 2008...somewhere between China, Japan and Russia...sitting close to the window seat and don't see any Migs or F-116's flying along, so I guess we're in a "free" flyzone...Okay, I gotta get something off my chest: Passwords...This blogit is for anyone over the age of 50 who "suffers" the same freakn embarrassment of using a website and not remembering your passwords...Now, I am of the generation, whose "generator" is still operating at a steady pace, mind you, that was introduced to the novel Apple Performa 756 I believe, a relic of sorts today, I'm sure, and after never taking an IT class to familiarize myself with the Mac-OS and other "loadins", I experienced my first "Choose a Password" direction, NOT instruction, direction...Well, at first that seemed harmless and actually quite convenient until Apple and I aged together, albeit, me with less hair and meals not missed, and Apple off on to new wellsprings of technology R&D...Ever notice the difference today between the sleek "Apps" and my non "Abbs"?...Yeah, that's why I never bought an Apple again...it hurt to much too see how handsome it had become and how "leathered" my looks became over the last 12 years...Vain you say?...Shucks no, I just don't turn the light on when I blow dry my hair...!!! Okay, back to the "theme" here, as I have a tendency to write like a Hawaiian Helicopter pilot trying to find the perfect "shot" for your experience on Maui, and he rolls left to right better than any Disney ride today, so I'm sitting in the Incheon Airport in Korea this morning, awaiting departure to Vladivstok, Russia, and find a "Wi-Fi" location in my nearby gate area...Glory, say to myself, this is going to be fun, I can check out the SuperBawl and see how the Pats and Gints are doing...(I use to live in New Joisey, just across the Hudson when I was coaching with the Nets '90-'92)...But before I know it, I have to PAY for access to the "AirLan" wireless system in order to go online...So I pay at the counter for a card, almost $5 and I'm not sure about how much "time" I've purchased, as I just wanted to go online and see the update on game...It was here that my quest for access went awry...Not only did I NOT get access, but until I "signed" in and gave a "Password", I would not be granted access...Now I'm getting about as brown as a milktoast broiled...I click everything "yes", until I come to the area of "Create New Password"...and it was here that I began to suffer "malaches" unknown to the generations below 50 today...I say to myself: "not another freakn password...and all the mundane questions and answers 'in case' I forget' my password...Now I have a dilemma: do I take the time to "use" this card this moment for the purpose of catching any information on the Super Bowl, or do I just take my card back to the counter and ask for refund and be done with messin with this program...I held out and chose to seek "New Signin Password", and here is where my story begins and ends (but not really if you know me...)...

As I began to fill out the questions and impatiently mistype all over the place, I stopped and had an epiphany of sorts: Passwords: the first signs of being old and realizing the loss of memory...Whoever the neurologist or whateverologist that came up with the scientific term: Memory Bank, was not over 50, let alone 40, as he or she did NOT know what we now know as "t-r-o-u-b-l-e", making a password that NO BODY can remember for "security reasons", including yourself...For once, I would just like to praised for REMEMBERING my Password and not being criticized for "forgetting" where I left something (Boxes, keys, wallet, passport, hat, gloves, tissues, you know the drill)...I mean when WE forget our Password and then the series of questions arise about "who you REALLY are..." well, it's then that I realize I'm a "Peking Duck"...no questions...I just want to get to the link that I signed up on two, three months ago...leave me alone already with all the freakin questions, please...!! I mean, from Expedia to CSTV to United Airlines to GoHuskies.com to aol.com to Yahoo.com to MSN online.com...to and to and to...help me Rhonda, help help help help me pullllllllleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze!!

Then, on top of FINALLY answering CORRECT the "secret" questions so someone who has a hard time remembering where he is in the middle of the night "bladder call", I don't get any feedback from answering it correctly...no "Great Job, Old Man...waytogo, young fella...You're right! You DID get the right answer after 10 mins...OR...Congratulations, you have just successfully accessed your link...we're so happy that you finally remembered who you were, are and hopefully will become..."...I mean really, isn't there anyone out there, male or female, my generation or a couple of floors lower, that agree with me on "Passwords" today and the imposition it requires to function as an Interactive adult? or Youth or Octogenarian, looking ahead here...So, here's a shoutout to Biil G and Steve B: how about "thinking" ahead to YOUR future years online and come up with a simple "access" passALLthewords so we can function without stress after the traffic jams we engage in our lives weekly...Peace...I'm outta here...more later...

Coach tom

January 4, 2008...Sunset on the frozen bay of Valdivostok, Russia from a truly picture perfect window in my hotel room...

It's cold, but NOT that cold compared to Changchun, aka Coldchun, China...maybe 25degrees, no wind or breeze, unless you're waiting to cross the street and the whirlwind of a passing car hits your face, and then you remember "cold" as it once was 2 weeks ago in Changchun...

I arrived in Vladivostok from Seoul, Korea about 2pm today...I was met by a Non-Government Official by the name of Demitreyev Motolivov, who goes by "Dima", and is working with our State Department on this event and other events that our State Department asks him for help with, either by translation or planning...He has a Driver, whose name would begin here: and end here...so I nicknamed him Igor...he doesn't say much, but his eyes tell a myriad of stories and experiences that he has learned over his 40+ years in Vladivostok...He handles his Mitsubishi 4WD like it's a VW bug as he wound thru traffic as if he were blind and knew what the other driver would do before he would turn, pass or stop...Let me get back to the Hotel Vladivostok...If you were to go back to earlier blogits, you would find my "story" on Vladivostok very interesting, as we were here in the early part of October for an International Tournament, if you remember...Back then, I mentioned the first hotel we stayed as a team and how it smelled of smoke, like there must have been a fire or something, only to find out later there was, one floor below us, the week before, and every one of the players' rooms smelled like the fallout of a serious fire had taken place not long ago...Well, the lobby is repainted, they've added a Business Center and the Rule: No Smoking in the lobby...and you could immediately tell that there was something "fresh" about this return already to Hotel Vladivostok...until...I get to my room...I'm on the 9th floor, and as I stated earlier you couldn't ask for a better view of the Bay and looking upon the frozen ocean, dotted by brave ice fishermen, who fish near one another or within "save me please, the ice broke" distance...this was the same Bay where Windsurfers braved the cool winds in their wetsuits to soar and land continuously before Sunset back in October...The trees are skeletons of dark bark and branches, nothing here is green life, save the automobiles that have that color when driving in town...My room: when I opened the door and got hit by the waif of some stench only familiar to a stockyard cowboy, I felt like Michael J Fox in a short version of Back to the Future...Wheeeeeeeeew, that strong...But, I am not complaining as I appreciate every effort on the Russian side and our side to make this epic event happen...Just to make sure that the 'methane particles' I sense are in the air, I choose not to take anything out of my suitcase and hang, although I did have to take my suit out and put in the closet, which is okay, because I have a plastic cover over it...just when I thought I wanted to complain or whatever, I just looked out my window and relished with good spirit/feeling of "what a view...what a view" and forgot quickly any other malodorous distaste for where I was going to stay for the next 9 days...

Viktor Euopvov, Public Relations Manager, Translator for Team Spartak, Russian Premiere League, came to the hotel to visit me around 5pm, today, and boy is he really "feelin" the pressure of being the Translator for his team...Evidently, the team has not paid its players in almost two months, and the two foreigners in one month...They've just returned from an uneventful trip to Moscow, playing 3 teams on the road there and like my previous team, Jilin Northeast Tigers, could not eke out a "W" in any of the three contests...which doesn't help the management come to terms with the players now...Poor Viktor, he looked like someone who accidentally fell into a oversized Dryer/Tumbler and no one found him for a month until now...I knew I just had to make "his day" and help disarm the "ill" that he felt at this time with his current situation...For the life of me, I've never understood how "professional" teams and their management group think that they can withhold any team members salary, coaches included, yet I hear this every year and have heard it for the last 36 years, and have been victimized by that disrespect also, both as a player in Belgium and also as a Head Coach in Greece and Japan...This I will say about Mr. Qu, the Jilin Tigers owner, he was always fair and on time with all salaries to players...give or take a week to ten days, but did 'honor' each team member and coaches contract...There were however, other CBA teams, whose owners "failed" to meet their financial obligations to the Chinese players, but always paid the Americans...bad balance there, I'm afraid, because the Chinese players make a quarter of what the Foreigners do, and when you "honor" some and not all on a team, baaaaaaaad things happen...Such is the case right now with Team Spartak, I'm afraid...I didn't press Viktor for details but told him I would like to take he and his wife out to dinner tomorrow night and get away from his "stress mess", and I won't take 'no' for an answer...He looked at me and smiled and laughed and said my "wife would love for me to be able to do that sometime..."...He too had not been paid in a month, but didn't want to dwell on that aspect...Tonight was a "big management" meeting with coaches, players and support staff, meaning that Viktor must translate what is going to be said regarding contracts and payments for the rest of the season...He's worried that the two Foreigners will leave, one being JR Bremer, former Ohio State player of years ago, and a pretty good one at that...Evidently they needed to get at least one victory on this last road trip in order to make the Playoffs and now it's almost impossible for them to join the Top Eight...I'm hoping to see Coach Sergei Babov, Head Coach of Team Spartak, and hear how he's doing through all of this...He and his Assistant Coach, Michalev, were very kind and open to me as a colleague when our team was in their tournament...I'm hoping that I can bring some little joy to Viktor and his wife tomorrow night...He has been painstakingly trying to translate my "handout" materials for the coaches, and I told him not to, but he wanted to be sure that the coaches understood everything that I was teaching and demonstrating this week...What a guy!!

Okay, I'm here, fired up to get back on the court and ready for Russian Bear!! Will let you know how tomorrow night goes with Viktor and his wife...I'm thinkin a nice restaurant with a bottle of Red Wine for the occasion...I gotta do something for this gentle man who put so much time and best effort into the planning and coordinating of this event...

By the way...I didn't "lose" a box or a suitcase on this trip...Glory!! Best to all, safe travels, Coach tom

February 2, 2008...Beijing...Sunny...cold...but colder on the Great Wall like you wouldn't believe...Anyone who is a Tall Mountain Climber, well, hats off to you, briefly, as the experience I had today was one I won't soon forget...depending on how quickly my "not-so-smart" cells continue to defrost...When I left the RedWall Hotel (my hotel in Beijing) this morning, I felt pretty good overall, considering I was squinting from the sunshine at the entrance of the hotel..,plus, the chill factor was probably a reasonable 40 maybe, tolerable for sure, but nothing compared to the neuro-sensory assault on my "sometimes" nervous system...Remember how I described living in Coldchun, Northeast China for the last several months? And how the cold had no respect for articles of cover, leather or fur when it made your chilly acquaintance? Guess what? The Wall, yes The Great Wall, introduced me not only to its historical impressions, but a reminder that many thousands upon hundred of thousands citizens built by hand this truly incredible Wonder of the World, and it took over 2,000 years and covers over 4,000 miles throughout China...Ponder THAT "teamwork and commitment", coupled with the the thought that these workers were not only commissioned, supervised and honored for their service, they all had to experience what I did JUST WALKING upon the hand-carved stone steps: Frrrrrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeze...I was accompanied by, Aaron, the Asst. Manager of the RedWall Hotel, who was my "Chief" inspector/detective when I lost my "BOX" upon arrival here 10 days ago...which has since been FOUND...back to the Wall...We chose the 2nd Exit, Badaling for our "freeze point entry"...now, I know we have the Space Needle and I-5 Corridor that runs from border to border, which is a remarkable passage in its own right, until you hit 'rush hour' traffic, and then the curses rain down from on High about the idiot who "designed this highway anyway...?"...But to look right to left and watch this serpentine structure, snake up and down hills and mountains, whoa Nellie, it IS a Wonder of the World...Keep holding my thoughts here, please, as I am still defrosting and reflecting...and it is cold, by Coldchun standards, yet, I think since the sun's out, "no problemos, I CAN handle this (warm blooded thinking for sure from a person who has NO HAIR on top)..."...UNTIL I make a decision with Aaron to "let's turn right, since we'll be walking into the sunlight and maybe stay warmer..."...Wrong Turn!!...As we made our way up the steps from the Visitor center, and me with my turtleneck, down coat. jeans and casual cross trainers (shoes), the only thing that was more important to me at this moment was the fact that I wore my infamous Coaches Who Care, Intl., hat, that at least kept a smile 'isle' of follicles insulated, or so I thought as we made our way towards a lookout point on the Wall...Now try to imagine this: about a 45degree angle upwalk, into the sun BUT more difficult wind coming from the South and hitting us face on...Anyone who knows anything about climbing, knows that at 45degree upwalk, you're NOT walking flatfooted, you're basically putting all the weight on your insteps and Achilles heels, so much so, I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND ANY MALE OVER 40 to EVER walk up a steep incline such as this without FIRST, stretching both Achilles', calves, hammies and lower back...otherwise you will have the following issues when you awaken the next morning: "What the hell "hit" ME in the middle of the night...Holy Molee, my achy-breakee=backee=...whooosh, wow, why are my Achilles a-killin me right now?...oooh, my hammies haven't felt like this since pre season practices in college over 40 years ago...where's Dr. Bob Greczanik when I need him NOW (Sports Acupuncturist in Bellevue>The BEST!!)!!

