The Nature of Basketball
by Sidney Goldstein
Copyright © 2001 by Golden Aura Publishing
I've
talked to a lot of experts on basketball - pro, college, high
school, bitty league, and all levels in between including many
arm chair experts - to find that these folks are not exactly sure
what basketball is about. I think this needs to be clarified
because my work is solely dependent on what I believe about basketball.
Basketball is a healthy learning activity for kids of all ages
from 10 to 70. When the health aspect is forgotten players
do not receive the most health benefits from the game. If the learning aspect is forgotten in pro, college, to bitty league ball then we have something else which can be defined in many ways.
At the pro level we have a media event, an organ grinder entertaining
the crowds with music and dancing monkeys. With March Madness
we have a mob gambling event where I'm told more money is bet than on
any other sporting endeavor. At the college level we have
a recruiting event where coaches spend more money and time recruiting
than on any other aspect of the job. At the high school level we have an often
illegal recruiting event where players in big cities live in
one area, but attend school in a different area. Prep schools even recruit from around the country. And at levels as low
as elementary school we have coaches who do not have a clue,
putting their egos as the boss ahead of anything they do with
the kids.
And, the for the most part, the media says fine to all that. Basketball is
not a learning activity it is an event to be covered.
Your comments are welcome.
Sidney Goldstein, author of
The Basketball Coach's Bible and The Basketball Player's Bible,
has successfully coached both men's and women's teams over a
period of 15 years.
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