Monday, December 10, 2012
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Thursday Thought
Reality can be rather harsh. Your days are numbered. It takes constant effort to carve a place for yourself in this ruthlessly competitive world and hold on to it.
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Michael Lombardi and the Browns
My personal world of "NFL analysis and conversation" was thrown into shambles on Monday as news leaked that Michael Lombardi has emerged as the top football executive candidate to join Jimmy Haslam and Joe Banner in the Browns new look front office.
It's been disrupted becuase I think I really like Michael Lombardi. I discovered him several years ago when he wrote a small daily column called "Lombardi on the NFL" on his own website, which then joined up with the now defunct National Football Post. It was a good short burst of analysis, including behind the scenes stuff, on the field team analysis and on the field player analysis. I liked it cause he wrote in a voice that took you behind the curtain a little bit and included the down and dirty X's and O's analysis that I am attracted to. He and Charlie Casserly are a lot alike.
Then one day, we'll say maybe 2008, he appeared in a one off appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast. He cut up the draft for an hour. It was fun to listen to. He knew his shit. He spoke of many high level observations that most analysts are not capable of doing. He obviously had expertise. He didn't appear on the podcast for a couple months after that, but he soon became a regular as his star as a TV and sports radio show guest continually gained steam. He soon started writing for NFL.com and began to appear on the NFL Network. Now he's on Simmons pod every other month.
But my worldview has been thrashed a little bit because as the news of his candidacy for a Browns executive spot has spread, he's being COMPLETELY TRASHED by both local and national writers. Mostly local writers.
And this has angered me because I have been living in a world where I think Michael Lombardi is an expert and is telling the truth. I like his opinion. When he's on the TV screen, I listen to what he's saying. If he does a podcast with Sporty I try to listen to it. I even wrote a little blog last year about bringing him in to pick the players and have Chip Kelly coach them (might even get my wish on that, good or bad).
He is being portrayed as a con man. As a fraud with a photographic memory. As a voracious reader and has the gift of gab and can get guys to like him. A shmoozer. His memory has allowed him to remember scouting reports written in the 1980's and 1990's by football geniuses like Bill Walsh and other talented scouts. Sports writers cite that the track record that he purports to be his own, is actually just him taking credit for other people's work. He receives the benefit of the doubt by latching every story and anecdote to his time with Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren, Bill Belichick and so on. When you peel everything back, he has no real track record. His own eyes have never been right. All the drafts he had a hand in have been terrible. He's never had direct responsibility for drafting. The guys he has picked have been busts. The accusations go on and on. It's actually pretty interesting.
Reading some of these articles bashing Michael Lombardi are beginning to make me think that I have been duped. Maybe he conned me with his ability to turn a phrase. Maybe the way that he can speak of a player with terms like size, speed, reps at 225, recovery speed, his ability to run a 7 route, his kickstep, his burst, spinning the ball through the wind and cold have all just fooled me. Maybe he doesn't know shit.
Or maybe the local sports writers just have personal stuff with him. Maybe he was mean to them when he was player personnell director under Bill Belichick. Maybe he told them to fuck off and denied key access to them. Maybe the old school detractors who are the leaking negative stuff to national writers have personal axes to grind as well.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle I think. Part of me hopes the public is wrong. I do hope that he has learned and cemented some real knowledge during the five years he has been out of the football management and executive side of the NFL. I would like to believe that he has used this time to really become the expert he may have been faking us into believing he was. And the Browns can certainly use that guy. Another part of me also hopes that he just stays in his current role as a good analyst and podcast guest. That's a good role with zero stress and zero pressure. He's a good talking head who can help educate fans.
Let's hope for the Browns sake a couple things happen. 1. They fully and completely take their time in making this decision. And 2. That if Michael Lombardi is indeed the man they bring in to select and mold and control the 53 man roster, he has learned and saved all those lessons he's been around and he applies them to build a championship caliber team with long term staying power.
It's been disrupted becuase I think I really like Michael Lombardi. I discovered him several years ago when he wrote a small daily column called "Lombardi on the NFL" on his own website, which then joined up with the now defunct National Football Post. It was a good short burst of analysis, including behind the scenes stuff, on the field team analysis and on the field player analysis. I liked it cause he wrote in a voice that took you behind the curtain a little bit and included the down and dirty X's and O's analysis that I am attracted to. He and Charlie Casserly are a lot alike.
Then one day, we'll say maybe 2008, he appeared in a one off appearance on the Bill Simmons podcast. He cut up the draft for an hour. It was fun to listen to. He knew his shit. He spoke of many high level observations that most analysts are not capable of doing. He obviously had expertise. He didn't appear on the podcast for a couple months after that, but he soon became a regular as his star as a TV and sports radio show guest continually gained steam. He soon started writing for NFL.com and began to appear on the NFL Network. Now he's on Simmons pod every other month.
But my worldview has been thrashed a little bit because as the news of his candidacy for a Browns executive spot has spread, he's being COMPLETELY TRASHED by both local and national writers. Mostly local writers.
