A Case for a Good Editor: Thank You, Kobe

Spelling, pronunciaion, using proper nouns, writing in paragraphs. Proofreading your word, making edits and keeping it "tights" (thank you, Hemingway) may be out of style in the personal lives of my students but not in my classroom. Do teachers today need to double down on a classical education? Does my personal commitment to detail make me a grouch or an Ignatian educator? Might the answer be both?

While I have given up some battles at this point in the year—detention for dress code or tardies for students not in their seat when the bell rings—I have left a few dogs in the fight. The fundamentals of writing is one of them. 

For exampl,e any student that submits a paper without paragraphs gets a deduction in points and the same comment: paragraphs help you organize your ideas and your reader to comprehend them. The usage of paragraphs is a non-negotiable. I circle, highlight and mark any "I" or name that is not capitalized. I have shared the best tactic I was given for how to proof read. I went out of my way to tell my seniors that the Super Bowl is a 1) a proper noun and 2) two words. Yes, this a hill I am willing to die on. But why? Why is accuracy in language and the fundamentals of writing important? The recent unveiling of the Kobe Bryant statue in front of Crypto.com Arena gave me an opporunity for students to get the "why." to ask my classes what they thought.

I showed the photo of the new statue. One student, a basketball player, was excited to tell us it is the first of three to be placed in front of the Lakers' home court. Those to come will feature Bryant in his No. 24 jersey, and the other will be of him standing next to Gianna, who died with him and seven others in a 2020 helicopter crash. But the first, unveiled on 2/8/24 (a special date) already needs revision. Why? At its based is a replica box score of Bryant's 81-point game. José Calderón is misspelled as Jose Calderson, Von Wafer is "Vom Wafer," and "DNP — Coach's Decicion" has a typo. There's also a formatting mistake in Bryant's career accomplishments. The Lakers are working on a fix.

I told my class, "As you know I can be a stickler for grammar, spelling and more, but honestly, why should the Lakers fix this? Seems like it will cost a lot of money. Who really cares? Aren't they making a big deal out of nothing?" Responses varied.

One student said "it should have never happened in the first place. Period."

• Agreed. But it did happen. So why not leave it?

Another student said "it shows respect for those people and their accomplishments." 

• Okay. So attention to details matters.

I asked "if you change one letter in your last name, does that make a difference? Might some of you have a different name altogether?" A few realized that could be true.

And when one student said "One approach to take is to assume you are always wrong. As someone else to verify. Everyone needs a good editor." I wanted to do a backflip. I asked the class, "Did everyone hear that?"

I admitted that I took on the role of devil's advocate, and was happy to do so. Why? If their teachers and peers don't advocate for proofreading, good writing, editing and more—this is what happens. Rather than talk about the statue and its signficance, we now focus on this. Much to their suprise I added, "And as much as I don't like the Lakers, I'm not throwing any stones here. To their surprise, I shared the story of when something similar happened at SI." I will link the story here.

Discipline of any sort requires commitment, a steadfast spirit, a belief in purpose and a willingness to "stick to it." My guess is that if we extend that to writing, it will most likely carry over into other areas of our lives as well.

Full disclosure: I know there are several necessary edits needed. for this post, too

Photo Credits
Kobe
Edits

Mother Angelica and Pau Gasol Walk Into a Bar....Those Who Love Us Tell The Truth

Mother's Day prompts a tornado of tender tributes to the women we call "Mom." It is touching to read the life lessons credited to the women who undertake the most important job in the world. For example, my mom has taught me a truth about truth. She always says, “The truth shouldn’t hurt.” She’s right, it shouldn’t. However, quite often the truth does hurt. And yet, if it’s true, it’s true. Mom!!!

During my virtual spring cleaning, I rediscovered a tribute to a spiritual mother, Mother Angelica. This joyful, humorous, and loving Franciscan Sister, died on Easter Sunday, 2016. It is fitting that this holy woman who built EWTN, a world-wide Catholic cable television network, in 1981 was able to rejoice with the Lord and all the saints and angels in heaven on this great Feast Day. 

