Hoopin Through the Break

This past week of coaching there had been some ups and downs. We saw out first loss and we had our first win. Although we were able rebound from our loss, it is really important that my team continue to make good basketball plays and work on mastering the fundamentals of basketball. 

We've got two really important weeks of basketball ahead of us. This upcoming week is a short one. With two games in three days. But the opponents we are about to face are a force to be reckoned with. Then the following week, most players will be traveling out of town and not playing any hoops for 7-10 days. Following that week we'll be right back into the swing of things and playing games as if there was no winter vacation. The guys who work on their game during the off week will truly see returns on their investment. 

As a way to provide guys with a way to improve their game during the off week of vacation, I am going to be opening the gym to players. Hopefully there will be a strong showing of players who want to work on their game, improve, and master some fundamentals. As important as it is to have balance of playing ball, it will be important for the players to spend some time with their families. But spending most of your time cooped up in the house with them during the break might lead to a lot of lounging around. The guys who don't pick up a ball, run, or stay active, well, they'll...

Hopefully the vacation week will provide the guys who are sticking around this vacation with multiple opportunities to get ahead of their peers who will not be in the gym. 

What Counts?

My father law has done it. He's gone to all 50 states. However, before I met him, my basketball travels brought me all over the United States. I had decided to see all 50 states before I spent time exploring the globe. So for me, I was fortunate to find someone (Kim) who knew someone else (father-in-law) who can appreciate my bucket list goal.

Just the other night I had a conversation with my father-in-law regarding what it would take to visit every state. I am under the belief that to say you've visited a state one has to do more than walk inside the state limits. The reason being, Colorado borders Kansas. But most of Colorado doesn't anything look like Kansas. Just the borders do. So traveling to the border to put your feet in doesn't really give an authentic feel for the state.

Is this Kansas?

So I've adopted the philosophy that one has to experience something within the state limits. Does an airport count? No. But it is within state limits and one usually spends more time in an airport than they'd like and it does fall within state limits. I view the airport like Vatican City within Rome or a consulate (enclaves or independent city-states). 

If you real think about it, when you think of your experience in an airport, do you think you've visited another state, or just another airport? Usually you think you've visited another airport.

That leads me to thinking, if your driving across a country or into a new state, stopping at the rest stop doesn't count either. If it is a break in driving to fill up on gas or empty your contents, isn't the state just like an airport? To me the experience sounds the same.

Dino, is this Kansas?

What do you think? If you drive to let's say Alabama from the pan handle in Florida just to put your toes on the other side of the border. Did you really VISIT Bama?

Edaville

A couple of weeks ago we took the family out to Edaville. Obviously Jackie had a blast, but it was a great excuse to spend time with Grandma and Grandpa. They made the trip up from Connecticut so that they could spend sometime with Jackie and MJ. On brisk fall morning that turned into probably the best day of the fall, what more could someone expect?

Check out the video below to see the events of the day. And yes, there was a surprise in the form of a close friend and family member who also went to Edaville (Carver, Ma).

Hello

When I first found out that my wife was expecting our first child, I began writing a diary of the days leading up to my son being born. I thought at some point I'd give it to my child when they were older. It ended up turning into a great way for me to relay the thoughts I was having about the pregnancy, questions I puzzled over before becoming a father, and it also gave me time to think and look back on my life. 

Below is the first entry I put into the notebook.

February 5, 2013

Hey,

A week ago I found out your mother and I would be expecting you. I've got to say I am pumped. That means excited.

Yesterday your mother and I went to the doctor to get more information about you. I learned that you are the size of a grain of sand. With that being said, you still have a heartbeat. A pretty strong one too. That won't be the last doctor's visit. In fact, there will be lots of them.

Today I decided that I would write you a letter that you could read someday. I’ve got so many thoughts and ideas racing through my head about you. Eventually you will get to know me pretty well but here are some things about me that you should have already learned about me: I like to eat, I am from Bloomfield, CT, I’ve got an older brother, Josh (your uncle), a younger sister named Allison (your aunt), your mother's name is Kim and she is older than me. Mom has an older brother named Tommy and a younger brother named Mickey (both of them are your uncles) and Mickey is married to Amanda (your aunt) and Amanda is from Brazil. You've got 2 sets of grandparents. My parents are "off the boat" from Jamaica (Leroy and Hope). Kim's parents are life long residents of the United States (named Pat and Tom).

