Alabama Achieves a Vision in Defeating Florida in the SEC Championship

Alabama Establishes a Clear Vision

“Everybody bought into it.”

--Mark Ingram, Alabama running back and Heisman Trophy candidate. Ingram, making a strong bid to claim the school's first Heisman Trophy, rushed for 113 yards and three touchdowns in a win over Florida in the SEC championship game. He passed Bobby Humphrey for the school rushing record in a season (1,542 yards) and augmented his performance with a 69-yard reception on a screen pass.

“Coach Saban’s got a philosophy of hard work and discipline,” Ingram said. “And you can’t have self-indulgent behavior. It’s about doing everything you can, every chance you have, to make the team better.”

"Everything we did all year long was to beat them, to be better than them," Ingram said about their goal of being better than Florida, who beat Alabama in the SEC title game last year.

“We had a meeting [last offseason and told the players] everything you do, every time you go to work, every time we lift weights, it’s not to be as good as the guy you’re playing against, it’s to be as good as the guy you have to beat to be the champion,”

--Nick Saban, head coach of the Alabama Crimson Tide football team.

Drive and Desire

"Everyone had to buy into not to be denied in this game." Saban said. "To be a champion, that's what you had to do. I've never been prouder of a group of players."

"Our standard was to be as good as Florida," Alabama linebacker Cory Reamer said. "Today, we were better than them.”

"They seemed like they wanted it a whole lot," Florida cornerback Joe Haden said.

Preparation and Work

Greg McElroy, Alabama quarterback and MVP of the SEC championship game said the victory was a tribute to all the work that the Tide had put in since the loss to Florida in last year’s SEC title game.

"I think it all came full circle in the sense that all the things we’ve done,” he said. “All the 110s we’ve run and blood, sweat, conditioning, all the reps in the weight room, that’s what it’s all for, taking a knee against Florida to win the SEC championship.”

--Greg McElroy, who threw for 239 yards and a touchdown to claim the SEC Championship Game MVP award.

Mental Mindset

“You’ve got to be responsible and accountable and be able to do your job,” Saban said. “There’s a way you have to do it in terms of the effort, the toughness and the dependability and the discipline. … And when you have a critical mass of players on your team that think like that, they really don’t want the other guys that don’t think that way to be out there with them.”

"If you want to be a champion, you have to have a team of champions," McElroy said. "This team came out and proved itself a champion."

Alabama will now face Texas in the BCS Championship Game in January.


Excerpts from the New York Times, Yahoo.com and ESPN.com (December 5-6, 2009).

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Peak Performance Case Study: Vince Young, Tennessee Titans Quarterback

"My goal is to win three or four Super Bowls."

--Vince Young, NFL quarterback responding to questions as he entered his third NFL season with the Tennessee Titans in 2008.

"This guy is unique, no question he's unique. He's a very, very competitive young man. He's used to winning. He's used to being a leader, so it all fits very well."

--Norm Chow, former Tennessee Titans' offensive coordinator, talking about quarterback, Vince Young, and his emerging leadership in 2006, Young’s rookie year.


Sunday, November 29, 2009

Vince Young threw for a career high 387 yards, won his ninth straight start (after sitting behind Kerry Collins for 22 straight games) and improved to 23-11 in his career against the Arizona Cardinals.

For many people, this is vindication and a reputation-rebuilding and career defining win. With a great deal of confidence, Young showed he could be a pocket passer as well as a running quarterback.

Early Concerns

Many college quarterbacks such as Young who almost exclusively used the shotgun at the University of Texas have difficulty adapting to NFL offenses where most snaps are taken under center. Many scouts and personnel analysts felt that Young would not be an adequate passing quarterback in the NFL. Many critics also were concerned about Young’s unorthodox throwing style.

Traditional or Trailblazing Quarterback

“I am not sold that Young will ever be an elite passer who can threaten the whole field, and I do think that the Titans have very wisely kept his reads very simple -- from option one to option two to tuck the ball down and run.”

--Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc.

“He’s not that guy, not now. But what he’s doing is allowing them to win football games. Now you’re hoping that as he continues to grow, he’s going to eventually be that guy. You want him to be that guy, but he’s not that guy yet.

“I think with what he’s done you’ve got to stick with the guy now. That doesn’t mean you don’t draft a guy. If Collins is done, if this is his last year, they need another quarterback. Do you draft a guy? Maybe so. Maybe you draft the pocket passer you want so if it doesn’t work out you’ve got a guy in your system that you know you are grooming.”