So to summarize because it is already Tuesday and I need to post this, I did defrost 45 minutes later, the headache, backache and hammies (quads were fine) were sore for two days and I feel "new" hairs growing on top...

Take care, stay safe, all the best...Coach tom

January 30, 2008...Wednesday afternoon...about 45 degrees, sun out in Beijing...what I'm about to share with now, is what is called "losin it..."...

The Box returns...err...is found...err...HAS BEEN HERE ALL THIS FREAKIN TIME!! This morning, early, I was turning over and over again my thoughts and the dialogues of all the people involved in my packing, loading, unloading and droppoffs, trying to resolve in my mind that "it's gotta be somewhere in this country...help me, Lord...", and to His credit, He listened to ol tommy boy here in Beijing and gave a him a thought: "Ah, my son, have you considered that perhaps your BOX is in your midst? And that all the evil things you thought and said under your breath in tongues I have never spoken before myself, you may have the BOX before you...? Have you considered THAT notion, son?"...Aw, c'mon Lord, I'm NOT THAT "far gone" to even THINK that it is here, in this small room, and I haven't even considered THAT OPTION...Now, paranoia awakens, like a Stephen King novel 20 pages in and I'm looking at the 5 boxes on both sides of the bed...3 are from The Larson Legacy...one is from my room that I packed along with the missing BROWN BOX, right?...then I'm looking at a USPS Express Mail Box, White, that I don't remember Lee Larson sending me...hmmm, who sent this to me...and I look at the still-intact attached label, and it says "Sender: Chris Newell"...NO, it didn't say that....I walk away, come back, pick it up, put it down, walk away again and start shaking my head to make sure ALL THE MARBLES ARE IN PLACE when I open this box up to be humbled for ALL TIME...I rip the yards of tape that wrapped around it, as well as the straps that I had put on the box because it was NOT SECURE when I went to check in a week ago at the Changchun Airport...slowly I am beginning to see "pain, suffering, and inflammation of a sore neck from shaking one's head" syndrome, usually associated with an American basketball coach in Beijing, China who has been in the Northeastern part of China, having had his neurosensors FROZEN for quite some time now...HOLY SWEET OBAMA!!!

Yes, indeedy, there it was, EVERYTHING THAT I THOUGHT WAS on the streets somewhere trying to make someone happy...but no, the BOX is HERE...Glory...so for those of you who lit a candle, toasted my BOX and its whereabouts, and/or just said "newell's losin it...", thank you, thank you, thank you, I received ALL of your wishes and appreciate the empathy you felt for my BOX...And to think, last night I finally succumbed to "losing it forever" and went out and bought replacement cords for the tech stuff I have...laptop, portable DVD player, monitor...It only cost me about $50 bucks for replacement, and met some fans of the CBA and had fun talking about the league and all, BUT, THIS, here in MY ROOM...I shoulda had the Beach Boys song on all this time: "In my roooooooooooommmmmhhhmmmm", something would have been turned my switch on and saved me this embarrassing moment in my Chinese experience...Now I gotta go downstairs and 'fess up to the Bellman, David and his Boss Aaron, Asst. Mgr., GREAT GUY, has helped me so much, Wi, Asst. to the Asst. Mgr. and then walk around with a cardboard sign hangin from my neck: "My Name is "Not-so-smart"...If I look lost...I am..."

Okay, enough self deprecation here, and on to glorious future moments in my life...Tomorrow I visit The GREAT WALL...wow, can you believe it? I am so excited about seeing this...I remember a long long time ago, reading...errr, looking at the pictures in National Geographic Magazine and seeing this pictorial story on China's Great Wall, and remembering it being "One if the 7 Wonders of the World" at that time...Think there are a couple of more that could be added, but word is, the "Committee" are members of the Baseball Hall of Fame Selection group...Anyway, will give you my thoughts on the Wall after the visit...

Hey, I really mean this: so many of you emailed me and expressed sadness and shared my angst over the BOX, and I want you each to know I appreciate your laughter and also shaking your head as you read my account and followups to this point...I felt your "vibes" and THAT ALONE was the inspiration to find the BOX...Take care, safe travels, God Bless...tom

January 26, 2008...Sunday evening, Beijing...

At last! I was fortunate enough to be invited to speak and get on the court again at Coach Wang Fei's Basketball Academy outside Beijing...What a pure joy this experience was, and those parents whose sons and daughters have trained with me over the last several years "know" how much I enjoy teaching and watching players practice new skills they are being taught for the first time...

The Wang Fei Basketball Academy is part of a private middle and high school institution...It has over 1,000 boys and girls enrolled in the school for academics, and Coach Fei's program is an "add on" extracurricular program offered at the school...He only has boys, ages 11-17, all with varied skill levels, some advanced, some not so advanced, but ALL eager and willing to be taught...Coach Wang Fei bridged a relationship this past summer in Hawaii when I was accepting the invitation by SunJun, GM of the Jilin NE Tigers CBA team...Little did I realize then, how close Wang Fei was to SunJun, having played with him on numerous National Teams as well as on the well known Bayi Red Army Team, the Boston Celtics of old CBA team...Wang Fei shared with me during our dinner after the afternoon session today, about how SunJun approached him and asked him as friend and mentor what he thought about me as an "NBA Coach coming to the CBA for his team...?"...Wang Fei said that he had known my father, Coach Pete Newell for many many years and that he was watching how I interacted with the All Star Americans in the CBA Draft Camp in Hawaii during the week, and said the players respected me and listened to me during timeouts and substitutions, but that my greatest strength would be in teaching his young players in Jilin...Wow, I said to myself, little did I know that he too was supporting SunJun's decision to hire me as his team's leader...Couple that with Coach Bruce O'Neil, President of the United States Basketball Academy in Springfield, Oregon, how could I go wrong! Coaches, remember this always: if you teach the game the right way, respect the players, Officials and people supporting this wonderful activity, you have a much better chance to keep "working" than not...

Back to the Academy...So, Wang Fei introduces me to 72 students in attendance for this afternoon session, and his assistant coaches (OUTSTANDING Teachers in their own right!), and beforehand, asked me to "appeal" to them about applying their efforts in school, not just on the court everyday, that they are very lazy for the most part in classroom study and application...Now he's talkin to the right "Cat" when it comes to speaking to kids in school and sports...Not missing a beat, I have these young fellas in front of me, and right away ol coach here addresses them with a "Niaho" and then proceeds to have Wang Fei translate "how many habits are there in basketball?"...The murmur rises as the seconds tick by and I pick out a young player and ask him "how many?"...He answers correctly: "two" in perfect English...Now keep in mind, these players are supposedly "studying" English in school, albeit, not very consistently, but I am encouraged that he had the self confidence to give me the answer: "Good and Bad..."...The next question led to "how many ways can you play the game..."...Now many hands raise and I am really encouraged now...I point to one older player (16-17 yrs. old) and he says through Wang Fei, "two...good and bad..." with a smile, and I say "yes, there are two ways, but not good and bad, rather Right Way and Wrong Way...", using the example of dribbling the ball with your head down (demonstrating this I might add) and ask if this is a "good habit or bad habit, using my thumbs up or down, respectively, an International sign language unto its own), they all raise their hand with "thumbs down" and that leads into the next question, "is it the Right Way or Wrong Way?...Again arms raise and "thumbs down" is unanimous...Then I say, "Excellent, NOW we have an understanding about how I will teach you today..."...Then we explore the "3 Speeds in basketball": Quick (change of direction), Fast (transition on Offense and Defense) and lastly the most important: Slow (playing under control, learning something new in a drill etc.)...Their eyes lit up, I have 'turned' on a 30w Bulb in their basketball minds...This sets up the "next" conversation about "habits in school work and applications"...90% of the kids raised their hand when I asked them point blank whether they could "do better in school and studying..."...They ALL nodded and agreed that they had bad habits when it came to having a Best Effort everyday in school, NOT ever mentioning bball in this exchange...We then proceeded to the courts where I demonstrated a one dribble with right hand, step off with the left foot shooting drill from the top of the key...which evolves into several other one dribble or two dribble (no more than that) moves to the basket...There were 6 baskets available, and we had more than enough help to successfully complete the drills for today...Let me say this: I have worked many many basketball camps over the last 38 years and this was the FIRST camp where the kids "picked" up very quickly the importance of keeping their heads up when making a 1 on 1 move towards the basket (you must READ the defense always when going 1 on 1 so you can REACT to any "help" defense and change direction with the ball (Quick speed) to finish the ATTACK...by the end of our session together, each player had successfully learned a couple of new moves and were excited to have me show them how to practice on their own with the same...even Wang Fei's assistants 'seized' the opportunity to also demonstrate to players who had difficulty coordinating the dribble with the balance and handle needed to be successful going to the basket...But more importantly, I WAS ON THE COURT AGAIN!! GLORY!!

Dinner later that evening with Wang Fei and his former teammate, Coach Lee...Wang Fei wanted me to experience Beijing Duck with him and Coach Lee, as well as other Epicurean delights, Chinese dishes I've had before but never so flavorful as these...the dishes: a spicy "bamboo" slices, sauteed and mixed with onions and mushrooms...I've had bamboo before, BUT this dish, WOW...next came a dish with "duck's feet", a delicacy served cold and prepared with Wasabe' hot mustard...I didn't want to disrespectful and not try it, so I did...not bad, not bad at all...good thing I had something to "wash" it down with...and that was puree Corn juice, heated to a boiling level and served in a tall glass...First time I'd ever tasted such and let me tell you, it had NO ADDITIVES such as sugar or molasses, just the fresh puree kernels, heated...Y'all gotta try that one, especially the kids, beats the heck out of a carbonated drink, that's for sure...next came a plate of large shrimp, with under-shell covered bread crumbs...how good was that? Of the 2 dozen, I had at least a dozen as Coach Fei and Coach Lee were into the duck's feet and bamboo root...next we had string green beans, with onions, small red peppers and mushrooms...are you getting hungry yet? Next was a saute' pan served at our table with Green Peppers, Red Peppers, Onions, Chicken pieces (no bones), green sting beans, and curry sauce...SOMEBODY please tell me how I've missed out "this" dish all the time I've been here!! Now that dish was "attacked" by 3 pairs of Chopstiks and surprisingly I "held my own" in the grab...If I can say there two "things" that I've improved remarkably on it would be as follows: How to cross the street safely, with a "bobble head" motion keeping me safe...next is my adept left handed chopstik mechanics...You wouldn't believe how many of the players and others who I have had the distinct pleasure of sharing a traditional meal with when I choose NOT to use the Western Utensils put in front of me...Most are dumbstruck by my being lefthanded and "doin my thing" with such precision...no, I don't "need" to catch flys or other flying objects to prove my skill, just know this: plastic chopstiks are no longer a "fear factor" when eating out in public in China...Back to the entree's...Next comes one of the Chefs wheeling a waist-high cart, and a roasted Peking Duck on top (this duck was through "peeking" at anything)...Wang Fei has him wheel his "duck cart" around so I can watch his skills carving a just-cooked Duck...Let me tell you, not only was this Chop Knife (the same used for veggies) SHARP, the Chef was "sharper"...I was so mesmerized by his skill, Wang Fei started laughing because my eyes were transfixed on how quickly he shaved to the bone the meat from the Duck...I mean this took all of maybe 4 and half minutes and there were two plates of meat well stacked and ready for "roll" shell that comes with this dish...How good was this? Wang Fei and Coach Lee laughed out loud when I took my first bite and under my breath I was sighing "ummmmmmm"...Keep in mind, I've had the Beijing Duck, back in early December in Beijing with our two American players and the GM...That was my first time and there also did I release an "ummmmmmm" and draw laughter from the table...But this "ummmmmm" was a different "octave" level, as it was served right before us, still warm and ever so fresh...I asked Wang Fei if he knew any Spanish, to which he replied no, so I taught him "NO MAS!!", meaning I was "done" eating for the night, there was not another morsel that could match what I had just experienced...He laughed again and so did I...what a prince of a guy Wang Fei is...His wife was suppose to join us but she was with her ill stricken father and could not be with us...I hope I can meet her sometime...They have one daughter who attends BYU Hawaii as a Freshman...She speaks fluent English and is a Business school major...Wang Fei is not a Mormon, but his actions and social disciplines are exemplary: he doesn't smoke or drink alcohol...and tonight was the first dinner I've ever had in China where alcohol and cigarettes were not part of the "menu" for the sitdown experience...This much I know: Wang Fei and I are going to be "newest" best friends for many years to come, trust me...We talked hoops the whole time we were not on the court...He has a great mind for the game and is without a doubt the BEST teacher of skills I have seen since arriving on this continent...I am committed to HELPING him any way I can with future additions of Pro Players to his teams in the near future...We are already planning a "tryout" in Seattle, whereby I will invite 10 players to come to Seattle and spend 4 days, going through drills, interviews and evaluations by myself and Coach Ernie Woods (Hooptactics.com)...I came up with this idea after hearing his "plea" to help him "find" good character and citizens that can make his team compete for a Championship...Our kind of guy, No? Anyway, Coach Fei will also bless my weekend sessions at Eastside Catholic on one of the weekend mornings, as I asked him to "help" me, then I will "treat" him to our Northwest Seafood delights: Salmon and Rockfish with vegetables...replacing Duck's feet with Fresh Calimari and of course Rice...If you ever need a Caterer, the best one I've ever experienced is Russell and Rick Lowell from Lowell Catering in Seattle...Now THEY know how to prepare Salmon and ANY Epicurean dishes to foreigners unaccustomed to our NW delights...They do Weddings, Special Events, Banquets and Private presentations...Keep them in mind if you're thinking of doing something different for the Senior Students' Graduation in June...

