PAU GASOL

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NBA player Pau Gasol offers some great insights here:

"It comes down to small things.  How do you react to critical moments?  Chemistry, togetherness, the bond between teammates, understanding the drive, the discipline on an everyday basis.  What are you willing to do to put yourself in the best position?  You can say they're small things, but they're actually pretty important things.  That's what makes the difference."

COACHES: ARTICLE ON BALANCING FAMILY AND COACHING

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Maintaining a balance between family and coaching is a challenge for any coach at any level, especially for those coaches in college or professional coaching.  Check out this important article that focuses on Georgia head football coach Mark Richt and his staff about the balance between coaching and family, linked here.

A THOUGHT FROM DAVE JOERGER

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Memphis Grizzlies head coach Dave Joerger offers a great thought here:

"Our goal is to be elite, and we have to practice as such, and we have to play every minute as such."

CAN YOU INSTILL MENTAL TOUGHNESS?

This article on instilling mental toughness is back from 2012, but it is fascinating...check out the link here

THE 7 SECRET HABITS OF NAVY SEALS

This is certainly an interesting article from a former Navy SEAL about habits that lead to success.  Check out the article linked here

THE STORY OF OLYMPIC HOPEFUL LEIGH JAYNES-PROVISOR

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The few minutes it takes to read this story about Olympic hopeful Leigh Jaynes-Provisor in women's wrestling is definitely worth the time...check out this inspiring story linked here

JEN WELTER'S MESSAGE FOR YOUNG WOMEN

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Thanks to inspirational pioneers like Becky Hammon (assistant coach for the San Antonio Spurs) and now Jen Welter (assistant coaching intern for the Arizona Cardinals), women are breaking barriers into men's professional sports.  Welter recently offered an important message for young women all over the country (link):

It shows them that anything is possible, and that's so beautiful. To me, unfortunately, I think the hardest thing in our society right now -- no offense -- is the media. We [tell] little girls all the time to be beatuiful and to do it all the wrong ways. We show them as accessories, for no other better way to put it. We teach them very early on to be pretty, marry well and then act badly, and you'll get on TV. And then that's what they grow up thinking that fame is or success is. I want little girls to grow up knowing that when they put their minds to something, when they work hard, that they can do anything regardless of those things.

 Adolescent female self-esteem right now in our country is at an all-time low. Adolescent females are more likely to accept drama in relationships, to be combative with their friends, all of those things, because we've shown them that image is more important than intelligence, that beauty is more important than talent. Until we pick up and show [young girls] women that are doing things because they're awesome and not just because they're pretty --  how else will they judge themselves? And pretty is a standard very few people can live up to because it's perfection, it's photoshop, it's Instagram, it's filters. I know I love the saying "I woke up like this," but I promise you, I don't wake up like that. Very few of us do.

MIKE FIERS

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Houston Astros pitcher Mike Fiers pitched a no-hitter for the 1st place Astros on Friday, which was a spectacular achievement, loved by baseball fans all over the country.  Average fans watch a performance like this and marvel over the dominance of an athlete, not realizing the sacrifices behind the scenes, as well as the adversity that was faced...and Fiers is no different.  He had to overcome a near-death car accident several years ago, along with an underdog, blue-collar road to the major leagues...hearing about these types of athletes never get old because of the inspirational nature of their journeys, and it certainly makes their achievements all the more admirable when they occur.  Check out this excerpt on Fiers from a New York Times article by Tyler Kepner (link) from 2012:

The Milwaukee Brewers’ flickering playoff hopes all but ended last week when they lost three in a row in Philadelphia, all by 7-6, all in the eighth inning or later. They traded their top starter, Zack Greinke, a potential free agent, to the Angels on Friday.

But in a season of so much gloom, the Brewers have had at least one pleasant surprise. He is Mike Fiers, a right-hander with a 1.77 earned run average this season through his first 11 major league appearances, including 10 starts.

The Brewers drafted Fiers in the 22nd round in June 2009, the month he turned 24. That is ancient, by draft standards, but Fiers had an unusual background.

In January 2008, as he drove overnight from his home in Florida to the University of the Cumberlands in Kentucky, Fiers fell asleep in his car. He crashed into a guardrail along the Florida Turnpike and was ejected through his windshield. He dislocated his hip and had four fractures in his back.

“I had to use a walker and have a back brace on all day until I went to sleep at night,” Fiers said last week. “The little things like sitting down or using the bathroom, taking a shower, those were so hard to do.”

Of course, Fiers was lucky to be alive, and to have his arm intact, even if it had never thrown hard enough to attract scouts. He missed the 2008 season and transferred to Nova Southeastern University in Florida, closer to his home, where he was finally noticed as a sixth-year senior.

“In South Florida there’s a lot of great talent,” Fiers said. “If you’re not throwing low- to mid-90s, or consistent 90s, you’re going to get overlooked. A righty throwing like 85 to 88, you’re going to get overlooked unless you’re doing something outstanding, or something crazy.”

Fiers’s fastball averages just 88 miles per hour, according to Fangraphs, but he mixes in enough curveballs, cutters and changeups to be effective. His mediocre 4-4 won-lost record, though, reflected the Brewers’ disappointing season. In his last six starts, Fiers has had an E.R.A. of 0.68, but only two wins to show for it.

MENTAL TOUGHNESS

Take a few minutes and read this blog post called "Mental Toughness:  What it is, and What it Takes," linked here.  This post definitely offers some great thoughts on mental toughness.

URBAN MEYER: ARE YOU A PROBLEM OR PART OF THE SOLUTION?

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Athletes, coaches, parents:  click on the link to watch a great speech from Ohio State football coach Urban Meyer:  link

THE GRIT OF PETE CARROLL

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This recent article from Sports Illustrated about Pete Carroll is well worth the time to read...check out the fantastic article, linked here

KIANA PHELPS ARTICLES

Check out this great story from Sam Tastad of the Le Mars Daily Sentinel about Kingsley-Pierson senior Kiana Phelps, and her amazing accomplishments in the shot and discus over the summer.  Athletes and competitors:  pay close attention to Phelps' quotes, because she offers some fantastic insights about competition.  Check out the link here

Also, another article was written about Phelps from the Sioux City Journal, linked here

NATE BOYER

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Recently, ESPN ran a video in SC Featured about a man named Nate Boyer.  Check out this powerful, must-see video linked here

FRED VAN VLEET: DRIVEN TO SUCCEED

Interesting video on Wichita State basketball player Fred Van Vleet.

GERRIT COLE

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Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole offers some fantastic thoughts to gain a competitive edge like the pros in the article linked here.  Here is a great quote from the article:

"And there are a lot of different ways to do it. I mean, Cueto is a different bird than Wainwright is. And Greinke is different than Kershaw. So there are a lot of different ways to go about it. But I think the common thing is attention to detail. And focus on every single rep, whether that's a [fielding drill], a throw, an arm exercise in the training room, a warm-up. Every single thing is done with high focus, high attention to detail, and done with a purpose, as if it's the most important single thing that needs to be done."

JJ WATT OFFERS ADVICE FOR YOUNG ATHLETES

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Houston Texans all-pro defensive end JJ Watt again offers some fantastic insights into life and athletics, this time sharing some thoughts for young athletes.  Pay close attention to what he says about social media in particular.  Check out his thoughts in the article linked here