Her legacy lives on. Perhaps you remember Mother for her unique voice—it called us to trust in the Lord. Maybe you abide by her “everyday spirituality,” one born of a practical faith, that reminded us when we put our gifts at the service of the Lord we can do amazing things. Her wit and wisdom are the stuff of many popular quotations. One popular quote resonates with the words of my mom. 

She said, "those who tell the Truth love you. Those who tell you what you want to hear love themselves."

Yes, the truth can be hard to hear. It’s hard to admit our failings. Life is difficult; each one of us is fallen and lives in need of God’s grace. Sometimes it’s easier to live the lie, or worse, let those we love live it.

When someone has the courage to share the truth, it’s tempting to become defensive.We might write them off, shouldering resentment and blame for their words or insight. However, their act ought to be viewed as one of love.

We need the truth in the same way that we need God. Gandhi said, “God is truth and truth is God.” Those who speak it share God’s word. What a powerful message! There is much food for thought.

Truth about truth is what I found in yet another article from that pile. In "Swan Song: Pau Gasol says goodbye to retiring Kobe Bryant," the two time NBA Champion wrote 

We didn’t hang out that much off the court, but toward the end we had several meals one-on-one, and we would reminisce. When I was deciding whether to leave the Lakers in 2014, he came to my house in Redondo Beach. He said he wanted me to stay in L.A. and battle with him and finish our careers together. Those were his words. I told him I was in a place where I needed a change in my heart. I needed a change of air. It was one of the toughest things I’ve ever done, telling him, “I’m deciding not to play with you anymore.” 

I signed with the Bulls because I wanted to put myself in position to win another title. I haven’t been able to do that. I miss him a lot. I miss his presence. I miss that attitude. Not many players have it.  

The White Swan, the Black Swan, all of that, it didn’t upset me. It didn’t frustrate me. It showed he cared about me. It was tough love. He was challenging me because he expected more from me. When somebody cares about you, that’s when they challenge you. When they don’t care about you, they ignore you. That’s when you should worry.

What I take from this tribute is that Gasol and Bryant were much more than just teammates. I see them as true friends. They were both able to be truthful with one another, one challenging the other with a spirit of love and excellence. The truth didn't hurt—but the loss still does.

Pau Gasol also wrote "An Open Letter About Female Coaches" that reveals another important truth, that has shaped his view of the world. As written in the Players Tribune, he said, 

I grew up just outside of Barcelona, a child of two highly successful professionals. My father was a nurse and my mother was a doctor. 

I remember how people would often mistake my father as the doctor and my mom as the nurse — it happened more often than it should have, in my mind. To me, that my mother was a successful doctor … this was just the norm. And don’t get me wrong: I admired my dad’s hard work and job as well. But I grew up knowing that my mom got into a more rigorous school and program, and thus she had the more prominent job. That wasn’t weird, or a judgment in any direction. It was just the truth. And we never really thought twice about it. 

I can only imagine the life lessons his mom offered by her example and teachings. No doubt, that perspective is but one significant reason Gasol is so supportive of female coaches, especially in the NBA. 

I am grateful to my mom for the example and values she has instilled in me. I love talking to her on the phone, literally everyday and hearing the truth!

I have to believe this might the first article to ever combine Mother Angelica with Pau Gasol. I suppose if they two were to walk into a bar, we know not what they would talk about but we can guess it would be characterized by truth. Vero?!

Photo Credits
Pau and family
Mother Angelica

Checking for Understanding Part Three: Why the Greats are Great

This blog post, the third in my series entitle Checking for Understanding seeks to answer one of favorite questions: "Why are the greats great?" I'm not so interested in what makes the great ones tick, but I do want to know: What do they do? How do they think? and What habits do they hold that make the difference? As a sports fan, there is no shortage of articles/polls/blogs/lists that seek to identify the G.O.A.T., the Mount Rushmore, your All-Star team. Who you deem worthy of that title or position is up to you. I've got ideas too. But my question remains: Why is "X" great?