The "box"...don't ask, please...I've run out of Aleve and I don't have the energy to even try to "look" again into the whereabouts...tomorrow I have to buy new accessory items that go to my computer: camera, headset, plugs, monitor plugs...arrrrrrrrrgh!!! Enuff said...I leave for Russia on Sunday via Seoul, Korea, overnight there and on to Vladivostok...Being in "warm" Beijing now (Hawaii compared to Changchun cold), I am going to a city that is COLDER than Changchun!! And here I thought my cold "daze" was done, fini, ovah, adios, sayonara, goodbye...Oh well, might have to get some "woolies" as they call them here in China...Take care, drive safely, slow down, and God Bless...much love to all, Coach tom

January 23, 2008...Wednesday night...at the airport waiting for the flight from Changchun to Beijing...and Bob Marley is definitely the "Mastah Rastah Brah"...I've got him on my Nano now, and let me tell you, his words from his heart overshadow his love for life...and his was short...God Bless him...

It's kind of a bittersweet departure right now...leaving Coldchun and the kind, generous people that I became close to on the team at the Hotel and throughout the city...It has been a wonderful journey, these last 5 months in Changchun...The pictures I have captured through the lens of Steve Castleberry and my dear friend, Larry Stone, only accentuate the positive feelings I come away with from here...I'll always remember being addressed as an "old man" by Pancake, "Shortstack", our translator...NOW THAT was a cultural shock of sorts hearing that the first time, trust me...With the players, that all stopped quickly when I stepped on the court and began demonstrating footwork and change of speed one on one moves that detailed balance, recognition and execution, challenging each player to "new" areas of discipline and application...You see, our young aspiring players today seem to think that they can "get by" on their innate skills, which have evolved from And 1 videos, pickup games that are no more than 1 on 1 "horrorplay", and of course what they see on the tele professionally...and THIS IS UNIVERSAL, sadly...

Plane delayed ONLY 3 and a half hours...and FINALLY I arrive to my hotel in Beijing at 2am...The following events between Beijing airport and my hotel is a script that could only be acted out by Steve Martin or Albert Brooks...meaning, I need to rewind here (it's now Thursday after 6 hours sleep and 5 phone calls already this morning from the "new" on duty Concierge, whose understanding of the English language is about as good as mine in Chinese...got the picture?)...I was "hustled" by a supposed Taxi Driver upon leaving the baggage claim area, and after letting this "Napoleonic" figure know that I appreciated his effort, I wanted to speak first to the Information on Travel and Hotels that is in front of the Baggage Exit...I first ask the young woman if she spoke Chinese, which she said "yes"...I then asked her if this "gentleman" was a "licensed" driver and legit, to which she asked me if I was looking for some noodles to eat first...NOW THAT should have been a "sign" in itself...So, I changed my question to: "is this man a REAL Taxi Driver?"...She then asked him in Chinese and he in PERFECT English states: "I have BIG METER..."...and he's a small guy...We now have a "crowd" surrounding me and my dialogue, and true to my cynic nature, I tell him I'm "1 meter 95"...he didn't seem amused but the Lady laughed...Anyway, I "allowed" him to him and his "friend" to help me with my two carts, that being the case because of the materials I am taking to Russia, courtesy of Lee Larson and my son, Bo's "care" package mailing a couple of weeks ago...I have 3 suitcases and 6 boxes, file type that are on the cart...this is important to follow along here, as I am teaching you something about arriving to Beijing in the middle of the night, fatigued, and about as pleasant as old dog resting on hot summer day and being bothered by a fly that keeps trying to land on its nose...Keep in mind, I have been on a train over 7 and a half hours and a plane for 3 something in the last 24...How Kiefer Sutherland does "his" version of "24", I have no clue, but MINE require a number of pit stops and delays along the way, for sure...Fortunately, I don't wish to "eliminate" anyone like Sutherland does...but ALMOST was ready to after this trip...

The Ride: "Lil Nap" as I now have nicknamed him, and his friend take me curbside, all the while in my non-beveraged induced stupor, thinking to myself: "hmmm, here he is, with his "friend" taking me and my carts to the "Taxi"...Now, keep in mind, that there is NO FREAKIN way that the Port of Seattle Police would EVER allow a Taxi Driver to leave his "parked" taxi in front of the arrivals gate, right? So, as we ascend to the "Stairway to Hell" (tom's version of the Led Zepp classic), I am getting my second wind, meaning "sober" and realize that "this is going to be REAL interesting when I see HIS taxi and where he has it "stashed"...Lil Nap goes quickly to the curbside and hollers for this "private" BLACK, VW Passage sedan to come to the curb to pick me up (I KNOW Chinese well enough now to understand "voice inflections well, mind you), and here it comes, screeching to a halt, and a young fella jumps out, trunk popped and the two guys with my cart are getting ready to load "me" up...I politely tell "Lil Nap" to hold on...NO!!...They both stop in their tracks and Nap says to me: "what your problem?"...I say, where's the "meter" on this car? He says: "you have many bags...I have many cars, and this is special for your hotel..."...They say during the day the smog is really bad in Beijing, but no one ever told me about the "methane particles" that are also a HUGE emission problem at the airport...I tell him to give me the price NOW before he takes one bag and places it inside the vehicle (did I say BLACK SEDAN...? ...the windows were so tinted that a laser couldn't penetrate its film!!)...He says: "200 Yuan"...Which is about right...BUT he wanted to take TWO CARS to the hotel...Now the lyrics to Led Zepp's classic are ringing in my mindshare: "There's an Old Man I know, whose intentions are good and he's driving his way to hellllllllllll...oooh weee oooohooooh wee...and he's buying his way to hellllllllllla..."...I say ONE CAR, and look to call a METERED Taxi...I tell him that he was not honest with me, when he said he had "BIG METER" and that I was not happy with his actions now...He apologized and said 'okay', one car...He says that this is "Good Driver", he will take good care of you, okay...now you must tip tip tip me for my hard push...and to think, in less than 5 months, the world is going to "experience" thousand-fold what I am going through right now, and I thought I was a savvy "cat"...Back to the "Blackmobile"...the back door is opened and the seats are lamb hair covered, really nice in fact...so all the bags and boxes go into this vehicle, and I thank Lil Nap and his friend and give them a $10 tip between them...which they both looked at me like: "did you see the Stock Market today, bad day, we want more...", and I smiled and "SiChi" (thank you...seeshe)...Now to the "ride"...so we're rollin along on the highway with very very few automobiles traveling at 2am right now, and I strike up a conversation with "The Fella"...he knows a little English, and not enough, I'm soon to learn, and we're heading downtown to my hotel from the airport...not only did this car have its seats lamb covered, but so was the steering wheel...so much so, that I'm hoping that no animals "jump" in the path of our car, 'cause if it did, there's NO WAY that this fella is going to be able to do a "Nascar" swerve accurately...That mental pause on my part was short lived, as I remembered all too well, that most dogs and cats are "delicately" prepared for the table, which meant "fat chance" on hitting anything with four legs right now...Our conversation quickly moved to "you like basketball" and you "play" basketball...His eyes and smile told the rest of the story...He loves basketball and the NBA...Great, I say to myself, he just might be alright for this trip to my hotel...Now we are inside the city limits, heading towards my hotel as he slows down on an offramp...he soon STOPS in the right lane of the two lane offramp, calls someone on his cellphone to GET DIRECTIONS...and then I'm singing to myself: "Help me if you can I'm feelin dowwwnnnn...and I do wish that someone else were arounnnnnd...", and NOW he's LOST...I shoulda known that someone as young as Li is (24 years old), living in Beijing, where there are more than 20 million people, that he has NO experience with ALL the hotels that are in this city, let alone the street addresses...This I know, he wasn't a "homing pigeon" before in another life, as we spent a half hour trying to find my hotel, which I actually gave him IN CHINESE the directions and he goes "I know I know...", they say that alot in English here when they DON'T know something...keep that in mind when you're here...Then, at a signal, he jumps out of his car TWICE to get directions to the hotel, the first time at a signal, the next time at a side street and he runs back about 50 yards to ask a Taxi Driver the same...Now why wouldn't he just BACK UP like he did on the offramp to "get" directions on his first call for help...I now have my hotel on the cell and as he gets into my car, I give him the receptionist and he's listening and driving ahead...hmmm, now all of sudden HE KNOWS where he's going...he cuts her off to take another call and then 3 mins. later, we pull up in front of the Red Wall Hotel...does he pull up in front...no...he pulls ahead away from lights and says okay, "Pay me 200 Yuan and Tip"...I tell Li that he must back up to the front of the hotel and I will pay him then to help me get my bags out of the car...so, backs out of the lot and drives around to the front and jumps out, starts pulling bags and boxes out and I'm slowly helping all the while and then he shuts the doors to his passenger side back door and says "now Tip"...I said, "Li, you did good job to get me here, but you did not do good job to find hotel..."...With that he jumps in and takes off...I check in and forgetting to get a receipt from Li, soon realize that two of my 6 boxes are missing..."Won't you pleeeeease pleeeeease HELP ME HELP MEeeeeeeee ooooooh..."...Now I am NOT a Happy Camper at all...I start speaking in "tongues" to no one in particular, and this young bellman, David, says to me in a kind, reassuring voice, "Sir, I can help you...do you have the Taxi receipt?...I tell him no, but I do know what they ALL look like and the name of the Driver...so, my newest "hero", David, takes me to my room and says, I will help you, please don't worry, this man will have to call back because you know what he looks like...So, about 10 mins. later, I get a call to my room and David is all excited as get out to tell me that the "driver" called to the hotel and says that he has your box...but that I must "pay" another 200 Yuan to get it back...I tell David to keep him on the line as I will come down quickly to speak to him directly...Let me tell you something, my "transition" was so good that Lorenzo would have had me demonstrate at my age on how to "run a fast break lane" correctly...Now I'm at the Bellman's desk and I tell David to tell him that I am calling the Police NOW, and that he will never drive again and to bring my box back NOW...David translates this to Li and he wants to now speak to me...He now is speaking English and telling me that he is sorry that he didn't realize that the box was still in the back seat...I told him that there is no way I am paying him another 200 Yuan and that if the box is not here in the next 20 minutes I will call the Police and report him...I give the phone back to David and he repeats the SAME words in a different voice inflection that I am sure spoke to "the fella's" conscience...David says my box will be here in 20 mins. as he was back at the airport again...

