Coach's corner: What our young athletes can learn from today's stars
Professional athletes today are famous and well-publicized. But what can we learn from observing those with such exceptional talents? Those who have reached such remarkable heights of success. Numerous examples exist - many of which can maybe be imparted upon our young area athletes competing in their own various sporting endeavors.
The examples below speak not of great skill set or athletic talent - not so much the running, jumping, shooting, hitting, skating, throwing etc. - but instead the way they approach the game, the attitude they express, and the way they deal with their teammates and opponents.
Naomi Osaka: Oh my goodness has this young lady exploded onto the sporting scene. Replacing the great Serena Williams, Osaka is now the number one women's tennis player in the world, using surprising power, relentless consistency and big game serving prowess to excel, all while displaying nothing but the utmost in class and sportsmanship along the way. The Take-away: Though, she wins in dominating fashion, she does so with amazing grace under pressure, total respect for her older more established opponents, and unusual cool, calm and composure. Athletes ask yourself: Can you be the superb athletic performer, win consistently, and still gain the respect from your opponents by the way you treat them and compete against them? Rare is the one who can, but it's a worthy goal for all of us to shoot for.
Patrick Mahomes: The Kansas City Chiefs quarterback has quickly reached superstar status but has done so in such a unique way. He plays with a rare flair for the game, able to improvise on seemingly a moment's notice, and does so with an almost magical creativity. The things we see him do on the field you cannot teach, certainly not with the "basic fundamentals" of the game. The Take-away? Don't be afraid to find your own style, to break the mold and do things differently. Fundamentals are good, but never be afraid to experiment and create, and never be afraid of performing with a flair and a personality that is all your own.
LeBron James: Currently challenging Michael Jordan as maybe the greatest to ever play the game of basketball. His brilliance is well-documented, but, particularly of late, James has spoken out on social issues. He has led in matters off the court, becoming a role model for those trying to make the world a better place, and has not been shy to stand up and speak out and encourage others to do the same. The Take-away? Are you the kind of athlete so concentrated on just your particular sport and your own performance that you might forget other things of maybe greater importance? Often it is the athlete who, in your own school and among friends, is in the rare position where they can influence others, create awareness and contribute to worthy causes. Can becoming a leader and example setter in issues that have nothing related to the sporting experience make you a much more well-rounded and respected person?
Mike Trout: Some say he might be the greatest all-around player to ever play the game of baseball, and that covers a lot of ground. But Trout is that good. The problem is he doesn't get much attention because he has been on losing teams. His Anaheim Angels club has lost much more than they have won since Trout has arrived on the scene, and his appearance in playoff baseball has been minuscule. Despite the losing, though, Trout performs year after year with amazing excellence and never criticizes his teammates or gets down on the management. The Take-away? Can you handle losing, and still perform to the best of you're abilities? It is easy to be upbeat when the team is winning, but the athlete is rare who can play on teams that lose more than they win and are still are able to compete at a high level. One of the toughest tasks in sport - keeping teammates spirited and motivated through the tough times - and refrain from the too-easy trap to fall in of criticizing the program, the coaches or teammates.
Tom Brady: The ageless wonder keeps winning and winning and winning. Despite multiple championships and enough rings for two hands, he never loses his uber-competitiveness and desire to win. He works as hard now in the off season as he did 15 years ago. The Take-away? Are you willing to pay the price for success? The hard work and the off-season training. Maybe even more importantly, if you have had some success in your sporting endeavors are you satisfied and tend to ease up, or do you crave for more? Staying on top of the mountain is much harder than actually getting there.
Aly Raisman: Olympic gold medal winning gymnast, who was one of the first to speak out against Larry Nassar, the trainer who ended out being accused by over 300 gymnasts of sexual abuse. Many had been quiet for years, and it was Raisman who was one of the very first to speak out. Difficult, embarrassing, and an intrusion into her personal life? Yes. But it was the right thing to do and led to justice being served, as well as protecting many more up-and-coming young gymnast. The Take-away? Are you willing to speak out when you see something wrong? Do you go with the flow and not upset the applecart, or are you the kind of individual with the willingness to speak out and confront when needed? The ones who can are rare, but it is they who are often the ones who truly make a difference.
Final note: I hope golf great Tiger Woods can soon become a great example of how not to let a serious injury get in the way of your love of the game and desire to once again compete. We shall see on that one, with " a difficult road ahead" for him being at best a huge understatement.
• Jon Cohn of Glenview is a coach, retired PE teacher, sports official and prep sports fan.