Remember where you were last year?

 It's Christmas Eve again, in case you didn't already know.

 First and foremost, I personally believe I'm very blessed to be able to celebrate another year of the anniversary of the birth of my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This blog isn't about my personal beliefs, but I'd feel remiss if I failed to mention that.

 A second thing I can't overlook is the loss of a grandmother on Christmas Day 3 years ago. It's a special day for that reason as well, to be able to remember someone who loved the holiday season as much as Margaret Comstock. I was proud to be able to have her at some of my home games my freshman year of college, even as she was living in a center and fighting Alzheimer's in North Carolina. To be honest, going to school in NC as a freshman was to be closer to her and my aunt. There are a lot of memories for me there.

 But this post is about more than that. It's hard to believe it's been a year since Christmas Eve, 2011. It was a weekend, and I was at work at CBS 6 News for another holiday, as was the custom. I don't ever complain though, it's part of being young and growing into your roll over the years. A year ago though, I ended up breaking one of the bigger stories of the year in the Richmond market and the Mid-Atlantic Region, a story that led a newscast that went on to win an Emmy Award. Lots of people had more than one hand on covering that huge, breaking story that night, but for me, it's an honor to have won that award, a true testament to teamwork, quality, and hard work paying off. You never know when opportunities are going to come, and you have to be ready for them when they pop up. No one expects something like that (double homicide followed by a kidnapping and Amber Alert in the heart of Richmond) to happen, especially not on a slow news holiday. But it did. And I had to react.

 I can't even remember how many hours I worked that day, but I'd go back and do it again. That's what being a member of a team is all about. When your number is called, you have to be ready to step up, and deliver. Yeah, this is me once again creating a real life analogy with basketball, but it's once again true. Lessons you learn on the basketball court will serve you for the rest of your life. I'm thankful for that, and for those coaches and teammates who taught them to me.

 So that's where I was last Christmas Eve. Eventually I got to spend the rest of the night the way I had originally planned, before returning to work at 6am on Christmas Day (a Sunday last year). Trust me after a long 12 hour shift, I was more than excited to get home and share presents and time with my parents and brother. But I wouldn't trade that experience, and the success that followed, so I will always remember Christmas Eve 2011.

 Christmas Eve 2012 was far less eventful. I went to the gym for a couple hours, worked on scouting reports for the teams in the Clover Hill High School Holiday Tournament our team is playing in starting on Wednesday, and now I'm enjoying one of my favorite holiday traditions, Bad Santa on Comedy Central (gotta love Billy Bob Thornton). My work today won't lead to an Emmy Award, but hopefully it adds up to a win or two this week for our ladies.

 Think back to where you were this time last year. Are you in a better place now? I hope so. I know I am. Or are you doing the exact same thing? Maybe that's a good thing, or maybe it's a wake up call. Holidays can be a benchmark for comparison in our lives. They give us a time to reflect on where we've been, and where we're going. We all have our memories associated with different holidays, and some are good, others are bad. But man am I thankful to have every single one of them!

 The best gift you can give yourself this Christmas is confidence that when next Christmas comes around, if you are still here on this Earth, you can control where you end up, and that future is bright if you make it so. Never take for granted a holiday, or any day for that matter.

  Move forward with one mindset, that 2013 is going to be your best year yet! As 2012 winds down,. reflect on the good and the bad, the ups and downs, and celebrate all that's yet to come. Live in your own reality, and stay ready for your opportunities when you make them, or even when they pop up out of nowhere.

 Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

TP

These are my people

 I'm about 24 hours late on this post, but bare with me, I have a million things going on. Such is life on the grind.

 I can't even begin to describe how important my friends and brothers are to me. This past weekend I was in Northern Virginia for a bit, and I got to see so many people that I haven't seen in months and even years, and every time I get the privilege to do something like this, it puts a lot into perspective for me. This post is inspired by those people, because they continue to inspire me.

 Life is about making memories. Life is about setting goals and working hard. Life is about the relationships we build. Life is about wins and losses.

 One thing I'll always be proud to say is that I am a brother of The Delta Chi fraternity. Becoming a member of such an elite group of scholars, athletes, and gentlemen is second to none for me. I credit so many wonderful memories and successes to my decision to accept the challenge to join that brotherhood, so getting to catch up with brothers I haven't seen in months or even years is a good thing. Sure, it reminds you of the good times, but also of the standards you pledged to uphold when you joined. We all set high standards for ourselves, and the higher you set them, the harder it is to uphold them. It takes these important people in our lives to get us up for the challenge.

 When I say life is about losses, that's another truth. I've always owned my losses, and have suffered my own share of losses, something I've always been open about. Like most people, I've lose family, but it's the losses of friends, former teammates, and brothers that really motivate me to be better than my best everyday.

 With this tragic shooting in Connecticut, something we talked about as a team in practice is that 20 young children were lost before they had the chance to reach their academic and athletic potential. 20 elementary schoolers will never have the chance to play basketball ever again, or any sport ever again. They'll never have a chance to accomplish their full potential. So how can we fall short with the opportunities we are blessed with today? I know it's been said a million times, but for some of us, we have to learn how to put a positive spin on all of life's dark days and share that light with others.

 Realizing that you, or the ones you love, will some day leave this Earth should make you value your own time and the time you share with others. On my trip this weekend, I got to see over a dozen brothers and friends that I don't get to see enough, and may not ever see again, at least not soon. It's true. And so I'm thankful for the opportunity. I'm thankful for all of those amazing people in my life, and I'm thankful that if I wake up tomorrow with the chance to be great, I will work hard for it .

 Enjoy the time you spend with your friends and family today, not just because it's the holiday season, and not just because of the tragedy in Connecticut. Enjoy it because you should always enjoy it. Change is on the way, that is a certainty. Never miss the chance to let someone know you appreciate them, that they are important to you, and that hearing from them means a lot to you. It's a simple rule we should all follow.

 Thanks for the good times, and the bad times. Thanks for the memories. Thanks for the opportunity. Thanks for being my people, and letting me be one of yours.

 Live in your own reality, today is your time to shine.

@travisponton

Don't be proud, push me

 There's that old cliche image that keeps popping up in my head, of a proud parent consoling their kid after a tough loss. This has happened to me countless times in the past, and to have my mom there for me through all of the injuries, big games, disappointments, wins, losses, and all of that, is special. I remember playing my first college game on my mom's birthday, and scoring my first college points that day. That may have been the best gift I could ever give back. Don't get me wrong, a lot of us are who we are, where we are because of our parents.

