I just saw an advertisement for a new "fitness" product, and I thought I'd share a few thoughts. The product is a neckline slimmer, and you basically put this thing between your chin and your chest. With it in place, you just take your chin down towards your neck/chest. It claims to slim and tone your neck with just 2 minutes a day...what a joke! The sad part about this is that undoubtedly people will purchase it. Anything that is easy and doesn't take much time is great, isn't it? Well I have news for you. This product is a waist of your 2 minutes a day, and $20.
First of all, if you are looking to lose fat from an area, you need to focus on your nutrition and burning calories. Second, you cannot choose where you want to lose fat in your body. I can do hundreds of situps a day, and it won't make me lose belly fat. I can do all the squats in the world, and it won't make me lose fat in my legs. My body will lose it where it needs to. I shouldn't worry about a certain area, but instead, I should focus on proper nutrition and burning calories. If you up the intensity of your workouts, you will not only burn more calories during your workout, but you will also burn more throughout the rest of the day.
Losing weight is a fairly simple equation...if I burn more calories than I consume, I will lose weight. If I consume more than I burn, I will gain weight. It's that simple. So instead of focusing 2 minutes a day on your neckline slimmer, try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or figure out if your consuming too many calories. Or if you're not doing any resistance training, get started with some exercise to strengthen your muscles...which will help ramp up your metabolism and burn more calories!
So with holiday shopping, and new years fitness resolutions coming up, save your money on the bogus products out there, and put in some good, old-fashioned hard work!
Let me know if you have any fitness/weight loss questions. Also, feel free to share any other gimmick fitness products, or if you have any questions about different equipment.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Teammates
A friend of mine recently passed along a newsletter from a business here in Omaha and wanted to know my thoughts. Since I felt so strongly about the information, I figured I would share it with more than just one person.
Here is what was written in this "tip" to their customers:
"Look at your teammates....when they are on the field, they are not your friend."
When I initially read this, I had to go back and read it over again to make sure I didn't miss something. Did this person really just say that your teammates are not your friend?!?
Now, this was an article about hard work, and what it takes to be the best. I am all for hard work, and absolutely getting after it in your workouts. I don't think most kids work nearly hard enough, and most don't even know what hard work really is. That is one reason why it's so tough to advance on to play collegiate sports, and even more difficult to play professional sports. Working hard is relative though, because if everyone worked hard, then hard would just be average!
With that said, I couldn't disagree more with the statement above. When you are on the field, your teammates are your teammates. You put aside your differences. Look at A-Rod and Jeter. It is no secret that they aren't the best of friends. You don't have to be best friends with everyone on your team, but when you get between the lines, you are working together as a TEAM to play the best you can. You pick each other up, you encourage each other, and you work together. There is an acronym about team that says, Together Everyone Achieves More. I love it. It is not just a bunch of individuals out for themselves. To me, looking at your teammates as your enemy is a great recipe for failure. I would hate to be in business with someone that felt that way, and even worse, I would really hate to be going to battle with someone thinking like that.
To wrap this up, I encourage people to outwork everyone else. I always tell my athletes that just being the hardest worker in the class, or in their grade, or in their school is not enough if you want to be great. That is very small in the grand scheme of things. If you want to be THE BEST, you have to outwork the rest. That means, in your city, in your state, in your region, in your country.
If you play a team sport, then be a good team-mate. Know your role for the team, and do it to the best of your ability. That is what sport is all about.
Here is what was written in this "tip" to their customers:
"Look at your teammates....when they are on the field, they are not your friend."
When I initially read this, I had to go back and read it over again to make sure I didn't miss something. Did this person really just say that your teammates are not your friend?!?
Now, this was an article about hard work, and what it takes to be the best. I am all for hard work, and absolutely getting after it in your workouts. I don't think most kids work nearly hard enough, and most don't even know what hard work really is. That is one reason why it's so tough to advance on to play collegiate sports, and even more difficult to play professional sports. Working hard is relative though, because if everyone worked hard, then hard would just be average!