And this has angered me because I have been living in a world where I think Michael Lombardi is an expert and is telling the truth. I like his opinion. When he's on the TV screen, I listen to what he's saying. If he does a podcast with Sporty I try to listen to it. I even wrote a little blog last year about bringing him in to pick the players and have Chip Kelly coach them (might even get my wish on that, good or bad).
He is being portrayed as a con man. As a fraud with a photographic memory. As a voracious reader and has the gift of gab and can get guys to like him. A shmoozer. His memory has allowed him to remember scouting reports written in the 1980's and 1990's by football geniuses like Bill Walsh and other talented scouts. Sports writers cite that the track record that he purports to be his own, is actually just him taking credit for other people's work. He receives the benefit of the doubt by latching every story and anecdote to his time with Bill Walsh, Mike Holmgren, Bill Belichick and so on. When you peel everything back, he has no real track record. His own eyes have never been right. All the drafts he had a hand in have been terrible. He's never had direct responsibility for drafting. The guys he has picked have been busts. The accusations go on and on. It's actually pretty interesting.
Reading some of these articles bashing Michael Lombardi are beginning to make me think that I have been duped. Maybe he conned me with his ability to turn a phrase. Maybe the way that he can speak of a player with terms like size, speed, reps at 225, recovery speed, his ability to run a 7 route, his kickstep, his burst, spinning the ball through the wind and cold have all just fooled me. Maybe he doesn't know shit.
Or maybe the local sports writers just have personal stuff with him. Maybe he was mean to them when he was player personnell director under Bill Belichick. Maybe he told them to fuck off and denied key access to them. Maybe the old school detractors who are the leaking negative stuff to national writers have personal axes to grind as well.
The truth lies somewhere in the middle I think. Part of me hopes the public is wrong. I do hope that he has learned and cemented some real knowledge during the five years he has been out of the football management and executive side of the NFL. I would like to believe that he has used this time to really become the expert he may have been faking us into believing he was. And the Browns can certainly use that guy. Another part of me also hopes that he just stays in his current role as a good analyst and podcast guest. That's a good role with zero stress and zero pressure. He's a good talking head who can help educate fans.
Let's hope for the Browns sake a couple things happen. 1. They fully and completely take their time in making this decision. And 2. That if Michael Lombardi is indeed the man they bring in to select and mold and control the 53 man roster, he has learned and saved all those lessons he's been around and he applies them to build a championship caliber team with long term staying power.
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
The Cavs...
I thought I would put The Cleveland Cavaliers on blast for a few minutes. I'm unclear on where to point the finger for this mess. There is a lot of suspects: Chris Grant, Byron Scott, Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson. We can sort that out as we move along in the 82 game grind. Here are just some notes.
First and foremost, what a COMPLETE WASTE of the best stretch of basketball Anderson Varejo has ever played. Andy is a basketball genius. It's like watching a virtuoso piano player out there. Not only because it's beautiful but also because it's almost literally just him playing against the other team by himself. The rhythm and flow and the art in which he plays is up there with the likes of Manu Ginobli and Steve Nash. Andy seems to be the only redeemable player on this team right now.
As unpopular and silly as this sounds, I am just not very happy with Kyrie Irving. I'm just not. He's talented as shit. He's a future Olympian. He's an all-star caliber point guard. He shoots the lights out. I just don't see any hunger and leadership. Leadership from the front. In your face, firey floor general leadership. Get on my back, follow me leadership. I just see a quiet businessman. A quiet assassin, who the game comes easy to and he's just gonna do his job and collect his dough. He seems much more interested in exploring his artistic side with his marketing. And maybe this leadership that I want to see is something he will grow into. He's 21. He can keep growing into that role. But the reality is that the best player on your team has to lead from the front. Until that happens, we'll suck. It's on him to 1. get stronger and less fragile and 2. find a way to transfer his artistic and charismatic side into fierce DRose like leadership.
Our current program as a whole is terrible. It's really flabbergasting to watch. I literally, every time I turn the Cavs on and watch for a few minutes immediately think: "are we missing 3-4 good players?" But we're not. Samardo Samuels really is our 7th-8th guy. Alonzo Gee really is our 5th guy. Booby freaking Gibson really is our 6th guy. We've had 3 picks inside the top 4 the last two drafts. We came away with Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. Throw in Ty Zeller, considered a top 13 talent by many and that's 4 lottery players. Doesn't feel that way. Where's our speed and length and talent? There's no "who the hell is that monster out there?" question when you watch the Cavs. No one ever jumping off the screen at you. It's just 5-7 average guys walking around, mixed in with Andy's genius. The Tristan Thompson development project is starting to worry me. Yes, he makes shit happen that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. But getting back to the basket buckets, developing a crunch time offensive move and making free throws have to become easier for him. Or else he can't be a core guy.
I'll leave you with a question. Let's say we are playing the OKC Thunder and Kendrick Perkins is having a bad night. He's chippy and is constantly cheap shotting players on our team. Let's say he lays out Kyrie. Is there anyone on our roster who would step to that thug other than Andy? I mean, really chest him up and be ready to punch him in the face. To want to punch him in the face and get suspended? I don't think we have anyone on our team who would do that. And that's disappointing. We need to find a thug. A Reggie Evans. A K-Mart. A Tony Allen. Someone whose feared.