You are going to get to know me well. I can't wait until the day I get to meet you. Every night I kiss you "home" (mother's belly) goodnight. I love you so much already and I hope you always remember that.

Sincerely, 

Your Dad

SMASHbook Day 3 Challenge

What I'm Doing Now (wearing, weather, wanting, needing, thinking, listening)

Wearing: sweatpants and a white t-shirt

I've been told that I am not very sentimental and that is not true at all. Years ago my mother bought me a pair of sweat pants which I still own. I should stop pretending that I don't remember the year, what she said when I opened up the gift wrapping, and why she got the sweatpants for me. It was my sophomore year of college. The previous summer my mother had purchased a gym membership for me to Gold's Gym. Apparently she thought I was going to live in the weight room, being a college basketball player had something to do with her thinking. But I went maybe twice a week during the summer. There were lots of guys who, "Picked things up and put them down." I didn't fit in, I didn't want to be there, and frankly I couldn't afford the gas to drive to the gym across town because I didn't have a summer job.

Months later on Christmas morning, opening the gift I saw cozy grey sweatpants with Gold's Gym Training stitched into the left leg. A smirk crossed my face and my mother gave me one of those lines that makes her her, "I should have returned the sweatpants since they cost more money than days you went to the gym." If that doesn't make sense to you, literally what she meant was she had spent more whole dollars on the sweatpants than the amount of times I had gone into the gym. What she really meant figuratively was I'd only do something like that for you because I love you but I feel like I wasted money buying the sweatpants and the gym membership on you.

I love you too mother, I've still got the sweatpants, and they really are cozy.

Weather: cold and very fall like in New England

My favorite time of the year is fall. I feel like I say every season is my favorite when I am going through it. However, I truly think fall is my favorite. After all it is cool enough to wear long sleeves, brisk enough some days to wear a light jacket and honestly, the foliage can't be contained in words. A crisp autumn night puts me into the mood for Friday night football, apples straight out of the orchard, and training for the upcoming basketball season.


Wanting: to go to bed or 7 hours of sleep

Most days I wake up with the promise that I am going to do whatever I can to be in bed by 8:30pm. I make resolutions to drop all bad habits before bed, stick to a schedule, and get everything done so that I can get to sleep. And like a kid who realizes the characters on TV are actors pretending to be someone they aren't, I pretend that I am going to get to bed at reasonable time. I go through my day acting the part of a guy who isn't sleep deprived. Driving to and from work chewing gum to stay awake, sipping on water when the novelty of gum wears off, stopping to get pizza when I realize food always perks me up, and listening to books on Audible to keep my mind from drifting to sleep.

By the time I get home, there is more than enough to do that would keep me up past 2 am. I usually procrastinate and get none of the items on my ever growing to-do list accomplished. By the time 10:30pm rolls around, I finally put my mind through mental jumping jacks that are entirely unnecessary. Should I stay up another hour because it is already late or should I go to be now and still hit snooze a number of times?


Needing: a work out

After playing in a basketball game a couple of nights ago, I don't want to lose the "shape" or the wind I got from playing. Even though I really really need to rest my old bones, I know that I am planning to play again next week. The only thing that could be worse on my body next week is only working out once a week. The problem is that my mind will think I am improving week by week. Even if my game isn't getting any better.

I can see it now. After scoring 10 points in 2 minutes, I was on top of the world. Those were the only points I scored for the game. You only know that because I told you even though the score box would have you believing it was over the whole course of the game. Next week, after not working out since the last game, I'll try to go for 20 points in the whole game. I'll end up with a sprained ankle, busted knee or pulled muscle in my back. Just me biting off more than I can chew.


Thinking: I have no time to do all the things I want. I've always said, "If it really mattered to you, you'd do it." But that isn't always true. There are better times in the day to do somethings. So, that makes it hard to squeeze the wanted things into the day.