--Herman Edwards, NFL analyst and former head coach in the NFL, responding to questions about Young, even after Young’s return as a starting quarterback.

“All I can do is play my game. I can't worry about what they're going to try to do. All I know is when Coach calls this or this or that, I have to execute the play. If it's a run or a pass, whatever it takes to win a ballgame, that's what I'm going to do. At the same time, it's not all about me. I know the rest of the guys are going to make plays as well."

--Vince Young, NFL offensive rookie of the year in 2006, discussing his focus on his role, blocking out the opposition's defensive schemes, and the importance of execution and teamwork.

Head Coach Jeff Fisher says he never lost faith that Young would become the team's franchise QB.

“He’s won a lot of games for us with different teammates,” Fisher said. “I think, yeah, it’s fair to assume [he’s the guy long-term]. We drafted him to be our franchise quarterback and never lost sight of that. Just because there was an interruption of his starts, we never thought he wasn’t going to be the guy we drafted him to be.”

So, what has Young and the Tennessee Titans done to develop him as their starting quarterback and bring about his recent resurgence.

Deliberate Practice: Touch and Mechanics

The Titans accepted Young’s unconventional throwing motion when they drafted him. But when Mike Heimerdinger took over as offensive coordinator in 2008, he said there were mechanical adjustments for Young’s feet that would have a bearing on his arm.

In his five-game comeback, Young has shown he can throw just about every pass in the NFL quarterback repertoire effectively. His completion percentage this season (62.9) is up nearly six points from his career number coming into the season.

“His footwork is tremendous right now and his ball placement [in his dropback] is very good,” Heimerdinger said. “And when his ball placement is right and his feet are right, he can wing it. It’s just having his feet underneath him and not all spread out, his arm above his numbers instead of out [extends his arms like an airplane to illustrate] like he used to, which caused him to push it.”


Mastery: Study, Preparation and Commitment

“I think his work habits have been great. He’s been spending the time, he’s been studying it. If I put something in new on Wednesday and he struggles with it, he comes back Thursday and has it down cold. He’s really working at it,he’s doing the things that you are supposed to do.

“He’s got to be taking it home and studying it. If I’ve got a real wordy formation and play, he has it down cold the next day. The stuff I always wondered if he’d do, he’s doing.”

--Mike Heimerdinger.

“I think he realizes more now what it takes to get ready to play during the week and to go out and do it on Sunday. A lot of that has to do with the amount of time he’s putting in whether it’s here or at home. That’s what it takes to be a great quarterback, and I think it’s showing in his reads, it’s showing on Sunday.”

--Kerry Collins, veteran and former starting quarterback for the Titans.


Increasing Maturity and Emotional Resilience

Young has a history of moodiness. There were rumors of depression and suicidal thoughts. This year he is more relaxed and comfortable, particularly in the spotlight. His body language is more positive and confident.

“Last year he was [moody],” Heimerdinger said. “I’ve not seen him moody this year.”

“I think he’s taken this opportunity more seriously than other opportunities and that to me is a signal of growing up and maturity,” Collins said. “… I think he carries himself more maturely. I think he’s handling different situations more maturely. He’s just growing up.”

“He’s been able to handle the adjustments on the run,” Fisher said, of his on-field maturity.

Handling Pressure, Failure and Adversity

Young won offensive rookie of the year in 2006 but followed up with a shaky second season. He started well as a rookie, winning and showing some highlight reel moments. However, many opposing teams found ways to make things far more difficult, he didn’t handle it well, he didn’t find a way to adjust and respond. In a game against the Jacksonville Jaguars at the start of his third season, he got so frustrated he asked to leave the game.

So far, in his return to the starting lineup, Young has bounced back from his bad moments. “He could have easily gone in the tank at halftime and did not,” Heimerdinger said, after some difficult moments (fumbles and interceptions)during games against Buffalo and Houston this year.

“He worked through it. At halftime, he was very attentive. He was right on top of everything we talked about and the adjustments we made.”

Collins said he expects Young will show himself to continue be much more resilient.

“When you play this position, there are always bumps in the road, there is always a bump looming,” he said. “It’s a humbling position. All signs indicate he will be able to handle it and maybe better than he has in the past. And that’s part of the growing-up process as well.”

Confidence

“He’s got a lot more confidence playing in the pocket,” Edwards said. “In this league, you’ve got to have a quarterback that can play in the pocket. Because it’s built that way. The rules are set up that way, it’s all for the quarterback to play inside the pocket.”