First and foremost, what a COMPLETE WASTE of the best stretch of basketball Anderson Varejo has ever played. Andy is a basketball genius. It's like watching a virtuoso piano player out there. Not only because it's beautiful but also because it's almost literally just him playing against the other team by himself. The rhythm and flow and the art in which he plays is up there with the likes of Manu Ginobli and Steve Nash. Andy seems to be the only redeemable player on this team right now.
As unpopular and silly as this sounds, I am just not very happy with Kyrie Irving. I'm just not. He's talented as shit. He's a future Olympian. He's an all-star caliber point guard. He shoots the lights out. I just don't see any hunger and leadership. Leadership from the front. In your face, firey floor general leadership. Get on my back, follow me leadership. I just see a quiet businessman. A quiet assassin, who the game comes easy to and he's just gonna do his job and collect his dough. He seems much more interested in exploring his artistic side with his marketing. And maybe this leadership that I want to see is something he will grow into. He's 21. He can keep growing into that role. But the reality is that the best player on your team has to lead from the front. Until that happens, we'll suck. It's on him to 1. get stronger and less fragile and 2. find a way to transfer his artistic and charismatic side into fierce DRose like leadership.
Our current program as a whole is terrible. It's really flabbergasting to watch. I literally, every time I turn the Cavs on and watch for a few minutes immediately think: "are we missing 3-4 good players?" But we're not. Samardo Samuels really is our 7th-8th guy. Alonzo Gee really is our 5th guy. Booby freaking Gibson really is our 6th guy. We've had 3 picks inside the top 4 the last two drafts. We came away with Kyrie Irving, Tristan Thompson and Dion Waiters. Throw in Ty Zeller, considered a top 13 talent by many and that's 4 lottery players. Doesn't feel that way. Where's our speed and length and talent? There's no "who the hell is that monster out there?" question when you watch the Cavs. No one ever jumping off the screen at you. It's just 5-7 average guys walking around, mixed in with Andy's genius. The Tristan Thompson development project is starting to worry me. Yes, he makes shit happen that doesn't show up on the stat sheet. But getting back to the basket buckets, developing a crunch time offensive move and making free throws have to become easier for him. Or else he can't be a core guy.
I'll leave you with a question. Let's say we are playing the OKC Thunder and Kendrick Perkins is having a bad night. He's chippy and is constantly cheap shotting players on our team. Let's say he lays out Kyrie. Is there anyone on our roster who would step to that thug other than Andy? I mean, really chest him up and be ready to punch him in the face. To want to punch him in the face and get suspended? I don't think we have anyone on our team who would do that. And that's disappointing. We need to find a thug. A Reggie Evans. A K-Mart. A Tony Allen. Someone whose feared.
Monday, November 26, 2012
Monday, November 26th
When planning: multiply everything by 2. 2 hours to do a project? Set aside a 4 hour window. 3 years to become a vice president? Plan on it taking 6 years.
Mark Cuban: "It was right around November when I was 27 that I remember looking at a 0 dollar bank balance at the ATM."
Loehr: If this is as good as it gets for me, how can I find a way to enjoy this time in my life, this very moment, as it exists right now, without change?
Keep busy. The worried person must lose himself in action, lest he wither in despair.
Our bodies change our minds and our minds change our behavior and our behavior changes our outcomes.
FAKE IT 'TIL YOU BECOME IT.
Persistence is making sure that "right now" you aren't taking a break from what's important to you.
We have a few years to live. We can live fantastically or robustly or we can live on cruise control.
Think quantatively, not dramatically.
Be the person you want to work for.
Enjoy and seek out places where you take blow after blow and build the endurance to bear it.
You have to be relentless. Absorb a lot of blows.
Mark Cuban: "Your biggest enemies are your bills. The cheaper you live, the greater your options.
It's better to be alive and a little weak than be dead in good health.
Live in a vision. Not in circumstances.
Carnegie: "Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment."
Who are you being with your family and friends? Are you being truly supportive or are you stuck in the negative? What about the interactions with yourself? Do you acknowledge the good things you do or are you a nagging brother to your own self?
Mark Cuban: "It was right around November when I was 27 that I remember looking at a 0 dollar bank balance at the ATM."
Loehr: If this is as good as it gets for me, how can I find a way to enjoy this time in my life, this very moment, as it exists right now, without change?
Keep busy. The worried person must lose himself in action, lest he wither in despair.
Our bodies change our minds and our minds change our behavior and our behavior changes our outcomes.
FAKE IT 'TIL YOU BECOME IT.
Persistence is making sure that "right now" you aren't taking a break from what's important to you.
We have a few years to live. We can live fantastically or robustly or we can live on cruise control.
Think quantatively, not dramatically.
Be the person you want to work for.
Enjoy and seek out places where you take blow after blow and build the endurance to bear it.
You have to be relentless. Absorb a lot of blows.
Mark Cuban: "Your biggest enemies are your bills. The cheaper you live, the greater your options.
It's better to be alive and a little weak than be dead in good health.
Live in a vision. Not in circumstances.
Carnegie: "Our fatigue is often caused not by work, but by worry, frustration and resentment."