With that said, I couldn't disagree more with the statement above. When you are on the field, your teammates are your teammates. You put aside your differences. Look at A-Rod and Jeter. It is no secret that they aren't the best of friends. You don't have to be best friends with everyone on your team, but when you get between the lines, you are working together as a TEAM to play the best you can. You pick each other up, you encourage each other, and you work together. There is an acronym about team that says, Together Everyone Achieves More. I love it. It is not just a bunch of individuals out for themselves. To me, looking at your teammates as your enemy is a great recipe for failure. I would hate to be in business with someone that felt that way, and even worse, I would really hate to be going to battle with someone thinking like that.
To wrap this up, I encourage people to outwork everyone else. I always tell my athletes that just being the hardest worker in the class, or in their grade, or in their school is not enough if you want to be great. That is very small in the grand scheme of things. If you want to be THE BEST, you have to outwork the rest. That means, in your city, in your state, in your region, in your country.
If you play a team sport, then be a good team-mate. Know your role for the team, and do it to the best of your ability. That is what sport is all about.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Pop
I am including a link to an article I recently read about soda pop. If you currently drink a lot of pop...stop! That includes diet pop. If you let your kids drink a lot of pop, you need to stop enabling them as well...unless you don't mind them having tooth decay, nutritional depletion, obesity, type-2 diabetes, and heart disease. There is zero value to it, and you are setting yourself up for problems.
There are numerous studies showing weight gain associated with the consumption of diet pop as well. So don't try to convince yourself that the diet is fine because there aren't any calories! Something tells me our bodies were not made to ingest all of those chemicals that trick your brain into thinking something is sweet.
Here is a link to the article. Feel free to share your thoughts, and let us know how much soda you consume.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/20270/what-soft-drinks-are-doing-to-your-body/
There are numerous studies showing weight gain associated with the consumption of diet pop as well. So don't try to convince yourself that the diet is fine because there aren't any calories! Something tells me our bodies were not made to ingest all of those chemicals that trick your brain into thinking something is sweet.
Here is a link to the article. Feel free to share your thoughts, and let us know how much soda you consume.
http://health.yahoo.com/experts/drmao/20270/what-soft-drinks-are-doing-to-your-body/
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
The Wizard of Westwood
Last week was John Wooden's 99th Birthday, and I've wanted to get some thoughts out about the wizard. A couple of years ago I read his book, Wooden on Leadership, and I actually read the entire thing on a drive home from Colorado(don't worry, I wasn't the one driving). The book grabbed my attention, and I couldn't put it down. To me, his philosophies and approach are very simple, yet surprisingly difficult. I think they are especially difficult in our society as it is today. The great thing about them, is they will not only make you a better athlete, but also a better person. In my opinion that is all he cared about, not being better than someone else, but being the best person you can be...in everything you do.
I saw an ESPN interview where Wooden said he had 3 Rules. Here they were:
1-Never be late for anything
2-Never use profanity
3-Never criticize a teammate
Very simple rules, and again, rules you can apply to the rest of your life outside of athletics as well. With that said, he also paid a ton of attention to detail, and looked for every edge he could get. He expected a lot of his players, and they worked extremely hard. He made them tie their shoes a certain way, have their hair a certain length, and would have practices detailed to the minute.
Wooden is also known for his Pyramid of Success. A quick outline of his pyramid had industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and enthusiasm on the bottom level of the pyramid. This built the base. The second level was self-control, alertness, initiative, and intentness. The next level was condition, skill, and team spirit. Above that was poise and confidence, followed by competitive greatness on the top of the pyramid. With all of these things in place, comes greatness. This is a very general rundown of the pyramid of success, and much more can be found in his book, or even from a quick search online.
Like I said, his teaching and philosophy is pretty basic. Nothing flashy. No new and improved quick fix. No gimmicks. Just good old-fashioned hard work and values. It might be old-school, but it helped his teams win 10 championships in his final 12 years of coaching. Within those 12 years, he also won 7 straight championships. During one stretch, they won 88 straight games.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from Wooden. These lessons apply whether you are an athlete, a musician, a teacher, or anything else you do in life. Thank you John Wooden!