Consistency and Longevity: Questions about Young Linger

The Tennessee Titans have a big decision for the off-season. Do the Titans pay Young a roster bonus of $4.25 million and carry a cap number of over $14 million for him in 2010?

“We’ll find out in five more weeks,” Heimerdinger said. “He’s been consistent. He’s doing what he’s supposed to do. But a great quarterback does it every week -- protects the ball, does the things you are supposed to do and stays within the system. He’s played very well in the five games we’ve had. I don’t have a lot of things to correct him on. But we’ve still got five more weeks.”

At least for the moment, Vince Young is back.

Excerpts from ESPN.com (December 4, 2009).

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I Couldn't Help Myself: The Top Ten NBA Plays and Dunks of November 2009

Please excuse the overlap in plays and dunks. Some deserve a second look anyway.



And...



From NBA.com.

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Texas Longhorn QB Colt McCoy Finally Learns to Relax

In his last home game, Colt McCoy, the University of Texas Longhorns' quarterback, burned the Kansas Jayhawks for 396 yards and four touchdowns. He connected on 32 of 41 passes, one incompletion short of 80 percent.

In that game, McCoy set a record by winning more college football games than any other quarterback in the history of the sport. He has completed a higher percentage of passes in one season (76.7, in 2008) than any other quarterback in the history of the sport.

The 6-foot-3, 214 pound McCoy, from Tuscola, Texas, has led the No. 3 Longhorns to an 11-0 record and the Big 12 South championship. He is 3-0 as a bowl starter. He is 3-1 against Oklahoma.

Until recently, however, McCoy never satisfied; and driving himself crazy.

"You come back for your senior year after a good year," McCoy said. "You have the opportunity to go to the NFL. You win a bunch of awards. You almost win the Heisman. All those things you accomplish, and you come back as a senior, and you have to do this and do that and play perfect."

Offensive coordinator Greg Davis has preached for five seasons, that McCoy could be a better quarterback and leader by relaxing.

McCoy not only set that completion percentage record last season but also led the Longhorns to a 12-1 record and a No. 4 finish in the final poll.

"I called him in January," Davis said. "I said, 'Look, you just completed 77 percent of your passes for the season. I just completed 36 years of coaching. I've never had a guy do that.

"'Now, let me go a step further. Nobody who has ever coached quarterbacks has had a guy do that. So to think you're just going to walk back out here next year and it's going to go to 80 is unrealistic.'"

But, McCoy entered the 2009 season trying to be perfect, do everything right, but ended up playing too cautiously. The team continued to win, but wasn't playing well, and most certainly wasn't having fun. The entire team was tight and underperforming.

"I was playing good and giving my team its best chance to win," McCoy said, "but at the same time it was not fun. I was beating myself up. I kept digging myself deeper and deeper in a hole that I couldn't get out of."

"You put so much pressure on yourself and expectations on yourself to be the best, to complete all your passes and throw three or four touchdowns and throw for 300 yards," McCoy said. "When you don't, and you decided to come back for your senior year and come back and have an up-and-down year and you don't do all that, it hurts you mentally. You end up not having fun. You stress out all week. You think, 'I'll do better next week.'"

"It's easy to say, 'I'm going to get out of it,'" McCoy said. "But to get out of it, physically and mentally and completely, was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do."

"I wasn't losing it on anybody else but myself," he said. "I wasn't being myself around the facility, around my teammates. I was most pissed off at myself. When you're a quarterback, a leader, you've been here for four years, you can't do that. That's something I know. I wasn't trying to act that way. I was in a hole. I was concerned."

Nevertheless, Texas kept winning. The Longhorns went into Dallas to play Oklahoma with a 5-0 record.

"I could have been so much better," McCoy said. "I could have been such a better leader and teammate. … I was frustrated and trying to figure out what was wrong with me instead of helping the young receivers, staying after practice, making sure they knew where I want them to be."

McCoy had his worst statistical game of the season against OU. He completed 21 of 39 passes for only 127 yards. He lost two fumbles, one at the Oklahoma goal line. With Texas trying to extend a 16-13 lead, he threw an interception to Sooners cornerback Brian Jackson at the Oklahoma 9. McCoy chased Jackson down and made the tackle.

That might have been the play that saved McCoy's season. After Davis broke down the video of the game, he called McCoy into his office.