Who are you being with your family and friends? Are you being truly supportive or are you stuck in the negative? What about the interactions with yourself? Do you acknowledge the good things you do or are you a nagging brother to your own self?
Friday, September 28, 2012
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Basketball Notes and Observations
Andrew Wiggins: LeBron like, explosive and cerebral player, the ball comes off his hand very softly both from 3 and off pull-ups, quick release when in rhythm, can really cover ground with dribble in the full court, gifted at timing and blocking shots, young-Carmelo like in his ability to second jump and rebound his misses instantaneously, much of the game comes easy to him -- definitely a fun guy to keep your eye on. Will go to Kentucky for a year.
I find it very enjoyable to watch the Team USA bench cheer and encourage their teammates on the floor. They really let loose. It is a role that none of them generally get to fill, so they can both embrace it and be creative with it. They all seem geniunely interested and sincere in their rooting for teammates. You even see it with Kobe. LeBron has always been very good at it. Russell Westbrook, for my money is my favorite to watch cheer. Tyson Chandler is amazing at it too. Kevin Durant. Now is that a Coach K inspired revelation? I think he does a fantastic job of building the system and infrastructure and tone. The players take the lead from there.
Dion Waiters, in the games that he played in Vegas, was much better than what he was given credit for. He shot the ball like shit, but that doesn't take away the fact that guys were melting off him when he attacked the rim. He was able to get into the key and finish plays and did a good job making good passing decisions. I only saw selected highlights. But from what I saw, I thought he had great driving ability, which was why we picked him. Now the trick just becomes getting his ankle and knee healthy and cutting 15 pounds. Shedding weight should without losing strength should help both the knee and ankle problems.
I hope Tristan Thompson is grinding and getting better. He's another guy who I think could look into losing 10-15 pounds. He just seems to get a little heavy in there when he's tired. He loses his ability to explode through contact. But his game needs serious renovation if he wants to make a year two leap. What sucked for him, was that the Cavs just got so bad in those last 40 games that there was very little opportunity for healthy development. He was also hurt. He has to be much more authoritative with his post move decisions. Last year, you just saw too much hesitation and indecision with him trying to figure out how his defender was playing him and in turn what move should he try. He's gotta have a more clear plan of what he wants to get done in there. He has to be able to make jumpers from the elbows and short corners. And if nothing works in his progression, he at least has to keep his legs injury free so we can include him in a trade for a big player.
Jonas Valuncias is going to play for the Raptors this year. We very well could have grabbed him instead of Thompson. It will be interesting to see him play and adjust to the NBA game.
Mike Kidd-Gilchrist, Brad Beal and Harrison Barnes are gonna be really tough. Which is gonna make Dion Waiters life tough. Especially if he struggles to find big role with the Cavs.
I find it very enjoyable to watch the Team USA bench cheer and encourage their teammates on the floor. They really let loose. It is a role that none of them generally get to fill, so they can both embrace it and be creative with it. They all seem geniunely interested and sincere in their rooting for teammates. You even see it with Kobe. LeBron has always been very good at it. Russell Westbrook, for my money is my favorite to watch cheer. Tyson Chandler is amazing at it too. Kevin Durant. Now is that a Coach K inspired revelation? I think he does a fantastic job of building the system and infrastructure and tone. The players take the lead from there.
Dion Waiters, in the games that he played in Vegas, was much better than what he was given credit for. He shot the ball like shit, but that doesn't take away the fact that guys were melting off him when he attacked the rim. He was able to get into the key and finish plays and did a good job making good passing decisions. I only saw selected highlights. But from what I saw, I thought he had great driving ability, which was why we picked him. Now the trick just becomes getting his ankle and knee healthy and cutting 15 pounds. Shedding weight should without losing strength should help both the knee and ankle problems.
I hope Tristan Thompson is grinding and getting better. He's another guy who I think could look into losing 10-15 pounds. He just seems to get a little heavy in there when he's tired. He loses his ability to explode through contact. But his game needs serious renovation if he wants to make a year two leap. What sucked for him, was that the Cavs just got so bad in those last 40 games that there was very little opportunity for healthy development. He was also hurt. He has to be much more authoritative with his post move decisions. Last year, you just saw too much hesitation and indecision with him trying to figure out how his defender was playing him and in turn what move should he try. He's gotta have a more clear plan of what he wants to get done in there. He has to be able to make jumpers from the elbows and short corners. And if nothing works in his progression, he at least has to keep his legs injury free so we can include him in a trade for a big player.
Jonas Valuncias is going to play for the Raptors this year. We very well could have grabbed him instead of Thompson. It will be interesting to see him play and adjust to the NBA game.
Mike Kidd-Gilchrist, Brad Beal and Harrison Barnes are gonna be really tough. Which is gonna make Dion Waiters life tough. Especially if he struggles to find big role with the Cavs.
Good Question Sequence to Work Through
What do I need to do differently to solve this problem?
What do I need to do to be the right kind of guy in the midst of this problem?
What are the constraints keeping me from solving this problem?
After I solve this problem, what will be possible?
A year from now, what kind of story do I want to tell about this problem?
What do I need to do to be the right kind of guy in the midst of this problem?
