Belhaven ranked 12th in latest NAIA poll

Belhaven in the top 25 ranked #12th: NAIA poll

Albert Einstein

"Your imagination is your preview
of life's coming attractions."
Albert Einstein

Need that little push today?

check out the video:

http://www.nc212movie.com/2/

Basketball Tip of the week

Al Horford of the Atlanta Hawks shows that extra work pays off in improving his game. click here for article form Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Blazer Creed

Our Blazer Creed
WORK ON YOUR WEAKNESSES UNTIL THEY BECOME YOUR STRONG POINTS
REMEMBER THAT A GREAT EFFORT IS USUALLY THE RESULT OF A GREAT ATTITUDE

DEDICATE YOURSELF TO A MIGHTY PURPOSE

WIN WITH HUMILITY, LOSE WITH GRACE

IGNORE THOSE WHO DISCOURAGE YOU

WORK TO IMPROVE YOUR MORAL AND SPIRITUAL STRENGTHS AS WELL AS YOUR PHYSICAL ONES

REMEMBER THAT HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF OFF THE FIELD IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HOW YOU CONDUCT YOURSELF ON THE FIELD

TALENT IS GOD GIVEN---BE HUMBLE, FAME IS MAN GIVEN---BE THANKFUL,
CONCEIT IS SELF GIVEN---BE CAREFUL

DON'T ASK TO BE DEPRIVED OF TENSION AND DISCIPLINE--THESE ARE TOOLS THAT SHAPE SUCCESS

DO WHAT HAS TO BE DONE, WHEN IT HAS TO BE DONE, AND AS WELL AS IT CAN BE DONE

REMEMBER THAT WHEN YOU ARE NOT WORKING TO IMPROVE, YOUR COMPETITION IS.

ALWAYS GIVE YOUR BEST

PRACTICE LIKE A CHAMPION

PLAY LIKE A CHAMPION 

Dr. Paul Welter's book "How to help a Friend"

Here is a link to Amazon on Welter's book: "How to help a friend"
He talks about the levels of difficulty and we can go to two extremes mild and severe

Here is what happens when you go from the mild to the severe.
It goes in this order:
(Good to know for anyone that wants to be a better friend, anyone working with kids or any parent).
1. Problem
2. Prediciment
3. Crisis
4. Panic
5. Shock

How to ride out the storm-getting through the tough times in life

I love to listen to Chuck Swindoll and read his books. Lately I have been listening to a lot of his talks on MP3. To me he has a very effective way of communicating his message. For those that are hurting here is a powerful way to get through the tough times in life.

 

By Chuck Swindoll

Riding out the storm-Getting through the whirlwinds of life

(Go to his website Insight for Living or you can go to ITunes to download his talks)

1. Pray

2. Face the consequences realistically

3. Turn it all over to the Lord and claim Scriptural truth

4. Refuse to give up

Basketball Tip of the Week

While coaching at the University of Alabama I was blessed to coach some very talented basketball players. One of those players was Gerald Wallace who now plays for the Charlotte Bobcats in the NBA.

Gerald came to Alabama as the #1 player in the country and left after only one season playing at the college level. He did not score a lot of points during that season. You could see he had the potential to be something special. It has taken him a while to reach the All Star level in the NBA, but he is there now.

He has developed into quite a worker and when I see the ticker go across the screen at night while watching ESPN and I see the Bobcats score and he usually has double figures in points and rebounds.

Here is an interview with ESPN.com that was posted that gives an insight to how he has worked hard to make himself a better player. It also gives insight into how he has worked hard in the off-season and listened to his coaches instructions.