I saw an ESPN interview where Wooden said he had 3 Rules. Here they were:
1-Never be late for anything
2-Never use profanity
3-Never criticize a teammate
Very simple rules, and again, rules you can apply to the rest of your life outside of athletics as well. With that said, he also paid a ton of attention to detail, and looked for every edge he could get. He expected a lot of his players, and they worked extremely hard. He made them tie their shoes a certain way, have their hair a certain length, and would have practices detailed to the minute.
Wooden is also known for his Pyramid of Success. A quick outline of his pyramid had industriousness, friendship, loyalty, cooperation, and enthusiasm on the bottom level of the pyramid. This built the base. The second level was self-control, alertness, initiative, and intentness. The next level was condition, skill, and team spirit. Above that was poise and confidence, followed by competitive greatness on the top of the pyramid. With all of these things in place, comes greatness. This is a very general rundown of the pyramid of success, and much more can be found in his book, or even from a quick search online.
Like I said, his teaching and philosophy is pretty basic. Nothing flashy. No new and improved quick fix. No gimmicks. Just good old-fashioned hard work and values. It might be old-school, but it helped his teams win 10 championships in his final 12 years of coaching. Within those 12 years, he also won 7 straight championships. During one stretch, they won 88 straight games.
There are plenty of lessons to be learned from Wooden. These lessons apply whether you are an athlete, a musician, a teacher, or anything else you do in life. Thank you John Wooden!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
New Video!
I have recently posted a new video on this blog that is actually an Addidas advertisement. It is on the right side of the page, second video. If you want to view the full screen for it, just click where the video is playing. The video is short and sweet, but such a great message...Impossible is nothing!
Keep getting after it, and follow your dreams!
Keep getting after it, and follow your dreams!
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Is Usain Bolt Fast?
Ok, I'm obviously not serious with the question in the title. It is cray how fast he really is, and watching him blow away the fastest people in the world is truly amazing! I am going to copy and paste a copy of an article about one expert's opinion of what he could run a 40 yard dash in. Here is the article,
Usain Bolt is as tall as Calvin Johnson(notes) (6-5) and he's faster than any human, ever. Thus it shouldn't be a surprise that we occasionally speculate about his NFL potential. The world record holder in the 100-meters and 200-meters would probably hold his own at the combine.
In fact, Bolt would likely shame anyone else who's ever competed. After reviewing 20-meter splits from the world championships, ESPN track and field reporter Larry Rawson declared that Bolt would run an NFL-style 40-yard dash in … well, in an absurd time. Almost inconceivably low. Way less than four seconds. You can listen to Rawson right here. These were his comments:
LR: "Forty yards, if he was being hand-timed by a scout and reacting to his movement - not electronically timed the way they do it [in track and field] - his 40-yard dash on a track, in spikes, would be 3.73 seconds."
Host: [Laughter] "He would run a sub four-second 40-yard dash?"
LR: "Listen, I did the math as though it was electronically timed, which it's not for football – electronically timed – and it came out to 3.97 seconds."
You'll recall that Oakland recently gave a five-year, $38 million contract to Darrius Heyward-Bey(notes) based largely on the fact that he was the fastest receiver in his draft class. He ran a 4.30.
We can't say exactly what's in the heart of Raiders owner Al Davis – probably methane, metal gears, bats – but it seems safe to assume that he would be willing to spend something like $194 billion over five years for a guy with 3.73 speed.
People have estimated Bolt's 40 before, of course, and the projections are all over the place: 4.22, 3.9 to 4.0, 4.0 to 4.2. When elite sprinters go 100 meters, they don't even hit top speed within the first 40. (Again, check the splits).
But of course if Bolt were to train for a shorter distance, you'd expect a different result. And if you review the video of Bolt's most recent 100, you'll note that he holds a discernible lead over the field – presumably the next seven fastest men in the world – by the 20-meter mark. He's fast early; he's fast late. Rawson says that at top speed, Bolt covers 40 yards in less than three seconds.
Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward(notes) speaks for us all when he says that he'd like to see what Bolt could achieve in the NFL. But Ward also downplays the importance of straight-line speed:
"In this game, you have to have great hips and great footwork to get in and out of routes. You can take a fast guy like a Bolt, he might be able to run only one way," Ward said Monday. "He has to stop and turn. For me, I'll take a guy with quickness and great route-running ability over speed. But you can't teach speed."
And even if you could teach speed, you couldn't teach whatever Bolt has.
But why, you might reasonably ask, is this a fantasy topic? Because I've fielded more questions about Usain Bolt over the past week, since the 9.58, than about every rookie running back combined. If your league allows you to draft anyone without regard to NFL employment status and retain their rights for multiple seasons, then Bolt has at least crossed your mind.
But c'mon. Bolt is making a giant pile of money right now and he doesn't have to deal with defenders trying to maul him. Back in April, the New York Times reported that Bolt's endorsement earnings may exceed $3 million this year and he's eyeing the $10 million threshold by 2012. That's Larry Fitzgerald(notes) money without the tackling. Bolt simply has to run as fast as he can, unimpeded. No need for LaRon Landry(notes) to enter the discussion.
So forget him and his hypothetical 3.73, fantasy owner. Forget him, Al. Bolt is a little too good at his current profession … and anyway, he prefers soccer.
Part of me is skeptical about a 3.73 40 time, but this guy would know better than I. I do know that Bolt can absolutely fly, and it is entertaining to watch him race. What are your thoughts on a 3.73 40 yard dash?
Usain Bolt is as tall as Calvin Johnson(notes) (6-5) and he's faster than any human, ever. Thus it shouldn't be a surprise that we occasionally speculate about his NFL potential. The world record holder in the 100-meters and 200-meters would probably hold his own at the combine.
In fact, Bolt would likely shame anyone else who's ever competed. After reviewing 20-meter splits from the world championships, ESPN track and field reporter Larry Rawson declared that Bolt would run an NFL-style 40-yard dash in … well, in an absurd time. Almost inconceivably low. Way less than four seconds. You can listen to Rawson right here. These were his comments:
LR: "Forty yards, if he was being hand-timed by a scout and reacting to his movement - not electronically timed the way they do it [in track and field] - his 40-yard dash on a track, in spikes, would be 3.73 seconds."
Host: [Laughter] "He would run a sub four-second 40-yard dash?"
LR: "Listen, I did the math as though it was electronically timed, which it's not for football – electronically timed – and it came out to 3.97 seconds."
You'll recall that Oakland recently gave a five-year, $38 million contract to Darrius Heyward-Bey(notes) based largely on the fact that he was the fastest receiver in his draft class. He ran a 4.30.
We can't say exactly what's in the heart of Raiders owner Al Davis – probably methane, metal gears, bats – but it seems safe to assume that he would be willing to spend something like $194 billion over five years for a guy with 3.73 speed.
People have estimated Bolt's 40 before, of course, and the projections are all over the place: 4.22, 3.9 to 4.0, 4.0 to 4.2. When elite sprinters go 100 meters, they don't even hit top speed within the first 40. (Again, check the splits).
But of course if Bolt were to train for a shorter distance, you'd expect a different result. And if you review the video of Bolt's most recent 100, you'll note that he holds a discernible lead over the field – presumably the next seven fastest men in the world – by the 20-meter mark. He's fast early; he's fast late. Rawson says that at top speed, Bolt covers 40 yards in less than three seconds.
Pittsburgh receiver Hines Ward(notes) speaks for us all when he says that he'd like to see what Bolt could achieve in the NFL. But Ward also downplays the importance of straight-line speed:
"In this game, you have to have great hips and great footwork to get in and out of routes. You can take a fast guy like a Bolt, he might be able to run only one way," Ward said Monday. "He has to stop and turn. For me, I'll take a guy with quickness and great route-running ability over speed. But you can't teach speed."
And even if you could teach speed, you couldn't teach whatever Bolt has.