20 Minutes later...an older lady dressed as a Taxi Driver comes into the hotel with my box...not "the fella", but a heavy set woman, with no smile and demanding 100 Yuan for this box...I'm sitting down while David, my new "hero" is negotiating with her...I know that I have to "pay" something to this driver because she got set up, and at 3:30 am, I AM NOT about to do evil upon her, so I kindly give her 80 Yuan, thank her and explain that the Police are going have a report this incident...She NOW smiles and says back to David, that she was doing "Lil Nap" a favor that's all and away she went...I now ask David to call Li back and ask him where the other box is...he tells David that there was only ONE, not two, and "that is the truth..."...the bar's closed and I am in need of a G&T RIGHT NOW...Larry Stone where ARE YOU when I KNOW you can handle this situation much better than I, and even my good friend Big D would have had BOTH boxes in my room by 3am, not one by 3:30am...So, now my day begins with becoming the American version of Inspector Clousteau...I was planning on visiting the Forbidden City, which is across the street from my hotel, but that shall wait, as I NEED the box that has my materials for the Russian Clinic in 10 days...Hope you're able to follow my story, Folks, as this is the only way I can maintain my sense of Irish humor and share the "Magical Mystical Tour" with y'all...Stay tooned...Safe travels, all the best, hope you enjoyed this entry...I felt much better after reading it twice...I'm a slow reader...Coach tom

January 25, 2008...Saturday late morning...2 Advils, meditative positive thoughts vibrating once again...BUT STILL NO FREAKIN BOX that's disappeared between my hotel and Beijing...Okay, I know, "it's just a box, tom...", but YOU don't know that I had my laptop headset in it, my laptop camera, my seattle cell phone, my basketball folders for the Russian coaches, my hookup connections to various plugs...In other words, I am only 'half-connected', but then again there are those out there who've always thought I've been "half connected" for a long time...Guess what? I've always had a "ground" plug attached and that's what has made me unique compared to others...Thank God!!

Okay, here is how my Thursday went after getting to sleep around 4am same morning...I spent several hours with 4 different people "sleuthing" the missing "box" and getting down to the nitty gritty of where it may have disappeared from when I left the hotel in Changchun...The Staff here at the Red Wall Hotel have been magnificent Hosts...From David, the Bellman, to Aaron, Asst. Mgr., to Wi (Wee), asst. to the asst. Mgr., and then the momentary appearance and greeting from the Mgr. herself, Stacy...Here's the lowdown as of Saturday morning: my box DID not, according to Security Cameras at the Red Buds, Changchun Hotel, indicate that I had 6 boxes, that they only counted 5 on the cart going outside to load up into the Taxi...This information arrived at 5 pm on Thursday night, leaving me a "new found" type of headache, AKA "Boxache"...So now, I am retracing the last steps from room to elevator and who was with me, and THEN a "flash", not a "hot" one, but similar: "YES, the EMS Shipping fella was with me and helped me with my boxes (who by the way is a GREAT GREAT new Friend, responsible for getting my Xmas presents home to the US on time...), and I'm thinking that he must have accidentally taken it with him and I forgot to give him instructions as to where to send it...Now I am so excited I jump into the elevator to share this "brainstorm" recollection with Aaron, and as the elevator doors open, guess who is walking in the hallway in front of me? Aaron!! Now he gives me this look like: "aren't you ever going to accept the fact that you lost your box...?"...And I quickly embrace him and tell him "I think I know what happened to it...the EMS Shipper may have accidentally picked it up..."...Which means that in order to call the Shipper, I need someone to translate and Aaron knows this...We then go to his desk, I give him my cell phone and he calls "my Guy", who says initially YES, I have Coach's Box, and watching Aaron's countenance change from Hyde to Dr. Jekyll very quickly...Ah, I'm thinking to myself, I am really good at this CSI stuff, I "found it" by reflecting...or so we thought, when in fact, EMSer didn't have the box and was now worried that I thought he "took" the box...Poor Aaron has this look on his face, like: "doesn't this American have something better to do than WORRY about a "box"...?...He's right, I do, BUT the fact of the matter is I had a lot of stuff in THAT box that I want back if I can track it down...Aaron hangs up, explaining that I DID NOT even for one minute think he, EMSer took the box and that's where it is...Then Aaron politely says, "I'm not sure what you can do next, Sir, I am at a loss here..."...So I ask him a simple question: "if you were me, and you lost a jacket in an airport where would you TURN to?"...he looked at me and realized that we had NOT asked the airports to locate this missing "box"...I am now thinking that the "box" and the Stat sheets I never received are linked...Aaron then says: "why of course, the Lost and Found...we have one here also at the Hotel...you're right, we only spoke to the baggage claim people NOT to LOST and FOUND...I will see if I can connect with both airports...BUT, right now, I have a headache and need to take a break, do you mind?"...Now I really felt bad...I asked him if I could buy him dinner in the Hotel...no thank you...then I asked him if he'd ever had a Gin and Tonic, it's very good, makes my hair grow...And he looked at me like I was truly "half connected" or "nutz" and it was then that I realized his "service" had run its course and pleaaaaaaseleavemealonenow so I can gather my thoughts for the "other" 200 guests...Dang, I felt so bad, I didn't do a darn thing about the "box" yesterday but I'm on it today...what the heck, it beats doing the Crossword Puzzle in the China Daily newspaper...So here I be, with a "boxache" to boot, trying to figure out what happened...

Stay tooned...as you can see, the books I've read, the games I've coached in and the life in China has devolved into a "challenge" of sorts, trying to find my "box"...Safe travels, God Bless...Coach tom

January 22, 2008...Tuesday...Somewhere between Coldchun and Shenyang on a slow train to Shenyang...When I say slow, we're talking the kinda "slow" that when you paint your house with an oil base paint and watch it dry...yep, THAT slow...

Okay, I FINALLY received the DHL documents this morning, which was originally expected to arrive no later than the 191h from Vladivostok, Russia...That being said, I missed the train yesterday, Monday, and had to ask a favor of the Bellman to exchange them back at the Station for me if he had the time (most definitely tipped him, which he refused to accept, until I told him that I wouldn't be his friend anymore...)...He was able to get 80% of face value, which means the tickets to Shenyang that I didn't use cost me 8 dollars...There's no such thing as "changing" the ticket to another day in China...Why? You ask? Because it's China...

So, my "newest" best Friend in China, Louis Ming, the Headmaster and Co-Director of the BAIDAWEI English School in Changchun, and myself are traveling together on this "slow" train filled with every imaginable character known to Mao...Without, Louie, I can't imagine how I would have ever been able to get to Shenyang safely and with my sense of humor still intact...Louie and I became friends three nights ago at dinner (see previous Post), when I presented to him a Concept and Draft on an student exchange program that now appears is going to happen...I am really excited about this prospect, trust me, as the students (ages in school 5-16 boys and girls) in this school are the most astute and clear speaking Chinese students I've met to date...They look right at you and address your questions, and also your answers...The model they've implemented in this school is beyond "commendable", it's truly an outstanding piece of extraordinary structure and administration...The teachers are imports from abroad, Americans, English, Aussies, Canucks, I mean now I know how China was the first manufacturer to come up the idea of a "blender", 'cause they most definitely "know" how to blend...And Louie, the CEO and his partner, David, President, have established this school as the #1 in Changchun, having to turn away applicants...They're considering adding another venue next year...the only thing holding them back is the qualifications of applicants online for a teaching position...It's a difficult process they've experienced in the past, but NO MORE...I am now helping this school in expanding its horizons, by introducing "New Horizons...portals to the World..."...This will begin with bringing students over to the Puget Sound for two weeks to experience firsthand our culture and having the opportunity to speak their ESL in a public environment, where English is the norm...Also in this "plan" would be ol tommy boy here, helping them with the screening process of applicants for overseas placement at BAIDAWEI schools (4-5 schools at this time)...Also included in this "vision" is Louie's idea of helping him develop a basketball program within BAIDAWEI that would bring in 14 yr. old students, boys and girls, whose parents would love nothing more than to see their children learn English, become outstanding students overall, and perhaps qualify for an Athletic Scholarship for basketball skills...Imagine this scenario: "true" Student Athletes, attending high school in the Puget Sound, sharing cultural experiences, athletic endeavors and developing the necessary academic disciplines to go on to a university and gain a degree in the end...NOW THAT would be a GREAT scenario/ending in my book...Will let you know how Family Sports Life Today is able to bring this whole program along...If I were to put it on a scale of 1-10 for happening this Summer: "!!" would be the number of record...

"Get me a Ticket for a Fast Train...ain't got time to take no Slow Train..."...Well, I finally received my "stamp" of approval from the Russian Consulate in Shenyang...Now we're on the Fast Train back to Changchun, I repack, check out and catch a plane to Beijing at 7:40pm tonight...Talk about a whirlwind..."The same thing that makes you mad, will also make you glad..."...after being sorely disappointed in DHL service, and NOT to their fault but the "Security" measures taken by ANY AND ALL Documents that come through China to anyone, the "weight" of my Official Invitation in this Airbill was the equivalent of a book of stamps...So, after catching the train last night, sleeping soundly and preparing for the Consulate's Office this morning, I was cognizant enough to remind myself (keep in mind, I think I have "Halfheimers", 'cause I only remember HALF of what I tell myself), bring a TURTLENECK, just in case you have to stand outside for 5 to 10 mins...So I actually did remember to pack this item...and boy, did it help immensely in reminding me how cold it is to stand outside in 25 below Zero weather for 40 MINS. and NOT 5-10 as hoped...Whoever thinks that the "Cold War" is over, just try to stand outside in subfeezing weather, waiting numbly for an invitation to come inside the Attache's Office for your Visa Stamp...After 10 mins. you're thinking like the anxiously addicted Lotto holder, who week to week can hardly "stand" to wait for the numbers to appear...I often wonder if those people actually play Ping Pong, and if they do how well...you know, the balls etc., and watching them come up one by one on the screen daily...Back to story: so here I am, 8:00am, standing outside the Embassy Entrance to the Russian Delegate's Office, with Louie translating to the Chinese Guard protecting the gate, identifying me and my purpose and trying to "throw in" an extra plug about "why" I'm there and that they are expecting me, which was true...The Guard gives us the telephone number of the Attache' who I met back in September when we (Tate and Castleberry) had to get our visa stamps for the Tournament in Vladivostok, Russia (earlier blogit)...Louie tells me that we have a half hour before they open the gate, let's go to KFC until then...I declined, as I remember how they have this special security camera outside the gate to "observe" the applicants BEFORE inviting them inside, and figured IF they saw this somewhat tall (by Asian standards) Anglo outside freezing his natural parts to the infantile stages of conception, that maybe JUST MAYBE, they'd let me in early...Back to the phone number of the Attache' inside, Paul is his name...So I call him and inbetween stutters and stammers, reminding me of my first "date" in high school as a 14 year old who had no clue what to say or how to act in conversation, he screams out to me "What...you come to gate 9am...I think I let you in..."CLICK...or was that an ear-wax projectile that came out of my right ear?...So, I tell Louie if he'd be so kind to bring me back a coffee, first one in a long long long time, I'd be forever grateful...he did 15 mins. later, as it takes 15mins. for every 5 that you're outside in the subzero weather...Man, it could have been Havoline 10W 30W, heated in a styrofoam cup and I would have DRUNK it at this point...It's been close to 30 mins. now, my ears as stiff and I'm sure as crisp as a Michael's Potato Chips, my nose/septum blocking my vision remarkably and me STARING right into the security camera from across the street...All I''m thinking at this point is "who the hell said that the "Cold War" was over...'cause if they're enjoying the black and white picture on the Security Camera of this American Patriot exhaling vapor like a poor runnin VW Bug, well, at my expense they got a chuckle for sure...Geeeze, I'm trying to remember when it's NOT SAFE to be outside for X number of minutes...Finally, at exactly 9:10am, Tall Paul (6'5" former University player I befriended the first time we visited this Consulate) appears and in front of about 20 applicants converging on the gate, he motions for me to come inside, "Please"...with a smile and a handshake, and in perfect English, he greets me and welcomes me again...WOW, my ears ringing with pure delight and defrosting at the same time, I do have a "friend" afterall in the Embassy here...You see, basketball friendships are without borders and paranoia, Paul took my application, 2,100 Yuan/RMB, and passport and said: "wait a moment, Coach, I come back to you shortly..."...20 mins. later...ONLY 20 mins. later he delivers my Passport with stamp included and wished me well and said he appreciated how much I was doing to help coaches in Russia and to consider going to St. Petersburg, Russia to help the college coaches there..."...I asked him how long it would take by train from Vladivstok...he said "ONLY 7 days...!!"...I asked by plane? "Only 12 hours..."...Whoever said that Russia is NOT a large country only has to hear where one coast stretches to the other to get an idea of the vastness of geography...