Wallace
Five questions with Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace:
Q: How do you jump from where you were as a rebounder to where you are now? What's your secret?
A: I just try, each year I come back, to be better at something. When I came in this year, the coaches were harassing me about rebounding. They want the 3s and 4s to go to the board every time offensively, and on defense, they want all five guys to go to the board.
I had [games of] 18 and 20 [rebounds] in the beginning of the season, and it felt great. It was something that I felt good about, something I felt like I could do on a regular basis. All it takes is a little effort. That's all rebound is. A little effort.
Q: Your size [6-foot-7, 220 pounds] isn't a disadvantage?
A: Size don't stop nobody. Spud Webb and Muggsy Bogues played in this league forever. Size is something for a person to [complain about] when they don't feel like tryin'. It's an excuse.
Q: Have you been sneaking a peek at the league leaders to see where you are in the rebounding race?
A: Yeah. I think so. [Laughs.]
Q: I know you guys have struggled on the road, but is this the Bobcats' best chance to finally make the playoffs now that you've brought [Stephen Jackson] in?
A: yeah. This is the best opportunity we've had. We've got a great opportunity to do some good things. … You name it, [Jackson has] done it. Offensively, defensively, [being] vocal. You name it, he's done it. He's turned this team around.
Q: Are you getting impatient about getting to the playoffs with this team?
A: No … because you've got to understand where we came from. This is the only sixth year of the franchise. We've had three different coaches, something like 130 players in a Bobcats uniform. I think this is the first time we've had a consistent coach on a high level and consistent players on a high level.
(Footnote No. 1: Wallace has increased his rebounding average from 7.8 boards per game last season to 12.1 boards per game this season entering Saturday's trip to Miami. That puts him on pace to record the second-largest rebounding increase on a season-to-season basis for players who averaged at least 35 minutes in both seasons since the NBA-ABA merger in 1976-77. Only Truck Robinson, who went from 10.8 rebounds per game with Washington and Atlanta in 1976-77 to 15.7 rpg with New Orleans in 1977-78 can top Wallace's rise.)

Article on Belhaven getting into the top 25 poll

http://tinyurl.com/yfzqpql

Self-discipline is the key

President Harry S. Truman said:
"In reading the lives of great men, I found that
the first victory they won was over themselves...
self-discipline with all of them came first."

The same can said of any successful athlete or coach. I spend a lot of time reading and studying successful coaches. One common theme they have is self-discipline. It may not correlate with how they act away from the job, but when it comes to the job they are extremely well focused.

The same is true for any good athlete. There has to be a high standard of discipline and understanding that they will pay the price and be dedicated to their particular sport. It takes a tremendous amount of self-discipline to get to the top.

Articles from Belhaven’s big win over #5 LSU-Shreveport

http://naia.cstv.com/
http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-baskbl/naia-m-baskbl-body.html

“The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity

“The highest courage is to dare to be yourself in the face of adversity.
Choosing right over wrong, ethics over convenience, and truth over popularity…
these are the choices that measure your life. Travel the path of integrity
without looking back, for there is never a wrong time to do the right thing.”

Ray Wilkerson

Big win vs. #5 LSU-Shreveport Thursday night

Read the article about the big win

click here

Woodie Howard came off the bench to lead the Blazers in scoring with 15 points.

How to help the people in Dominican Republic with safe drinking water

Happy New Year !! I hope 2010 is getting off to a great start for you and your family. I have a very serious appeal to make to you today.  I have been involved with a ministry, Global Effect Ministry, for nearly two years now.  We have many projects going on in the Dominican Republic reaching out the severely impoverished.  It's an incredible work and God has really blessed. One of mission projects involves distributing water filters in areas that have no clean water. Since the earthquake in Haiti, our focus and resources have shifted temporarily to helping the families affected by this terrible tragedy. We really need your help!! Global Effect Ministry has a partnership with Filter Pure, a non-profit organization in the DR who makes portable water filters.  We have them working to produce as many filters as possible for us to distribute to Haiti.  In the aftermath of this earthquake, one of the major killers is going to be disease caused by drinking contaminated water. Every $30 donation will purchase a water filter unit that will provide a family with totally safe clean drinking water.  Water from any source(river, stream, rainfall etc) can be turned into clean water using these filters.  Rotary International is assisting us with this undertaking.  They are helping with lodging, border crossing, transportation and filter distribution.  Every filter that is distributed to these Haitian families will help save lives!!  Please think for a moment about how blessed we are and the desperation and death facing these people are dealing with. Please click on our website below for more information if you can help: http://www.globaleffectministry.org/ The site is totally safe, secure and virus free.  You can help by forwarding this to as many of your friends as possible by email, facebook or whatever means possible.  Please help us get the word out!!.  If you church is looking for a way to assist the victims, this could be a very good one. Please pray for the people in Haiti, God Bless You, Bart Smelley