But why, you might reasonably ask, is this a fantasy topic? Because I've fielded more questions about Usain Bolt over the past week, since the 9.58, than about every rookie running back combined. If your league allows you to draft anyone without regard to NFL employment status and retain their rights for multiple seasons, then Bolt has at least crossed your mind.
But c'mon. Bolt is making a giant pile of money right now and he doesn't have to deal with defenders trying to maul him. Back in April, the New York Times reported that Bolt's endorsement earnings may exceed $3 million this year and he's eyeing the $10 million threshold by 2012. That's Larry Fitzgerald(notes) money without the tackling. Bolt simply has to run as fast as he can, unimpeded. No need for LaRon Landry(notes) to enter the discussion.
So forget him and his hypothetical 3.73, fantasy owner. Forget him, Al. Bolt is a little too good at his current profession … and anyway, he prefers soccer.
Part of me is skeptical about a 3.73 40 time, but this guy would know better than I. I do know that Bolt can absolutely fly, and it is entertaining to watch him race. What are your thoughts on a 3.73 40 yard dash?
Friday, June 19, 2009
Supplements Article
My last blog post was about steroids in the game of baseball. Since then, Sammy Sosa has now been mentioned as one of the 104 players that failed a drug test in the year where they were deciding whether to test players or not. I have a feeling there is going to be news like this coming out all the time now. I will try not to discuss it much after this though...
I have attached a copy of a good article about supplements to this blog, and it's worth taking the time to read. Here is the link:
People often ask me about supplements and what I would suggest. The first question I ALWAYS have for them is how is their nutrition. It doesn't do any good to spend a bunch of money and take supplements, if you eat like crap. If you don't eat well, make that the first adjustment you make. The supplement is meant for just that...to SUPPLEMENT your diet. Make sure to get a good balance of protein, carbs, and fats. Depending on the goals of your workouts, you may require more or less calories. The same workout could produce mass for one person, and weight loss for another...all based on the nutrition for both people.
I am not a huge fan of the supplement industry, but make sure to do your research if you decide to take something. There are definitely some good supplements out there, and there are things you can take that will allow your body to recover from intense workouts. I have taken some of the different Recovery Mixes and Protein Powders from Eight Ball Nutrition, and I have liked them. I have also had Muscle Milk and liked that one as well. Some other beneficial supplements(depending on your goals and needs) would include glutamin, glucosamine and chondroitin(for joint health), and a good multivitamin can help as well. Whatever you decide, make sure that the first step is proper nutrition!
Please feel free to share your thoughts or opinions on the supplement industry.
Sunday, May 10, 2009
Manny
What an awful era for Major League Baseball right now. It really doesn't surprise me anymore when any major league player is linked to steroids, or fails a drug test. Manny Ramirez is the latest star to fail a drug test, while many others have undoubtedly snuck through. Any more, I just assume that most of the top performers have taken them at some point...which is very sad! It makes me sick, because there are probably some great players that haven't taken them, and there are probably even more decent players that haven't taken them. Some of these "clean" guys could've been the best players of our generation, but many of them won't be remembered. Instead, we are left with memories of selfishness, cheating, and lying.
Whatever happened to good, old-fashioned, hard work? I like to see how far I can push myself, and what I can accomplish, by doing it the right way. I love to win, but I want to do it with with honor and dignity. Not by cheating. I hope that athletes start to take pride in doing things right, out-working their opponents, and not trying to take the easy way out.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
I Dream the Dream
No, this is not an article about a Talent Show, or a 47 year old woman that's never been kissed...although that is an inspiring story as well. I posted a motivational video from youtube about never giving up, and following your dreams. The video is located on the right side of the screen, just below my profile information. It is a short video, and well worth the minute or two it will take to watch it. After watching it, figure out what it is that you LOVE to do, and what you are naturally talented at doing(you don't have to be the best at it already though). Now, go get it! You must be willing to make some sacrifices. You must be willing to work when others aren't. You must be willing to push through and keep working harder when things don't go well, or when you have setbacks. But absolutely do not give up! Dream big, and go get it!