I have found that when I really and truly want to know something, the answer often finds me. Yes, we can research our topic, we can around and inquire from others, but I almost enjoy it more when I do and don't make that happen. And, questions, like the one I am asking make for good conversation. It's fun to see how people respond.

So before I share an answer, Check for understanding on 1) the idea of letting answers find you and 2) what makes the greats, great. 

Ready? This is what I have found....

In the article Swan Song: The key partner for Kobe Bryant in the Lakers' two post-Shaq titles says goodbye—and pines for some relentless dedication, Pau Gasol (with Lee Jenkins) writes
about his late teammate, who many consider one of basketball's all-time greats, Kobe Bryant. Gasol who played with Bryant for six seasons, earning two rings said:

If you play with him, you're looking every day at living proof of why the greats are the greats. It's not by accident. It's an obsession to reach that level and remain at that level. The dedication, the commitment, is such a unique thing. You don't find it. He inspired me to be better, to see the game in a more detailed way.

Reading the latter part of Gasol's description stayed with me. I heard the same words—seeing "the game in a more detailed way"—when former Patriot's tight end Aaron Hernandez described his coach, Bill Belichick.

Although the Netflix documentary Killer Inside: The Mind of Aaron Hernandez is a tragic tale, it doesn't negate the fact that Belichick was regarded by Hernandez, Gronkowski, Brady and countless others are aware they play for one of the greatest coaches of all time. The documentary states why: Belichick pays incredible attention to detail.

I took note of the commonality in the answers that found me. I started to wonder, do all greats incredible attention to detail. And, if so, what does THAT mean. Why is it important? 

With those questions in mind, another answer found me as I was listening to the podcast Fresh Air: Winston Churchill and Fearless Leadership. There is no transcript for this show so I have summarized what I learned here. But check it out and give it a listen for yourself.

Erik Larson, the author of  The Splendid And The Vile said, in commenting on Churchill's outstanding leadership during crisis—World War II—that the man loved to work. He said, 

His work ethic was outstanding, but not just because he worked incredibly long hours. but because he wasn't afraid to dive into the weeds and explore even the most detailed elements of government or what was going on at that time. And so, he would send off these memoranda or minutes to his ministers directly and would explore these minute points. This had the very interesting affect of putting these ministers on guard because suddenly the bureaucratic piece of their ministries was being completely uended by this man who really had an interest in everything they were doing, down to the nuts and bolts of their operation. This made people stand up and pay attention to what they were doing themselves and put them on the mark. 

In Larson' description of Churchill, I gained a sense of what it means to pay attention to detail and why that is important. I love the expression of "diving into the weeds." When you are passionate about a subject, the weeds might actually be a flower! 

I also know how much better I perform when I am being held accountable, advised and directed by a superior.  When this leader is inspiring, that attribute makes me want to do even better. When that leader is a micromanager and discouraging close attention to the details can be tedious and laborious. We all do what we have to do, but if we share a common goal and want to win, this might be the necessary path.

Checking for understanding around the question: What makes the greats great—and one answer: paying attention to detail should prompt you to ask yourself. Where are you willing to dive into the weeds? What do you take notice of and pay close attention to? How might people know this? And if you can't answer this question just yet, maybe an answer will find you.... Let me know!

Photo Credits
Churchill
AH and BB
Kobe and Pau

Dear Basketball by Kobe Bryant. Is it spiritual?

It doesn't happen every day....or very often, for that matter, but one of the best feelings in the world as an educator is when your class breaks into applause. I love when my students get so excited or moved that they only reaction is to clap. 

Such is the case, on the day I told the seniors in Sports and Spirituality that we would be going on a field trip to the historic Castro Theater to see the screening of "Dear Basketball," an animated short film written and narrated by Kobe Bryant. 