What are the constraints keeping me from solving this problem?
After I solve this problem, what will be possible?
A year from now, what kind of story do I want to tell about this problem?
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Taco Tuesday
Seneca: "What progress have I made? I am beginning to be my own friend. That is progress indeed. Such a people will never be alone and you may be sure he is a friend to all."
To hit high long iron shots: Rickie Fowler: play ball up in stance a bit, hands just behind the ball, relax, don't try to help it, hit the ball first
Entrepreneurship: the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled.
When trying to helping people on things big and small ask: what's the home run for you?
Telling someone they will make X amount of money if they call, giving a person great sales training to learn and study < being in a room with a good salesman calling all day
For a job you want to do in or within your job or a cool surrounding job: just start doing it on the side for free. do what you think the job is, and every week create a 1 page report and ship it to your boss or the respective boss. If you deliver the right value in the 1 pager, eventually they'll let you fill that job
Victor Frankyl: "Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted as wrongly as you are about to act now."
Ray Bradbury: "Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self conscious is lousy. You cannot try to do things. You simply must do things."
Momentum comes from pushing, not from planning. Confidence comes from scars and risk, not from indecision.
What's your plan B, C and D?
Build ambitious friendships with ambitious colleagues.
Over-prediction fear: belief by most people that terrifying events will be worse than they really are...unsuccessful people struggle with this sometimes, people who don't free their mind up to be more creative
Exert your will on the universe, or the universe will exert its pressure on you
How can you get in the middle of the growth in your field and be a positive difference?
Get a ping pong table
Be honest and tell her exactly what you're looking for
There is fundamentally VERY LITTLE difference between people who do amazingly well and people who are average.
Act immediately as if you had the balls to do it.
Lose money, lose nothing. Lose health, lose something. Lose integrity, lose everything.
Can't we do better than just being busy?
We can live fantastically, robustly or we can live on cruise control.
1000% accountability.
To hit high long iron shots: Rickie Fowler: play ball up in stance a bit, hands just behind the ball, relax, don't try to help it, hit the ball first
Entrepreneurship: the pursuit of opportunity without regard to resources currently controlled.
When trying to helping people on things big and small ask: what's the home run for you?
Telling someone they will make X amount of money if they call, giving a person great sales training to learn and study < being in a room with a good salesman calling all day
For a job you want to do in or within your job or a cool surrounding job: just start doing it on the side for free. do what you think the job is, and every week create a 1 page report and ship it to your boss or the respective boss. If you deliver the right value in the 1 pager, eventually they'll let you fill that job
Victor Frankyl: "Live as if you were living already for the second time and as if you had acted as wrongly as you are about to act now."
Ray Bradbury: "Don't think. Thinking is the enemy of creativity. It's self-conscious, and anything self conscious is lousy. You cannot try to do things. You simply must do things."
Momentum comes from pushing, not from planning. Confidence comes from scars and risk, not from indecision.
What's your plan B, C and D?
Build ambitious friendships with ambitious colleagues.
Over-prediction fear: belief by most people that terrifying events will be worse than they really are...unsuccessful people struggle with this sometimes, people who don't free their mind up to be more creative
Exert your will on the universe, or the universe will exert its pressure on you
How can you get in the middle of the growth in your field and be a positive difference?
Get a ping pong table
Be honest and tell her exactly what you're looking for
There is fundamentally VERY LITTLE difference between people who do amazingly well and people who are average.
Act immediately as if you had the balls to do it.
Lose money, lose nothing. Lose health, lose something. Lose integrity, lose everything.
Can't we do better than just being busy?
We can live fantastically, robustly or we can live on cruise control.
1000% accountability.
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Notes for May 1
It's funny how often the problem is you.
Trust makes money.
Abnormal people produce abnormal returns.
Predicting rain doesn't count. Building arks does.
Get rid of your phone for hours at a time, forget it on purpose -- same with email -- work toward checking email 2x per day and eliminate texting -- call people on the phone.
Ice cold showers post-workout.
Try to think of 25 ideas in 10 minutes.
When a girl flakes on you, that's just lack of comfort. She feels she does not know you, nor does she have anything invested in you. Create a stronger impression of who you are and make her feel more comfortable being around you.
Try to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.
Extraordinary discipline does not eliminate losses. It only prevents foolish losses.
Short sentences stick.
Successful people deal with failure.
What's the problem I gotta solve today?
Test your assumptions instead of letting others think for you.
Only action validates theoretical knowledge.
Speed impresses, but accuracy kills.
Trust makes money.
Abnormal people produce abnormal returns.
Predicting rain doesn't count. Building arks does.
Get rid of your phone for hours at a time, forget it on purpose -- same with email -- work toward checking email 2x per day and eliminate texting -- call people on the phone.
Ice cold showers post-workout.
Try to think of 25 ideas in 10 minutes.
When a girl flakes on you, that's just lack of comfort. She feels she does not know you, nor does she have anything invested in you. Create a stronger impression of who you are and make her feel more comfortable being around you.
Try to be consistently not stupid, instead of trying to be very intelligent.
Extraordinary discipline does not eliminate losses. It only prevents foolish losses.
