If Our Country was a Basketball Team....

I am starting a book, The Essential Wooden, by UCLA basketball coach John Wooden sharing his lessons on leadership, and made me think of a few things today in line with the Inauguration of President Biden and Vice President Harris, particularly with the absence of President Trump as he retreated to Mar-a-Lago. With the excellent ESPN documentary The Last Dance fresh in my mind, it reminded me of the 1991 NBA Finals when the Detroit Pistons walked off the court with time still on the clock, refusing to shake the hands of the Chicago Bulls who just swept them in 5 games after losing to them the last 2 years.

It made me ponder about sportsmanship, asking:

If our country was a basketball team...

We have a new coach now, who is tasked with setting the example in leadership, strategy, responsibility, sportsmanship, but more importantly, promoting a love for the game.
The coach has a vision for how to play the game, but it involves the cooperation, participation and hope from all the players.
Your job, whether coach or player, is to do your best, not be the best. From Coach Wooden's perspective, "Success is a peace of mind, which is a direct result of self satisfaction in knowing you made the effort to do your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming."
Any coach that doesn't shake the hand of the winning team loses more than just a game, but a loss in character and respect as well.
Never mention winning. You can lose when you outscored the other team, and win when you're outscored. "When a game is over, and you see somebody that didn't know the outcome, I hope they couldn't tell by your actions whether you outscored an opponent or the opponent outscored you."
Finally, Don't whine. Don't make excuses. Never criticize a teammate. Own it, and do what you can to make it right.
We aren't defined by the last game. However, we can repeat the outcome if we don't learn from it, observing what worked, what didn't work, and what is beyond our control.

President Biden, as you read this, be encouraged that as our country's new coach, we look to you to do your best. We look to you in demonstrating the standard of leadership and sportsmanship. In the same way, may you look to us with expectation that we do our best, and demonstrate responsibility and sportsmanship. In doing so, collectively we are promoting a love for the game, a love for our teammates and life.

**Side Note: President Biden, if you do read this, please comment. Would love to hear from you! ;)

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