"I said, 'Of all the records you've broken, of all the things you've done, I'm probably more proud of you for this ballgame than I am for any ballgame,'" Davis said.

"He said, 'Why?'

"I said, 'Just because of the way you competed and the way you put the team first. You throw the interception, and a lot of guys would have been over there kicking the dirt. And you went and made the tackle. We ended up getting the ball back. You competed for 60 minutes against a quality defensive football team, and because of that, we won the game.'"

"The week after Oklahoma, I let myself go," McCoy said. "Forget about everything. I walked up to Coach [Mack] Brown and Coach Davis and said, 'As far as I'm concerned, we're 0-0. This is going to be my first game. I'm starting over completely.'

"I've been so much better since," McCoy said. "I can feel my teammates following me, responding to me, and I'm feeling confident."

In the past five games, McCoy completed 77 percent of his passes for 1,487 yards and 12 touchdowns and threw only two interceptions. Again, aainst Kansas on Saturday night, McCoy threw for 396 yards and four touchdowns.

So, what happened?

"He relaxed," Davis said.

Excerpts from ESPN.com, November 23, 2009.

For more on peak performance and mental conditioning, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

The NBA's Kobe Bryant: Never Satisfied and Always Improving

“When you first come into the league, you’re trying to prove yourself as an individual, do things to assert yourself and establish yourself. But then once you’ve done that, there’s another level to the game that’s more complex than figuring out how to put up big numbers as an individual.”

--Kobe Bryant, 31, Los Angeles Lakers, discussing his evolution as a player and teammate.

Bryant has earned four NBA championships with the Lakers. He started his NBA career out of high school at the age of 17.

Kobe has refined his game by:

*Traveling with a portable DVD player queued to games to analyze and review.

*Working with Tim *Grover, Michael Jordan’s former trainer, to address weaknesses in the physical aspects of his game.

*Hiring a consultant to analyze various NBA teams' and individual opponents' weaknesses.

*Visiting the former Houston Rockets center Hakeem Olajuwon over the summer for a 5-hour tutorial on low-post play.

“The strengths that I have now were weaknesses when I was a kid,” Bryant said. “The strengths that I had as a kid may be weaknesses now. So you just kind of flip-flop and get the same results.”

“He’s always trying a new angle,” Knicks Coach Mike D’Antoni said about Bryant. “His work ethic is better than anybody I’ve seen, so he’s going to improve.”

D'Antoni added, “Whether he can do the same things he could do when he was younger, I don’t know, but he’ll keep getting to be a better basketball player.”




Excerpts from the New York Times, November 24, 2009.

For more on mental conditioning, peak performance and Kobe Bryant, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

The Atlanta Hawks on Top of the NBA: Patience and a Plan

"We've got the depth we need. We treat each possession as precious because we know we've got something good going here."

--Josh Smith, Atlanta Hawks.

The Atlanta Hawks have improved their record to 10-2 with a win over the Miami Heat. They share the best record in the NBA with the Phoenix Suns. How have they improved and why?


Ownership: Brought Together by Adversity

Legal issues between owners have perhaps galvanized the organization and brought the entire enterprise together like nothing else could. This internal power struggle could have been deadly. However, despite the distractions, the owners also had a long-range plan and stuck with it. They allowed GM Rick Sund to build a strong organizational foundation and not panic. They didn't break up the pieces and start over when faced with adversity or criticism. When fans were clamoring for the firing of head coach Mike Woodson, ownership did not buckle. Now, Woodson is the longest tenured coach in the Eastern Conference.

Consistent and Incremental Improvement

The Hawks have gone from 37-45 in 2007 to 47-35 in 2008 to 10-2 in 2009 without changing a starter. To do this, the Hawks had patience and allowed existing players to continue developing confidence and chemistry amongst one another. They believed that they had a good mix of players that know their roles and play within a team concept.

Building Blocks

Of course, the Hawks started by successfully selecting talent and valuing athleticism. For several years, the Hawks were consistantly described as an athletic team. Opposing teams saw the potential, understood the challenge, but did not fear the Hawks

Continuity, Stability, Patience and Persistence

Using the draft, free agency to pick up the right role players and maintaining the team's core. They stuck with their nucleus and built a resilient foundation.

Putting the Pieces Together

Strong Rebounding

Inside players Al Horford, Josh Smith and Zaza Pachulia are playing hard and going for every rebound.