 But here's the problem, there's also a need for someone to push us in our lives, even harder than we push ourselves. It's nice to have someone to make you feel good about yourself, but I'd trade that for the cold, hard, honest truth any day. I've grown up pretty self motivated, that's what kept me outside shooting in my driveway in the dark, and in the rain, or had me in my garage jumping rope and dribbling late at night. I'm more thankful though for everyone that provided the outside influence everyday to me that I have faults, and I can always be better.

 How often do you hear someone say that, "kids are different these days," or "it ain't how it used to be." This is a rare statement that probably will reign true through generations to come. I always appreciated the tough love. In the eyes of our parents, many of us can do no wrong. I'm guilty of that myself, and through my years of experience as a journalist and as a coach, it's proven true time and time again.

 So ask yourself, how great could I have been if for every time one person told me, "Oh it's OK that you lost you played well," you instead heard, "Losing is not acceptable. It happens, but you better get over it and work harder to correct the mistakes,"?

Unfortunately, we'll never know. It's a flaw in our upbringing, and like everything else in our past, we can't go back to it. So my challenge to you is to push yourself, and those around you, to strive for more in life. Don't ever let anyone you care about settle for less than their best, or less than they deserve. If you hold those around you to higher standards, chances are you will hold yourself to them as well. I'm not perfect, and that's my first sin every single day. I'm not proud of some things in my past, a few things in my present, and many more things likely due to happen in the future. It helps me to know that others are proud of me, but it also should motivate me to really give them something to talk about.

 If you take anything from this post, just remember that a false sense of pride is poisonous. Don't ask for compliments, ask for critiques. Live in your own reality, and remember that success is a journey, so keep pushing.

TP 

No Shortcuts

 I don't know who said it, I guess maybe I could be the origin of this great quote though:
   
  "The are no shortcuts to greatness."

 I've always made it a point to be pretty open and honest about my life experiences, the good and the bad ones. Like everyone, I've lost some people who were very near and dear to me, and probably even a few more than many. I'm absolutely amazed at the strength of Kansas City Chiefs Head Coach Romeo Crennel this past weekend. He led his team, as any head coach must, despite the tragedy he bared witness to. No two situations are alike. I won't even begin to say, "I've been there, I know how you feel," because I don't. Only he does. All I can do is admire him, admire his team, and thank God that he put people on this Earth who show us the right way to deal with adversity, for its through Crennel's example that we all can learn.

 That Chiefs tragedy though reminded me of one of those losses I had to deal with, and I spent a lot of time thinking about Matt Gwaltney today.

 Chiefs QB Brady Quinn said something I learned years ago and many times over, don't ever take for granted having anyone in your life. With social media and technology, text messaging, and all of that, we are quick to take short cuts in keeping in touch with those we care about. One day, every one of us will be gone, and I'm a firm believer that those things have already been planned out. It's cliche, but true, that we can't take anyone for granted, that we'll see them again tomorrow.

 Matt Gwaltney was someone I looked up to from the first time I met him. As an 8th grader, walking into the weight room in the field house at Thomas Dale High School for the first time, I looked up to the upperclassmen who were already where I wanted to be. Gwaltney was one of those guys, and when I started spending as much time as I could at the Chester YMCA, he was a familiar face that I had met at the high school I was about to start going to. He was a senior on the varsity, a great student, polite, thought he was funny (haha), and he was smart. I learned so much from him, just by watching him play, watching him interact on and off the court. To this day I don't think he knew how much I looked up to him, and I guess maybe I didn't realize it either at the time.

 I had just left my 8:00 a.m. class on April 16, 2007. I was a freshman at Methodist University, and I was stopping by my dorm on the way to get treatment in the training room on my injured left wrist, that I was still rehabbing from an injury during the season. I remember someone asked me, knowing that I was one of only about a handful of students from Virginia, if I had heard what had happened at Virginia Tech. I remember turning on the television and seeing those same images that have been played back a million times over. I was one of the thousands of people picking up their phone and calling friends and loved ones there, trying to get through and make sure they were safe. That pretty much dominated my day, and then that afternoon, I found out from a friend and then my mom that Matt was one of the victims.

 Up until that point in my life, I'd lost family members, but never a friend, someone just a few years older than me that I aspired to be like. I don't remember my state of mind, but I know that when I drove home the next day to pay my respects and try to clear my head, it was a sad, lonely drive. I do remember the last time I saw G-Walt (as I always called him). It was just a few months before in December, home for a few days over the holiday season between practices, where I always saw him, at the YMCA. He was in between semesters of grad school at Tech, and up there shooting one night. It was just me and him in the gym, and I don't remember what we talked about, really. I'm sure we talked about my season, college life, how his grad school was going, stuff like that, and probably a few jabs at who was still the better shooter, and maybe a joke or two about how he knew me when I was 13. You better believe every time you saw Gwaltney he'd have some witty comments, always accompanied by that sly grin. But I do remember telling him that I looked forward to seeing him again that summer.

 It's easy to think, wow what should I have said if had had known it would be the last time I would see him. One of my top motivating factors as a player, and now as a coach, is simply realizing that today might be the last day I get to be around the game of basketball, so if it is, how do I want my last day to go down?  We don't live this way, but maybe we'd all have a better awareness of the mortality of our relationships, our careers, and our own lives if we did.

 I found one of my motivational bands today on my dresser, amongst a pile of them, and instantly put it on. It says "No Shortcuts". I made this 4+ years ago in memory of Gwaltney, because one thing that stuck out to people about him is that he didn't take any. It's a reminder to earn everything. It's a reminder that life is like a game of Shoots and Ladders, sure some of us land on the right spots that shoot us up to bigger and better things, but for most of us to win, we have to go the long way. The long way sometimes takes patience, and it always takes a lot of effort, a lot of tries, but you feel better when you win that way.

 I'm guilty of taking shortcuts. We all are. When we take one, we start looking ahead to find the next one. But I think if you focus on where you are right now, and how many turns you have to take to get to where you want to go, maybe then you find more success. That success is bought. You pay a price for it, and the more you're willing to pay, the more you end up giving. But the more you end up giving, the greater the return at the end of it all.

 I'm thankful for Matt Gwaltney, and I can live for years to come and not be half the man he was. I'm thankful that, while he's on my mind every night when I say my prayers, that what he meant to so many people is back in the forefront of my mind, so that I might work harder tomorrow. Be greater for the ones you've lost. Live in your own reality. No shortcuts.

 http://www.remembrance.vt.edu/2007/biographies/matthew_gregory_gwaltney.html

-TP

Reason for Optimism

I've been criticized more than once or twice for being overly optimistic. I'll take that criticism every day of the week.