Field trips merit their own excitement, but the pièce de résistance was the fun fact that Kobe would be at the theater and hosting the event. I heard "best class EVER" at least eight times that day.

I write about that memory now, because on this night two years ago, Kobe became the first former professional athlete to be nominated for and win an Academy Award. I wanted my students to see this animated short film because I think it is spiritual. 

As written on IMDB, "On November 29, 2015 Kobe Bryant penned a letter in the Players' Tribune announcing his retirement from basketball at the end of that season. This film is the visualization of that letter, narrated by Kobe, scored by John Williams and animated by Glen Keane."

At the 2017 Tribeca Film Festival, Michael Strahan moderated a discussion between Bryant and Keane. As written by Taylor Weatherby,

During the chat, Bryant spoke about his newfound love for storytelling, which he believes is his purpose. "The best way to inspire is through story, it tends to sink in more," he said. And though he didn't mention whether he has more poems or short films in the works, he is plenty satisfied with what became of his initial post-NBA hobby. "I was happy I wrote something Glen and John believed in," Bryant said. "And that I could do something other than play basketball."

Kobe traveled to promote this film in person; he wanted to share with school kids this story and much more. He encouraged young people to find their passion, in athletics and far beyond. I believe he was committed to inspiring others. It is what he did first through basketball and I am not surprised he found others ways to do the same. I am grateful he didn't waste any time figuring that out!

The image from "The Player's Tribune."

About one week before the field trip was supposed to take place, I got a message from the San Francisco Film Society that due to unfortunate circumstances,  the event was cancelled. I did not want to tell my students, but I had to.... I knew this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. How I wished we had gotten a chance to hear from Kobe in person and in that context.

While I did share the poem "Dear Basketball" with that class, we were unable to view the short film together. Therefore, I decided I would share his work with this year's class as a way to begin talking about his life and his death. I asked them to respond to the question I would ask any of my students. Is it spiritual? Why or Why Not? 

I hope you will watch the film. Take your time reading and even reflecting upon their beautiful responses. And do as my class once did—clap.

Thank you, Kobe for sharing your love for storytelling with us. I can't help but find the connection to spirituality. Amen.

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His video is very spiritual, given that he describes that he was not pulled towards
basketball, but rather basketball pulled him. He viewed it as this “intolerable pull” as it slowly became his passion. From when he was younger, he sees himself as the same person with the desire to run through the court, and shoot shots into the basketball hoop, “with five seconds left on the clock”. Basketball is how Kobe harnessed his energy and this fire that he was able to control with the sport. This energetic flame can be seen through the way he plays in the games for the Lakers. His spiritual calmness can be seen within the reflection of his years of his basketball career, and the acknowledgement that his desire for playing basketball will be forever untouched, but he knows that his body will not be able to handle the stress any longer, as he is getting older.

He also thanks the sport of basketball for pulling him into it, only for him to love it even stronger.

By a very insightful reflection of his time in basketball before retiring, I believe that his view on the sport of basketball and his spirituality are very strong together.

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“Dear Basketball” by Kobe Bryant is spiritual. Kobe says in the video that he gave
basketball his all because that is what someone does when something makes them feel so alive.

The very root of the word spirituality is the Latin word spiritus, meaning breath, and in turn, life.

Kobe dedicated much of his life to basketball because ultimately, it is what made him feel alive and gave him purpose. The video follows Kobe’s journey from being a little boy playing with balled up socks and a trash can to being an NBA star—only a drive of great magnitude could lead to such progress. Throughout the video, he says that he is “in love” with basketball; the entirety of this video is a love letter to basketball. His being in love dovetailed with the drive that he had is an example of eros. Kobe directed this eros into fueling his basketball success. Playing basketball fed his soul and was a large part of his spirituality; he seemed to have been able to maintain a healthy spirituality by continuing to do what he was passionate about: basketball. The two functions of the soul—to give energy and to hold together—seem very much like they come from basketball for Kobe.

