Coach of the Year Goes to Dave Belisle

This is the hard part of the Little League World Series. There can only be one champion.

Rhode Island coach Dave Belisle reminded us of that with a heartfelt speech to his team after an 8-7 loss.

High School Kid Dunks from Foul Line

Dear 2015 Dunk Contest Participants. STEP YOUR GAME UP. Literally.

Punch Monday in the Face

It's Monday! I love the start of a fresh week. I'm in a small fraternity that shares this enthusiasm.

Here's a small exercise that helps me get excited about the day:

1. Look at yourself in the mirror.
2. Close your eyes and envision your future for a full 60 seconds.
3. Repeat out loud I will not be out worked.
4. Now go find Monday and throw your haymaker.

P.S. Once you master this, I'll share with you how to bicycle kick days in the face.

Wednesday Wisdom: Your Talent Will Fail You

Today is a gift. That's why it's called the present.

Another Feat for The Captain

The best things in life come in twos. That's if your name is Derek Jeter.

Jeter added another title to his lengthy resume on Tuesday night against the Texas Rangers. Jeter surpassed Lou Gehrig for first place on the Yankees' all-time doubles list. 

Hat tip to the Captain.

NY Yankees All-Time Doubles List

1. Derek Jeter: 535
2. Lou Gehrig: 534
3. Bernie Williams: 449
4. Don Mattingly: 442
5. Babe Ruth: 424
6. Joe DiMaggio: 389

SZG History: Magnificent Seven

On this day in 1996, The United States women’s gymnastics team takes home its first-ever team gold at the Summer Olympics in Atlanta.

Before Gabby Douglas, Jordyn Wieber, Aly Raisman, Kyla Ross and McKayla Maroney stole our hearts in 2012, there was the Magnificent Seven. 

Patrick Willis Returns Home for Annual Camp

Patrick Willis' high school days are way behind him, but his memories from Bruceton Central will never leave. 

"This is where it all started for me. It was right here. Just goes to show you anything is possible," said Patrick Willis. 

The San Francisco 49ers linebacker returned home for his second annual football camp. His message to campers tackled being the best you. 

"Create good habits. They will become who you are. Whether it's catching a ball or running a route. If you want to be a good route runner, you have to run. Can't do it jogging. That's not the best," explained Willis. 

Boys and girls from grades one through eight participated in team drills and contests from morning to noon. Community members say the camp is the perfect experience for young athletes. 

"Being involved in something like this especially with Patrick Willis is great. It's really fun to be around here and around him and these kids," said Bruceton head football coach Jamie Williams. 

Willis says he feels great heading into training camp and is ready to dominate. But not any type of domination. 

Willis prefers to do it like the Spartans. 

"I don't want to give anyone anything. Like nothing at all. That's the mindset I have. Give them nothing and take everything. I think I got that from a movie. I think 300."

TBT: Dominate Breakfast

This is the ingredient to having a good start to the day.

Cereal. Killed it. No spoon! Carpe Diem.

Turning Over A New Leaf at Milan

Dexter Williams is no stranger to West Tennessee basketball. 

"That was one of the toughest decisions I ever had in my life," explained Williams. "To step down as head coach at Liberty Tech."

For more, click here.

This Is What Makes the Miami Heat So Cool...

Who doesn't love FLOTUS.

"IN YOUR FACE!"

Say Hello to the Bad Guy

Hello World! Meet Richard Sherman.

Before I delve into the greatest soundbite EVER, I would like you to read some of the responses that ensued after Sherman's interview. 

UNCALLED FOR...

But I'm not aghast. 

I could start with "isn't this 2014" spiel, but that's boring. I could mention that Sherman, a graduate from Stanford University, is actually very intelligent, but should that really matter. Or should I mention that the Compton native went back to school to complete his masters. But how much depth would that really add.

Where I will start is how quick we forget WHAT (done in my best Lil John impersonation) the sport of football embodies. 

Let's think of this gridiron competition as a cake with four layers. The first layer is the inhuman activity.

Football is barbaric.  Every Sunday (and unfortunately Thursday, but let's not go there), players put their life on the line. They fight, scratch and claw to put on the arguably greatest reality show. We love it. We yearn for it. It makes us feel good.

Until this happens.

Sherman certainly had one of these moments tonight.

Here's a guy who didn't curse or use any lewd language. His words instead were passion.

Layer 2 can be labeled as Tipping Point.

Football is unpredictable. You don't know what players are going through. You don't know how they actually feel. We moan when they give mundane answers to the media. Then express chagrin when athletes keep it real. No one is in control. It is an inconvenient truth about football.

Yes, Sherman's actions after the interception were inappropriate. I hope he didn't think Michael Crabtree was going to give him a hug. But I digress...

Every NFL player is cut from a different cloth. You have Russell Wilsons and you have Richard Shermans. Call him a cocky-braggadocios-high payed ape-senseless monkey if you like. Trust me there are a lot of other words that ignorant people called him that I could use. What fans must understand, is the NFL has and will always have spontaneous flair or as I like to call it panache.

In other words, raw human emotion. DO IT LIVE!

The upper half of the cake is were all the chips are stacked. Literally in this case.

Sherman, like every other NFL player, plays with a chip on his shoulder. He can be pompous. He can also be articulate. He can be both at the same damn time. That's who he is.

Sherman felt disrespected. His response: make a extraordinary defensive play and let the world know how you feel. This is the biggest play in his NFL career and his emotions are through the roof. Rather than label him for 30 seconds, let's actually view the big picture.




Now to the last layer.



There is no I in team, but there is a me.

Athletes have and will always make a comedy of errors. Just insert your most memorable one here ____. Sometimes they snowball into complete dilapidation or are used as a stepping stone for maturity.

When an athlete does something we don't agree with, we raise our head like a cobra and attack him immediately with the most heinous thoughts possible. That's completely unfair. Let's eradicate this please.

Sherman talks thrash. If you don't like it, okay. If you can relate, share empathy.

Every game, Sherman goes out to prove he is the best cornerback in the NFL. He was taken in the fifth round of the NFL draft. He worked hard to hone his craft and continues to shutdown the best in the game. He walks with his chest out. He plays in a malicious sport. He hails from Compton. And he's taking his talents to the most watched sporting event. Yeah, I think he earned the right to talk candidly.

Welcome Back

HELLO there. Yes, it certainly has been a while since I've posted any new content. Too LONG.

I won't make any excuses – tools of the incompetent. Just wanted to share one simple message with you.

STAY TUNED