After all, if we can't be optimistic about what's to come, I think that means we're doing something wrong. We are optimistic because we are confident, and we are confident because we work hard. Plain and simple.

As coaches, our teams feed off our optimism. I read an article earlier today about San Antonio Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich. The focus was on the Los Angeles Lakers, and on their close loss last night to the Spurs. The writer praised Popvich for being the difference in the game last night, because of the way he is, the way he inspires confidence in his players to overachieve. Giving your players confidence that they will go out and be successful, according to the writer, helped the Spurs win a close game at the end.

If Popovich let one bit of doubt cross his mind that a certain player can't hit the game winning shot, his players pick up on that. A vote of confidence from a coach can make a world of difference.

As coaches, we don't set expectations overly high, but we approach our new seasons with optimism, that if we stick to the plan, learn, get better, and adapt that plan throughout the season, we can achieve our team's goals. You set the bar high, not so high that your team will never get there, but high enough to push yourselves to get a little higher than you did the last time you tried.

So as we begin our seasons, at the high school and college levels, we find reasons for optimism in what we have. We look forward to our first practice, our first exhibition, and our first regular season game. Everyone wants to win, and as I've written before, wanting isn't nearly good enough. You make wins. You combine all of the ingredients, a game plan, good coaching, outstanding effort from your players, and everyone's hard work in your basketball family, and you make wins. Coaches prepare recipes, players follow the directions, and add their own extras to it.

Tomorrow when you go to practice, no matter your roll, find a reason to be optimistic. Realize that your work today makes tomorrow better, and be optimistic in your ability to make a difference. You can have an impact if you choose to make one. I have my eyes on what I want, but it turns out what I want is also something I need, so I challenge myself everyday to get there. I have to be optimistic, otherwise I wouldn't do what I do.

Live in your own reality, and find your own optimism.

Follow me: https://twitter.com/travisponton

-TP

Buy into yourself

Start with yourself.

Hall of Fame football coach Bill Parcells once said that everyday we fight 3 separate adversaries:

1. Division from within
2. Your competition
3. Public perception

Notice that Parcells starts the same way I did. You are the key, you are your own best friend, and you are your own worst enemy. In order to accomplish any goals you set, you have to begin by addressing your own strengths and weaknesses.

Sometimes the problem with us is that we don't buy into everything we have to offer to the situation. That's division. I'm here to tell you that you have to eliminate division from within immediately, because if you wouldn't buy what you're selling, how can you expect anyone else to? Look at yourself as the product, and you have to believe in that product in order for others to follow suit.

I've noticed that in athletics, and in coaching in particular, coaches will try to be like other more-accomplished coaches. I disagree with this. I say that you can learn so much from other coaches who have experience and success, and you should show the utmost respect to everyone. But, I'm here to tell you, I'm working on being my own coach. I want to be the best Travis Ponton I can be, and I know that if i put the time and effort into it, when the opportunity comes I can keep building my own legacy. Meet new people, open your mind, learn from the best, but be your own person. You can spend all your time trying to be the next Michael Jordan, Peyton Manning, Jimmy Johnson, Roy Williams, etc., or you can start investing in yourself. The most successful people I think realize this early, and work to join those elite names at the top of their professions.

A lack of self confidence is one of the easiest weaknesses to spot. You've either got it or you don't. But it's not something we're born with, and it's a renewable resource that's easy to find. We handicap ourselves by going into any situation with any doubt in our minds that we can be successful. Stop letting division from within slow you down. You're destined to do great things, and until you give up on that concept then you have a chance to keep moving in the right direction.

All things good and bad start somewhere. Make a decision to start something great right now. take the first step by eliminating the obstacles you have created for yourself. There are so many other things standing in your way, but control what you can control and build your own foundation that you know is the best in the neighborhood. When you know you're great, it's easier for everyone else to see.

I always say to live in your own reality, and remember that the person with the strongest reality usually comes out on top. We tackle division from within more than we even notice, but if we can minimize that, and start buying into ourselves, we can start every morning ahead of the curve. Wake up tomorrow morning, thank God that he gave you another day to carry out His plan for you, and then make the most of it.

"Everyday is a holiday, every meal is a feast."

-TP
twitter: @travisponton

Trust in your own greatness...

 Sometimes, we are all faced with a rare circumstance where we are nervous, or feel unprepared. A lot of these situations are avoidable, as I've always been taught, hard work and preparation is the key to success. But how do you prepare for putting yourself out there and contacting an employer about a job opening, for example. It can be a source of anxiety, especially when you want to be successful so bad.

 I always tell you, my readers, that I practice what I preach. Otherwise, I'd be a hypocrite. Those of you that know me, know that I tell you to live in your own reality because I do so myself. So let me give myself some advice once again as I remind you to...

 TRUST IN YOUR OWN GREATNESS.

 If you focus on yourself first, concentrate on improving your flaws, and work hard at being the best at whatever it is you do, then eventually you'll wake up one day and realize that you're making it. I had a coach tell me in high school that the game is more fun when you're better at it than anyone else, and you get better by working harder than they do. By carrying this mentality and striving to be the best, we are taking the steps toward greatness.

 Sometimes we fail. We have bad days, we get in ruts, we look ourselves in the mirror and don't like the things we see, inside or out. But success is addicting. Once you get a taste, you have to be hungry for more.

 Self confident people are more primed for success, and the one with the strongest reality often prevails. Believe in yourself, know that everyday you wake up, greatness is there for the taking. It is up to you to make it happen. Greatness isn't easy. We don't wake up with it. But if we wake up thankful for the opportunity to seek it, and we convince ourselves how great we can be, our potential sky rockets.

 I think we are surrounded by plenty of doubters, so there's no need to doubt yourself. Say what you mean, and mean what you say. Shake the nervous side out of your personality. Live in your own reality, and remember that if you're going to do something, you might as well be the best at it. Trust in your own greatness, no matter what challenge you're facing. If you go in realizing that you can, then you will.

  TP

The journey...

Success is a journey, not a result. I don't think many people, many teams wake up and walk into greatness, walk into championships, walk into money, or even walk into their wildest dreams.

I was told by a great coach that success is indeed built toward day by day, bit by bit. You don't have to tell me twice, I'm a believer.

The journey is hard. I look at my current situation, this leg of the trip as you might call it, and I'll be the first to admit parts of it are pretty bad. I won an Emmy Award last spring, and now I don't even work on TV.