Photo Credits
Oscar
Animation
Players' Tribune
Movie Poster

Remembering Kobe: Sports and Spirituality Style

It takes a lot for people to look up from their phones, talk and interact with one another in today's world—especially, if you are in line at an airport. Five minutes before boarding my flight to LAX, a man turned to those of us standing behind him, ear buds removed and said with an ashen face: "Kobe Bryant died." Silence. Shock. The incomprehensible. I imagine you have your own story now, too. "His helicopter crashed," he said. Someone replied, "It is unconfirmed." No, I thought—this is most likely true. I have often joked about my desire to travel by helicopter to work in the way Kobe did. I immediately thought of my friends who who love #8 / #24. I thought of the strong opinions many hold for and against Kobe. I recalled that every year, I tell my Sports and Spirituality class the same thing: I want to be more intentional about including the Mamba into the curriculum. I sat on the plane heading to the very place he lived and left a legacy and I cried. Here are but a few reasons why...

Kobe was a man of faith
Kobe was many things—father, son, husband, athlete, champion, Hall of Famer, Academy Award winner and a devout Catholic

I first learned that Kobe took his faith seriously when I read Kobe Bryant: Formed and Saved by his Catholic faith. I might not have believed what I read were it not for my friend Bob, a parishioner at St. Edward the Confessor in Dana Point (the church where Kobe and Vanessa got married). Bob noted that he had seen Kobe at Mass at Our Lady Queen of Angels in Newport Beach. I looked for Kobe the three times I attended Sunday mass at this beautiful parish. I never saw him; I have a feeling I will continue to look for him when I visit in the future...

Kobe lived Sport and Spirituality
ESPN Daily is now at the top of my Listen Now podcast list. Mina Kimes, the host of the show interviewed ESPN NBA Insider Ramona Shelburne, who covered Bryant for 15 years! 

Shelburne said Kobe, daughter and the other passengers "were on their way to a basketball event. And this is just like a Sunday with the family, for a lot of different families here." 

When I heard her words, I thought to myself—well, not my family. Growing up meant Mass on Sunday, and still I know the world is a much different place today. However, this morning a friend sent an article from the New York Post: Kobe Bryant and his daughter reported going to mass before fatal helicopter crash. 

Kobe Bryant and his 13-year-old daughter, Gianna, went to church just hours before dying — along with seven others — in a helicopter crash on the way to the teen’s basketball tournament, a report said. 

The two attended 7 a.m. Catholic Mass and received Communion at the Cathedral of Our Lady Queen of the Angels in Newport Beach, a church spokesman confirmed to the Daily Mail. 

At Mass, the NBA icon would keep a low profile by sitting “in the back of the church so that his presence would not distract people from focusing on Christ’s Presence,” Freyer wrote.

They lived their life in a way I aim to; he practiced his faith and his game....from one priority to the other.

Kobe died knowing the sweetness of victory.
Yes, Kobe has five NBA Championship titles, two Olympic gold medals. He was no stranger to winning. However, the ardent sports fan in me takes comfort in knowing he was able to celebrate a Super Bowl Championship of HIS team during his lifetime.

No, that is not a typo. A native of Philadelphia, Kobe was a lifelong Eagle's fan. When the Birds defeated the Patriots in the 2018 contest, his reaction—shared via Twitter (and now reposted many times) was among my favorites.

In our loss and grief, it's funny to learn where and how we find comfort and peace. For example, when my friend Courtney's brother, Josh died suddenly and tragically in 2013, I wrote a tribute: The Balm of Sports. No one was a bigger White Sox fan than Josh. 

In 2005, his team won the World Series. For those of you who know what loyalty, waiting, hoping and believing as a sports fan is all about—I have a feeling you get it. No one expected the Eagles to beat the Pats. They did and that joy remains....it lives....it is what makes victory so sweet.

Now that I think about it, Kobe was a great sports fan. I loved seeing what events he would show up to at the Olympics. I will miss the way he gave support to others—through his presence.

