Heading to Michael Jordan’s Flight School basketball camp.  This blog will return August 8 - undoubtedly, with some interesting camp stories.  

Read on Wednesday’s Yardbarker site, a comedic interview between The Office’s Rainn Wilson and the Los Angeles Clippers’ Blake Griffin.  Although most of the conversation was in a humorous vein, there were a few insightful moments.  One, in particular, was about “playing on instinct.”  When Wilson asked the Clips’ human highlight film if he ever thought about some of the moves he made, Griffin mentioned how he liked to play on instinct, about how commentators would make comments regarding guys “thinking too much.”  He continued expounding on his ideas, mentioning how veteran guys who might have gotten slower can still be effective because their instincts are better.

The first thought that entered my mind was a quote from my friend and former boss, Jerry Tarkanian.  It was a philosophy he used that worked quite well for decades in a incredibly successful career (which ought to have had him already inducted into the College Basketball Hall of Fame):

“The more players think, the slower their feet get.”

NCAA president Mark Emmert self-righteously stood before the cameras and levied the strongest penalty in his tenure.  It was almost like he was saying, “Ha!  That’s for all the people who say the NCAA is a toothless organization.”   There’s nothing like playing to public sympathy.  But when it comes down to it, Emmert and whoever else decided on the penalties they imposed on Penn State case saw the case as a way to enhance the image of the organization.

To begin with, there was Emmert standing so proudly and hypocritically announcing the fine ($60 million) was 100 times greater than any other in history and what it was designed for.  Then he spoke about changing the culture.   Well, start with Jerry Sandusky, the guy who molested all those innocent boys.  He’s in prison for the rest of his life.  Joe Paterno is dead.  All of the others implicated in the case are fired and forced to live their lives in shame.  It seems like the guilty parties are punished.  Totally new administration.  That is a culture change.

Does the NCAA really think what happened at Penn State did so because no one thought it was wrong?  (By the way, has the NCAA done any investigative work into the similar Syracuse situation?)  Does there need to be a “no pedophile” rule in Penn State’s handbook or the NCAA manual?  It’s simple.  If such an incident occurs, make sure it is reported to the proper authorities in as timely a manner as is possible.  Punish the people who did wrong.  Everyone knows that’s not how the NCAA works and, due to finding out facts when they do, their punishment will always hurt many innocent people.  But let’s at least make sure the sanctions are fair.

I heard some fool interviewed on TV who said that SMU gave money to players and got the death penalty, while the kids at Penn State were molested; that the two can’t be compared.  Absolutely right, one was a deliberate act of trying to gain a competitive advantage; the other is a criminal offense.  Even if there was a cover up, and apparently there was, it wasn’t committed to gain an advantage on the field.  It’s a crime; let the enforcement come from the criminal authorities.

The other penalties imposed seemed to have an air of, if not revenge, a “let’s take full advantage so we can be commended for being appalled at such a horrific situation.”  The vacating wins from Paterno’s record was done for one reason - because he was the all-time leader in victories.  If not, why weren’t wins vacated from Dave Bliss’ record when he was shown to have covered up a murder?  If the NCAA felt so strongly that Joe Paterno allowed a pedophile to continue his disgusting acts, then say so - and void all of them.  Did he coach any differently while these vile acts were taking place?  Was his strategy any different?  Or maybe void the games when Sandusky was on the staff.

What about the decision to cripple the program?  (And make no mistake about it, that’s what these sanctions did).  It’s interesting that all the coaches interviewed stuck to the company line, saying it was an unprecedented case but Emmert made the right move.  It doesn’t take a genius, or a head football coach, to understand that now probably wouldn’t be a good time to cross the governing body’s leader, especially after he’s come down harder on a competing school than any other in history. When asked about the scholarship reductions, USC’s AD Pat Haden said, “You have to be very judicious in recruiting, you have to be lucky with injuries and you have to guard your roster from players being recruited by other schools. It is an inexact science and you have to do the best you can. Our coaches have handled these challenges extremely well.”