Okay, so here I am on the Fast Train back to Changchun...this train has "sleeper" cars with 4 bunks and an area the equivalent size of an apartment walkin closet, yeah, that COZY...fortunately, this is a "day train" and not so busy nor occupied like last night and we're really not bothered by anything...I'm writing this blogit, Louie's reading the newspaper, and life outside the window is a blur...

I will blogit tomorrow, after my meeting with the NBA/China President, and hopefully share some insight to their "future" plans...I figure with as much international experience I have under my belt, there's gotta be some value to League with my expertise areas...In the meantime, take care, keep a happy face and drive safely...Best wishes always, Coach tom

Jerry Brewer writes a column in the January 20th edition of the Seattle Times discussing Tom Newell. Many of the stories are covered in Tom's blog, but also mentions some changes that happened before the season...

Displaced in China, 5,000 miles from basketball civilization, Tom Newell listened as a Pancake told him he was fired.

Newell hadn't even coached a game as the first American to lead a Chinese Basketball Association team, and here was Pancake, the 4-foot-8 translator whom Newell preferred to call Short Stack, giving him the strangest news ever.

The mother of all rich-man whimsies felled Newell, a former Sonics assistant and basketball lifer. The owner of the Jilin Northeast Tigers abruptly fired his general manager, Chinese basketball legend Sun Jun, and then rehired a former coach to replace Newell. A day later, Pancake was sent to tell Newell the team still wanted him to lead practice.

"WHAT?!?!" Newell asked.

"Coach, this is China," Pancake explained. "We do things differently here."

Brewer also details some more from Newell in his extra points blog.

January 18, 2008...in a colder Changchun City...

So, today, I was expecting my documents from the Vladivostok, Russia, Basketball Federation via DHL...only to be left out in the "cold" so to speak, as it was revealed to me that they will may not arrive until Monday or Tuesday, meaning I will postpone my trip to Beijing until Thursday, after I go by train to Shenyang, a 3 hour trip to the Russian Consulate's office for the "stamp" of approval...arrrrgh...It's not that I want to leave, rather I had already planned on my departure date on the 23rd of January...Imagine this: an "overnight" letter from Russia to China takes 5-7 days to get to my city, Changchun...I did NOT expect this delay, after waiting so patiently for the last two weeks to receive this document...now, a delay, but there MUST be a positive that comes from this setback, so to speak...And there was!

Tonight, I had dinner with the CEO of Beidawei (By the Way) English Teaching School here in Changchun...I was introduced to this gentleman, Mr. Luis Ling, through an English teacher, who I asked "if" they have a foreign exchange program in place...which they do not at this time...So, ol tommy boy got his thoughts together, focusing on the positive and forgetting the "woe is me" for a moment, and put together a proposal whereby students who attend this prestigious school for ESL, and the next thing I know, my "idea" was born into reality...I proposed to this gentleman, the prospects of having his English speaking students (high school age) come to Seattle this summer and visit our Seattle Asian community and experience firsthand the culture of Asian-Americans living in the United States...Little did I realize that Mr. Ling would be enthralled with the concept and idea to have his students and chaperones participate in such a tremendous learning environment...I had proposed that students would visit the UW, Seattle University, Seattle Pacific and Northwest University, Kirkland, and see firsthand what a US campus life environment would be like...These students are the "creme de la" crop of the school, and are so intelligent and well spoken in our language, that they would surely qualify for ANY and ALL universities, BUT, would NOT know how to prepare (SATs) for applications and enrollment without having the firsthand exposure to the campuses of varied numbers of students...I am so excited that this idea was so well received by Mr. Ling and the English teacher...Next order of business will be contacting the people I know at the respective universities and asking them for a "day" of exchange for these student visitors and embracing their desire to apply to a large University, Medium-size, and small sized University, shucks I might even "throw" in BCC, with the large number of Asian students attending there, it would be a great complement to the aforementioned institutions...Anyway, I'm on "it", and proceeding forward with establishing initial contacts in the Seattle Asian community and listening to their ideas and thoughts on "receiving" these gifted students...We're talking about 16-20 students, together with parent chaperones and two administrators...Stay tooned on this one, as I am excited as all get out to facilitate such an exchange program of such magnitude...Listen closely: the MORE we exchange our culture to China, the more we will learn from them and they from us...without "preaching" anything...Children have wonderful minds when it comes to "seeing and believing" new elements of learning, vis a vis, an American university of higher learning...Oh I am so excited to be a part of this in a small way, trust me...World Peace only happens through cultural enlightenment and exchange of friendship and kindness...We SET THE EXAMPLE in the world for this measure, and to be a small part of such an epic program...Shucks, I'm stoked beyond words of descriptive delight...Will let you know how it all evolves...I am truly blessed to have this opportunity through basketball to once again "bridge" cultures...Wow...Best to all, and hope everyone is healthy and WARMer than moi...Coach tom

January 16, 2008...Coldchun City, China...Okay, I've been harpin on the fact that there's cold and then there's C O L D...and add an "E R" to this word and you get the chilling visual...The citizens of this city have it down pat...Let's say this: PETA followers would have a hard time wearing non-fur coats under these conditions...I mean really, when you go back a few thousand years, and even a couple of hundred with Native Americans, there was a reason they wore WARM PELTS to keep from freezing in their steps... My nose serves as an able "thermometer" as sorts, and when I have wandered away from the hotel outside to take a Taxi during the DAY, my nose starts to wiggle and waggle...Waggle? A waggle by nostril definition is a motion that doesn't go left to right, but rather the septum raises up on its own as if to telepathically tell me: "What? Are you nuts? YOU shouldn't be out in these elements with the "jet intakes" you have...you trying to freeze me off your face?"...And then I hustle into the cab and began a quick defrost as we speed away...That's the meteorological report of the last week here...One reminder to anyone who comes North of Beijing: bring your Thermals, upper and lower, and some thick wool socks, not that it matters but psychologically you feel like you're protecting yourself a lil bit...

Okay, here is my installment on "Items that one should not leave out of their suitcase when visiting China..."...

Late Summer Visit: Drs. Pepto and Bismol, the "best friends" money can buy as your digestive system "adjusts" to the cuisine...Claritin D or just plain ol Claritin; this will stabilize the affects of smog and dust in the air when you're outside for an extended time (sightseeing, etc.)...Altoids...and the new product, Altoids Gum...Man, those two items were best "pals" for me during my initial stay and also carried me through "dry" nights during these winter months when I chose to keep the heat off in my room (it was soooo dry, I'd wake up like I'd been hiking in the Mojave Desert)...Vitamins C, E, B-12 Complex...even though the Fruits available here are unbelievably delicious, it's not a bad idea to bring your own vitamin supplements...Tissues, hand type variety...they come in sooooo handy when you least suspect they would...small bottle Hand Sanitizers...these are Man's Best Friend in this country...when you visit a hotel restroom or airport restroom and read a sign by the sink that says to "Conserve Water" and then you watch grown men WALK RIGHT OUT of the restroom, well, it's just nice to know that you can wash AND clean your hands with the sanitizers...Bring lots of patience when it comes to trying to get somewhere and your hotel key doesn't seem to "register" with the Taxi drivers...how to avoid "problems?"...Have the Concierge write down on the Hotel Stationery in Chinese the place(s) you wish to visit and then on the backside of the paper, the name and address of the hotel WITH THE PHONE NUMBER...I have found that the Concierges' in most of the Hotels where we stayed as a team during the season, most helpful, and trust me, the Chinese are true professionals when it comes to Service...The Staff here at the RedBuds Hotel are wonderfully trained and continually amaze me with their customer service applications...Case in point: my Anta Team Bag was damaged recently by the airline, unbeknownst to me until I got back to the hotel, and now I need to have it repaired and I completely forgot about it...So, today I took it downstairs, showed the Bellmen and Concierge personnel my dilemma, and immediately said they could repair it...I was so happy to hear that, one, because I really like the bag (wheels on the bottom), and two, it was FREE and the best bag I owned at the time...broke down and bought an unbelievable carryon like Airline Crews have for a GREAT PRICE at one of the largest Marts for International Business Exports...But, now that I'm leaving China, I need to get this bag fixed, and they're taking care of it...Light sweaters in the Spring evenings will keep your Polo shirts warm to your body, as it does cool down in the evening in early Spring...Summer? Forget about it! It's just plain HOT and SWEATY time for 3 and a half months...in Beijing that is...maybe longer...Bring a small Chinese/English Dictionary to help you with simple word identifications...don't overpack...in fact, go look in your closet right now, or even the clothes your wearing and I would wager a bet that the label says "Made in China" on probably 90% of your clothes...jackets...hats and tennis shoes...all that means is this: you can find at a very reasonable price, the same clothes you buy at home, HERE...and their brand new...So, pack light, expect to spend around $200 on some nice shirts and other items...Visa is accepted at most Malls here, but there are some significant amount of stores that only accept Yuan, the Chinese currency...By the way, if you're planning on coming over here, I'd recommend you "change" your budget dollars NOW into Chinese Yuan, as it is dropping daily...When I came here in September, the Dollar was equivalent to almost 7.50 Yuan...today it was 7.17!! I get the feeling it will drop even more as the Olympics approach this summer...just a suggestion...There are some other items I'd recommend you bring for the most part, but I'm at a blank right now, as the "cold" has sneaked into my room and I'm shivering, which means that I have to turn on the "blast furnace" for 5 mins., drink a bottle of water and then turn it off...Okay, hope this helps a lil bit...take care, safe travels, and best wishes to all in your daily lives, I miss the NW very much and my Family and Friends even more...Coach tom

January 13, 2008...Sunday night apre' All Star game...somewhere outside Urumqui, Northeast China...

The CBA did a great job to promote their event prior to tipoff, having players from both teams visit elderly people, schools and I believe a hospital as well...They had their "Rookie Game" last night, which wasn't televised, and then their main event tonight...The pregame ceremonies were well planned and a great effort was made by all to put on a "show"...Unfortunately, the players in the Main Event reminded me of pickup basketball by Sunday hoopers, lots of offense and Ole' defense by bothteams...It was the kind of game that if you had a sleeping disorder, no meds were needed, just watch the game and you would see how this particular game reminded you of a level "yo=yo" going up and down the court...

Score? Let's see, when I woke up in the 4th Qtr., DT's team was leading by 5 with 45 seconds to play, and ended up winning by same margin I believe...DT scored 16 points in the first half on array of shots, one coming from Downtown Freddie Brown "zone", like about a 45' uncontested jumper...this was his first activity since last Sunday, and his first "sweat" stepping on the floor after being so ill during the week with the flu...He is scheduled to drive to the Muslim city, Urumqui, not far from this All Star city, and play for the #2 seeded team in the playoffs...I wish him well...He started in this game and I think finished with over 20 points, but I was zonked out when he left in the 2nd Qtr...Only 3 Americans from other teams were added to this All Star event, and having DT being on it in his first season is quite an accomplishment...He's going to have to work very very hard when he returns to the States in preparation for an NBA gig...He has the strength and body type to make a positive impression, only lacking experience vs. top athletic competition to make an "imprint" at this point...We talked about how important it is to continue to develop his upper body strength and conditioning regimen, so he can be successful in the tryout process...He's a fierce competitor and I'm biggest supporter for anything he attempts with the game...He's very "young" in athletic competitions, having only started playing when he was 16 years old...Never was on an AAU team, didn't go through the fanfare and "worship" period of being a "phenom" in high school, so all of the "late" rewards to date have been a result of his commitment to improve his overall skills and as he says: "just get better every time out, Coach..."...