Youtube video of the 3 point shots

http://tinyurl.com/ydymo9g

Still no water. No heat in the buildings. Makes you thankful

We have no heat in our buildings on campus. We do however have building in the gym, locker room and training room.

Our practices continue on and the games this week will go on. Our guys have been a little bit edgy, but I would also without drinking water and water to shower.

Thankfully we have found some places for our guys to take showers and our on campus students have now been moved into local hotels.

The start of school has been moved back a few days. It is funny how people react when things change. Some people handle things and move on and some people can not handle the least little change.

My daughter's school (St. Andrew's Episicopal) where she is in Pre-K4 has been outstanding. They have handled this entire ordeal like clockwork. Even set up daycare for those parents that work and need for there kids to be taken care of during the day. To me they have gone above and beyond their call of duty.

That is what happens in time of need. You see those that handle things well and those that handle things poorly. It is like I tell people that go through tough times in life, "it's amazing who shows up and it's amazing who doesn't show up."

From All Pro Dad January 13

The worst word in the English language
Michael Jordan once commented that the word "if" is the worst word in the English language. Think about it. We spend so much time worrying... "if I lose my job" or "if I get sick" or "if my child does drugs."

Or, as Mark Twain supposedly said, "The worst things that ever happened to me never happened." 

Anxiety is a thief that steals our present. So what is the antidote to worry?  Faith.  Believing that God has all things under control, and that everything works out for the best is essential to combating fear.  So if anxiety has gotten the best of you lately, take a long walk and pray to Him who works everything together for good, and has promised peace that passes understanding.

All Pro Dad | Free Resources

check this article out on better listening

All Pro Dad | Free Resources

Big win vs. William Carey Saturday night

Belhaven Defeats William Carey Saturday night on Larell Bailey's last second shot

click here

What a game!!! Down by 5 points in the last 13 seconds. Two big three point shots. One by Rob Wallace and one by Larell Bailey.

You can go to our website and check out the latest NAIA rankings also.

Communication 101

"The way we communicate with others and with ourselves ultimately determines the quality of our lives."
Anthony Robbins

So often what we say is not with words, but with actions. I watch how other people communicate. I love to pick up new ideas whether they be good or bad.

Watching the game of basketball and watching how coaches and players interact you can see how communication works with effective teams.

My college coach, Don Meyer (the all-time winningest coach in NCAA history), would hammer us on communicating on and off the floor. We were to be accountable to each other involving each aspect of the program.

People ask me how Coach Meyer handled situations with discipline or with guys being late to stuff. To my recollection it didn’t happen. He made us so accountable to each other and such good communicators with each other we kept each other on time and out of trouble.

Studies show that a lot of communication is non-verbal. I tell our players that they determine the practice we are going to have most days by their approach once they come out of the locker room and onto the floor. If they have a days worth of problems on their shoulders it will show. If they come with a zip in their step and a smile on their face it will show also.

You can watch coaches, parents, teacher or anyone in a place of authority to see how they communicate. Do they do it in a positive or negative manner. How about you? Is it something you need to work on?