Listening: Planning Phase-My daughter cry over the monitor. Jackie is trying to make her happy but, she wants to come out of her crib. So the more he stands there trying to talk to her and play with her, the more she cries cause she wants to get out.
Editing Phase- Kanye West's the College Dropout courtesy of Amazon Prime Music. Kanye is always worked up about something or another. Especially back when no one gave him a handout and he was trying to become who he is today. When you are grinding, is there anyone else who can get you to think you can literally take the world over by yourself? Nope, Kanye is the man for the job.Look out world, Chris has been lyrically touched by Kanye!

SMASHbook Day 2 Challenge

Goals:

One of my goals that I'd like to achieve is to publish a book. And not put out a self-published book. There is nothing wrong with a self published book. One of my good friends and former teammates Tyson self-published a book, Hoop Dreams Fulfilled (for more info on his book Tyson's Website), and I couldn't be more proud of him. There is just something appealing in knowing that I went through the grind of getting my words, opinions and thoughts mass printed. Even if those words, opinions and thoughts are not successful, to know they could be widely read at anytime is awesome.

The narcissistic side of me says, "Chris, you want your name and your words to live on forever once you die." Although the narcissistic side appeals quite a bit to my goal setting, that isn't entirely how I think. The biggest reason why I want to publish a book is I've always enjoyed telling stories. Whether they were tall tales that landed me in trouble as a child, colorful retelling of my adventures through adolescence, and the underrepresented events of early adulthood of college athletics.


Another goal I have is to make a real difference to someone. Being a teacher helps. There are times I feel there are so many people out there doing good and what I am doing doesn't even compare. It's not a competition about who can be more holier than thou, it would just be nice to know that there are people out there who need something that I can offer.

SMASHbook Day 1 Challenge

Day 1: About Me

I've written About Me's so many times I could almost do it without putting too much thought into who I am. With writing About Me sections for my students, their parents, on a resumé, and on my website, I feel like an About Me professional.

To make this About Me standout, I've decided to go away from telling about my Jamaican parents and leave out who I was as a basketball player. Instead I am going to focus on what is most important to me, my children.

About Me:

Jackie and MJ are my world. I'd do anything I could for them. Growing up I had always wished to have a family. I thought I'd love my children but I never knew why though. To me, parents loved their children because they were around them for such a long time, and, they were supposed to. Now that I am a parent love has a new meaning.

Getting married I learned love meant bringing out the best in someone else. Having a children taught me love means being selfless. Their happiness means more than my own happiness. Their discoveries are my discoveries, too. The more I think about it, the more I love my children.

To know what's most important About Me and who I am today can be summed up in one word: father.

30 Journaling Challenge

After stumbling across a 30 Day Journaling Challenge on Twitter (courtesy of @ReeseRyanWrites), I've decided to jump in with a big SMASH. Instead of journaling, I am going to be blogging. Hopefully some of you may join me with either journaling or just jotting down some of thoughts, too.

Check it out.

Join in.

Enjoy.

Jackie Turns 2

My little man turned two, not really, but yesterday we had a party for him. And I have to say, the preparation for the party had been pretty crazy. Looking back, not only was the madness of getting things together worth it, I feel so fortunate everything went down the way that it did. The company, the day, weather and everything else was picture perfect.

We are so fortunate to have close family and friends who care about our children as much or more than we do. It meant the world to Kim and I to have people come from as far as Puerto Rico and all over New England just to celebrate Jackie's second birthday. That kind of personal sacrifice to spend a beautiful Saturday at a baby party did not go unnoticed. Kim and I really appreciated it. 

Take a look below at the video that was playing at the party. The pictures show a small snap shot of Jackie's second year of life. Because his party was before he turned two, I'm adding the pictures from the party below, too. You should also the songs playing in the video are Jackie's favorite. 

Finally, it's worth noting that Jackie had a tough time going to sleep. There was excitement bursting from every pore in his body. He finally crashed with trains in his hands and a smile on his face.

Crown of Three Book Review

In this coming of age tale, we see Tarlan, Elodie, and Algulphus more often referred to as Gulph fulfill a prophecy. After being whisked into safety they all have their own harrowing tales of survival. One's a prisoner in plain sight, another is a glorified gypsy (traveling minstrel), and another grows up in the frozen wastes of a long forgotten realm. The story quickly moves along and we are thrown into each characters POV and where they are in the world.