Power Outage in Coldchun today...not once TWICE...Hmmm, I'll say this, as cold as it is outside, and the number of people who have electric heat, there could be some new "offspring" come this summer...This morning the power went out for about 25 mins. unexpectedly, and I was watching a movie on HBO when that happened, hoping that I could see the end of Xmen...Never saw that flick before, it was pretty good. when it came back on for the last 20 mins...Then tonight, another blackout, just in case there were those who "didn't" experience the first one during the day...this one lasted about 40 mins., and again I was in my room watching Seven Years in Tibet with Brad Pitt and a wonderful host of actors supporting his role...This movie was an epic event to behold, presenting the awful incursion/experience of this peaceful sovereignty, Tibet, unlike any stories I was aware of before I came to Changchun...My friend, Lee, in Happy Valley, Clackamas, has been a tremendous supporter of these people's cause, and is a dear friend to His Holiness, the Dalai Lama...Who by the way, is making an appearance in the NW, Puget Sound to be exact, sometime in April, I believe...Lee hopes to introduce me to HH and that would be a true highlight in my life, trust me...Okay, enuff said and done here...I'm going to bed, finishing up my template for the Vladivostok clinic coming in a couple of weeks...I was hoping to be working with the Junior team here in Changchun, but everyone in the Jilin Tigers team has gone on vacation already, and the teams are out of town playing in some tournaments, so here I am, packed and rarin to go to Beijing and then Russia in two weeks...I leave for Beijing January 23rd and will be there 10 days before my trip to Russia...I have a appearance at a basketball academy there in Beijing the week after next, helping out a coach/friend of my father...There are suppose to be high school boys and girls who attend this school...Will blogit when I arrive and keep y'all posted...

Take care, drive safely, and best wishes to all...Coach tom

January 12, 2008...Changchun...

I had the distinct pleasure of meeting a very interesting ex-pat by the name of Aaron A. Vessup...He is a distinguished gentleman from Southern California, whose life of education and life experiences has brought his "journey" here Jilin University, Changchun City, China...I met Aaron at our last home game, sitting directly behind our bench, and of course you know me, I just had to acknowledge him before the game got underway...We exchanged acquaintances after the game, giving him my name and "call me at the hotel Redbuds...", which he kindly did...So, today, we met at the lobby bar and visited for a good hour and a half, enjoying the pleasure of one another's company, sharing stories of our immediate experiences and past travels...You want to know how "small" the world is today? Get this: he has a home in San Marcos, Guatemala, overlooking the Atitlan Lake and village...Why is this significant? Only because I happened to have been in that very small lake village twice over the last 5 years, accompanying Lee Larson and his Family on a humanitarian visit, teaching local and extended lake village locals on how to teach basketball to children...Now, in a country of 3 billion people and a city of under 4 million, you have to wonder how this could ever happen today...Aaron is an Author, Teacher, Poet, Photographer, Philosopher and genuine kind human being...His travels and intrigue brought him to this province awhile back, and he hasn't left...He teaches college students at Jilin University the merits of debate and patiently "how" to think outside the box, when it comes to understanding life as they know it today in their city, province and country...By no means is he an anarchist or anti-model of all that is good and positive in this ever-changing world, especially on the cusps of the "new" China...He possesses the values and intellect to clearly understand culture and behavior, thus elevating him to a level of instruction that is both praiseworthy and developmental...He comes from an athletic background himself, having been a wrestler and track competitor in college, and more importantly a National Debate Finalist and Champion back in the day...Gosh, it was so fun and unique to have this experience with him, Folks, as you can only imagine...He is working on another manuscript AND photo album/narrative that will capture his observations and those of his students here in Changchun...He gave me a book he recently published, titled: "Songs for Confucious" (Poetry and Photography)...it is quite a compilation he has published here, and I hope to share it with you upon my return...It warms my heart dearly, to see educators here in China, providing a positive-constructive template for learning new skills and knowledge relating to one's world...and to think he has a home in San Marcos, Guatemala...wow...Okay, that's all for now...The CBA All Star game is tonight and I am hoping that it is televised so I can tell you how DaJuan Tate and Wong Bo performed in this annual event...Best wishes to all, safe travels, buckle up...Special note to my students: "May all your Wishes be Swishes..."...Coach tom

January 11, 2008...Coldchun City...about 20 degrees day time...10 'maybe' at night...

Now I know why "furry" animals hibernate during the winter...I think I probably would too if I had any mop on top these days...I mean really, how people are able to daily survive in this type of really cold, you know, the "type" where manmade cloth and half covered body leather, down coat, shoes, thermals DO NOT HOLD BACK the invitation of being outside in this environment...I swear, any "new" hairs that had any desire to regenerate are definitely "on ice" right now...

Went to the Winter Ice Sculpture Park in Changchun last week...It was really a work of art...and admirable too, when you consider this work wasn't done in a warm warehouse or garage, but rather constructed outside over a two to three week period...The ice forms of Mickey, Minnie, Goofy and other Disney characters were really well done...I must say, the Chinese really know how to make impressions and professional displays in their public works...

This past week: rest rest and more rest was my menu "choice du jour" when all said and done...I was so exhausted from the last several weeks of cold, flu cough syndrome, due to all of our traveling in and out of Changchun, my body at this point on the "meter" was like "okay, Newell, one day we're in 10 degree weather, with an assistant coach coughing on you during the games, leaving "gel" on your backside hair, and then in 70 degree weather the next 3-4 days and back to Coldchun...give me a break..."...so you see where the end of the season couldn't have come at a better time, in terms of allowing my complete healing from within to begin and sustain itself in preparation for next month's Russian clinic in Vladivostok...My cough is 90% removed...my "jingle" in my step is back...I always have a "jingle", you know a song in my mindshare that gets me goin each new day, it's fun and I highly recommend it...As long as it's not "heavy metal"...I mean if you choose that, there's a good chance you'll "become" heavy metal, entangled on the highway somewhere from an accident...hope not...

Russian Update: got an email from our State Department's Attache' Office in Vladivostok, Russia, confirming the Visa Documents have finally been approved by the Minister of Sport and Education and a couple of other Ministry closets...I guess...Anyway, this event is turning into an exciting itinerary based upon the latest update from our State Department...I will be doing a 4 day coaches clinic, Feb. 4-8, then a visit to a secondary school outside Vladivostok, addressing a couple hundred kids about Proper Nutrition when playing sports, how to be successful when participating and also talking about making right decisions, off and on the field of one's activity, especially when parents aren't around...then on Feb. 9th I will be an invited speaker to an assembly of Sports Development Students at a Primoryti University, outside Vladivostok, and the topic of presentation will be developing "volunteerism in youth sports through training and certification programs, related to sports nutrition, youth sports injury awareness, and teaching participants first instead of coaching them initially...But the one affair I am most humbled and honored by is the invitation by our Consulate General in Vladivostok, who is having a hosted party for me and the Russian college coaches who will be participating in my clinic...I got goose bumps when I read this part...I mean, what better way to introduce diplomacy and improved relations than through sports training and exchange programs and THEN honoring the attendees...that's great stuff...I can hardly wait to meet the CG there..his support staff of Bridget and Dimitry have been so helpful in cooperating with the various entities there in Vladivostok to make this event happen...I am so blessed...Now, here's the tough part: once I get the Visa Letter/Invitation, I have to take a train from Changchun to Shenyang by train, about a 3 hour trip one way, visit the Russian Consulate's Office there, pay for the "stamp" that will be good ONLY for 10 days NO LONGER...otherwise ol tommyboy is in the "Gulag" writing messages and sending them to you guys in a bottle!! Hah!! Then I get back on the train and return to Changchun, leave the following day to Beijing for hopeful meetings regarding Head Coaching positions, and also making an appearance at Wang Fei's Basketball Academy...high school age players...looking forward to that visit before departing for Russia...

The trip home in February...I am making arrangements to return after the trip to Russia...then on February 18th, I plan on making a trip down south to LA, to visit our daughter Paige, who works for a design company there, and then on to San Diego to drop in on my Father, Coach Pete Newell...I have been able to speak to him throughout my stay here in China, and it has been a wonderful relief to hear his stories and accounts of Cal Football, college basketball and the NBA observations that he has...He is really excited about Yi, the Milwaukee Bucks Rookie who attended The Big Man's Camp when he was 16 and then again the following year...He is so proud of this young man's development, and I can see why: he's a natural when it comes to understanding the game, his footwork and his court demeanor...There should be more CBA players playing in the NBA today, but as long as the coaches misunderstand the template for teaching and developing players, it is going to a very slow process of entry, I'm afraid...

Okay, gotta run, now...it's late and I'm tired, goin to hit the sack...take care, have great Seahawk weekend watching the Hawks vs. the Pack, and I hope the Dawgs fair well vs. USC...drive safely, hug your kids, and kids hug your parents and tell them how much you love them for their love and support in all that you do...Coach tom

January 8, 2008...the Day After the season ended quietly...

Got some GREAT beauty sleep last night, this morning and a nap this afternoon...It's amazing after all these years when a season is abruptly "over", how the order and discipline of daily practices and here the novelty of "controlled" environment is no different in the psychosis of a coach without a practice, competition and playoff to prepare for anymore...There is such a remarkable void, it's hard to describe unless you're a player, coach and parent who experiences this phenomena themselves...I learned a long time ago from my Father, Coach Pete Newell, that is always important to sit down and reflect upon the season completed, reflecting upon positives and learning from the not-so-positives, which quite frankly are defined as: "shouldas...wouldas...couldas..."...once that is done then the visualization of preparing for another opportunity begins to slowly enter the daily thought process, allowing for one's mind to expand the knowledge learned from the many lessons of "yesterseason..."...

So, this means I now get to have "fun" again, sharing with you my humor, if you wish, on what is different between our cultures and how to prepare for a trip in the future to China...

Team Dinner:

I got a call while working on this blogit from Pancake, our translator, inviting me to the Team Dinner...now, you have to understand something about this culture...Pancake tells me the "best plans are no plans...the best schedule is NO schedule...", and Lordy let me tell you, after experiencing first hand the changes in schedules and meeting times, his call this afternoon was NO surprise...in fact, I thought he was calling because I was late for practice or a meeting!! Anyway, he invited me and DaJuan Tate and his wife to join in the celebration (?) of the season past...Number One: I have never had an end-of-the-season celebration when one finishes out of the Playoffs and 3 teams from last in a 16 team League...so I accepted and let me tell you this: the Chinese KNOW HOW to forget and move on from the "day(s)" before, let me tell you...I have NEVER in my basketball life experienced so much forgiveness, happiness and encouragement as I did at this dinner...The media was there, the Fans Support Group of Jilin was there (about 20 core people), myself, the team, the coaches, GM and Ownership Group...I was toasted and celebrated as the "old man" who came to Changchun and through many off court changes stayed and helped us learn many lessons..."...I gotta tell you, that humbled me more than any reward from any season previous in my basketball life as I was caught blindsided by their feelings...That's one thing I have learned daily: "don't put ANY expectations on reactions to your comments, suggestions or recommendations...", as the answer will NEVEDR follow your words...This one lesson I have learned well, off the court and MOST definitely on the court when I "suggested" a Timeout here and there...I never once suffered frustration as much as irritation this season, but then again, I am a "visitor" and the lessons I can teach to the Head Coach and the team are opportunities for all to excel in their professional lives as basketball players and coaches...The dinner: unbelievable...it was held at the Hotel I am staying in right now, The RedBuds Hotel in Changchun City...Where to begin on the entree's...Let's put it this way: there were 9 dishes and NOT ONE WAS BAD...plus my chopsticks (plastic) never once lost a drop...meaning I have taken the bio mechanics of using these utensils to another level...I know this, because I hear the table discussing how a "lefthander", American uses these sticks "so well and freely..."...Pancake then revealed to them that I went to school in Hawaii many years ago and "learned" there, plus coaching in Korea and Japan helped my "dexterity"...let's put it this way: no way will I ever "starve" because of chopsticks at the table!!! The mood was festive, forgiving as aforementioned, but above all it was a wonderful example of "praising" the players for their efforts and courage...I agree with that surmise, as I truly believe the players played to their level of experience and skill, unfortunately their skills were NOT at the level of their competitions...I was asked later in the evening by both the Head Coach and Owner, Mr. Qu, to come back next season, as there will be many changes and they appreciated what I brought to the team...I told them both that I was going to interview with two teams for a Head Coach job and that I would call and let them know what's on the table, that I wouldn't mind being back to help take the Jilin Northeast Tigers to the "next" level in '08-'09...stay tooned...