Presence and Presents
As many people know, Kobe was an avid women's basketball fan. He went out of his way to congratulate WNBA players, he was fiercely loyal to the UConn women's basketball team and committed to the development of his own daughter's game. In a recent interview he shared, "my friend said you and V have got to try to have a son so he can play like you...and my daughter Gigi said 'c'mon Dad, I got this'." Shelburne added that they often joked Gigi had already verbally committed to UConn.

On Good Friday, 2018, the Notre Dame women's basketball team defeated Kobe's team. The athlete who made the winning bucket—Arike Ogunbowale—wore #24 for her hero. Though her three-point shot meant an early exit for the Huskies, Kobe, who was at the game reached out and tweeted mad congratulations. The camera caught Arike and her teammate gazing total disbelief what he had written. UConn and Irish fans could agree it was a special moment.

Two days later, Ogunbowale did it again. It what is now known as "the Easter Basket" the Irish defeated Mississippi State for their second national championship. Both endings got so much good press—the cover of Sports Illustrated read "Ice Twice!" that Ogunbowale was invited onto Ellen. And the rest which felt like a dream at the time, can only feel more-so for Arike.

Kobe makes the moment all about Ogunbowale, and he should. My favorite moment however is when he gives Ogunbowale two gifts: a signed jersey for her and one for her dog named..what else? Kobe. This interview is both hard and it's beautiful, in particular when he speaks about his daughter Gianna. His presence and his presents.

Arike I don't need to tell you that you are richly blessed. I would like you to know that we, his fans and yours are too....

Failure
Kobe was no stranger to failure—on and off the court. In death, we elevate a person. It must be noted that, as reported in Kobe Bryant’s Brilliant and Complicated Legacy

He was charged with felony sexual assault in 2003 stemming from an incident at a Colorado hotel in which Bryant was accused of raping a 19-year-old woman who worked at the property as a front-desk clerk. Prosecutors eventually dropped the case when the woman told them she was unwilling to testify. Bryant later issued an apology, saying he understood that the woman, unlike himself, did not view their encounter as consensual. A lawsuit the woman brought against Bryant was later settled out of court.

Kobe's marriage nearly failed. When this story became public, Vanessa filed for divorce. The couple took two years to reconcile and Kobe took responsibility for his infidelity, his selfishness and his sin.

I play golf with the criminal defense attorney who worked closely on Kobe's case. About three years ago, I asked her about what happened and what she knew was true. Out of respect, I will keep the details limited. She often says what is shared on the golf course stays there. However, I came to understand that he did not sexually assault this woman (and I mean that). Believe what you want, but she is a source that I trust completely. Neither one of us would say infidelity is permissible. I am sure it caused all parties a lot of pain. I do however believe in God's mercy and forgiveness and that Kobe earned strived for reconciliation and resurrection.

#KobeConnection
Growing up and living in the Bay Area, the Lakers most basketball fans  want nothing to do with the Lakers. Before and after Showtime, the purple and gold, the legacy and the dominance—no thank you. Given that he brought five rings to the Lake Show, Kobe could be both respected and hated as a player. Those sentiments are not/were not mutually exclusive when it came to Kobe. This is precisely why I am certain that high school students year after year, LA connection or not would don the Lakers jersey, write about him on that first day of class profile, admit their love for the man unapologetically. I loved this.

Kobe Bryant connected me to students in a way like no other. I was always driven by curiosity. I wanted to know what drove their passion? Why the love? I would ask why they were fans. Their answers told me about who they were and of course who Kobe was to them. I hope I still have students who love the man. 

I don't know how to properly tie this tribute together. There is so much more I could say and would like to share. Please share your Kobe memories. His life and his death inspired words like these from my friend Alex Montoya. I feel the same

Thank you to everyone who sent texts knowing I’m a fan of Kobe and the Mamba Mentality he used to inspire people. I’m grieving not the athlete, but the man, his daughter, their family, the family friends in the helicopter, everyone. Grieve. Come together. Live with your face towards God and love everyone He puts in your life.

