I have been reading as many stories as I can on the NBA Play-offs; both Eastern and Western Conference. One trait/element that I have been seeing in many of the stories (not to mention on Twitter) is Heart.
What do they mean when they say, “play your heart out“. Or, “they don’t have any heart“. I have even seen this description, “he plays with so much heart.” And lastly, “he has the heart of a champion“. You hear these terms thrown around often.
Going through my basketball material this morning I dug out a fantastic article written by former New York Knicks forward Bill Bradley on the topic of heart. Thank heavens for Sports illustrated Vault-I was able to find it on-line and post the link.
Click here for the actual story written by Bradley back in 1977.
WANTED: a championship team—now. Will pay any price, test any law, sell any product, join any club, make any promise if it can be assured that champagne will flow over my head as the owner.
Pro basketball is a simple game. It is a sport in which success, as symbolized by the championship, requires that the community goal prevail over selfish impulses. An exceptional player is simply one point on a five-pointed star. Great individual players may earn dollars for the owner just as a sideshow does for the circus, but stardom is if anything a deterrent in the pursuit of a championship.
The article is fantastic; a must read for all.
How do you get the heart to be like a Kevin Garnett? Does it start at a young age playing in the schoolyard? Are you born with it? Do you learn how to play with heart, taught to you by a coach? Is it something you can learn in high school, college or even if you are lucky enough to play professional basketball? Who are the ‘faint of heart’ and how did they get that way?
Here are 10 examples:
1-Passion for the game and for their team.
2-A tough, willing defender.
3-A tough, willing rebounder.
4-Someone who plays with energy.
5-Someone who cares whether they win or lose.
6-A player with heart is in the gym working on their game to improve.
7-Mentally tough.
8-A player who dives on the floor after loose balls and comes up with them.
9-Never gives up regardless of the odds.
10-Someone the coach can count on through thick and thin.
“In any medium, you’re going to get a much better story if you have heart.”
-Trevor Von Eeden, author
-Coach Finamore
Hoops135@hotmail.com
Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore
“Heart” i’ve seen before. May have had it once. i always considered it a form of bravery. When I think of heart, I think of soldiers overseas now. I also think of the soldiers in the past, like the guys who stormed the beach a normady in WW2. But like you said, toughness, passion, willingness to win, all heart.
Great example! Bravery…I like your POV. Soldiers with heart. Stay well my friend and thanks for stopping.