For me it is a daily challenge. I love to be faced with someone who is positive. I don’t do well with negative people. I have to work on being the kind of communicator that can communicate non-verbal and verbal messages in a positive manner, but it does take work.  I don’t want to make it a New Year’s resolution because those usually go by the wayside so instead I am making it a goal with myself, my family and my team.

The best example of our program and effort

This picture of Krayleon Winston shows the type of effort we want out of our players each day, each game, each practice and each play.

We demand a lot, but we know that in life our players may not get the chance to be part of a place like Belhaven very often. We want them to have the feeling of an all-out team effort.
Our guys are a special bunch of young men that work hard and want to give their best each day. Come see them play and you will be impressed. Check out our schedule on http://www.belhaven.edu/. Click on athletics then men's basketball.

Tip of the week

To be a better shooter it takes practice, practice, practice.

Shooting:
Denver Nuggets Ty Lawson's improved shooting started with an alteration in form but was refined through repetition.
"I did five spots and had to make  50 before I could move to the next spot, so probably 70 shots from every spot," Lawson said. "So I probably shot 350 a night. I started getting the ball higher, releasing higher."

From: Eric P Musselman

quote by the late Jim Rohn

"Character isn't something you were born with and can't change,
like your fingerprints. It's something you weren't born with
and must take responsibility for forming."
Jim Rohn

Be a dreamer!

All great men are dreamers.  Some, however, allow their dreams to die.  You should nurse your dreams and protect them through bad times and tough times; to the sunshine and light which will always come.  Woodrow Wilson – U.S. President

We start our conference play this week in the tough GCAC. Our dream as a team is to be the best team we can possibly be. This has been a very interesting team to coach from the time this year started.

Yesterday we had a long day together. Our team meeting went for an hour, our video tape session for about 30 minutes and then we practiced for two hours. With no classes going on we have to keep our players busy.

We had an emotional and power packed family meeting. I told them they had to have a “safe place” where they could talk about issues with each other. This group has talent and ability. The issue is how well they can mesh the ability and the team aspect. It seems like they are all on board and they agreed that they only way they can reach their dreams was to put their ego and their pride at the door.

Some players even admitted to not being able at the first of the year being able to do that, but now they are making progress because they see that for us to be a good team we all have to be on the same page.

It is a battle for each of us in the program to put our ego and pride at the door and be in it for each other. With an 18 game conference schedule it will be an interesting journey to watch how this team marches on.

No team that I have been part of in the past has the tools like this one. No team in the past has as many strong personalities also, so our work is cut out for us as a group.

There will be joy in the journey.

Basketball tip of the week

Bobby Grier, Junior point guard from Atlanta, Georgia

One specific area we have started working on with our players to help with traveling violations involves is their footwork on drives.

Most basketball players have a tendency to shuffle their feet or move a back foot when taking off on the drive. The traveling violation is the most frequent violation called at all levels of basketball competition.
One simple little teaching point  has been able to help our players tremendously in my opinion. We now have  them to shot fake before making the move and to drop their rear end on the shot fake.

It seems like a small thing to do and it is, but it makes a big difference. Shot fake the basketball above the head the body stays low and the rear end actually drops down. You begin to work on this daily and you will see your traveling violations decrease. By dropping your rear end it will force your lower body to stay low to the ground. The lower you are to the ground the better basketball position you are in to attack your opponent.

Here in the picture you our own Bobby Grier. He works on his ball handling all the time. He is constantly in the gym after practice or on his free time trying to make himself a better player. That is why he is able to compete at the college level. He doesn't want to let anyone get ahead of him and he wants to find whatever way he can to get better.

Until next time.

Battle between home and work

As I sit here at work on a holiday I am struck by this article on the tug of war between home and work. Article on the battle between home and work


Every working person faces the battle. I think men face the battle and struggle even more because we want to provide for our family and protect our family.

It makes the balance tough. It has been a struggle for years and will continue to be a struggle.
Computers, cell phones, faxes and all the latest gadgets don’t make things easier they just give us more to do each day.