Things you WON'T see very much of in China:

1) Planes flying overhead in most cities in China, with the exception of Shanghai, Beijing, and Hong Kong (haven't been there but would imagine there are a number of Boeings and Airbuses in airspace hovering Hong Kong on takeoffs and landings...)...I mean, I have YET to see any military aircraft flying overhead or even hearing a "fast" supersonic jet leaving a jet stream in its tail...

2) Birds...I know that sounds strange, but I mentioned in earlier blogits, that I was astonished to NOT see birds in most of the cities we visited when playing...and China has a lot of "Pear Trees", let me tell you...Not sure why of this phenomena, but it's real...

3) Hearses...Mortuaries...and Funeral Processions...now this is understandable, given the vast cultural differences in acknowledging life and "releasing" one's soul to the afterlife through cremation...

4) Pet stores...hmmm, that is A surprise to me here in Changchun, as I would think there would be more Pet Stores than restaurants that specialize in "Canine Cuisine"...I know, I know, but this is considered a "delicacy" in China...I haven't...I won't...and Lord help me if someone tries to "sneak" a morsel of such on my plate someday...

5) Sit Down Commodes...in public restrooms...now THAT is a "shock" to the natural digestive system when you are on a bus and the courtesy "pit" stop for occupants treats you to this cultural SHOCK...needless to say, on LONG road trips, I skipped eating anything that needed digesting, thus allowing me the dignity of standing upright to relieve myself...Whew, this took way too long to describe in a "G Rating" kind of way...

6) Paper Towels in public restrooms...always advisable to "bring" your own tissues to dry your hands after washing...it amazes me when I walk into a Men's Room and there are signs that "encourage" water conservation, thus meaning that most Nationals here, of the male gender, do NOT wash their hands...I probably "spent" a whole lotta Yuan on small package tissues for my "Coach's Bag"...I also was very careful NOT to shake hands and if I did, the "hand sanitizers" from Rite-Aide was applied soon after...

7) Tall Glasses in Restaurants...the glasses for water, juice and soda pop (I don't drink that stuff) are perfect for a Junior-age patron...I've never exercised more in my life eating lunch or dinner to refill my small glass with juice...

8) Ambulances...they're out there I swear, but I've only seen a half dozen on the streets during the day over the last 4 months...go figure...I know this though, the way pedestrians cross the street and the way the Taxis "control" the streets of ANY and all city streets in China, there's not a high demand at this time...

9) In city Gas Stations...visualize this: a very very large city ANYWHERE in China, and NOT seeing a gas station within 5 MILES either direction!! Yes, this is true...They are usually located close to the freeways BEFORE the toll roads (you must pay to travel on any major thorough fare outside the city proper...Can YOU imagine THAT planning and action in the Puget Sound? I can't for the life of me...Anyway, I don't know "when" and where the thousands of automobiles go for gas in this city and others, as it boggles the mind that you would see more KFCs and McDonalds than you would Petrol locations...thus said, take a Taxi, forget about "renting" a car in China...

10) Grocery Stores...forget about it...there are WalMarts and the Mom and Pop stores that are present all over Changchun (2 WalMarts) and hundreds of the others...if you have money (Yuan), then one shops at WalMart...they have ALL the grocery items that AREN'T in the USA stores...and let me tell you, these stores are PACKED...progress will diminish the "value" of neighborhood stores over the next 10 years, I believe...what a shame...

Okay, Part III of my "reflections" on this culture begins again tomorrow...hope this helps all understand the VAST cultural differences between major powers...

Saw where the Huskies went down to the wire at Hec Ed vs. Wazzu, only to lose...Mark this: Lo Romar WILL pull off a couple of upsets this season in the Pac 10 that will bring extreme parity in the League by the end of the season...Shucks, it wouldn't surprise me at all to see the Dawgs UPSET the Cougs IN Pullman...One other note: I am so happy that the UW has FINALLY acknowledged the legendary contributor to the modern game of basketball in naming the practice court at the UW after Coach Marv Harshman...He is one of the true contributors to the modern game and this is qualified by my Father, Coach Pete Newell, who holds Marv in the HIGHEST ESTEEM...I remember back in the day, when Marv was two years removed from the game holding a "kids" camp at the WAC and he was in a Handball Court there teaching 10 year olds how to pass!! If that isn't what a contributor to the game is, I don't know what is...Take care, safe travels...Coach tom

January 6, 2008...the season is ovah...PERIOD!

We lost our last home game in typical fashion...down by 20, only to come back within 7 and 9 mins. to play WITH THE BALL in our half court...we proceeded to "open" our infamous "CBA Bakery" and served up 3 consecutive turnovers that lead to the opponents' 7 straight points and it was over...and this was our last game of the season at home...We have some wonderful fans here in Changchun City, faithful and loyal to the end, as we had close to 3,000 show up in our arena that holds 4,000 plus...Our effort was undermanned by the absence of DaJuan Tate, our best player, who sat out with flu...he tried to play, but was soon sitting where he belonged: on the sidelines...He had a great year, one of the top 3 scorers in the League at around 27 per game...His best games are ahead of him, I'm sure...It's immaterial to describe this outcome as we were DOA several weeks ago and were only kept alive by pride and effort to finish the season...

This past week in the new year was not what I would call memorable in my basketball life, but then again, most people who know me would consider "my world" a little different by global standards...The game is a simple contest that requires aptitude, attitude and a whole lot of beatitudes...Every country that I have been blessed to share the game with as a former European player after college to the present day of teaching and coaching through camps and clinics, one thing stands out significantly: there are a lot of young participants and players who are in this world activity, and the major problem is the level of teaching that DOESN'T complement the spirit and commitment their teams provide them in practices and competitions...Now you know why FamilySportsLifeToday.com is committed to helping all levels of organized youth sports, their parents and especially their coaches, volunteers and hired coaches...Our future Podcasts and my submissions will hopefully reflect upon the "need" for annual training modules to help teach coaches how to teach kids...stay "tuned"...

My itinerary over the next four weeks has me preparing for my college coaches clinic in Valdivostok, Russia...our State Department in conjunction with the invitation of the Minister of Sport and Education in Moscow, has requested my presentation to the coaches in Vladivostok, Russia, Feb. 5-12...I am really excited for this opportunity to visit another foreign country and share my basketball life experiences with these coaches for the week...We'll cover basketball philosophy, basketball psychology and the FUNinthementals of teaching the game to their players...Before I depart from Beijing for Vladivostok, I will be in Changchun for two weeks, waiting for my Russian Visa Stamp which I will have to secure with a trip by train to Shenyang, where a Russian Consulate's office is located...that will be a "book and a half trip" (6 hours round trip)...Evelyn Wood was never an option growing up...While visiting Beijing, I hope to visit a couple of museums and perhaps an interview or two for a couple of jobs that supposedly are going to be available in the CBA next season...I most definitely would come back to coach in China...there's too much work to "pass on" in just one season, I'm afraid, plus "if" the city is tad bit warmer than Coldchun City...also, I will be making an appearance at a well known basketball academy in Beijing for high school boys and girls...I know, I know, don't I EVER stop teaching? No...my Father, Coach Pete Newell taught me that work ethic a long long time ago...it's "my" DNA for sure...

Stay along some more for my "Magical Mystical Tour..."...Best to all, safe travels... Coach tom

January 3, 2008 soaring above 20,000 feet to another Chinese City, Guanzhou, and their local team...our last road trip for the season, and one game to go...at home on Sunday...

Please please forgive me for not being "wired" the last several days on this weblog, as I truly was in a "moody blues" type of funk over my misplaced power cord for the laptop, leaving me with a weak battery (where's the "Bunny" when you need POWER??) and that lasted about as long as Papa Murphy's Pizza in the oven...I finally figured out I left it in the last hotel we we're in...having left it in the room on the desktop outlet...the hotel is sending it to me but I couldn't wait, so I went and picked up a new power cord. and now life is good again: "I'm on..."...So, where to begin? First off, Happy New ALL Year to my Family, Friends, Students, their Parents, Coaches and Officials in Youth Sports today...New Year's in China is a "quiet" celebration, quite distinguishable and separated from the normal universal observance of 95% of countries...There were no firecrackers, fireworks, loud, boisterous, alcohol-induced behavior on the eve of New Year's...My evening began with Larry Stone, Seattle area resident who was visiting for 5 days and taking in the CBA atmosphere that produced two lottery picks and starters in the NBA today...we were accompanied by Babacar Camara, DT and his wife, Rah-Rah...We had a wonderful Buffet-style dinner with a Readymade Chef behind the grill, ready to serve noodles and pasta to any patron wishing something "readymade"...Man oh man, were the Lamb Chops, Scallop Potatoes and Squash an Epicurian delight...Now you're asking me where does one indulge in such a feast (oh yes, an Australian Shirazz to complement my palate's delight)? The ShangraLa Hotel in Coldchun...Then the "next" entree' I chose from was a fresh turkey *** that only Moms and Grandmas "know" how to make the right way during the Holidays...How good was it? I didn't even WANT gravy to go with it...now this "bird" was prepared better than the T Day soaked in wine sauce without feathers prepared bird that we had a while back...To top it off they had a fountain of decdent rich chocolate three tiers high to cover one's vanilla ice cream...IT DID!!

Then after dinner, the fellas and Rah-Rah wanted me to join them at a club in town that is called The Mayflower...I'll put it this way, "my guy" CBerr (former Center, Steve Castleberry) had it right the one time he went there: "a lot of lasers, a lot of smoke, a number of males whose pheromones presented a malordorous fallout anytime they walked by...'' ...all I could think of was that as soon as the clock struck 12, my sneakers were turning into slippers and this cowboy was headin for the barn...Afterall, we did have an early practice the next day and even though we're out of the playoffs, both American players have remained a model of social discipline in getting their rest and being ready for practice on off game days...I would surmise that our two Americans may be the best complement to their Chinese teammates as they have connected well with them, the coaches and of course the Fans and community...I am really proud to speak of them glowingly, especially when I've heard horror stories about other players who have had troubles with their teammates, coaches and administration...This organization has been totally professional, every step of the way, including the owner, Mr. Qu...I have no regrets whatsoever about the early "awe and shock" that hit me and the team when the change was made, more surprised and disappointed in the process of elimination (SunJun) and the addition (asked to stay on as the top assistant to new Head Coach)...I survived, and even though the season as a team was a disappointment, I have learned many new lessons on the cultural differences in teaching the game here in China than I ever would have known without getting my "feet" wet this go around...

Update on last 4 games: lost two on road before Xmas...won one at home day before New Year's Eve, which was our first win in 7 games...whew...then lost a thriller last night by 1...we missed a FT with 5 seconds left in regulation that would have put us into OT...It was by far the BEST EFFORT at both ends of the court for 4 quarters all season...I felt bad for the players afterwards, because they truly did leave it all on the floor this night...Shucks, even Tiger, our backup 2 Guard PLAYED man to man defense in the "new" Year!!! So, we have one more tomorrow night, then home for Sunday's finale, and meetings with organization thereafter, then off to Beijing to be a guest coach at a very famous basketball academy for high school boys and girls, directed by Wang Fei, former National Men's Coach of China and also a famous former CBA player in his own right...After that assignment is completed, Vladivostok, Russia beckons me for the college coaches clinic that I will be directing in conjunction with our State Department and the Minister of Sport and Education in Russia...And finally back to the good ol RED WHITE and BLUE, Family, friends and students, once again doing what I love most: teaching kids how to play the game the right way...

Take care, hope everyone had a safe New Year, and let's believe that a couple of miracles will happen in 2008: the Sonics go nowhere far from the Puget Sound; the Huskies surprise the Pac 10; Coach Willingham is vindicated with a great season in the Fall and my students hard work on the court in the offseason allows them continued success with their respective teams...Now THAT would make me a Happy NEWell Year indeed!! God Bless, safe travels, and again, those kids who have their licenses now, slow down, don't be in hurry anywhere on or off the court, as you are only late when you don't reach your destination SAFELY...much love, Coach tom Less I forget, Larry Stone left this morning for Beijing and then on to Seattle, having enjoyed himself immensely while here in Coldchun City...It was GREAT to have a NW friend visit and bring me up to speed on the sports happenings in our wonderful city...

December 22, 2007...Saturday afternoon...day after another loss...when we shoulda, coulda and woulda won...but during this Holiday weekend, I'm not about to go into THAT...No, I've decided to give you a little Christmas Cheer from Coldchun City, China...

This is a "jingle" I came up with to describe life on the streets here in Changchun...

