GABRIELE ANDERSON

Cool story from the Minneapolis Star Tribune about runner Gabriele Anderson and her dreams of the Olympics linked here.

AAU BASKETBALL IN IOWA

The Des Moines Register printed an interesting article about AAU basketball in Iowa linked here.

STORM LAKE TEACHER LEAVES UNIFYING LEGACY

Please read this article about Storm Lake's Brent Croker, an inspirational teacher, father, husband, and person linked here

THE GREATEST COACH EVER

Yesterday (June 24) marked the tragic day 3 years ago (2009) when Aplington-Parkersburg football coach, teacher, and mentor Ed Thomas was shot and killed at the school's weight room.  He is perhaps one of the greatest coaches that Iowa high schools have ever seen, in any sport and at any level.  Even more than that, he is one of the greatest coaches that high schools in this country have ever seen.  More important than any wins on the playing field is the impact that he had on the lives of so many people.  He will always be remembered and honored.  A book called The Sacred Acre has been written about him, and many stories and videos have been documented as well.  Please take a look at this ESPN video of Ed Thomas.

TAKING RISKS

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

"People that take risks can become stars; people who don't, can't."  --Bobby Flay

LEBRON AND THE HEAT

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

LeBron James and the Miami Heat are NBA champions.  There are so many awesome quotes and stories from a memorable NBA postseason, but here's a great quote from the champion in a CNNSI article linked here:

"Everything that went along with me being a high school prodigy when I was 16 and on the cover of Sports Illustrated, to being drafted and having to be the face of a franchise, everything that came with it, I had to deal with and I had to learn through it. No one had went through that journey, so I had to learn on my own. All the ups and downs, everything that came along with it, I had to basically figure it out on my own. I'm happy now that nine years since I've been drafted, that I can finally say that I'm a champion, and I did it the right way. I didn't shortcut anything. I put a lot of hard work and dedication in it, and hard work pays off.''  --LeBron James

A LOOK INSIDE CAMERON INDOOR STADIUM

Thanks again to Carolyn (one of our upcoming seniors) for passing along these photos.  Check it out...some pictures inside of Duke's iconic landmark, Cameron Indoor Stadium.  Awesome!

KEVIN DURANT

"Hard work is a part of leadership."  --Kevin Durant

WHEN I GAVE UP ME, I BECAME MORE

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

"When I gave up ME, I became MORE. I became a captain, a leader, a better person and I came to understand that life is a team game...and you know what? I’ve found most people aren’t team players. They don’t realize that life is the only game in town. Someone should tell them. It has made all the difference in the world to me.”  --Don Mattingly (one of the all-time New York Yankee greats, and current manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers)

LIVE FROM DUKE UNIVERSITY

One of our girls basketball players who will be a senior is currently attending a prestigious pre-med/genetics camp at Duke University.  Among the pictures she was kind enough to send are Cameron Indoor Stadium and Krzyzewskiville, both iconic landmarks in college basketball.  Thanks for sharing, Carolyn...very cool!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY

Happy Father's Day to all of those awesome dads out there. To steal a quote from Kyle Korver's Facebook page, "He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it." --Clarence Budington Kelland.

One more great thought on fatherhood from Barack Obama: "My hardest but always my most rewarding job."

Also, check out this great article written about Iowa men's basketball coach Fran McCaffery, by Pat Harty of the Iowa City Press-Citizen, linked here. 

Thanks to fathers everywhere!

THE NEXT PISTOL PETE?

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

We have been trying to shoot a lot of three pointers this summer, and so far it has been going well.  The percentages are increasing, as are the confidence levels of our shooters.  After today's open gym and a solid shooting display by one of our kids, one can't help but think back to the Baylor/Colorado game during the NCAA Tournament this past season, when Brady Heslip of Baylor went 9-12 from three point range, scoring 27 points in the Baylor victory.  Great shooters like Heslip (and his idol Pistol Pete, shown in the picture above) are not accidental...people watch him drain 9 three pointers on TV, but they don't see him shooting in the rain in his driveway at home, or making 150 threes before a typical Baylor practice.  That is the kind of hard work that goes unnoticed by casual spectators but is necessary for that type of success.  Enjoy the article linked here:  Brady Heslip

10 LESSONS JEREMY LIN CAN TEACH US

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

Yes, the Knicks' season is finished, but check out the link to the article about Jeremy Lin which is linked here:  Just Lin, Baby!