But USC is in Los Angeles, not some obscure village in Pennsylvania, and they were coming off Pete Carroll’s incredibly successful tenure, not a team heading into a probable 6 or 7 win season.  Penn State football is dead.  There will be the initial “we’re all in this together” but remember one thing: every player on that roster can transfer without penalty.  College football coaches may not be vultures, but they have plenty of them at their disposal and you don’t have to look very hard to find them.  Check the skies above State College.  Loyalty is one thing but playing in bowl games - and the national championship - is quite another.  And while kids who go to Penn State get a fabulous education, there is a long list of other universities who can make the same claim.

For the most part, Mark Emmert speaks out of both sides of his mouth.  He said the death penalty was on the table as a possible punishment but his group decided to spare them.  What was given to the Nittany Lions was the “slow death” penalty.  The actual death penalty would have caused so many problems for the NCAA, the Big Ten, the television networks, Penn State’s opponents, etc. that no one should be fooled that this magnanimous group of individuals saved anyone but themselves and their cohorts from a countless number of work hours and headaches.

His highness also proclaimed that Monday wasn’t the darkest day in history of Penn State.  The days those kids were being abused and Jerry Sandusky being convicted were far worse days.  Know this: in terms of the impact the NCAA’s decision will have on Penn State University, nothing comes even close to Monday being the worst day in the history of the institution.

Emmert was reminded of statements he’s made in the past (this blog’s taken two days and is too long already to list them) and was asked if he didn’t feel that maybe football was the problem.   He gave rhetoric to the question but in a case as sensitive as this one, no one or nothing comes out unscathed - including football.  The emphasis on eliminating pedophiles will be heightened; football remains king.

No matter what the NCAA sanctions are, even though they will cost Penn State dearly, nothing can deny that when Joe Paterno got to Happy Valley, Penn State was more or less an agricultural school.  It developed into a world class institution due, mainly, to football - and Joe Paterno.  Even with stripping 111 wins away from his record, Joe Paterno’s work from 1966-97 surpasses the positive accomplishments most others will achieve in their lifetime.  Including, and especially, Mark Emmert.

The quote regarding Emmert that rings so true is:

“Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.”

His statue is moved, the NCAA is on their way in and people everywhere - with the possible exception of those in eastern PA - are having at Joe Paterno and what his legacy will be.  Maybe this is as it should be but there ought to be some degree of fairness afforded him.  The first part of the fairness is that, while the entire situation is disgraceful, the main culprit is Jerry Sandusky.  He is the man who abused those children, not Paterno.  For the people who claim what Paterno did was just as bad as what Sandusky did, that’s simply not true.  Paterno’s lack of proper action was an egregious mistake.  Had he - and others - acted immediately, many of the young boys would have spared.  But Paterno was not a child molester.  In fact, without Jerry Sandusky there is no tragedy at Penn State.  NCAA violations, quite possibly, but if you truly believe that that list isn’t a lengthy one, your favorite team better be from the Ivy League or someday you might be in for a major shock.

“The horrific allegations that came to light in November have haunted us all, but nothing we have experienced compares to that of Jerry Sandusky’s victims,” Steve Garban former chairman of the Penn State board of trustees said.  “My thoughts and prayers will remain with them always.”  All of Paterno’s vocal critics will say, “Amen” to Garban but, “now let me get on with my lambasting Paterno.”

The highly opinionated Roland Martin said, “Joe Paterno was nothing more than a narcissistic, arrogant coward.”  How well Martin actually knew Paterno I don’t know but there are many who have exhibited similar intense feelings toward the late coach.  Maybe that attitude is due to some previous confrontation with Paterno, maybe it’s a long held vendetta because JoePa blew them off one day when they asked for an interview they didn’t get.  Or maybe they’re just small people who love it when people higher up on the totem pole than they are found to have faults and relish in crucifying them.  What is it these people want?  Exhume his body and draw and quarter it in Beaver Stadium on national TV?

Therein lies the difference in how people feel toward this ugly situation.  Those who’ve known him for some time, e.g. his former players, have an entirely different take of him.  From Lavar Arrington to Matt Millen to former defensive captain Lee Rubin.  When Rubin was asked, “After hearing the Freeh report, do you feel the same way about Joe Paterno?” his response was, “Not regarding my relationship with him and all he did for me.”

“All he did for me.”  Let’s not forget that JoePa spent over six decades, longer than most of his critics have been alive, and accomplished some pretty exceptional things during that tenure.  Those who knew Joe, or admired him from afar, are devastated by his inability to have done what was right because, for so long, that’s what they felt Joe stood for.  When he said, “In hindsight, I wished I had done more,” his supporters sympathized. The human element holds as true in this story as it does in every one.