Photo Credits
Rise up
Kobe and Vanessa
Kobe and Gigi
Arike and Kobe on Ellen
Remembering Kobe

This Is How We Do It: Thoughts on National Championships and Siblings Day

Both NPR and Facebook reminded me that National Siblings Day is observed every year on April 10. As written on the National Day Calendar's website

Siblings Day is a day created to honor our brothers and sisters.  

Siblings. They are sometimes our best friends or our worst enemies. At times, siblings will provide us with our biggest competition, strongest encouragement and remind us of our most embarrassing moments.

I have always felt lucky to have one of each. In addition to their companionship, love, and support, my older brother and younger sister taught me I am not the center of the universe. Because of them, I have had to learn how to manage conflict in order to survive. We fight and we forgive. They believe in me, they challenge me and well,...they annoy me. (I can say with complete confidence that I annoy them too. Regularly). And yet, I wouldn't have it any other way. I say that because living in a crowded city like San Francisco, working with teenagers, even playing a game like golf means that I am annoyed on a near regular basis. Having siblings has increased my ability to withstand that which is annoying. Thank you, Mark and Sarah! I hope you can thank me too.

Just because something is annoying, however, doesn't mean it ought to be completely done away with. No, when I am annoyed with something or someone, I am reminded of my humanity and theirs. Often, my siblings' annoying actions can be a source of frustration at the time and humor much later. The Notre Dame women's national championship brought this truth to my attention.

I can't tell you how lucky I feel that I got to watch the semifinal and final round of the Women's NCAA Basketball tournament with my two nieces. Visiting Washington DC for Easter, I stayed with my brother and his two daughters, Grace (almost 11) and Lucy (9). They were as excited as I was to see the Irish clinch two clutch wins. 

On Good Friday, in the Final Four game, with 20 seconds to go and up by 5 points, rather than keep eyes glued on the TV, my brother started to play Montel Jordan's hit "This is How We Do It." I did not want any distractions from the game and this hip-hop melody just wasn't necessary. As history will tell, what the Irish did, or rather what UConn did was send the game into overtime. ND held on and beat the mighty Huskies. As everyone was doing what we could to process what happened: WE BEAT UCONN! my brother—once again—queued up this hit. I wanted to hear Coach Muffet McGraw speak....I wanted all the commentary I could get from Rebecca Lobo et al. Nope....instead all I could was "This is how we do it. All hands are in the air!" #Annoying.

Two days later, in the Championship game, the setting, the excitement, the drama and even the game-winning shot wasn't that much different. Neither was my brother's response. I was so annoyed part of me wondered if he enjoyed playing this song more than seeing the Irish win. Grace, Lucy and I continued to jump up and down, high five and celebrate. All Mark wanted to do was dance to "This is How We Do It." Super Annoying.

Still on an emotional high from the win, I went nuts when I heard that Irish guard Arike Ogunbowale, the woman with "Ice in her veins—TWICE!" was invited by Ellen Degeneres to appear on her show. Carrying the NCAA Championship trophy, wearing a Notre Dame women's national championship t-shirt and a beautiful cross around her neck, Arike talked about the adversity the team had faced all season, how their coach made adjustments and believed in them and what it was like to win and complete the game-winning shot. Ellen profiled the public's response to Arike's Easter basket. Not only is Arike featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, but NBA legend Kobe Bryant, who was in attendance at the game vs. UConn took to the Twittersphere to give props. Arike laughed and nodded with humility—she added that the media attention, the moment, even the response on campus has been extraordinary.

As sports fans know, great moments beget others. Ellen played cool and asked Arike about being a Kobe Bryant fan. Arike admitted that she wears 24 for him and even named her dog after the Black Mamba. She shared that she had never met her idol. "Really?" asked Ellen. "Well, that's about to change."

I should see these moments coming from a mile away. I don't. I get so excited by the moment—as it is unfolding—that I almost can't imagine the next one until...it is revealed.