As Tarlan, Elodie and Gulph follow their destiny, each has their world turned upside down. Relax, I won't put in any spoilers. Let's just say the rug gets pulled out from each of them and their eyes are open to the world and they are faced to make big decisions that will impact the future of Toronia.

Overall, I thought Crown of Three was a good book. It was refreshing to see a thirteen year old actually act as the gullible thirteen year old that they are. It was even better to see that they weren't awesome at everything just because they are fulfilling a prophecy. Too often in children's fantasy novels, the main characters are experts with the sword, the bow, leading people, they rarely make mistakes and leave the battlefield unscathed. So it was nice to see characters struggle, it seemed realistic and it kept me reading.

I was hoping to use this book as a read aloud for my 4th grade students in school at the beginning of the year. Reading the jacket the book seemed like a great way to get the students excited about reading books. After reading the book from cover to cover, book but I don't think this would be the best choice. Although the book has challenging vocabulary for a 4th grader I thought the fact a couple of characters get decapitated, main characters meet their doom as if George R. R. Martin was the author, some students may find the story a little too intense. This would be a better read aloud when we study fantasy later in the school year and the students have grown up a little more.

Questions I was left with after reading:

-What are the three realms? Are they Isur (the city of Idilliam is located within the realm, also the location of castle Tor which the country Toronia gets its name from), Ritherlee, and Yalasti or Icy Wastes (maybe this is a barrier keeping people from the mountains called Yalasti)? Safe to say I was a little confused.

-Was the purpose of some characters to set the stage for upcoming books? For example, Palenie and her explanation of her village, Stown and all of his cronies.

-How do people know about legends (magicians) and mythical beasts (tigrons and thorrods)? Should the reader know about these things too? I felt like I was missing out on something.


Pros
- world building
- good pace
- 13 year olds act like 13 year olds
- incredible cover art

Cons
- background knowledge for the reader
- chapter titles needed character names to show POV we'd be reading from
- no map, it would have been a great help for 9-13 year olds to have something to refer back to since three characters are off in the different and often confusing realms of Toronia.

Hoop Dreams Fulfilled Book Review

I've recently read the book Hoop Dreams Fulfilled: An Athlete's Failures and Redemption on His Journey to Professional Basketball by Tyson Hartnett. Take a few minutes to read the review below, watch the trailer and check out Tyson's website. Any athlete who has felt that all odds were against them will be able to relate.

For more info check out Tyson's website: http://www.hoopdreamsfulfilled.com/

Hoop Dreams Fulfilled: An Athlete's Failures and Redemption on His Journey to Professional Basketball 

by Tyson Hartnett

It is impossible to read this book and ignore how your passion shaped your life. Whether you’re passionate about golf, sewing, reading, drawing, gardening, scrap booking or collecting cats, this book will resonate with you. This authentic account brings you through: Tyson the Boy, Tyson the Young Man, Tyson College Athlete, Tyson the Lost, and Tyson the Professional.

After reading this account of Tyson, I’ve come to realize 3 things about myself:

1. I wasn’t alone even when I felt some of those same feelings in my basketball career,

2. I am truly happy with the decisions I’ve made in life, and

3. I’d be lost if there was no basketball in my life.

People need to hear and be exposed to Tyson’s story. It’s great being recognized by your family and peers for something you've put your whole heart and soul into. It feels wonderful being heralded as the best. And nothing compares to the joy you feel when you know you’re on your way to achieving your goal.

But what’s the cost?

Tyson showed by committing himself to earning a D1 basketball scholarship he distanced himself from friends because many people didn’t match his work ethic. Tyson showed the other side of the coin, the business of athletics. Tyson showed the ugly truth of not living up to someone else’s expectations. Tyson showed what it’s like not being able to live up to your own expectations.

Although it was a couple years prior to Tyson, I went through many of the same basketball camps, AAU tournaments, D1 program and various agents to get contracts to play basketball overseas. I can say that Tyson’s account is more than authentic. It’s heart breaking. Reflecting on the book, Tyson had so many people in his corner to support and assist him achieve his goals, yet, he seemed utterly alone and unprepared throughout the journey.