All-around, Versatile Players with a Focus on Defense

The Hawks are forcing turnovers and taking advantage of opponents' mistakes. They are perfecting their transition game. In the win against the Heat, Josh Smith was all over the Philips Arena floor with 16 points, 14 rebounds, seven assists, two blocks and two steals.

"We're a tough team to beat when he's playing like that," Joe Johnson said of his teammate. "When he's rebounding, playing defense and diving down in the paint for dunks and layups, it makes the defense collapse. That's leaving guys like me and Mike [Bibby] open for shots."

Josh Smith, Marvin Williams and Joe Johnson continue to provide an all-around game for the Hawks. Johnson continues to be a NBA force as a one-on-one scorer. Johnson can score from anywhere. His total of 30 points against the Heat included 5-for-11 from 3-point range, a dunk of a follow-up, put-back and a couple of layups on the run — plus many forays through the paint against multiple defenders.

Johnson also has become a defensive stopper — holding the usually dynamic and reliable Dwayne Wade to 2-for-9 in the first half, a total of only 15 points on 6-for-18 shooting, and a mere two free throws. Johnson is a position defender, who relies on strength, anticipation and a thorough understanding of his opponent's strengths and weaknesses.

Role Players

Jamal Crawford provides energy and scoring off the bench. A sixth-man of the year candidate, he brings electricity to the court. He can shoot from anywhere, moves well without the ball and can get off quick shots from a variety of unexpected release-points. Crawford also demonstrates his confidence when in a recent game, as soon as a 3-point shot left his hand, he turned and headed downcourt. And, of course, the shot hit nothing but net.

He has developed maturity by being more interested in moving the ball than he is in shooting it. His defense has improved significantly since coming to the Hawks. He can light up a scoreboard. As the season progresses and he gets more comfortable with his role — backup point and shooting guard — Crawford will undoubtedly become more consistent. For the moment, however, he provides explosive point-making off the bench.

Effort

The Hawks have built a deep bench, immunizing them against injuries and fatigue over a tough game or a long season. The Hawks starters don't have to play excessive minutes to win a game.

Balanced Scoring

Joe Johnson, Josh Smith, Jamal Crawford, Marvin Harrison, Mike Bibby, and Al Horford can all score and, on any given day, can lead the team in scoring.

Mike's Woodson Coaching: Fostering Chemistry and Teamwork

Woodson has been able to reach Josh Smith and get him to focus on his strengths and minimize the effects of his weaknesses. He helped to turned Pachulia into a super-sub who rebounds, passes and comes off the bench to raise the energy level of his teammates. He’s refusing this year to overuse Joe Johnson and understands the importance of keeping him fresh. He trusts Mike Bibby to run the team on the court and be the coach on the floor. Woodson has confidence in Bibby's leadership and clutch shooting. He is realiable and steady; great characteristics in a point guard.

Future Questions for the Hawks

This is the NBA. There are many great players. It is a long season and many things can happen. Other teams can get hot. Coaches can figure out how to adjust and effectively stop another team from doing what they do best.

Can the Hawks play consistently well when fans', players', and opponents' expectations rise?

Will the Hawks respond when they become favorites, when other teams shoot for them or when they get behind against an elite team like the Lakers?

Only time will tell, but the Hawks have built something strong and there is much to be learned from this metamorphasis.

“It’s just a lot of growth, man. Two, three, four years ago, we would have lost a game like this [against the Portland Trailblazers].” With the growth and maturity of guys like Marvin Williams and Josh Smith, I think we can be as good as we want to be.”

--Joe Johnson, Atlanta Hawks' scoring leader.

Smith, who surprisingly has not attempted a three-point field goal this season after averaging 1.3 per game a year ago, echoed that same attitude.

“We don’t have any give-ups in us,” Smith said after his 20-point, 16-rebound effort against the Blazers. “We stay fighting and persevere. I feel confident. The team is confident. We feel like we can beat any team in the league.”

Excerpts from AJC.com, ESPN.com, www.hawks.realgm.com and FoxSports.com (November 19, 2009).

For more on mental conditioning and performance psychology, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

Key to Long-Standing Patriots' Success: Stand Behind the Coach and his Decisions

”Coach has a lot of confidence we can make a yard and a half to win the game. They showed us the drive before they can go pretty fast and score. Coach was being aggressive and I love that about him. As a coach, you’re not thinking let’s punt it to them and see if they can do it again. He’s thinking, ‘We have 450 yards of offense.’ ”

-Tom Brady, New England Patriots' quarterback, defending head coach Bill Belichick's decision to go for it in fourth down deep in Patriot territory late in the game. The decision backfired, and the Patriots' opponent, the Indianapolis Colts, got the ball and scored to win 35-34.

