Letter to Shaq from Coach Brown

This has some great lessons for us all to live by

VIDEO: http://www.tout.com/m/9944wo

June 1, 1993 

 

Dear Shaquille, 

 

Congratulations on a great rookie year in the NBA.  I was so proud of you and especially in the manner that you conducted yourself. 

 

I shall never forget our first meeting in the mountains of West Germany, when you were only 13 years old.  You have grown not only in stature, but in talent, from that day when you were cut from the high school team, when they told you, you were too clumsy and to try soccer.  

 

Now, being constantly in the spotlight, you must be alert to all the pressures it brings.  Coach John Wooden knew how to handle fame better than anyone I've ever known.  He said, "The Coach must recognize that his profession places him in the public eye and he will at times, receive both unjustifiable criticism and underserved praise, and he must not be unduly affected by either."  Live by this creed, Shaquille and you'll never lose that contagious smile of yours. 

 

Don't be content.  Continue to work on improving your game and as you've heard a thousand times over and over again, while playing at LSU:  Hard work pays off, and when the going gets rough on the team, remember our HIT philosophy at LSU; play hard, play intelligent, and play together—and everything works out for the best. 

 

Stay away from all distractions because concentration is imperative for ultimate success.  It is a supreme art that few ever master. 

 

Be a good listener.  One of the most consistent qualities of those that are labeled as extraordinary athletes is they have been coachable. There have been very few exceptions. 

 

Be careful of the parasites who, for selfish motives, want you as their friend.  Yes, some will even have visions of the dollar bills floating around.  Trust, but never cease to be vigilant.  Hold onto that school boy spirit that touched me so strongly when we met eight years ago—a spirit with its natural grace, easy dignity, and the blossoming buds of a genius on a basketball court. 

 

Make your dignity as tall as your body.  Never, ever drop it or sell it or become complimented out of it.  Respect others, even the most humble, and remember that above all else, you are a member of a group called mankind. 

 

Be a role model.  A lot of kids have absolutely no one in whom to turn, and what you do and say will be more than mere words or actions for the game plan that is their life. 

 

Affect mankind.  Affect your fellow man, and always for the good.  Shaquille, leave a legacy beyond trophies and statistics because, and I hate to say this but, your time will also pass and the glory you enjoy will only be a memory. 

 

So, be your brother's keeper.  Lift him up when he has fallen; bandage him up when he is wounded. 

 

In body, he may not be as big as you, but in spirit, he is. 

 

Well, that's my advice to you, Shaquille.  You really don't need it.  You are what you are:  a good man, full of love. 

 

Love you, 

Coach Brown

 

Sabathani Community Center Up For National Grant

Dear reader,

The agency Co-founded by Mrs. Walker is competing for a national grant for renovations to the Senior Center. We are the ONLY community center in Minnesota chosen to compete. The agency with the most votes wins. It is easy to vote with this direct link listed below. There is also an informative video about the center if you are not sure who we are.

Please view and continue voting every day through June 17th. Thank you for your help. Your email WILL NOT BE SHARED by Maxwell House Coffee ,the organization sponsoring this grant.

How Can I Help? This is a great way

Vote early and VOTE OFTEN!!!!

Thanks again

http://www.kraftbrands.com/maxwellhousecoffee/drops-of-good/Pages/sabathani-community-center.aspx

Namaste

To The Future You

You are the future, you are the present. I ask you to trust yourself to get to your next blessing. Life itself is not hard, we make it hard by getting stuck in our head. In our head we talk ourselves in and out of these blessing.

It's time to take the longest journey you will ever take in your life. It's only 18" but could take a lifetime to travel. See this is the distance from you Head to your Heart, and when your in your heart you shall be led.

Live your life like a Kahuna, a life without Doubt. Free from fear and free from all that doubt. See it is from your heart that allows us to connect to the ultimate source of being.

Trust you are supported by everyone you encounter as well as the Source and Creator of all things.

Namaste (The Devine In Me Honors And Respects The Devine In You)

OBMO

First Amendment or Incitement to Violence?

First of all I want to say may peace be with all of us that are and were personally affected by the tragedy in Arizona Jan. 8th 2011 Most if not all were there to see and support Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.

I also want to make this very clear that I have no reason to believe that Sarah Palin intended for anyone to get hurt or killed with her Hit List website that has now been taken down.

My issue is the language that Palin used, such as the target symbols wording like "Don't Retreat, Instead - RELOAD!", "aim", "fire", "reload", don't stop until the job is finished on this "hit list".

My point is in the past Hip Hop has taken heat for doing the same thing yet it is considered "Incitement to Violence".
Some examples are: NWA: Fuck tha Police Ice T: Cop Killer Eminem, Public Enemy.

For me if it is a first amendment right then stop going after rappers for what they say but not others such as politicians such as Palin.

"SCARFACE the movie did more than Scarface the rapper to me
Still that ain't the blame for all the shit that's happened to me" Jay Z

My intent of this post is to show how we don't have equality even as it pertains to a similar issue.

"Freedom Of Speech... Just Watch What You Say" Ice T

OBMO