Short sentences stick.
Successful people deal with failure.
What's the problem I gotta solve today?
Test your assumptions instead of letting others think for you.
Only action validates theoretical knowledge.
Speed impresses, but accuracy kills.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
WHO I WOULD TRADE TO GET ANTHONY DAVIS
I asked several of my friends whether they would trade the Cav's Kyrie Irving for the right to draft Kentucky's Anthony Davis. The guys didn't really know how to answer. There was at least one solid, "No, I would not," and several other "Hmm I would have to think about it a little bit, probably not though's."
Anthony Davis is a pretty unique kid. Three years ago he was 6'1. Two years ago he was 6'3. The only offer he had on the table when he was a junior in high school was from Cleveland State University. They projected that maybe if he worked hard and kept developing physically he could be a 6'5 wing guard.
Nowadays, he's the best player around. People love him to death but don't know what to make of him. The hyperbole out last night was that he's the next Bill Russell. Others Marcus Camby 2.0, maybe Kevin Durant, Patrick Ewing, etc.
Who would you trade for him? Who would you never trade for him? Here's my rough attempt at a list. Age DOES MATTER in this list. Dirk and Kobe and Pau and Timmy are not on the list because they are over 32.
REALLY GOOD Guys I WOULD NOT Trade to Get Anthony Davis:
Lebron
Westbrook
Durant
Howard
Paul
Wade
Love
Bynum
Marc Gasol
Aldridge
Deron Williams
REALLY GOOD Guys I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER TRADING:
Rose
Griffin
Kyrie Irving
Rondo
Bosh
Curry
Paul George
Granger
Eric Gordon
Tyson Chandler
Gay
Igoudala
No one is a bigger D Rose fan than me. But he's got a lot of injuries in a lot of different places on his body.
Anthony Davis is a pretty unique kid. Three years ago he was 6'1. Two years ago he was 6'3. The only offer he had on the table when he was a junior in high school was from Cleveland State University. They projected that maybe if he worked hard and kept developing physically he could be a 6'5 wing guard.
Nowadays, he's the best player around. People love him to death but don't know what to make of him. The hyperbole out last night was that he's the next Bill Russell. Others Marcus Camby 2.0, maybe Kevin Durant, Patrick Ewing, etc.
Who would you trade for him? Who would you never trade for him? Here's my rough attempt at a list. Age DOES MATTER in this list. Dirk and Kobe and Pau and Timmy are not on the list because they are over 32.
REALLY GOOD Guys I WOULD NOT Trade to Get Anthony Davis:
Lebron
Westbrook
Durant
Howard
Paul
Wade
Love
Bynum
Marc Gasol
Aldridge
Deron Williams
REALLY GOOD Guys I WOULD DEFINITELY CONSIDER TRADING:
Rose
Griffin
Kyrie Irving
Rondo
Bosh
Curry
Paul George
Granger
Eric Gordon
Tyson Chandler
Gay
Igoudala
No one is a bigger D Rose fan than me. But he's got a lot of injuries in a lot of different places on his body.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Daniel Pink's Rules from his Book "Johnny Bunko"
There is no plan.
Think strengths, not weaknesses.
It's not about you.
Persistence trumps talent.
Make excelllent mistakes.
Leave an imprint.
Stay hungry.
Think strengths, not weaknesses.
It's not about you.
Persistence trumps talent.
Make excelllent mistakes.
Leave an imprint.
Stay hungry.
Rules
Do more than what you're told to do.
Try new things.
Teach others about what you know.
Make work into play.
Take breaks.
Work when others are resting.
Always be creating something.
Make your own inspiration.
Love what you do, or leave.
Try new things.
Teach others about what you know.
Make work into play.
Take breaks.
Work when others are resting.
Always be creating something.
Make your own inspiration.
Love what you do, or leave.
Business
Hard work makes luck. Nothing affects positive circumstance and results more than hard work.
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Jeremy Lin
I was at the Portsmouth Invitational in Virginia two years ago when Jeremy Lin was there. Portsmouth is a great freaking tournament. Good facility. Nice little town around the gymnasium. You can walk to a lot of places. It was a pretty cool scene right on the water.
Although it was sunny, warm and tranquel all weekend, it's a high stress environment for everybody involved. The players are fighting for their lives, trying to showcase their talent while functioning within the team concept. There were 10 teams of 8-9 guys, all trying to show their skill set without stepping all over each other in the process. Then there's the agents, all low level in stature who are trying to keep their agency doors open. The big time agents never go to this. It's the smaller guys, the guys who have mostly overseas players. They're looking to build on their roster of quality players who can find good overseas jobs, while holding out hope that maybe the guy they are talking to can find a niche in the NBA. Then there's the team executives, both from the NBA and overseas organizations. All these guys are somewhat hoop royalty, but they have a shot clock on them too. They gotta find good players that can help their teams. I introduced myself to a lot of guys: Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Morey, Fred Hoiberg, Dave Griffen, Chris Grant among others. They like to show up for a day and a half and do their due diligence. Those guys I named have found good players at this tournament.
