When the new year comes around each year I think of two things. But I’m sure they are not the two things most people think of. I don’t think of resolutions and I don’t do a lot of dwelling on the past year. So, what does a person like me who has played basketball, coached basketball, or been a fan of basketball for over 73-years think about? BASKETBALL! Tough guess huh?
As a player I thought of exciting conference games and not having to share the “limelight” with any other sport. It was full throttle,100% basketball. It was the only game in town. We played meaningful games AND a lot of them. And it all led up to the “big” tournament games in February and March.
As a coach, January and the new year meant your team was beginning to understand their roles, accept them, and your team was “fun” to coach. And watch. Every coach likes to have their theories, practices, and concepts validated by their team. Generally, that is accomplished after a few weeks or a few months of hard, discipline, and team work by your players. I would come home after practice everyday in the first few weeks of practice hoarse and practically unable to talk. I rarely had that problem after December. In January, as a coach, you can see your players “buying into” what you have been teaching. Hopefully, you can see your players improving and getting closer to their potential. I never compared my players with one another or with former players. That was not fair or possible. BUT I did hold them accountable for being the best version of themselves that they could be. I held myself to that same standard.
As a fan, I believe basketball is the best sport in the world. It is better than individual sports because it teaches “belonging”, responsibility to another person, and discipline to a SHARED common good. It is the clinched fist becoming more powerful and lethal than five individual fingers on the hand. Each finger equally important. Basketball is the perfect TEAM game because of the fewer numbers on a team and the proximity of the fans to the court. But it also gives a player many opportunities to display their unique skill set. There is no way to “hide” on a basketball court with the bright lights on and the players dressed in “fancy” underwear. It is what it is. Mistakes are hard to miss but so are exceptional plays. The best TEAM has the players that performs at the best level AS A unit. Often the team with the best players or even the best player is not the best team. Five, six, seven, or more players on the same team playing their role to the best of their ability to accomplish a shared goal. That is definition of TEAM! As good as Michael Jordan was, he could still only guard one player, he only scored one-fourth of his teams points ( he averaged over 30 points a game), and he only got one-seventh of his teams rebounds. Before Pippin MJ had NO titles and zero winning seasons. After Pippin and the addition of several other outstanding players, they became unbeatable.
I know, I can hear the football fans screaming at me now, about basketball being the best team game. Here is the reason I believe that basketball, not football, is the best team sport. In basketball you have to play “both” ends of the court. There is not an offensive team and a defensive team. So sorry, Christmas is NOT the most wonderful time of the year for me!
I love Christmas though, especially when I have a great book like my book on The History of The Greater Egyptian Conference to sell. I sold over a hundred just during Christmas. If you haven’t gotten one yet you can contact me or Venmo.com/u/jack-sutter-10. Also, now that the GEC home and home games are getting started you should be able to purchase a book at the games. Book is $15 plus $4 shipping.