In John Maxwell’s book, Everyday Greatness, he relates that in 1972 Paterno was offered the head coaching job with the New England Patriots which was worth in the neighborhood of $1.5 million, plus partial ownership of the franchise.  After refusing it, JoePa said, “I love winning ballgames as much as any coach does, but I know there’s something that counts more than victory or defeat.  I get to watch my players grow - in their discipline, in their educational development and as human beings.  That is a deep lasting reward I could never get from pro ball.”  That doesn’t sound like the monster many are making him out to be.

In the end his loyalty to Penn State may have been his undoing.  He stayed too long.  Winning as big as he did, for as long as he did, in such a remote place as Happy Valley gave him godlike stature.  This is what could have led to his dismissal of Sandusky’s actions and his apparent abuse of power.  Paterno isn’t alone in a football coach who, in retrospect, made missteps in authority.  To find what autonomous power can do, read The Junction Boys about Bear Bryant’s preseason conditioning techniques.  People laugh that off as, “Ol’ Bear was a sonuvabitch to play for, but he made you a man.”  As with much of life, timing is key.  Does anyone in their right mind think Joe Paterno really condoned sexually abusing children?

In an interview earlier this week, Mike Krzyzewski, who became a close friend of JoePa’s said that there’s danger when someone is afforded power, prestige and, he added, money.  “But,” Mike continued, “with all of that comes trust and it can’t be abused.”

Another coach, Bill Parcells, when asked about how to handle making a mistake, gave some terrific insight:

“When you make a mistake: 1) admit it, 2) correct it, 3) learn from it, 4) don’t dwell on it, 5) don’t repeat it.”

This blog was posted before the Sunday final at the British Open but it probably wouldn’t affect its content.

By now everybody knows Steve Williams used to be Tiger Woods’ caddie and is currently on Adam Scott’s bag.  Since sportswriters need story lines beside the obvious (as well they should, it’s hard writing a different story every day), it was pretty well known that everybody covering the British Open was hoping Scott and Woods would be paired for today’s final.  Imagine the elephant in the room, or on the course, during the final day.  And the questions that would inevitably asked at the press conference.

The truth of the matter is that when Williams was Woods’ caddie, Tiger was the best player in the world.  Was Stevie the reason?  No one can be sure but Woods sure won a lot.  And now Williams is caddying for Scott and he’s playing some impressive golf.  So how important is the caddie?  Those in the know claim that beyond Stevie’s knowledge of courses and club selection, he can have a calming effect on his boss.  This certainly is a trait that could serve Scott well on the final day.

But what really gives Scott a greater edge is his putter.  These guys are so good that every golfer is looking for some little advantage that might shave a stroke here or there.  The belly putter was first on the scene.  Its purpose was to provide a fulcrum pivot the club around.  Then came the long putter (as if one that goes up to your belly isn’t long enough).  This version is parked under the golfer’s chin or chest.  These inventions take wrist movement out of the putt.

It seems there are two camps when the subject of long putters comes up.  The first are the revolutionaries, or as the second group thinks of them, “the guys who couldn’t handle or win enough with a conventional putter.”  The traditionalists think long putters should be banned.  Golf is a little different.  Imagine calling penalties on yourself in another sport?  Golfers don’t use pine tar on bats and in gloves.  They don’t grab the guy at the bottom of the pile to make him loosen his grip on the football.  Golfers are the ultimate anti-floppers.   And there’s the major difference between camps one and two.

One feels they’re just using modern technology; the other thinks it’s an unfair advantage.  Golf is caught up in the quote:

“There’s no progress without change but not all change is progress.”

provides a fulcrum to pivot the club around

fulcrum to pivot the cluliams was caddying for Woods, Tiger was the best player on the tour.  And Williams was, arguably, the best caddy.  Right now Scott is playing as well as anybody.  Having Stevie with him hasn’t hurt.  According to those who know, Williams’ caddying skills go beyond knowledge of the courses and which club would be best.  He also can have a calming effect on his golfer.