Two weeks ago, I took a chance. I decided that emailing my resume and cover letter was not enough, and since the job was at a college nearby, I got in my car and went. On my way to apply for that job, a great coaching opportunity by the way, a tractor trailer had a blowout and the tire debris came bouncing through traffic. I am very blessed to have gotten through unscathed, but needless to say the hundreds of dollars of minor damages to my car is a tough pill to swallow. Here I am, struggling to pay the bills as it is, trying to take the next step and show initiative, and then I end up losing money at the end of the day.

How do you respond to that? It's easy to get discouraged, although for me quitting is never an option. Like everything else, it happened that I was in that spot at the wrong time because that's where God wanted me to be. I haven't even heard about the job, probably won't, and while I got to meet some great new people in the process, I still have the thought in the back of my head that maybe I shouldn't have gone, especially if the result, AKA not getting the job, was a foregone conclusion.

So, the journey an be rough. Remember that. I have said it before though, that the hard times make the great ones feel that much better. God requires that we weather the storm to prove that we belong. Sure, there are plenty who don't belong, but those who earn things value them more when they get them. Strangely, and surprisingly, I'm a better coach for going through this ordeal. I'm not quite sure how yet, but I believe that one day I'll share this story after a huge win, knowing that I might not appreciate it so much if I didn't have to overcome along the way.

Some days, you feel like you're on top of the world, and others, you feel like you've hit rock bottom. I suspect that for most of us, most days are in the middle. The challenge.... figure out how to make more of those days the top of the world variety. Along the way, you might have a few more rock bottom moments, but you have to take chances to get to the top.

Don't be satisfied, be hungry. Live in your own reality. Remember that you have the capacity to be great, but earning that success is a journey. Be willing to pay the price, wipe the dirt off your brow, and keep moving.

Thanks for reading and sharing, follow me on twitter, @travisponton.

"You always do what you want..."

Chasing your dream isn't easy. It's not supposed to be.

This is a tough time of year for me, like most stuff, I'm pretty open about that. It didn't get any easier when I was driving down the highway yesterday and an 18 wheeler blew a tire in front of me. I got very lucky. Some people were looking out for me, and I made it out with just a few hundred dollars of minor damage to my car. But through the tough times, all the while, I keep my eyes fixed on where I want to be.

Honestly, I couldn't do that though without all the great support I get from so many outlets. I want to focus on the support other people give me. I have great mentors, friends, and brothers looking out for me, and I'm very blessed.

Last Friday, I talked to my AMC, one of my favorite fraternal brothers. Benny is someone I look up to, and he helped me become the man I am today, like any good AMC is supposed to do. It was his birthday and I was on the phone with him. We were catching up, and I was telling him about some of the ups and downs I've had the past year. Then he said something that made the difference for me, and really has picked me up.

He cut me off and said, "That's what I admire about you, you always do what you want to do."

I'd like to agree that this is a true statement, for the most part. Always is such a definitive word, but I'd agree that I try my hardest to do what I want to do. I figure, if your time on Earth is limited, why not spend as much of it as you can doing the things that are important to you. I guess I developed this habit, or maybe it's better framed as a philosophy, as a teenager. I placed value on doing certain things, like working out and hitting the basketball court, working on my game, every single day. Then around that, I was able to manage my time accordingly.

It's important to find what you enjoy doing, find what you need to do, and find what you're obliged to do, and do it. I waste time. I'm guilty of it, we all are. I don't get even get close to doing everything I'd like too. Now I have to ask myself though, "Well, what's holding you back?"

4 years ago, when I lost a brother, I got a brutal reminder that one day all of us run out of time. I posted on here about a month ago telling you to stop wanting and start doing. What a great compliment to have someone tell you that you are successful in this, especially someone you love and respect.

So, as you plan how you spend your day, waste less time, and always strive to do what you want to do. Chase your dreams, work to not only be happy, but to be at least confident that you got the most you could out of today.  Live in your own reality and trust that good days are ahead if you make them.

Twitter: @travisponton

Someone has passed on you...

I'm dealing with a struggle from within right now. You've been there before, when you're ready to just rip into someone so bad, but instead choose to just take the high road and "let it go". Is it more rewarding to not hold any punches and just let loose on said idiot, or does your "reputation" run the risk if you do react. How much should you really care about what that person thinks or says? Or, then again, how much would someone else care? It's tricky.

Somewhere along the line, someone has passed on you. They've compared you (see previous post) and chose someone else for that position, opportunity, etc. If you live in your own reality, you realize it's probably not your fault. Maybe the other guy was better suited, or, most likely, that decision maker just made the wrong choice. Maybe someone knew someone, some kind of politics came into play, you know, stuff happens. But, either way, in some context, you've been passed up.

Me, I've been passed on more times than I can count. So, I am reverting back to my high school days on this one, and making a list. This list is composed of those who have passed on me before, people I have to prove wrong every single day. I grew up playing ball under a lot of sayings, one of them is that even when your coaches aren't there, play like they are still watching, because they always are. You're always in the spotlight, and a lot of that light comes from those who didn't see enough in you to give you a chance.

One of the most bull shit societal sayings is, "Don't take it personal." I say, absolutely take it personal. Make your list right now, of people that have done you wrong and made you angry. Let that list motivate you every day to do more, work harder, and rise up. My list is full of names of all the haters out there who don't think Travis Ponton belongs, don't think Travis Ponton can hack, don't think Travis Ponton deserves something. It's funny, I look back on some of the names that used to be on that list, and I've done a lot more than they have.

Transitioning now, a lot of you who know me, know at least part of the story of what happened in the early morning hours of September 14, 2008. It was early that Sunday morning that many of us lost a brother, lost a friend, when Bobby Thomason was murdered in Radford. It's a night that I don't go a day without thinking of, remembering being right there, second guessing myself, wondering why it was him and not me. I can still close my eyes and picture what happened.

I shouldn't be here.

And yet, here I am.

That thought crosses my mind often. God picks us to deal with tough circumstances, and he picks his time for all of us to succeed and fail, to be born and to die. I can confide in that.

I have to say, I never thought I'd be riding in the car with one of my fraternal brother's parents, telling them how their son died, showing them where his body landed. Being in that Emergency Room, washing his blood off my hands. I still remember the funeral, September 23, taking off my paul bearer lapel and laying it on the coffin, as hundreds of people said goodbye, and the military fired those rounds in the air to the sound of the bugle playing TAPS. Brotherhood runs deep for me, because like most everything in life, it's fleeting.