It's Kobe! Of course, it is.
He's on the stage to meet Arike Ogunbowale. Of course, he is.
They are adding a chair so the Black Mamba can sit next to the new superstar.
Oh, wait...what's that song playing in the background.
No, it's not....Oh yes, it is. 
They could have played a million different songs, but what is queued up and ready to go?
Did my brother know this all along?
Is this really how we do it?

There was nothing annoying about that song at this moment. Rather, those notes tie together fantastic memories from a legendary victory and make me ever more grateful I was able to share that moment with one of my siblings. 

Photo Credits
Kobe Tweet
Kobe and Arike

Kobe and Arike on Ellen

Articles I Appreciate...

Kobe wants people to call him "Vino." He believes
he too has gotten better with age.

Had a great couple of days with my cousin Amy, an outstanding runner and avid reader of good blogs. She enjoys reading a popular weekly posting on "Cupcakes and Cashmere" entitled "Links I Love." I have to say Emily Schuman's "Series" of other regular themed postings is ingenious. Inspired by this idea, I thought I might create a one entitled "Articles I Appreciate," Sports and Spirituality style. Enjoy!

The Fourth Quarter: Kobe Bryant confronts a long—and possibly painful—goodbye. by Ben McGrath, The New Yorker, March 31, 2014

Make no mistake about it, basketball fans have very strong opinions about Kobe Bryant. I appreciated this lengthy piece about "Black Mamba" because it paints a clear portrait of who the shooting guard is today in light of all that he has been as he decides who he will be. 

This shoes means biz.

Kobe is so polarizing that friends of mine have literally picked themselves up from the table and walked away from the conversation. But, this article has also connected me to others in way I would never expect. For example, I noticed the barista at my neighborhood Peet's coffee was wearing these wild new Nike shoes. Think Air Jordan meets a wrestling shoe, oh and a zebra and leopard. What do you get? These kicks. I said to him, "Are those the Kobe Elites." He has never poured my coffee the same way since. And, The New Yorker always include excellent writing.

Simpler Praying by Kathy Coffey 
Coffey writes: "When asked how he prayed, the Trappist author Thomas Merton said, “I breathe.” He probably meant that prayer should be as simple and natural as breathing—or chatting with a dear friend. Each breath we take is God’s gift. Without it, we wouldn’t be alive." I agree, and yet I am not the best at prayer. Why I found this article helpful is that it reminds me of a very humble truth. When it comes to accomplishing (most) things in life, stay with Thoreau's credo: "simply, simplify, simplify!"

This article provides simple, realistic prayer exercises. Worth reviewing, and implementing!

The Home Team by Kerry Weber,
America Magazine, May 26-June 2, 2014

Weber writes, “You Don’t Have to love baseball to find beauty in “Field of Dreams." I agree. And for me, this movie captures what I profess in the Nicene creed: "I believe in things visible and invisible." I do. This editorial piece reminds us of that belief and more:

"This year marks the 25th anniversary of the now classic film that tells the story by a man who follows the direction of a mysterious voice—one that commands, among other things, “If you build it, he will come”—and plows under his Iowa cornfield to build a baseball diamond in his backyard."

The Mindful Revolution: The Art of Being Mindful

by Kate Pickert, TIME Magazine, March 31. 2014

"Finding peace in a stress-out, digitally dependent culture may just be a matter of thinking differently." And this is exactly why I run without music and why I play golf without my cell phone. I hope it enhances my ability to be present and live in the moment. I think it provides clarity and enhances my creativity. 

NB: Unfortunately, you must subscribe to TIME to read this article.

In conclusion, I love nothing more than leaving a stack of magazines behind on a plane when I travel. I can't however refrain from tearing out those that include a great story or insight. In the future, I will see to it that they find their way on this blog. I hope you enjoy these selected readings as much as I do. Please share those that you appreciate, too.

Photo Credits

Field of Dreams poster

Kobe

Kobe Elite