EFFORT

Great thoughts on effort from one of the best linebackers in NFL history.

BE DARING, BE DIFFERENT...

"Be daring, be different, be impractical, be anything that will assert integrity of purpose and imaginative vision against the play-it-safers, the creatures of commonplace, the slaves of the ordinary."  --Cecil Beaton

NO EXCUSES

HOMELESS TO HARVARD



Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

Thanks to Chad Angel for passing along this great story:  Homeless to Harvard

ONCE A BULLDOG, ALWAYS A BULLDOG

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

"I talk to Mario, we have that type of relationship because we have that link because we're Jayhawks.  It's beautiful.  Other schools don't do this around the country to where they come back.  This is a special place."  --Paul Pierce (former Kansas Jayhawk)

Heading into game 7 of the Celtics/Heat series, Paul Pierce and Mario Chalmers now play for different NBA teams but are linked by their time at Kansas; they didn't play together at KU, but they are both Jayhawks...what a special deal.  This is something we're trying to create here in Le Mars:  once a Bulldog, always a Bulldog.  No matter where you go in life and what you do, you will always be a Bulldog, and you will always be welcome back home to Le Mars.  It's cool to see some of our former players that either come back to Le Mars or still live in the area; they all share the bond of being Bulldogs.

THE GRIND

Thanks for sharing this video with us, Freedo!

MONEYBALL

Image from flickr.com/creativcommons

If you haven't seen the movie Moneyball, you need to see it.  There are so many great lessons in this movie, some of which we are going to use in our basketball program.

THINK LIKE A ROOKIE

Think Like a Rookie by Jon Gordon is a very insightful article that we gave to our 8 upcoming seniors earlier this spring.  It is a very insightful article that makes anyone think about their approach to any task or job in life.

JENNIE FINCH BOOK

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

This season we are starting a "team read."  The book we are reading is called Throw Like a Girl:  How to Dream Big and Believe in Yourself by Jennie Finch.  It is a tremendous book, and each player and coach received a signed copy from Jennie Finch (everyone should have a copy soon, because our second shipment will be arriving shortly).  We want every player and coach to finish reading this awesome book by the start of our season in November.  We will be referring back to the book many times during the season, and we will be talking about the book during the season as well.  It's a great read, and hopefully everyone enjoys it and picks up some meaningful insights.

GIRLS YOUTH CAMP 2012

The Le Mars Lady Bulldog Girls Youth Basketball Camp will be held July 9-10-11 in the HS gym.  Girls in grades 6-8 will have camp from 8 AM-10 AM, while girls in grades 3-5 will play from 10:30 AM-12:30 PM.  For more information, contact Coach Kopperud at judd.kopperud@lemarscsd.org

BOSTON CELTICS

Image from flickr.com/creativecommons

"Everybody says they want to win, but sometimes actions are different than words."  --Kevin Garnett

This awesome quote was taken from last year's show on NBATV, "The Association:  Boston Celtics."  Watching game 5 of the Celtics/Heat series last night really makes this quote from KG real and truthful.  Regardless of how the remainder of the series finishes, all teams in any area of sports/life should try to emulate the Boston Celtics.  They are such a tough, selfless, hard-working, close team.

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

This is a fantastic video.  Make sure the volume is turned up so you can hear the meaningful words.  All people want to succeed...but some just want it more than others and are willing to sacrifice more than others.  Enjoy this video and its messages.

FIRST POST

This is the first post of the Le Mars Girls Basketball blog!  Check this blog often for updates throughout the year, along with motivational words of wisdom.