Jeremy Lin was playing in the first game that I saw that weekend. Actually to be honest, I walked in and he made a no look, three quarter pass to a guy running the floor for a dunk. There were oh's and ah's and cheering. From there on Jeremy was one of the better players on the floor and his team won.
When I sat down and started watching, here's what I remember noticing about Jeremy Lin: big feet, big calves, powerful speed and burst when he was dribbling the ball. He made 3-4 passes that weekend that drew oh's and ah's from the crowd. He had great court vision and creativity with his passes. His passes were on time and he anticipated where his teammates were going to go. He had a great feel for that. Offensively, nothing special. His jumper form looked acceptable. It was a good stroke with good spin. He didn't make many jumpers or take many jumpers. But he made his free throws. He was a strong finisher in advantage situations. No dunks.
I didn't think he could play in the NBA. But I did think that he stood out from the group of players at the tourament. He looked a little bigger and stronger than most players. He was fast. He made great passes. He was a guy you kind of just wrote down in your notebook just in case. He was a guy you wished you had seen play a little more at Harvard.
I wasn't surprised when the Warriors signed him as a free agent that summer. He is a really cool guy to have on the roster. I feel bummed for the Rockets for letting him go this pre-season. I wonder if it would have been a normal training camp and off-season that they might have kept him. They needed a break with the way things have gone the past few seasons, in addition to them getting shut out of Pau Gasol this season. The guys that didn't deserve a break are the guys that got him; the Knicks.
Nevertheless, I think it's so awesome what he's doing with New York. He's been great everywhere. Great on the pick and roll. Great 3 point shooter. Makes free throws. Finishes in traffic. Changes up his finishes with a lot of mid range shots. A couple great assists every game. It's been an awesome run for him. I'd like to see him keep it going. Enivitably, Melo and Amare and Baron Davis are gonna ruin this. Lin is bound to hit a rookie wall. But let's hope that doesn't happen for a least a couple more months.
Although it was sunny, warm and tranquel all weekend, it's a high stress environment for everybody involved. The players are fighting for their lives, trying to showcase their talent while functioning within the team concept. There were 10 teams of 8-9 guys, all trying to show their skill set without stepping all over each other in the process. Then there's the agents, all low level in stature who are trying to keep their agency doors open. The big time agents never go to this. It's the smaller guys, the guys who have mostly overseas players. They're looking to build on their roster of quality players who can find good overseas jobs, while holding out hope that maybe the guy they are talking to can find a niche in the NBA. Then there's the team executives, both from the NBA and overseas organizations. All these guys are somewhat hoop royalty, but they have a shot clock on them too. They gotta find good players that can help their teams. I introduced myself to a lot of guys: Danny Ainge, Mitch Kupchak, Darryl Morey, Fred Hoiberg, Dave Griffen, Chris Grant among others. They like to show up for a day and a half and do their due diligence. Those guys I named have found good players at this tournament.
Jeremy Lin was playing in the first game that I saw that weekend. Actually to be honest, I walked in and he made a no look, three quarter pass to a guy running the floor for a dunk. There were oh's and ah's and cheering. From there on Jeremy was one of the better players on the floor and his team won.
When I sat down and started watching, here's what I remember noticing about Jeremy Lin: big feet, big calves, powerful speed and burst when he was dribbling the ball. He made 3-4 passes that weekend that drew oh's and ah's from the crowd. He had great court vision and creativity with his passes. His passes were on time and he anticipated where his teammates were going to go. He had a great feel for that. Offensively, nothing special. His jumper form looked acceptable. It was a good stroke with good spin. He didn't make many jumpers or take many jumpers. But he made his free throws. He was a strong finisher in advantage situations. No dunks.
I didn't think he could play in the NBA. But I did think that he stood out from the group of players at the tourament. He looked a little bigger and stronger than most players. He was fast. He made great passes. He was a guy you kind of just wrote down in your notebook just in case. He was a guy you wished you had seen play a little more at Harvard.
I wasn't surprised when the Warriors signed him as a free agent that summer. He is a really cool guy to have on the roster. I feel bummed for the Rockets for letting him go this pre-season. I wonder if it would have been a normal training camp and off-season that they might have kept him. They needed a break with the way things have gone the past few seasons, in addition to them getting shut out of Pau Gasol this season. The guys that didn't deserve a break are the guys that got him; the Knicks.
Nevertheless, I think it's so awesome what he's doing with New York. He's been great everywhere. Great on the pick and roll. Great 3 point shooter. Makes free throws. Finishes in traffic. Changes up his finishes with a lot of mid range shots. A couple great assists every game. It's been an awesome run for him. I'd like to see him keep it going. Enivitably, Melo and Amare and Baron Davis are gonna ruin this. Lin is bound to hit a rookie wall. But let's hope that doesn't happen for a least a couple more months.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Tuesday January 24
Prepare Better.
Speak Better.
Eat Better.
Sleep Better.
Laugh Better.
Train Better.
Earn Better.
Think Better.
Pray Better.
Save Better.
Write Better.
Love Better.
Speak Better.
Eat Better.
Sleep Better.
Laugh Better.
Train Better.
Earn Better.
Think Better.
Pray Better.
Save Better.
Write Better.
