End of a Week ! TGIF

A. Basketball
1. Coaching (middle School)-Well we lost yesterday, 60-40. If there were any positives it was that the second half was more about me substituting players then about coaching. I was giving more praise for the positives then the identification of forgotten drills and skills. It should be noted that I had to reprimand 3 players because of discipline reasons during an activity last friday while I was away at a conference. They weren't allow to play(suspended 1 game). Unfortunately the grade bug has bitten 2 varsity players this season. That is something that hasn't happened in my 5 yrs or coaching here. Wow !

Well we play today against an always good Haddon Twp. team. I will take my new found skill of highlighting the positive and having fun today with me.

2. Reporting on Former Players (High School) Of the kids from my years past, only one kid's team will make the NJSIAA playoff field this year.. Of Course it's St. Pats with nice record of 17-3, ranked top 5 in state and top 20 in country. Go MIKE !!!

To my other players Jaheem, Brian, Hassan, Mar-Mar, and Nigel, continue to play hard.

3. Following Minnesota (Tubby Time !) Minnesota lost to Wisconsin, and KP played 7 min. In win against Northwestern KP played a whopping 0 minutes again ! What the heck is going on with his playing time ? I can't figure it out.

B. Bowling
1. Tuesday Nite Mixed League (Da Incredibles) We lost all four.. Look at me.. I'm not to upset. I didn't bowl particularly well. A 181, 201, 171, just wasn't enough to propel my team to a win. Before evening we were in 2 or 3rd place.

2. Wednesday Nite Mens League (X-Men, appropriately named, LOL) From the bottom to the top in just 3 weeks. When we started the second half we were a dismal 1-7. Over the last 3 weeks we have managed to win 12 out of 12 to improve our record to 13-7 and climb to 3rd place out of 12 teams. We are not hitting on all cylinders but we are doing what we have to, to win. Some would call this scrapping. Next week we have a team that we had some issues with the last time we bowled. We were in a pretty heated argument over something..LOL.. I just want to flat out beat them bad this time.

C. Golfing
1. More like my struggles with golf
2. Places I've played- We will be playing over the spring break in the Virginia Beach area. Golf trip. I am praying for good weather.. (March)

That's all for now ! That's my story, that's my sports Blog !

Ups and Downs of Coaches

A. Basketball- Roller Coaster in my world of basketball this week.

1. Coaching (middle School) - We won are second game of the week. I don't recall the final school but we were up at least 15. This was very misleading as the other team was a feeble opponent. I saw little effort on defense as a whole. I included the B Team in play as well. I played 18 kids in this game and it showed. Again we won, but I didn' t feel like we won.
2. Reporting on Former Players (High School) Spoke to one of my former players and I thought they would have a tough challenge at home on Thursday night. Turns out his High School team did much better then I expected. In fact they were up and lose in the final seconds of the game. Unfortunately they won't make the High School Playoffs this year. That was very disappointing as it's the coaches final year (resigning).

3. Following Minnesota (Tubby Time !) -Minnesota beat Michigan in Ann Arbor, MI. Final score was 77-65. You know I have to support family, but his play was cut for the first time since he's been able to play there. He inked 0 minutes in the win.. OK, I'll be honest I didn't see the game (Away at Conference), but I was checking the live feed to my phone to check his stats. I was extremely disappointed that Tubby (Smith) didn't play him at all. So I thought about my own coaching and said, I guess I understand if you are losing and your playing the startin 5, plus maybe 3-4 deep from bench. Minnesota was winning, by as much as 21 and your don't play everyone, thats upsetting. My philosophy (and I don't have a NCAA Championsip under my belt) is to Playing everyone if we're getting blown out. Play everyone if you're blowing someone out. Finally, go 7-8 deep if I am in a tight game. What do I know!!!

B. Bowling

1. Tuesday Nite Mixed League (Da Incredibles)

2. Wednesday Nite Mens League (X-Men, appropriately named, LOL)- We won all for to improve to a mediocre 9-7. Here is the kicker, we have won our last 6 games and 2 wins for total pins for a total of 8 wins.. We are in the middle of the standings with, OOOOOOOOOO 14 weeks to go. Again, we won the first half and are in the end of the year championship. My thinking is to continue to bowl, rather then lay off like the NFL Team that has the division won with home field advantage. Stats this week: Joe 535 series, Kurt 523 series, Eddie 614 series and a 250 game 2, Randy 612 series, and Calvin with a 484 series. This is a team game so we will all have good weeks, we just cant all have a bad week, like the first two weeks.

C. Golfing-Nothing to report.
1. More like my struggles with golf
2. Places I've played

Outline of Life, For me that is ! Cont'd

A. Basketball
1. Coaching (middle School)- Well we lost yesterday in overtime 47-45. First, we were very lethargic in the first half. We didn't DEFEND the ball well and we shot an ice cold percentage from the field. With all that being said, we were only down 20-11 at the half. It should be noted that I had to bench 3 starters do to academic discipline problems for 1/2 the game. In the second half our defense improve, but more importantly, our shooting got luke warm. Heading in to the last 13 seconds of overtime we were ahead by 1 and defending the ball. One of my guards (1-3-1 trapping zone) steps up to contest a 3, and all I could yell was NOOOOOO FOOOUUUULLLL!!! He fouled the kid. Going to the line to shoot 3 he made all of them. With 6.4 seconds left we're down by 2 and I use my final time out to re-iterate my favorite full court winning play (the only one the kids could remember). On the inbound the person throwing the ball in, disregard the play and hurls the ball to another defender over half court.. Check mate!
Today we play again. I will again encourage my kids to start fast and then cruise. This instead of working behind.