The tragedy from Aurora, Colorado has shocked, if not the world, certainly everyone in this country.  With 24 hour news that’s become a part of our everyday lives, there will be a constant flood of information.  Maybe this is as it should be.  If the past is any indicator, these types of horrors are inevitable.

I’m proposing a new and certainly radical proposal which I am under no illusion will be adopted but feel compelled to put it out there anyway.  Quite a while ago (I can’t remember exactly when), there were several attention seekers, e.g. “streakers” or fans at professional sporting events who wanted their 15 minutes of fame.  The cameras were on them as they would be if something happened related to the game. One day - somebody - an unknown person in the world of television suggested, or decided, to take cameras OFF of these twisted people.  From then on, the guys in the booth calling the game would explain what’s going on but the stations give NO face time to these people who are interfering with the contest.  These actions still happen but, it seems, not nearly as often.

Taking a page out of that book, how about not showing the face or giving the name of people who intentionally act in inhumane ways?  I’m not talking about ignoring the story. Cover it aggressively, just don’t use names or show faces.  Talk about his or her abnormal behavior, problems from the pyscho’s background, details of the incident, names of the victims - just don’t give the demented person’s name or show pictures of them.

In this case, let the public know the kid was an honor student who recently dropped out of the doctoral program at the University of Colorado. Tell people that he booby trapped his apartment, that he went into the movie, got on his cell phone, left the theater, put on bullet proof gear and came back.  He threw canisters of pepper spray into the crowd, shot people, etc.  Don’t hold back on the details.

Naturally, law enforcement officials need to interview relatives, friends, neighbors, teachers, whoever who knew the deranged individual - just bleep out the name of the insane person.  I understand this is not realistic in this age of video cameras in cell phones and with TMZ, the paparazzi and social media.  But since so many of these unstable people claim they did it because they wanted to be “somebody,” why not give it a try?  The only difference to covering this type of event using my suggestion and the way it’s done now is - no picture and no name of the criminal committing random, senseless acts of violence.

Did this guy want to be known as the one who shot up the theater in Aurora?  Maybe we’ll find out.  My suggestion is not a panacea to all problems like this one, but if it dissuades one person, wouldn’t it be worth it?  And what would we be missing?  The person’s name - or mug shot?

Sir Winston Churchill’s quote makes sense:

“Those who fail to learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

One of our sons recently graduated from a UC school (University of California-Irvine); the other is about to enroll at a CSU school (California State University-Monterey Bay).  I’ve read where Governor Jerry Brown is going to cut somewhere between $500M and a billion dollars from their combined budgets.  I just returned from 10 years of teaching at the high school level and know that K-12 will be taking a severe hit throughout the state as well.  Education isn’t the only place where there are budget cuts and California isn’t the only state getting whacked.

Scams, bad loans, get-rich-quick schemes and something-for-nothing philosophies have permeated our society and it’s going to take some time for the nation to recover.  Yet some industries are faring better in today’s dismal economy.  One of them is the NBA and they’re rubbing the public’s collective noses in it.  Not intentionally, it’s just their way of life.  Team charters, five-star hotels, mega salaries.  They can afford it, so they do it.  But in the era of belt-tightening, the message needs to be: please don’t waste.

Where’s the waste?  If anyone has watched a summer league game, whether in Orlando or Las Vegas, the answer’s all too apparent.  The whole concept needs to be banned.  First of all, the teams are made up of guys, 95% of whom the coaches and front office already know are or are not going to be on the opening day roster.  Next, the amount of practice time is so limited, e.g. a couple pick & roll sets, that the games aren’t much more than glorified open gyms.  The televised play-by-play quickly turns into an interview with a GM, former pro or somebody more interesting to listen to than watching what’s happening on the court.

But here’s what’s worse.  The score is kept but who really cares?  I mean, if you were to ask any one player if he’d rather have his team win every summer league game but he not make the team, or lose every game but secure a spot on the roster, which do you think every last one would pick?  Wouldn’t the money spent (flights, hotel rooms, per diem - for every member of the travel party @ $113/per) be put to better use if the teams were allowed to actually practice?  Television contracts could be fulfilled by televising intrasquad games.  Sure, some guys would only be interested in making the club but team play would be a whole lot better and more entertaining.  Plus, if you were to ask NBA coaches, the overwhelming majority would vote for more practice time.