This will be a tough weekend for me, no doubt. Always is. It'll hurt a little more than usual the next 10 days or so. Like many, I never forget. I am a better person because of Bobby Thomason, and I can do much, much more to be great for his sake, because I'm here. I have the opportunity to do what others can't. I'm sorry that I haven't done more with that opportunity, and I'll always be sorry I didn't do more on September 14, 2008.

It's what we go through, what we overcome in life that makes us who we are. No one can judge you. Someone somewhere has passed on you, but they don't know anything about what makes you special, what makes you tick. They couldn't walk a mile in your shoes. I find that I can't put into words how I feel, but if you want to know why I love the game of basketball, why I'm so passionate about coaching, and why I love to win, there's a little insight.

Live in your own reality. Be great because others never got the chance to. Never Quit (BT).

Always your brother...

I shall not want...

While I'm very open about my religious faith as a Christian, I try to keep my posts religiously neutral. However, just as a warning, a Christian Biblical verse somewhat inspired this post.

I was driving home from the gym this afternoon, and as I passed a church here in Chesterfield, the first part of the popular Psalm 23 was on the light up sign out front.

The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.

I remember going to Bible schools every summer growing up, and at one such place the entire focus was on Psalm 23, and learning it.

But this post is not about Christianity, Psalm 23, or anything else. It's about me, it's about you, it's about living in your own reality, and it's about finding ways to get better. I want to focus on the last four words, I shall not want.

Obviously, I love to coach, and one of the things I tell my kids is to eliminate certain four letter words from their vocabulary, particularly can't, won't, don't. Well it's time to add one to the list...want.

Subliminally, we use the word want dozens of times a day. My new piece of advice for myself, and for you, is to stop wanting, and start getting. You want to win? Well, who doesn't want to win, the other team does too. Go out and make a win happen. You want to go to the park for a run? Then get up and go do it.

I get it, sometimes it's not that easy. There's nothing to stop us from wanting, but there are obstacles sometimes in the way of getting. But I hypothesize that if you leave behind a "want" attitude and adopt a positive, confident "get" attitude, then you will succeed more often.

There's a popular song, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need." That statement is largely true, but I'm here to tell you, don't just stop at "what you need". Be hungry, work harder, get more. And then use that to do some good for others.

I'm guilty. I've been a "wanter" for a long time. I mean, I've said out loud too many times stuff like, "I want to get this job" or "I want to coach at the next level" and even "I want to be successful." Maybe that's why I haven't gotten there. I vow, from this day forward to stop cheating myself, and start approaching everything with an "I am" attitude.

Stop wanting. Start doing. Start getting. Start making things happen. You might not always get the result you want, but if you live in your own reality, the odds will be in your favor.

I am my own mechanism for success.

I will work harder tomorrow than I did today.

I shall not want.

-Travis Ponton

twitter: @travisponton

Comparisons last forever

Flashback... It's March of 1998. The Indianapolis Colts are staring the number 1 draft pick in the face in next month's NFL Draft. Little do they know that the choice they make would go down, not only in history, but in infamy. The choice ultimately comes down to two quarterbacks, who will be forever linked in sports lore.

Ryan Leaf will always be compared to Peyton Manning. Imagine draft analysts and Colts scouts debating for hours and hours on which QB to take to lead the franchise. Luckily for the Colts, they took the right player, drafting a future MVP, Super Bowl Champion, and Hall of Famer in Manning, and "Leafing" Ryan to the San Diego Chargers and, well, you know the rest.

The point of this is to serve as a reminder to us, that everyday, we our compared. Your work is compared to the work of someone else, as is what kind of car you drive, where you live, and even how tall you are. As human beings, I think we subliminally compare, as in we do it without noticing.

This doesn't worry me, nor should it worry you. Let it serve as motivation. In the eyes of the beholder, you're put up side by side against your competition, and you await judgement. I say never fear. Let this serve as motivation to turn out better than the other guy.

Look, you can either live your life infatuated with being the best, or live your life working to be better. Think about it. If you're only judged by how many times you win and how many times you lose, you'll worry yourself to death. But, if your main focus everyday is on getting better and you work to be the best, the results take care of themselves.

I'm not immune to this. I've been the Ryan Leaf. I feel like I'm there right now. And I'll always be compared to the person who got the job over me, or won the game, or beat me in the race, or got a little luckier. But don't think for one second I' going to be another Ryan Leaf. When you're in his shoes, make the decision that when the Colts look back on their pick, they're kicking themselves for not choosing you.

So remember, you are compared to someone or something every single day. You're not always going to win those comparisons, but when you find yourself the runner up, make sure you make someone regret that decision. Don't be another Ryan Leaf. Build your own success story. Be ready for your next opportunity. Live in your own reality.

God Bless,
TP

Twitter: @travisponton

Don't even think about it...

You know you want to do it, but stop.

Think about this for a second.

Seriously.

Here on this blog, I preach one basic principle, to live in your own reality.

So, you didn't get something you probably deserved, huh? Well I have news for you, chances are, it's not your fault, it's someone else's. And I'll be honest with you, it's ok to be mad. I am. But this blog is written in a positive energy, so we won't revert to anger.

Everyday, decisions are made over your head that affect you. This is about as true as it gets. I mean, our government and elected officials at the Federal, state, and local levels make decisions and laws that we live by everyday. That's just one example, but point proven.

Unfortunately, not every decision favors us. We stay away from opinions on here as well, but I think we all know someone who is "in charge" or some kind of "authority figure" who is unfit or shouldn't be there. That's not your fault either.

Did you know, I applied for a coaching position at a college, and not only was I not interviewed, but the person that got the job, went 0-28 last year at a school at the similar level. Think about that one. Not every coach can be judged by their record, I know that firsthand, but seriously. Again, I'm just throwing an example out there, though.

And in these decisions, that we usually have very little say over, the individuals making them don't understand how much it affects us. I'll tell you, I've been so close but still lost, and the closest losses hurt the most. For me, lately, one or two losses have amounted to larger impacts. Simply put, I didn't get the job, so I can't afford to live in my apartment with my best friend. That's tough.

Now for the turn....

We don't let this affect us. You're great. You're great because there's a direct proportion to your performance and the amount of effort you put in. There are other factors, but there's no substitute for hard work. Don't forget that. You don't work less when you're at the bottom, you work more. A lot of people slow down when they achieve their goals, I say you always keep making new ones. ALWAYS.

I read in a recent post by Alan Stein that everyone wants it, but not everyone deserves it. Wow, what a great concept. I agree with that, but there's also an asterisk there, because you can deserve something and not get it.