 

When I was reading I couldn’t help but ask my Kindle how could his parents let all of these bad things happen to him? If Tyson were so committed, dedicated and focused, why would he do stupid things to jeopardize his progress towards being a successful basketball player?

Although Tyson didn’t say these words, the point was made loud and clear. Everyone needs balance. In fact, it was my biggest take away from reading this gripping account. I want to know where were his parents.

Overall, this book was interesting and authentic. Would I recommend this book to someone? Of course I would. Not because I feel like I know Tyson, but because his message is clear. No one is going to hand you anything in life. You need to out work the person next to you. Grab life by the horns and hold on because it’s going to be a bumpy ride. Be satisfied knowing you gave your best effort. And above all, good things happen when you work hard, bad things happen when you don’t.

I Suck at Girls Book Review

I Suck at Girls by Justin Halpern


It's safe to say this book isn't informative, humorous, hilarious or even entertaining. It's all of those things and more. Reading Justin's story was like watching Dumb and Dumber for the first time while laughing and muttering to myself, "Is he seriously going return those magazines?"

To start, we find Justin going home to seek advice from his father before asking his long time girlfriend to marry him. Outside of his father's expletives (for those who don't appreciate those kind of choice words), horrific (at times) accounts of his interactions with women, I felt he was hopeless. I rooted for him, at one point I even silently hoped she'd say, "No," so there would be another book. After all I can relate to his experience about popping the question. What if she says no? What then?

I really did enjoy the book and I'd recommend the book to anyone in need of remembering how awkward it could be to talk to girls in middle school, oh wait, he was awkward through his 20s and so was I.

Check it out on Goodreads: I Suck at Girls

Check it out on Amazon: I Suck at Girls

Other works by Justin Halpern, Sh*t My Dad Says

100 Miles

My goal this summer vacation is to run 100 miles. For some one with my running abilities it may sound like a lot. But, it really isn't. I've got 67 days to do it. In order to hit the goal, I have to run at least a mile and a half everyday. 


I've already began running and I have 97.1 miles left. That's right, it says 97.1. Yesterday I ran 1.3 mile loop and today I ran 1.6 loop.
Every tenth of a mile counts. Every step counts. My mantra already is, "Put one foot in front of the other." There is no way I am going to short change myself. I simply can't afford to!

I guess there are going to be a bunch of trips to Lake Quannapowitt. It's flat and I do flat courses really well. Maybe I should look into getting some new running sneakers to avoid any problems with my feet or legs.

Ode to Leroy

Just the other day I took part in a somber and enlightening experience. My wife's paternal grandfather passed away. It was interesting to witness the different range of emotions. Most people were quieter than they usually were, others were withdrawn and some full of tears. There were a few who were pleased to see Jim/Grandpa Mac be in a better place. 

How often do we have an opportunity to tell people how we really feel about them? I watched my father-in-law and his brother talk about their father. With all that they went through, because they grew up in the same house during different eras, they had a much different view of their father from one another. Actually, I know when I heard about the special relationship Jim and Jimmy (son and father) had with each other it made me think the relationship that I have with my own father.


The good thing was thinking of my father brought a smile to my face along with uplifting kick start to my mood. As I looked in front of me I saw my parents who'd gone to the funeral although they had only met Jim less than a handful of times. It got me thinking, what did the brothers say to their father before he passed away? Did they ever get a chance to say everything they wanted? Did their dad know and acknowledge what their feelings were?  Would I have the opportunity to tell my father how I felt about him? Had I ever told my dad all the things I appreciated about him?


Now some of those questions aren't ever going to be answered but I have realized that even if the brothers never got a chance to say all they wanted to to their father, they haven't truly missed out on the opportunity yet. Just because Jim is gone, he isn't forgotten. I don't remember where I heard this, but I do think it is very fitting. You live on forever through the impact you've left on others. 


The brothers who spoke during the funeral service have passed on what they could to their own children about their father. In fact, they passed on a ton of stuff to me about Jim, too. But I couldn't help but think, what did my father pass on to me?