There’s only one word to describe the NBA summer league:

“Tomfoolery.”

The following blog was posted nearly five years ago.  Maybe LeBron spoke with Mercury Morris.

It seems there can’t a conversation with an athlete - in any team sport - without a mention of “the ring.”

“What are your goals this year?”

“Play our to our potential, leave everything on the field/court, yada, yada, yada and win a ring!”

This obsession with the ring can be analyzed for hours and hours, but the best analysis I’ve ever heard regarding this topic was given by former Miami Dolphin, Eugene “Mercury” Morris, the running back on the only team ever in the NFL to go from the first game through the Super Bowl without losing.

When I was at USC, our head coach, George Raveling, would bring in speakers to address our team.  One year we had Mercury Morris talk to our guys.  He told us how Dan Marino used to hound him constantly with the question, “Merc, how can I get a ring?  Man, you got a ring, I gotta get a ring, how can we get a ring?

Morris thought Marino’s focus was misguided.  He told Marino simply:

“Dan, win the championship.  They send you the ring in the mail.”

It’s widely known that the NFL, NBA and MLB have orientation type gatherings for their rookies regarding all kinds of topics guys just coming into the league need to know.  Sean Bishop needs to be this year’s agenda, but the pow wow shouldn’t be limited to first year players.

According to yesterday’s Yardbarker Morning Bark, Bishop is the former owner of a strip club, Lollipops Gentleman’s Club.  He lost his ownership due to being convicted of bribery charges but still works there as advertising director (which speaks volumes for that line of business).  Anybody with a good deal of disposable income and time on their hands can can enjoy the ambiance - and its employees.  One brand of clientele these clubs service is the professional athlete.  A number of them enjoy frequenting such clubs, probably as a way to unwind and bond with teammates.

Occasionally, unwinding and bonding isn’t enough and some athletes push the envelope a little too far.  The problem, as stated by Bishop, is that owners of these establishments cater to pros by serving them alcohol (the good stuff) gratis.  They prey on guys who have been catered to in their professional lives, e.g. men who make bank, travel by charter, stay in five-star hotels and have agents who do things they don’t like to do/aren’t good at.  In short, people who appreciate expect VIP treatment.

Naturally, this is about a small segment of the world of professional athletes.  It’s just that this group is what the paparazzi feeds off of and what society hears.  Everybody knows the “man bites dog” theory of selling papers and obtaining ratings.  Yet, it’s still reality.

So what is it that Dean Bishop is going to tell his best customers?  Three rules: Stay out of the clubs.  Don’t make friends with bar owners.  Stay away from the booze-and-sex trade.

The players associations could spend their money less intelligently.  Because, unfortunately, Sean Bishop’s main message is:

Club owners “will use and abuse you.”

Rest assured, America, the gold medal stand for men’s basketball will be occupied by the USA once again.  As it will be by our women’s team.  As it was by the original Dream Team.  The opponents the latter two teams faced simply lack, and lacked, talent.  On the other hand, our men will be facing some incredibly talented, i.e. NBA, players.Make no mistake about it, we still dominate from a skills perspective.  Of this past year’s NBA all-stars, 19 of them are U.S. citizens. However, many of the clubs we face have a plethora of very good NBA players.  Last night’s opponent, Brazil, had four guys regularly seen on the NBA Network - Nene, Leandro Barbarso, Tiago Splitter and Anderson Varajao.  In addition, arguably their most talented player, Mercelo Huertas, is not in the NBA.

Why not?  Because he’s making too much money overseas!  Last night he dished out 13 assists to go with his 11 points but was definitely Brazil’s most difficult player for us to guard.  When it became a half court game, he penetrated easily, on his own or with the use of a screen.  His vision is exceptional and he plays like an overseas baller, i.e. with a sense of flair.  No look passes are his forte but they’re made with a sense of purpose, not ego.

So, with the foreign squads catching up in the talent area, how can another American gold be assured?  While our guys do seem a little too content to jack up three pointers (one reason is the ability of Chris Paul to penetrate and get them wide open threes) - which can get them into a hole, as it did last night - there are two reasons for Coach K and his staff to feel confident they’ll bring home the gold.  Both of them start with the letter D.