So I turned 25 last week, yes that means I'm getting old. But seriously, I realized a few things. I need to go back to being my own biggest critic. I need to get back to 6am workouts everyday, and I need to be harder on myself. If I focus on me, good things happen.

The moral of this post is simple. Success speaks for itself. Sometimes you don't get what you want, but ask yourself if you deserved it. Even if you did deserve it, you still might not get it. Live in your own reality. Be a positive, energetic, motivated, driven person. Refocus on yourself. Pray about it. Don't take no for an answer. You have nothing to lose.

And, as always, live in your own reality.

Until next time, keep searching, keep working.

-Travis
Twitter: @travisponton

You can do more...

I can do more.

If you can look yourself in the mirror and be honest, then that statement probably holds true for you as well.

There are 24 hours in a day, and it's amazing, if you actually sit down and write out how you spend all of those hours, you'll see there were some you could use more wisely. I started thinking about this when one of my buddies posted a video on his blog of a guest speaker whose message was simple...we oversleep. If you slept 7 hours a night instead of 8, how much could you accomplish in that extra hour? It's a motivating philosophy.

Speaking of sleep, I keep waking up at random early morning hours lately, no matter what time I actually get to bed. Last night, I got back from work Shooting Camp at the University of Maryland (more on that in a second) at around 12:30 (traffic slowed me down), and was out by 2 am, and yet this morning at 7:45 am, my eyes opened up on me again. Trying to fall back to sleep was only semi-successful.

I have a feeling I know why I can't sleep. It's this job opportunity that's on my mind, and waiting to hear back on a job you want so bad, one that will change your life forever, that you really NEED can weigh on your mind and spirit. It's a real practice in patience, and for someone who believes in making their own luck, it's a challenge. Let's just hope I get the call soon, and I appreciate everyone's prayers and support as I look for the next opportunity in my life.

Back to camp, wow what a great night of basketball. It's such a privilege to be able to work camp with such a great Women's Basketball program in the first place, but yesterday's camp was kind of a last second surprise. I'll take it though. There were over 100 kids in the gym for a 3 hour camp, and they got great instruction, learned a lot, and got better. What else can you ask for? I love working camp because I loved going to camp as a kid. I also love it because I get to teach the greatest game in the world (my opinion) to people who really want to learn and improve. Basketball has been good to me, and I've been truly blessed that God gave me basketball to be such an important part of my life. An hour in the gym is never an hour wasted I say, and I look forward to returning to Maryland this weekend for Overnight Camp, should be a blast.

Today, you can take steps to make tomorrow better. I've always believed that. You can do more. You can make a little more happen. Seek advice from good sources and be aggressive. Push hard for what you want and deserve. I need to start doing more. I know what you're thinking, I work all these different jobs and all as it is, but trust me, I can do so much more if I just eliminate some waste and think about it. This post is my contract with myself to start doing more and stop wasting as much. I have big goals, and it's time to do more to achieve them.

Live in your own reality. Work hard. Do more.

Travis

I've got good news....Hope

What a great weekend, now that I have weekends back. This morning, my phone alarm did not go off at 5 something in the morning to wake me up for my 11-12 hour Sunday shift. No, instead I woke up on my own time, at around 10:30, with absolutely nothing on my schedule, outside of one very important thing, going to Church.

I have not been to church on a Sunday in 28 months, and that's always bugged me. To be honest, I haven't been to my church, Immanuel Baptist, since my grandmother passed away in 2011. It was such a great feeling to be able to go and see familiar faces, a real breath of fresh air. It wasn't a return to faith or anything, because if you know me, I believe you are a Christian whether you make it to church or not. Serving and accepting Jesus Christ is a 24/7 job. But, it was just something I had missed. And of course, my grandma and grandpa were on my mind, because it's the first time I'd worshiped there without either of them there as well. Going to see my grandma sing in the choir on Sundays was very special for me.

Anyway, as fate would have it, of course there was a sermon tonight that spoke to me, and I left with good news---- hope. I am so thankful to have so much hope now, hope for something better on the horizon. In my last post, I discussed how I was thankful for the past, and excited, hopeful for the future.

It's no coincidence that highly self-motivated people enjoy each others' company, and enjoy reading, hearing, and sharing each others' ideas and stories. This is why I've always enjoyed my faith, because there's so much in the Bible that speaks to me. I have always believed faith and basketball have gone hand in hand. One of the reasons I'm so trusting, upbeat, and confident all the time is because of my faith and beliefs, that I'm living out a plan God laid for me years before. I trust and confide that what happens in 5 minutes, 5 years, etc. was meant to happen, and I'm just living out the story God wrote for me.

I am where I am right now, writing this post, because it's His will. I know God has bigger and better plans for me, and as He turns the page on my next chapter, I am ready, willing, and hopeful to start. I hope that when you read this blog, you are motivated by the words and messages I send. I believe in hope, I believe in a higher power, I believe in my own reality. They say the most successful people are the ones who best project their own reality. Be successful. Don't ever be afraid to have hope, and stand up for yourself.

Before I go to bed tonight, I'm going to develop a new to do list. Who to call, where to search, where to go, what to do. What would be on your list? If you don't have anything to be hopeful for this week, then make new goals and work hard for them. Hope is fleeting, and hope alone won't get you where you want to be, but I know that without it, life is not as bright.

Be hopeful. Find new opportunities. Be confident in yourself. Learn to stand up for that confidence. Live in your own reality.

Thanks for reading, follow me on twitter @travisponton. Off to the gym.

--TP

Leave the brass, seek the gold

Well, it's safe to say this will be a Friday the 13th to remember.

I think I can best sum it up by saying... I'm thankful for the past and excited for the future.

That's the way you move forward in life. You appreciate the experiences, good and bad, and all the people you meet along the way. You trust in your work ethic and work through the challenges. You meet people and build relationships. You win some, and you lose some. But you're grateful for all of it. All of it.

At times like this, I tend to take my own advice and remember that I live in my own reality. The future really is bright, you just have to make it there. Some days, you don't make a lot of shots, but you wake up the next morning, get in the gym and you keep shooting. You have a short memory, because yesterday's misses are through, you can't shoot them over. You are a better player because you put up the shots, whether you made them or missed them.

Now I have a chance to go do something else! There have been a lot of new opportunities coming my way for a while, and yet I held on to a few brass rings for too long. Brass sucks. It's made to look like gold, but it's not, and I need to find the gold rings and take them for myself. I used to not settle for brass, I used to walk away from it in search of the gold. It's good to remember that in life you can't settle for less than you deserve. My good friend Bomani Mintz always reminds me that if you keep accepting peanuts, they will keep feeding you peanuts. Go get something better, don't put up with the nonsense.
  