"It was a really bad coaching decision by coach Belichick. I have all the respect in the world for him, but he has to punt the ball. The message that you are sending in the locker room is: I have no confidence in my young guys on my defense.

"This is the worst coaching decision I've ever seen Bill Belichick make."

--Rodney Harrison, sportscaster and former New England Patriot said on NBC's postgame show.

Still, in the Patriots locker room, there was no questioning the call.

”He’s the head coach,” Faulk said. “No matter what, to us that’s the right call. We are the employees.”

If the Patriots would have made the first down, they probably would have been able to run out the clock and win the game. If the play had worked, Belicheck would have been labeled a rogue genius.

Belicheck should have been applauded for his moxie and innovative, despite the play not working. This type of decision-making and play calling has led to four Super Bowl appearances and three Super Bowl wins.

"We thought we could win the game on that play," Belichick said. "That was a yard I was confident we could get."

It is particularly impressive that the Patriots stuck together after the game and did not question the decision, despite the outcome. This is rarely seen in the NFL today. It is not typical in corporate America either.

How many organizations can say they do not second-guess their boss and their organization after a failure or defeat?

This type of team solidarity is difficult to find.

Should you reconsider your reactions to mistakes?


Note: The Colts are now 9-0 and have the inside track toward home-field advantage through the A.F.C. playoffs. The Cincinnati Bengals, at 7-2 and with an easy schedule remaining, seem headed for a first-round bye. The Patriots are now 6-3, and though they still have a firm grip on the A.F.C. East, their chances of a first-round bye are sinking.

Bottom line: There are seven games left in the regular season. There is alot of football left to play and many more decisions to make and plays to call.

Let's see which teams stick together and which implode.

Excerpts from the New York Times and ESPN.com (November 16, 2009).

For more on Peak Performance Teams, click on Team Pulse. For more on the New England Patriots, click on http://www.squidoo.com/patriotscasestudy.

NBA All-Stars Show the Way to Victory Through Mental Mindset

Here are some notes from NBA games played on November 12, 2009. Much can be learned about success from listening to NBA players reacting to victory.

Focus, Maturity and Discipline

"We really did a good job focusing ourselves. They do what they do, and we try to stop it. We showed a lot of control, a lot of maturity. It was a very disciplined game for us."

--Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers' leader, after a 121-102 regular season win over the Phoenix Suns, who had brought a 7-1 record and four-game win streak into the Lakers' home arena.

Responsiblity and Accountability: Finishing Games and Being a Role Model

"It starts with me -- closing the games out. If I'm being lax, if I'm not being aggressive and putting pressure on the defense, the rest of the team is not going to do the same. I just tried to put as much pressure as we could offensively, tried to get as many stops as possible, and come out with a win. We had played so well for most of the game, you don't want to let a game like this get away."

--LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers' All-Star, on beating the Miami Heat, 111-104, in a regular season match-up.

Understanding History and the Importance of Legacies

LeBron James would like to see any NBA player who wears No. 23 to choose another number in homage to Michael Jordan, who also wore No. 23.

James said he plans to switch his number from 23 to 6 after this season.

"I just think what Michael Jordan has done for the game has to be recognized some way soon," James told TNT. "There would be no LeBron James, no Kobe Bryant, no Dwyane Wade if there wasn't Michael Jordan first.

"He can't get the logo [Hall of Famer Jerry West's silhouette adorns the NBA's logo], and if he can't, something has to be done. I feel like no NBA player should wear 23. I'm starting a petition, and I've got to get everyone in the NBA to sign it. Now, if I'm not going to wear No. 23, then nobody else should be able to wear it."

"If you see 23, you think about Michael Jordan," James said, according to the Cleveland Plain Dealer. "You see game-winning shots, you think about Michael Jordan; you see guys fly through the air, you think about Michael Jordan; you see fly kicks, you think about Michael Jordan. He did so much, it has to be recognized, and not just by putting him in the Hall of Fame."

The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Los Angeles Lakers are two of the teams favored to go far in the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Mental mindset and emotional resiliency will play a large role in the success of their teams and the success of the other contenders.

For more on mental mindset, click on The Handbook of Peak Performance.

Excerpts from ESPN.com, November 13, 2009.