One is defense.  When the USA got down early, much of which was because of starting 0-9 from behind the (shorter) arc, commentators mentioned it might be time to establish the inside game.  You know, that new stat: “get some points in the paint.”  Which the USA did.  It’s just that the points in the paint were lobs for dunks and more conventional layups off of steals.  If you’ve heard the term that’s also currently in vogue in hoops - long - and you’re not really sure what it means or the difference between long and the better known - tall - watch our men play D.  From the traps (and the four arms) that seem to impede every passing lane, to the rotations that shut down the lanes that an offensive player does manage to locate, Team USA forces turnovers that lead to easy buckets - and demoralize opponents.

The other D stands for depth.  The aforementioned Huertas was dropping dimes like Rockefeller but, in the much more physical international game, he eventually needed a rest.  In came a 19 year old Brazilian and what happened to him could have been called child abuse.  He had difficulty not only advancing his dribble, but in simply retaining it.  Team USA’s roster affords the coaching staff exactly what every coach dreams of - going to the bench and raising the level of intensity - without decreasing the level of talent.

The only way the USA can be derailed is with ego problems an Coach K won’t let that happen.  He takes a page out of John Wooden’s book and, as hard as it might be to believe watching some of them, he gets the guys to buy in:

“Talent is God-given. Be humble. Fame is man-given. Be grateful. Conceit is self-given. Be careful.”

Since 1963 when I was selling dishtowels door-to-door, I’ve been a member of the workforce.  Full time employment, in the way of teaching and coaching, began with the 1970-71 school year.  Honestly, when I was coaching in college, I never thought I’d retire.  Maybe it was because we never had time to do anything but work - aside from a few social activities here and there.  Or maybe it was because we were more worried about getting fired.

In any case, I am now officially retired.  The one question I constantly get asked is, “What are you going to do?”  Obviously, blogging will take up part of my time.  In 2001 I wrote a book entitled, Life’s A Joke.  A sequel is in the works.  In the past I’ve done work in radio (host for call-in and coaches’ shows) and television (mainly color commentary) with terrific reviews but those jobs are as difficult to get as members of the bomb squad are easy so I’d better have a back up plan.

For a while now, I’ve probably been the only former coach to be running a baby gift business.  Believe it or not, there’s a connection between this business and recruiting.  Here’s a little history of our company and some commentary.

In the 1980’s, a woman from New Jersey was doing something unique with baby gifts.  She would draw the baby’s name in colorful “bubble” letters and next to, leaning on or curling around each letter was a symbol that began with that letter.   In recruiting (and any other sales), you quickly learn people like hearing the sound of their own name.  In the baby gift business, the parents must like the name - since they gave it to the baby!

Whenever someone I knew well, perhaps another coach’s wife, would have a baby, I’d request one of these pieces of artwork for a gift.  Without exception, I would be thanked profusely by the baby’s parents because it was something the baby didn’t get from anyone else.  Another lesson in recruiting is to be different - so the prospect will remember you.  This gift is different (from the usual baby gifts) and the person who gives this gift will always be remembered.

The gift will be used for many years.  Initially, babies love the bright colors, then as they grow older, they realize it’s actually their name and finally, they learn that each symbol begins with the letter next to it.  In recruiting you have to sell multiple facets of your program.

The gift is unique.  When we receive an order that has the same name for which we’ve already done a gift, the new order will have different symbols or colors from the previous one.  It says, “You’re UNIQUE.”  In recruiting, independent of how many prospects a school is going after, coaches are always telling them they’re a one-of-a-kind type of player.

An additional bonus to ordering one of our gifts, especially for the guys, is there’s no shopping.

After receiving so many compliments in the ’80s, I decided when it was time - and I could find good enough artists - I was going to start an identical business.  It took me 30 years but the business is up and running - and I’m getting the same incredible feedback from our customers.  Our website address is www.CuteBabyNameGifts.com.  Check out just some of the “testimonials”, as well as samples and frequently asked questions on the website.

With the time I now have, I expect this business to be a major hit.  It’s a quality product that fills a need (we’ll never run out of babies) and no matter how bad the economy gets, people will always have money for baby gifts.  Plus, one thing I know is great customer service.

I knew this was a great concept in 1980 and nothing has changed my mind.  It’s going to occupy so much of my time because, as Thomas Edison said:

“The value of an idea lies in the using of it.”