I'm so excited to enjoy an actual weekend. What a great feeling this is going to be. I really can't wait to do something as simple as go to church on Sunday morning, for the first time in over two years!!! That's going to be a great feeling, to be free.

As always, thanks for reading. Remember, live in your own reality and keep working hard today. It's easy to settle for brass in life, but keep reaching for the actual gold. It's good to be free.

-Travis 
 

Thomas Paine

 "What we obtain cheap, we esteem too lightly."

These were words written in a pamphlet entitled American Crisis way back in 1776 by a man named Thomas Paine.

Thomas Paine... a man considered by many to be one of the lowest profile of our founding fathers, a true American Patriot and one the greatest early American ideologists and writers. Thomas Paine inspired this post tonight. It's funny that I can convey my idea over this medium, an online blog, and yet for Thomas Payne in the 18th Century, they were using moveable type printing presses that took hours and hours of hard labor.

My writings will likely never have the impact of Thomas Paine's, and yet that inspires me. How did he reach tens of thousands of Americans and British during the American Revolution, and inspire so many, and yet I can only reach hundreds online? If he can do it, so can I.

And yet, almost 250 years later, his words still ring true. They spoke to me when I heard them. What we obtain cheap, we esteem too lightly. The literal interpretation is that we, as human beings, value to some degree expensive items. We all have our prized possessions that we secure, because so many of us do live in excess.

But Paine wasn't being literal with his theology. He was speaking to the American colonists, struggling through a cold winter, losing their war for Independence, close to the edge of giving up. His message was that if it was easy or "cheap" for us to get what we were after, what we wanted, we wouldn't savor it and value it as much. Fighting for something, overcoming the challenges, winning despite a superior opponent, paying the highest prices, these things give value to success.

We don't all always succeed. But I believe it's through the little failures that we learn to appreciate our victories. In modern day culture, we reference these same ideals. The game hasn't changed. Chris Brown has lyrics, "Work your own way to the top, because if they put you on a pedestal they can take you off." That's amazing to me, that these concepts transcend the ages. They keys to success are as old as time, it's amazing.

So, I hope that Thomas Paine's words speak to you as much as they speak to me. Life can be a struggle. But keep paying the price everyday. Fight, scrape, claw, prove yourself, sacrifice, promote your cause, stand up, sweat, bleed, cry, invest. It's not cheap. But for me, the thought of one day getting there makes it all worth it. I will always look back and appreciate the struggle.

No short shots tonight, but as always, thanks for reading. Share this post with your friends and family. Remember to wake up tomorrow and live in your own reality. Work to get better tomorrow. Keep fighting, keep climbing the hill.

- TP
P.S.- follow me on twitter if you don't already

Insanity...

The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting a different result.

Keep that in mind as you read this.

I'm sick and tired of hearing the same old complaints of disappointments and incompetence from the same people. Why complain about people who continue to mess up even the most basic of work-related tasks when, come tomorrow, they will walk right back in to their same position, a position that's above the ones of people like me, who deliver every single time. EVERY SINGLE TIME.

But you don't. Heck, they will probably get a raise. They deserve it. Since you're insane, I'll go ahead and say, they DON'T deserve it.

If you're in a place like this, and we all are here at one time or another. If you're like me, you live in your own reality. You strive to be great every day. You look at the top and strive to work harder than that individual, because that's where you want to be. That's where you belong. Expect nothing less than the top spot.

I don't make these senseless mistakes. Why? Oh I don't know, because I actually care. I don't EVER just show up and dial it in. I WANT TO BE GREAT TODAY, and I WANT TO BE GREATER TOMORROW. Greatness doesn't come easy. It's earned. You fight for it. You sweat for it. You bleed for it. You cry for it.

I'm not great. I can only hope to one day be there. But I do deliver. I bring it every time out, and I want to be the best. I trust my ability and work ethic, because I invest the time into it.

It's okay to be frustrated. It's healthy. Even more so, it's fine to voice that. No sense in keeping it in. That's not going to get you anywhere. If you know you can do it better, then make a guarantee and back it up. After all, if you aren't willing to be part of the solution, you just add to the problem.

Work hard. Live in your own reality. Break the cycle of insanity.

-- TP

I say live strongER

I want to be the best.

In college, I had a professor give me one of the greatest quotes I've ever heard in person, "Greatness comes from the sacrifices of those who strive to be perfect."

In the Bible, the book of Matthew tells us, "Be perfect, even as your Lord in Heaven is perfect."

Obviously, stuff like this motivates me in different ways, depending on what role I'm playing that very moment, as a journalist, coach, etc., but believe it or not, there are people out there who don't want to be at the top. Some people are just find coasting in the middle of the pack, being good enough.

That doesn't work for me. Don't get me wrong, I'm not the best at anything I do. Trust me, I'm the first to admit that. It doesn't mean that I have to like it, though, and it will never stop me from wanting to get there.

I'm better for wanting to be the best. The key there is those two letters, the ER. I was thinking yesterday, I need to put a little more ER into my life. I was heading to the gym, and I looked down at my Livestrong rubber band. Livestrong is a great campaign, through NIKE and Lance Armstrong, and the amount of money they've raised has made a difference, I have no doubt.


But then I start to wonder about the concept. You wear this band around your wrist to remind you to live strong everyday, but why stop there? I want to live STRONGER.

Tell me to be good, and I'll be better.

Tell me to be hungry, I'll be hungrier.

Tell me to work hard, I'll work harder.

This is the fundamental attitude of success. Strive to outdo the expectations, strive to outdo the competition, and strive to outdo yourself. Some people don't like this attitude you say? Well I've learned that other people's opinions don't add up to a lot, and you can't let them slow you down. I'm guilty of that. But if you truly do live in your own reality, all that noise will be too far down to hear from your seat on top.

A few quick thoughts...
- I really am tired of being a jobber. What's a jobber? A jobber is someone who is built up minimally and paid to lose to those who are viewed as higher up on the card. This term absolutely may be translated into the world of television. I've been jobbed out so much the past couple years, I forget what it feels like to win every once in a while. One would think that commitment, work ethic, and putting out a good product on a consistent basis would move you up the card, up the depth chart a bit, but that's not always the case, because at some point, someone has to put you over. Usually that either comes from management or the willingness of an older, more established "star". Let's just ask, which one of those things is LESS likely to happen?

