We can all agree that things change over time.  Offensive and defensive philosophy, recruiting, high school students behavior, AAU basketball, types of balls used during competition, exposure events, media coverage, and of course coaching.

ESPN, FOX, Local Cable, Blogs, Message Boards, websites are all different outlets that are growing each day and having an impact on sports.  Whether it’s basketball, baseball or football, players who score points, score touchdowns or hit home runs are going to be recognized.  What can’t be overlooked is the athlete or coach causing a commotion off the playing field-it seems that the resources mentioned above will be all over those who get caught engaging in deviant behavior.  Whether it’s calling out a coach in public, DUI, assault, insubordination, etc.  The emotional athlete/coach who displays an animated demeanor will also be the topic of discussion.

Sure we all make mistakes.  We all do things some will not agree with.  In reality, most would love to take back something they have said or did in the past. Yesterday on ‘The View‘, Whoppi Goldberg was talking about Serena Williams and her meltdown at the U.S. Open over the weekend.  Whoppi said, ‘we all get emtional and we all get mad’.  I couldn’t agree more…

The heat of the moment is an avenue I have taken many times.  When we sit back and watch it occur with athletes or coaches on television we always question why they are acting that way?  After examining this topic for a long time I think it’s time I end my analysis on this subject.  Athletes and coaches are competitors, in the heat of the battle you get excited, sometimes offended, and even challenged…most humans natural reactions are to speak up.  It’s a fact some do it in different ways than others.

Take a quick look at some of the top coaches in each sport, they all have some sort of fire burning inside them.  Bobby Knight, Pat Summit, and Pat Riley in basketball.  Billy Martin, Earl Weaver in baseball and don’t get me started on football coaches (whom I think are special people). Sure there are coaches who are a bit more calmer like Joe Torre, Ton LaRussa, Bill Belichick and the Phil Jackson of today.  (The old Jackson was very animated on the sidelines, ‘I used to be a dancer’, Jackson once said)

Each and every one of us is different; coaches and athletes.  We come from different backgrounds, raised in a different environment or even era.  Messages being sent from parent to child is different in French Lick, Indiana than in Brooklyn, New York. But the one thing we can all agree on is what should always be taught and never taken for granted.  Look no further than the 4 D’s.

Desire, Determination, Dedication and Discipline.

Without these four, you don’t have a chance.

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Celtics Town. com on a very interesting story/interview with Boston Celtics draft prospect Lester Hudson.  The guy has travelled the road…I am going to root for him this year.

Jay King: Can you tell me a little bit about your journey from Central High School to Southwest Tennessee Community College, and finally to UT-Martin?
Lester Hudson: I grew up in a pretty bad neighborhood, but instead of being dragged down by my surroundings I was always determined to do whatever I could to get out of the neighborhood.

I actually didn’t know how much I loved basketball until I was able to play for my high school coach. He saw me playing one day and asked me if I would try out for the team. Later on, after I knew how much I loved the game and had finished a successful high school career, I wasn’t allowed to play my senior year. Since I had failed my ninth grade year and had to repeat it, they wouldn’t let me play during my last year at school. Without basketball, I didn’t do my work, and wound up short of graduating high school.

The following year, while I was working on getting my GED, my high school coach asked me if I wanted to go to a tryout for the Southwest Tennessee Community College team – he never lost faith in me, never stopped thinking I could play college ball. I did really well against the players on the team, and I was offered a spot in school and on the team.

By the time I got into STCC, I knew that I needed to work hard in school to continue my dream of playing basketball and escaping my neighborhood. I had two unbelievable years at STCC – I think I was rated one of the top twenty junior college players in the country – but I once again didn’t graduate. Because I was behind, I had to take beginner courses to get into the real courses, and I failed to meet all the graduation requirements.

Since I didn’t graduate, I couldn’t go right into playing college basketball, and I couldn’t have a scholarship my first year. I decided to go to UT-Martin, but I had to pay my way for the first year – a year I red-shirted. I received financial aid and took out loans to cover the rest of the money, and I finished up my college career at UT-Martin.

“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can.”

-John Wesley

-Coach Finamore

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