I love the holiday season.  There is something about this time of year that is quite magical.  Personally, I enjoy heading out shopping for friends and family.  As with everything else that I do, it is quite a production, and it usually includes a large peppermint mocha latte from Starbucks and quite a few hours trying to find that perfect gift for the people in my life that I love.  Beyond that, people just tend to be nicer to everyone.  I mean it was just yesterday that I saw a woman give a guy the finger as he ran her off the road into a Dunkin Donuts parking lot.  I’m joking of course (not really, I did actually see that but keep in mind, I live in Jersey and this happens by the minute).  In all seriousness, people are a lot nicer at this time of year.  More people say hello to others that they do not know, hold doors for people, and actually have manners.  It is really quite magical.

Speaking of magical, Tim Tebow has had quite a run of late. Love him, hate him, or just don’t really care, you have to admit that for a guy who couldn’t hit a bull in the butt with a snow shovel, he has really found ways to put the Denver Broncos in a position to win games in spite of his inaccuracy throwing the football.  Is it magic?  I’m not entirely sure about that, but something about professionals making ridiculous mistakes in late games (Marion Barber) and the consistency of opposing team fumbles that occur late in the fourth quarter kind of make you scratch your head and say, “Did that really just happen…again?”.  Not to mention the fact that Tebow cannot throw the ball for three quarters and then finds a way to complete his passes in the fourth quarter.  All of this begs the questions, what makes the fourth quarter Tebow time, and what makes everyone so much nicer at the end of the year?  The answer, believing.

I have never seen a person believe in himself, his team, and the power of God quite as much as Tim Tebow.  I watched a spot on TV on him this past Sunday and I came away quite impressed.  The man is so positive in his approach to everything he does.  Here is a guy that has been ridiculed by pretty much everyone for how bad he is and he still finds a way to be positive in his approach to everything. Tebow is constantly reassuring himself and his teammates that as long as they keep playing hard they will find a way.  He even talks trash in a way that endears his opponent to him.  It is really quite amazing and it is definitely contagious.  It is Tebow’s positive mental attitude and belief in all of those around him that keeps himself and his teammates in the right frame of mind to believe that when and if they have the chance to win, they can and will take advantage of it.  Not only does Tebow believe in himself, but he believes in his team and that has taken them from teh depths of the NFL standings to first place in their division and a potential playoff appearance. 

It is the power of believing  that also makes everyone so much nicer during the holiday season.  People believe in the magic of Santa Claus, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, Elves on shelves and even Cousin Eddie and ultimately this makes people happier. It makes people want to be nice to each other and say hello to people they would not normally say hello to.  It makes them want to forgive those who they have held a grudge against all year long.  Believing makes you want to buy gifts, write cards, and sing songs in a way that you have not done all year. Having something to believe in just makes things better.

So that should be your focus as you continue to work on your basketball skills and sports performance training.  Learn from Tim Tebow’s fourth quarter success and everyone else at holiday time and believe in yourself.  Keep a positive attitude now and throughout the year.  Do not get discouraged when success does not always happen or even does not happen for a while.  Stay the course and beleive that you can and will be successful in whatever it is you want to accomplish, and it can and will happen.  Just look at where believing has gotten Tim Tebow and the Broncos.  Just look at how nice believing has made those around you.  It really is quite magical.

I want to take the thank all of my Elite Basketball Training family for your support throughout the year.  It is all of you that make it possible for me to do what I love to do best and provide you with valuable information on basketball skill development, sports performance training, and college planning and recruiting.  I wish you all a Happy Holiday and enjoy the time off with your friends and family.

See you on the court.

Rich Stoner

Elite Basketball Training, LLC