- I did not enter a Finals prediction, but I think that the Thunder is the hot team, and they have home court advantage. Taking game 1 was huge, but not a clincher. A win over the Heat tonight though, and it might just bring the big trophy to OKC. Neither team matches up well with the other though, so I expect a high-scoring series with some good games. I think that's what most basketball fans want anyway.

- We all have letdowns and get bad news. It sucks. Keep fighting. When you're lost in a maze and you run into a dead end, you can either sit in the corner and cry about it, or backtrack and take a new route. Think about it.

- Always stand up for yourself. No matter what position you are in, don't let anyone talk down to you, play you, patronize you, or intimidate you. Remember, you're very good at what you do too, even if this person doesn't see you in that same light. You'd be surprised, too, at the type of person that does that kind of thing. Bullying is a problem in the adult world too. Don't let yourself be a victim. Trust you work ethic and ability, and fight back.

Well, as always thanks for reading and sharing this post. Remember to follow me on twitter and to live in your own reality. And lastly, remember to live STONGER every single day, stronger than yesterday, stronger than anyone else.

-- Travis

So what can I do right now...

We all have things we need, and we all have things we want. Sometimes, what we want is something we really do need, but we don't always need what we want.

Any self-motivated person sets goals for themselves. Everyone wants to achieve their goals, but the special ones need to achieve them. Think about it. Which one are you?

You've probably been asked time after time, what's your biggest fear? My answer is easy, failure. I've failed before, and I'm going to fail again. I think i risk failing all the time, but my desire to be successful drives me, and not being successful ALWAYS hurts.

So I often find myself asking, what can I do right now to get what I want and get what I need? I've made it my goal the past few months to do something every day to try and take a step forward. I guess I haven't done enough yet.

Starting the past few days, I've tried to step it up a little. A good friend told me, hey, what do you have to lose? My answer, absolutely nothing. Sometimes it's real easy to get down on yourself if you think too much about a bit of bad news, trust me it's happened here recently to me. But I have to be a little more aggressive and assertive if I want to get to where I want to be, and I began that journey yesterday.

Over the next couple of weeks, I have to get in my car and just show up places. I call it turning it up a notch. I'd advise you to always ask yourself, what am I doing right now, and how is it helping me get what I want and get what I need. I don't think it's a problem if sometimes the answer is that it's not, but I know in my case, I could always do more.

So, do more. Be bold. Take steps forward. Push the limits. Change the rules. Live in your own reality. Find a way to do more.

A few quick hits:
- I'm taking the Heat tonight to beat the Celtics, sorry Bryan. Lebron James imposed his will in Game 6, and they're at home.

- Shout out to my former players who won a State Championship today over at Cosby. Big win for softball and girls soccer there, great stuff for a great school. Ted Salmon does a fine job as an administrator, and there are a lot of great people there. It was cool to cover some of the games last week, and I always love seeing my kids succeed.

- The Yanks are on a roll. I'd love to go to a Subway Series game one of these years, put it on the bucket list. But if they keep hitting and pitching like this, like they are capable of, the Quest for 28 might just end in October.

- Really excited to be working some great camps this summer for some great organizations and programs. If I had the time, I'd work more. It's a great way to give back to the game and also to meet new people and learn. All positives.

Tomorrow is going to be long, as usual. Should be good to get out of work in time for a great workout, as the knee-hab continues.

Thanks for reading. Remember, follow me on twitter- @travisponton and keep your chin up, good things are about to happen.

--TP

It doesn't always go your way, but it always keeps on going...

When I was in high school, I always used to turn to one of my favorite movies to cheer me up from a tough day, you know a bad workout or something on the court. That movie is Oh Brother, Where Art Thou, the classic George Clooney film based on Homer's epic, The Odyssey. No matter what, it's always been a go to for me, for whatever reason. Maybe it's the theme song to the movie, "Deliverance" by Bubba Sparx. Both the song and movie are about a long journey, full of highs and lows, different characters, and the twists and turns along the way to your destiny, your deliverance.

So I guess it's fitting that I got home tonight, and flipping through the channels, my go to movie was on. I think that I just went through a day I will remember the rest of my life, for better and for worse. Needless to say, I learned a lesson the hard way today, which is never fun, but I'm a better coach because of it, and for that, I'm appreciative. But, it still stings a bit, which is why I was glad my movie was on.

Right now, I have to follow the baseball hitter's approach. Sometimes you strike out, heck you go 0-4 in a game and find yourself in the middle of a slump. One bad at bat leads to a bad game, leading to a bad week, and you slide. Good hitters though get through it. They show up early to the ballpark the next day, get in the cage, and take their cuts. You've got to have a short memory and a desire to get out of this funk you're in.

So somehow, tomorrow, I have to get to the ballpark early and get more work in, and put this bad day behind me. Easier said then done, huh? But hey, this is what success is made of, overcoming struggles and defeating opponents. That process always starts with you looking yourself in the mirror and putting the work in.

Staying in the 2000s, perhaps 50 cent said it best, "Sunny days wouldn't be as good, if it wasn't for rain. Joy wouldn't feel so good, if it wasn't for pain." I'd like to wake up tomorrow to sun, but if I don't, and this is the million dollar question, how do I bring the sun out?

Some quick thoughts....
- Our spring sports banquet was last night at CH, and we said goodbye to a wonderful group of seniors who have meant a lot to our girls soccer program. It's always great to see our players get honored with All District and All Academic awards, and all 6 of our kids that earned these honors deserved it. It was great coaching both basketball and soccer at CHHS this year, and I admit, it's weird not being up at the school around the great staff and our players already. But, there's a lot to look forward to.

- The Yanks beat the Rays tonight, and remain on a roll. I've decided that when Nova isn't striking guys out, he's also not giving up hits and runs. Weird. Not sure if this has to do with his approach or just a statistical coincidence, but either way, I hope America's Baseball Team stays on a roll.

- I got to watch the 2nd half of the OKC-San Antonio game tonight, and I have to say I'm convinced more than ever that OKC wins it all this year. However I have to say, I enjoyed watching Mark Cuban and Dirk raise that trophy last year a lot more haha. 

Remember that things don't always go your way, but the one thing that's for sure is that things always keep going. Get back up to the plate and take your hacks. Time to get on a hit streak...

--TP

Back to the Blog

After a 6 month hiatus, I feel like now is the time to get back on my blog again. It's been a busy time for me, and I have a lot to talk about. I think I need to continue to be open and honest on this blog, and not be worried about it.

Anyway, I would wager that there's a longer, more encompassing post coming from yours truly very soon. I'm glad I could give you something to look forward too.

-- TP