2. Reporting on Former Players (High School)- I went to a great game if your were supporting the St. Patrick Celtics, NJ. They won 88-40 in a game where they showed great defensive prowess to create a myriad of turnovers. Their opposition, the Living Faith Christian Academy, didn't score a bucket in the game until 6:30 of a 8 min quarter had passed. I was in attendance to see one of my former players who I like to refer to as the "big kid". Standing at 6'7 and just turning 14 I'm sure you understand the name ! He had a tremendous game. 13 pts 3 blks, and bout 5 rebounds.. (Remember this is a Freshmen on the #2 Ranked team in the state, and #5 in the country {USA Today}). The best thing for me to watch, was that he was merely having fun! I can't imagine when he's the go to guy and his attitude turns to dominance ! Wow! Follow this link to see the small write up by the Star-Ledger: http://www.nj.com/hssports/results/boysbasketball/index.ssf/2008/01/st_patrick_88_living_faith_40_1.html

3. Following Minnesota (Tubby Time !) Nothing to report!

B. Bowling
1. Tuesday Nite Mixed League (Da Incredibles) I was absent and went to view the High School Game mentioned above. They won 3 of 4 to take our record to 10-6 early in the second half of the bowling season. Hey maybe my absence helped the team.. Nahhhhh, can't take any credit away from them. They did a great job ! I stopped by to see how things were going and they had won 1 and lost 1 and we're winning the third, so I left. (Didn't want to jinxed them)

2. Wednesday Nite Mens League (X-Men, appropriately named, LOL) Today is Wednesday. It should be noted that I have to coach a game today and will be late for this one!

C. Golfing _ Nothing to report!
1. More like my struggles with golf
2. Places I've played

Outline of Life, For me that is !

I found out that if you approach things in a systematic fashion you tend to get more done. So with that in mind I will address the very facets of my sports page in the manner I presented to you in my first blog. Here is the outline of my sports activities and life. (Like you really care, lol)

A. Basketball
1. Coaching (middle School)
2. Reporting on Former Players (High School)
3. Following Minnesota (Tubby Time !)
B. Bowling
1. Tuesday Nite Mixed League (Da Incredibles)
2. Wednesday Nite Mens League (X-Men, appropriately named, LOL)
C. Golfing
1. More like my struggles with golf
2. Places I've played

Game Day!

Tonight is game night. I will coach my middle school boys game at 3:45 then shoot straight to a competition between St. Pats and Living Faith to watch a little of that contest. It is Tuesday night and I should be bowling, but since I haven't missed one night this season I'll take a week of this Tuesday. Not that my presence has helped our team anyway.. LOL

I went back to working on fundamentals with my team. Last night we were doing the basic of playing good, sound man to man defense. Something funny happened, I notice that some of my kids, lacked that knowledge and I felt the guilt of incorporating too much press/trap zone defenses. Needless to say you must be in shape to run an effective man to man 4 qtrs. After practice last night I am feeling the effects of NOT being in shape. I'll let you know how the fundamentals helped in our game, tomorrow.

In in undiscussed area, I have started this wellness kick. As many Americans have started being more health conscious, I am assuming my position on the ban wagon. I will fore go brewery in hopes of slimming down the mid section. I started walking 3 miles Tue-Thur. and 45 minute aerobics workouts on Monday. The biggest loser competition is in its second running at my work place and I at least want to make an attempt this time.


This is my story, this is my blog!
Kurt

My story, My blog! The Beginning!

My sports involvement centers around be coaching middle school basketball, bowling two nights a week, and golfing whenenver I can (I said I am going to make a commitment to get lessons after 3 yrs on my own).

First, Middle School Coaching (basketball) has been a god sent. I took a team that was accustomed to losing at a K-8 setting and turned them around in to an average 14 win team out of 19 games. I have watched my star players join the High School Varsity ranks and acheive success. My most prize moment in coaching was to have a 6'7 13 yr older, who is nationally ranked as a freshmen this year. Of course I can't take credit for his basketball skills (god given talent), but I'd like to think that I've had something to do with character. Our team record over the past four years has been 42-21. That's not an excellent winning percentage, but pretty good.

Second, I am an average bowler. I have a 188 avg, in what I like to call a fun league, and a 183 avg in a Mens league. I have bowled since the 3 grade off and on in leagues. Why I have not gotten better is anyones guess. The highest I've ever bowled was a 279 game. I have had 5 700 series, but no perfect games (300). I strive to make tuesday night a practice for Wednesday hoping to demonstrate success on Wednesday. Last year in the fun league we lost the championship. We were considered the favorite going in and still lost.. (Ha). This year is the first year that I will be in the championship for the Mens league on Wednesday. We won the first half. Just waiting for a challenger in May.

Finally, I will keep you abreast on my golfing experience. You know, there are alot of cheaters in the game of golf. No wonder its a sport of fellowship in the business world, because everyone lies about there stroke count and scores. And just for the record, GIMMIES COUNT AS A STROKE !!

That's my story, thats my blog !
Kurt