 Longwindedness.

As a teacher, I know that longwindedness ain't a word, yet I find myself always telling some long winded story to my students. It usually ends up with me learning something the hard way. All I can think about it when I tell the story is how my father helped me, punished me or supported me through my ordeal. It goes without saying, I feel like I've never had a chance to accurately tell him about the impact he's made on me that I relate to countless others.


I know how and why these parables come to be. It is because I see my father everywhere. In the Jaguar driving down the street I can see my father saying, "Now that is my dream car," in his Jamaican accent. Boy, do I wish I was there the day he got his first Jag. I can see him saying, "If my grandfather where here to see what I've become today, he'd be proud."


I hear him, too."If I had known how much this Jaguar would have costed, I would have gotten the X-J8." That's what he told me when I asked him if he was going to buy or return the Jag because the lease was almost up. I've had to explain to my students that I grew up in a house where your best wasn't good enough yesterday and expected tomorrow, but in the moment it falls short of the mark. 


I feel the presence of my father when I pick up my son and daughter and hold them tight when they aren't feeling well. Being in a house with my dad and having a sniff, cough, runny nose, itchy eyes and any symptom of ailing health could become a berating death sentence where you felt it was your own fault for getting sick (Did you see how long winded that sentence was?). "Put something on your feet or you'll catch a cold." "Take something for your cough." "Blow your nose." "Did you take something yet?" 


Looking back, I think I purposely didn't take anything because I knew I could always count on my dad when the chips fell. In the middle of the night, regardless if my father had to wake up before the birds to get to work on time, my father was there. He never gave me the Monday Morning Quarterback comments of, "I told you so," or "You should have dried your hair before you went outside without a hat on to shovel the snow from the neighbors yard." Instead, he was patient, kind and a stable rock one could only hope was their father. So he saved those comments for the next time I was showing sign of being sick because he was the elephant who never forgot anything that happened under his watch.


When my kids aren't feeling up to par, I can only hope to emulate what my father was to me. I hope my kids will know that I love them and I'd do anything to help them get better. But my true hope is that they feel, see and hear their grandfather the way I do. It'll be impossible for me to know if they will or not. In fact, it would be unreasonable for me to expect them to have the same memories that I had. After all, there won't be too many instances where grandpa will be able to nurse them back to health like he did for me, show up to games in the midst of a snow storm or clap the loudest at a band performance (even when I didn't practice as much as he told me I should have). But what will continue to live is my father's impact. 


I know that this is more of a long winded rambling more than it is one cohesive piece with a message in mind. It sounds a lot like my father. And you know what, that is something that I hope you take with you.

I can't believe it, my father is smiling in a photo!!!

My dad (smiling with pride because of his daughter), Allison (my sister), & Mom

He is may look big, imposing, serious and stern but he has emotions under that facade.

Nerves

You know I've never thought of myself as being worked up about a lot. However, the more I've grown up I have found myself getting worked up by a lot of things. My wife wouldn't agree with that, neither would my mother but how well do they really know what is going on in between my ears?

With that being said, I have a bunch of "stuff" tied up in a bunch. With lots of anticipation leading up to the birth of my second child it only makes my nerves, which are suspect to begin with, go into overdrive. Although there is nothing that I can do, even though my wife will be in great hands, and even though I have already been through this process before I still feel like I'm a step away from being overwhelmed.

Tomorrow is coming because time waits for no man. So, I'll just grin and bear it. In fact, I'll probably wake up and do Insanity tomorrow to get the blood flowing. After Shawn T. yells at me and kicks my butt I'll be ready to take on the world. Getting my lather on will put me into the mind of playing my first college basketball game or my first high school varsity soccer game after not playing soccer for 3 years.

Pitbull

Oh man, back in the day I used to be so nervous that I'd tell my coach that I didn't feel good so he should start someone else. After the tip off I'd be thinking to myself, "I should be out there. Dale (said like Pitbull)! Let's go." Just thinking about what I've got to do to get mentally prepared for tomorrow already has me in a better mood. Tomorrow is going to be awesome. I can't wait for the latest edition to the Bruff Clan.