Jingle Honks

Jingle honks jingle honks jingle all the way...oh what fun it is to sprint through an open 4 wide lanes...hey...jingle honks jingle honks jingle all the way...oh what fun it is today to avoid another car...hey...Dashing through the lanes, on my way across the street...looking left and right, scared beyond all fright...All the cars and Taxis, angle for a lane, never minding walkers whose life is in their wheels, that makes you want to scream ....ohhhh jingle honks jingle honks jingle all the way...oh what fun it is to sprint in a stagger run of cars...hey...jingle honks jingle honks jingle all the way....

Here is my Christmas Wish to all of my basketball Family in North America, Belgium, West Indies, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Belgrade, Canada, Guatemala and China, I truly wish each of you and your Families the warmest and most caring time together this Holiday Season..one that allows reflection and thankfulness for all the many blessings of the previous year in your Family sports life and personal lives...I know that there are those who have suffered the loss of a Family member and/or relative, experienced hardships that are private and sensitive, but through all of your adversity, the most important reflection is that you have each other in your lives today, and that this moment of warm gathering togetherness, is not "wrapped" nor is it consumed, but rather is a "Spiritual" bond that hopefully allows the healing to continue and you may rejoice in the magic of life...God Bless all, safe travels and I sincerely wish each and everyone one of you a Happy New ALL Year...You all have given me so much of your time and kindness in supporting the vision of what FamilySportslifetoday.com wishes to share with you... Thank you...Sincerely, Coach tom...and my "wish" for a Stat sheet may be fulfilled...

Less I forget: we travel on Christmas as the looooooonnnnnnnng road beckons our "choir" for a visit to another Chinese city...I hope to blog to you all on Christmas Eve with words that will make you chuckle and shake your head, remembering that I may be in a strange land and going through an interesting basketball experience, but I still have my sense of humor intact, albeit a "lil different" than most...hah!!!

December 20, 2007...Thursday night...15 Degrees outside...can anyone besides Polar Bears, know the difference between 15-25 Degrees? I'm telling you it's so cold here icicles form on runny noses if you're outside more than 5 minutes...

The Game last night: The Grinch didn't make an appearance per se, nor did he steal anything, we just left the "front door" open again and got beat by a team we defeated a month ago...which means, either the other team got better...OR...we have regressed...the latter, I'm afraid...Once again our "troops" forgot to battle and while the opponent demonstrated skill and verve in our home...Let's put it this way, the game was actually worse than my cough and cold (the nasaliclles melted in the first 2 mins.)...We had plays where a player did a nice crossover from right to left, took a couple of dribbles and then picked the ball up for a moment, and proceeded to dribble again, only to be "given up" to the Officials for his infraction by our fans who gasped in disbelief and allowed the Official to inhale enough air to exhale this infraction...When that happened, I knew immediately we were in for a long night...actually it was looooonnnnnnger than any of us wished: 4 Qtrs...Now I know you think I'm being negative and "down" on our team, but actually what I'm learning here each day and every competition is that we are very unskilled in most positions, beginning with our Point positions, as we continually give up position in the halfcourt allowing the opponents' lead guard to enter the wings with a pass or dribble entry...Probably, for me, the most vulnerable of any offense is an opponent's lead guard going where he wants with the ball...That is when you see coaches on any sideline in organized basketball scratching their heads, when in fact, it's the beginning of a migraine headache...So the remedy most coaches seek is a "timeout" where they can vent their irritations with the Lead Guard and ask the simple question: "Do you think there's a possibility that you MIGHT get up on the ball sometime tonight before you catch a cold on the bench...?"...or something to that effect...I think I told y'all once before I don't look at the score upon leaving the court in a loss, old habits never die...basically taking the approach I'd rather "take a picture" of our players countenance to see whether or not they really were affected by the loss...Enough of our game...Tis YOUR Season to be jolly...fa la la la la la la la la la la...Still waiting for a Stat Sheet...

Okay, so I was very happy on Tuesday night to find out that my gifts home to family and friends have arrived safely and still waiting to hear if the others made it as well...It's not cheap to ship from China as they more than make up for NOT charging in some areas of transportation (Taxis, Buses and Trains) by imposing STRONG fees on International shipping of small to medium boxes...

Here's hoping all in the Northwest, Family, friends, coaches, players, parents, Officials and anyone who reads our blogits to have a wonderful Holiday Season, one filled with many blessings and safe travels throughout the Happy New ALL Year...I just confirmed my clinic in early February to Vladivostok, Russia, where I've been invited to lead a coaches clinic, representing our game to college and high school coaches in that Province of the Eastern seaboard of Russia...Our State Department sent me an Official invitation that was initiated by the Ministry of Education and Sports in Moscow, who in turn received the request from the Vladivostok Basketball Federation requesting my visit...This would NOT be possible if The Larson Legacy, lead by Mr. Lee Larson, himself, of Oregon, did not sponsor this endeavor from the roundtrip flight, and visa fees that Russia charges for any and all foreign visitors...My host, the VBF, will provide the hotel accomodations, hopefully NOT the first hotel we stayed in back in October when our team was playing in a tournament there, and I do remember blogitting about that experience as well...Anyway, kudos to Lee and his non-profit organization for making this happen...I received a very kind email from our State Department's Attache' in Vladivostok, thanking me and The Larson Legacy for our efforts to help this program happen...I've been working on the program syllabus and trying to simplify all of the drills for skills and presentation templates that we will introduce over the 5 days of the clinic...Lee is a former Clackamas Girls Basketball Association coach whom I met several years ago when I was coaching in the WNBA with the now defunct Portland Fire...His model of leadership and keeping drills fun for the kids has been an inspiration to me to this day...He is one of the very very FEW volunteer coaches that I've ever met in my basketball life that "gets it", meaning he KNOWS it's about the kids, not winning at all costs but making the sure the participants have fun in practice LEARNING new drills and also not worrying about the outcome of game as opposed to "did you have fun playing?", questions...His daughter improved from the level of her early experiences with her Dad coaching, to play Freshman basketball in High School one year and then lose interest because it wasn't fun anymore...I have accompanied Lee on a couple of humanitarian trips to Guatemala, making visits to Guatemala City and the Northern Highlands of San Marcos, which is located on a beautiful lake known as Lake Atitlan...Anyway, I have that to keep me positive at this time and of course basketball-busy as wellwith our remaining games...I also will be a guest coach at a camp in Beijing mid January...This came about from an invitation by one of China's most respected former players and fomer National Coach, Wang Fei...He is a GREAT teacher and one of the best coaches I've had the pleasure of meeting in China and the world of basketball in general...He understands the importance of player development, strength and conditioning programs and proper nutrition...his current team Guandong has only been in the CBA for two years, and this is his first season with them and he's done an incredible job to date...His team plays with confidence at both ends of the floor and their overall effort is 2nd to none..he's currently in the middle of the pack and has a chance to surprise everyone and make the playoffs...Good for him and his team...

On another note of personal interest: I am very saddened by the abrupt resignation of my close friend Todd Turner, Athletics Director at the University of Washington...Todd and our families go back over 28 years now, and first met in Charlottesville, Virginia when he was an Associate Athletic Director...His integrity, loyalty and vision for doing things the right way, helped the UW regain the respect and admiration from his colleagues and peers within the infrastructure of the NCAA...He truly loved the campus life environment of the UW complex, and even more so the Student "Dawg" spirit that followed most of the non-revenue sports of intercollegiate athletics at the University...His hardest decision was not renewing Coach June Daugherty's contract last Spring, but he felt that it was time to take the program "up" a notch, and made the decision to bring in Tia Jackson who will in time do very well as the Women's coach there...I wish Todd, Sara and their son, Drew, a fine student athlete himself at Seattle Prep, all the best in their lives, and know that the reunion he and Sara will have with their 3 daughters back East will "ease" the pain of leaving the Northwest...This much I know about today's state of affairs in college athletics: there are expectations that accompany most major universities today across the United States and with that come anticipated celebrations of Championships, but in reality, of the 320 or so Division I schools, not all can compete for a National Championship in Football, though many believe they can, or I should say Alumni organizations hold the belief that they should...I hope that the model of respectability and stability that Todd and his professional Staff put into place over the last 3 years will continue to evolve towards that elusive expectation on the gridiron...Thanks TTodd for a job well done...

We play again tomorrow night against another team we had success with on the road a month ago...Any predictions on my part? Let me put it this way: we're between a rock and hard place, the rock being our arena (the oldest in the CBA with Asbestos insulation) and the "hard place" being the opponent who is in 5th place out of 16 teams and wanting to improve their standing after leaving Changchun with a victory...When a team is eliminated from the playoffs, and you have several games left on your schedule, you try to keep the players positive and focused on being professional in their approach towards preparation and application (competitions), as they ALL are playing for the future: theirs to gain a new contract with the current team or impress another team to consider them for their rosters next season...My last blog I mentioned how important it was for the players to rededicate themselves and "play this season out and finish on a positive note..."...we'll see...The press has been less than kind towards the Head Coach Gao and Mr. Jiang, the General Manager who came in one week before the season started..along with Coach Gao...Happy last minute shopping to all those Fathers out there who dread the pressure of "finding" the right gift for their families...Take care, best wishes, will visit with you again...Coach tom

Oooops...and here I thought I sent this the night before...my bad...my friend, Bob Condotta, a true literary genius and advisor to me from the Seattle Times Sports, told me the most difficult aspect of writing a blog is keeping it "current and fresh..."...Just remember this Dear Friends, y'all like cold pizza and heatin up the Chili the next day right? Okay, so my current blogit is "day old"...Peace on Earth...Enjoy!

December 17, 2007...It's 8 days here before Christmas in China, and I gotta tell you, they are into the commercial "spirit" of Christmas very well...We have lights, trees (plastic, wire, steel, rubber, paper...you name it, they've got it...), Music of ALL the Christian songs BUT instrumental only...you know, you can only "go" so far with the English language...but it stops there, i'm afraid as the store owners and employees really don't understand the true "Spirit" Sante Nicholas and the Birth of Christ, yet if they did, they would celebrate it in a most caring and wonderful Spirit...The Olympics in Beijing this coming summer will either enhance or diminish the opportunity to, worship as a community...This past General Assembly of the People's Republic of China passed a measure (remember that political word: measure) allowing the their citizens the right to worship in a Church...BUT it must be approved by the respective authorities and government for times of service. observances and of course NO OPEN exhibition of faith in Public at anytime...By my "measurement" that's a tremendous step in the right direction as the country becomes more "wired" to the Free World..Think about it: we gave them Windows, they love it and also have pirated it on the streets of Beijing, but this small gift of mankind to his fellow species will have more to the ever-changing culture than I would have ever imagined BEFORE coming to China...Think about it: Thomas Edison, Alexander Graham Bell and Bill Gates are the pioneers in accessing one's modalities for learning...Wow...and China has carefully weighed in on this phenomena of Windows (great name, Bill) and VISTA and realize that as powerful as that software may be, WE can have better methods of control over our citizens than at any time before...Meaning, that every major city has at least ONE University that is specifically centered on Technological Research and Development...I happen to live in the largest demographic for such schools...One that has over 26.000 thousand students attending...plus a couple more with less enrollment...Wow, talk about "digressing" here, how'd I come up with Bell, Edison and Gates in the same sentence? I must be SICK!!! Back to hoops Hades...

Last night's game...let's see, HOW do I or HOW can I put that loss in perspective...Hmmm, let me think a minute............................................................Okay, here's how bad it is on the road: there are 3 things I don't like when coaching basketball and sitting on the bench: 1) losing because the effort was lacking...2) unforced turnovers and 3) when the freakin PA puts on Engleburt Humperdinck Elevator music with 9 mins. to play and we're down 30...Geeze Louise, I thought I was on the Columbia Tower Elevator forever goin to heaven listening to that music and having to sit and watch our inept play...We've had 4 blowout losses whereby the PA's put on the most numbthinking music score to keep the people entertained!! Can you believe they ACTUALLY stayed to the END, swaying to and fro in their seats to the music, oblivious to the action before them...I gotta remember that one: when you're beating an opponent baaaad, and it's the 4 Qtr. mid to late, it's important to entertain the masses with soft music so the guests are comfortable as they "ride" this one through to the end...What do we do at home when we're getting slammed? We play WALTZ music or Mitch Miller Big Band Music (Tie a Yellow Ribbon...)...Anyway, maybe I'm being to over dramatic here, but all the same, it's a really painful loss to me when the game devolves into an Elevator music fest and the only thing