Love Better.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
The Cavs are Interesting
On opening night I texted about 10 friends and told my Dad: Cavs are making the playoffs.
The Cavs played terrible on opening night against Toronto and fell victim to hot shooting from Andrea Barginini and wizard playmaking by Jose Calderon. I reneged on my statement pretty quickly, laughing it off like I was kidding all along. In reality, even after getting smoked by a shitty team that's rebuilding, I still felt like the 7th seed was in the Cavs' grasp.
Since, they have played like a gritty and focused group. They have a lot of good defensive possessions. They share the ball and get good shots, open 3 point shots in particular. Their rotation, the guys that play, have played their asses off. And the guys on the bench have been very involved and invested in the game, cheering on their teammates.
They don't have 13 professional basketball players, but they sure do have professional coaches. Byron and his staff are doing an awesome job. Paul Pressy seems to be the co-offensive coordinator with Byron and Jamahl Mosely seems to be the defensive coordinator. Those guys did a great job using the lockout time to step their games up. I think they are all very inspired about what they're building and are pumped about the prospects of a young team lead by Kyrie and Tristan.
But more than anything, through 5 games, they're fun to watch. There are a lot of likable guys. Boobie, Tristan, Kyrie and Andy are great. Ramon Sessions has been a very good professional so far, and plays his role perfectly. Alonzo Gee is coming into his own. Jamison has been good. AP has been very solid. The team chemistry is off the charts so far, which has made the games pretty enjoyable.
Tristan is a violent jumper. He can really elevate with speed and power. He blocks a lot of shots. Offensively, he's a live body. Very hard to block out and gets his hands on a lot of loose balls and offensive rebounds. He rolls to the right spots when he sets ball screens and is creative with the way he finishes plays. The bad news is that he's creative mostly by neccessity. He has no go to move. He has no go to second move. He has no spot on the floor where he make a jump shot. He only makes half his free throws. If he solves 2 of the those 4 problems in the next 60 games, he's gonna be an animal heading into his first offseason with the team.
Kyrie can control and quietly dismantle an opponent with his scoring and passing. He is a great shooter and makes all his free throws. He can shoot 3's off the dribble and can find spots in the mid-range where he can knock down shots. He doesn't turn the corner and create chaos like his peers Rose, Wall, Rondo, Westbrook, and Wade. But he picks his spots and is a finisher when he goes all the way to the basket. He got a little excited against the Pacers and forced some shots, but hey it was a big game. And at least we have a guy on our squad who can get to the rim and make a big shot, even if that one rolled in and out.
Let's stay tuned on the Cavs. Let's see how we hold up and see if we stay receptive to and buy in to the message Byron is using with this group.
The Cavs played terrible on opening night against Toronto and fell victim to hot shooting from Andrea Barginini and wizard playmaking by Jose Calderon. I reneged on my statement pretty quickly, laughing it off like I was kidding all along. In reality, even after getting smoked by a shitty team that's rebuilding, I still felt like the 7th seed was in the Cavs' grasp.
Since, they have played like a gritty and focused group. They have a lot of good defensive possessions. They share the ball and get good shots, open 3 point shots in particular. Their rotation, the guys that play, have played their asses off. And the guys on the bench have been very involved and invested in the game, cheering on their teammates.
They don't have 13 professional basketball players, but they sure do have professional coaches. Byron and his staff are doing an awesome job. Paul Pressy seems to be the co-offensive coordinator with Byron and Jamahl Mosely seems to be the defensive coordinator. Those guys did a great job using the lockout time to step their games up. I think they are all very inspired about what they're building and are pumped about the prospects of a young team lead by Kyrie and Tristan.
But more than anything, through 5 games, they're fun to watch. There are a lot of likable guys. Boobie, Tristan, Kyrie and Andy are great. Ramon Sessions has been a very good professional so far, and plays his role perfectly. Alonzo Gee is coming into his own. Jamison has been good. AP has been very solid. The team chemistry is off the charts so far, which has made the games pretty enjoyable.
Tristan is a violent jumper. He can really elevate with speed and power. He blocks a lot of shots. Offensively, he's a live body. Very hard to block out and gets his hands on a lot of loose balls and offensive rebounds. He rolls to the right spots when he sets ball screens and is creative with the way he finishes plays. The bad news is that he's creative mostly by neccessity. He has no go to move. He has no go to second move. He has no spot on the floor where he make a jump shot. He only makes half his free throws. If he solves 2 of the those 4 problems in the next 60 games, he's gonna be an animal heading into his first offseason with the team.
Kyrie can control and quietly dismantle an opponent with his scoring and passing. He is a great shooter and makes all his free throws. He can shoot 3's off the dribble and can find spots in the mid-range where he can knock down shots. He doesn't turn the corner and create chaos like his peers Rose, Wall, Rondo, Westbrook, and Wade. But he picks his spots and is a finisher when he goes all the way to the basket. He got a little excited against the Pacers and forced some shots, but hey it was a big game. And at least we have a guy on our squad who can get to the rim and make a big shot, even if that one rolled in and out.
Let's stay tuned on the Cavs. Let's see how we hold up and see if we stay receptive to and buy in to the message Byron is using with this group.
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