If the video is too small for your eyes, you can click the link(click on the video), and it will take you to the youtube page where it can be seen on a full screen. Enjoy.
If the video is too small for your eyes, you can click the link(click on the video), and it will take you to the youtube page where it can be seen on a full screen. Enjoy.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Roger Bannister
Last week I posted a video of Roger Bannister running a sub 4:00 mile...now I am not a big mile runner, and I don't really have any desire to run anywhere close to a 4:00 mile. Roger Bannister's story is about much more than running a mile though. His story is about hard work, determination, and most importantly, belief. This is a good motivational story for anything in life, whether it be school, music, business, or athletics.
Before May 6, 1954, nobody had ever run a mile in under 4:00. Doctors and Scientists said it was impossible for a human to do, that they would either end up brain dead(from a lack of oxygen to the brain), their heart would explode, or their lungs would collapse. They also claimed that our bone structure wasn't suited to be able to do it.
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister proved everybody wrong, and became the first person to ever run a sub 4:00 mile. 46 days later his mile record was broken, and there have now been over 4700 sub 4:00 miles. 4700 times it has happened since then, and not once before! There was not a breakthrough in mechanics, or equipment, or anything else that day...the breakthrough came in belief. The belief that it is possible, and the belief that you can do it. It is amazing what the power of belief will do for a person....and then that belief has to be followed up by hard work, determination, and persistence.
So I will leave you with two questions...What is your 4 minute mile, and how bad do you want it? Go get it.
If you click on the video in the upper right corner of the blog, it will play...however, I know it is somewhat hard to see. If you click again on the video, it should send you to the youtube page where this video is located. Enjoy, and feel free to let me know your thoughts, or even share your 4 minute mile.
Before May 6, 1954, nobody had ever run a mile in under 4:00. Doctors and Scientists said it was impossible for a human to do, that they would either end up brain dead(from a lack of oxygen to the brain), their heart would explode, or their lungs would collapse. They also claimed that our bone structure wasn't suited to be able to do it.
On May 6, 1954, Roger Bannister proved everybody wrong, and became the first person to ever run a sub 4:00 mile. 46 days later his mile record was broken, and there have now been over 4700 sub 4:00 miles. 4700 times it has happened since then, and not once before! There was not a breakthrough in mechanics, or equipment, or anything else that day...the breakthrough came in belief. The belief that it is possible, and the belief that you can do it. It is amazing what the power of belief will do for a person....and then that belief has to be followed up by hard work, determination, and persistence.
So I will leave you with two questions...What is your 4 minute mile, and how bad do you want it? Go get it.
If you click on the video in the upper right corner of the blog, it will play...however, I know it is somewhat hard to see. If you click again on the video, it should send you to the youtube page where this video is located. Enjoy, and feel free to let me know your thoughts, or even share your 4 minute mile.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Champions
Well, I had to stay up late last night to watch the ending of a pretty uneventful national championship game. I always try to watch the end of championship games, regardless of how good or bad the actual game went. My favorite part of the game is watching teams high five, hug, dogpile, or any other forms of celebration after they have just won a championship. It is the ultimate high for an athlete, and something just about everybody strives for, and not many people ever get the opportunity to do(especially at high levels of play). All of the hard work pays off, and you can say you are the best. It gives me the chills just to watch!
In the sporting world, this is a great time of the year...basketball Final 4 and Championship just happened, Major League Baseball is just starting the regular season, and The Masters is right around the corner. Now if we can just get the weather to turn around here in Nebraska...
Good luck to everyone on their spring sports, and let me know if you have any questions for your upcoming seasons.
In the sporting world, this is a great time of the year...basketball Final 4 and Championship just happened, Major League Baseball is just starting the regular season, and The Masters is right around the corner. Now if we can just get the weather to turn around here in Nebraska...
Good luck to everyone on their spring sports, and let me know if you have any questions for your upcoming seasons.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
March Madness
I absolutely love this time of year. For those that know me, I am a sports fan...or should I say, fanatic. Since I was a little kid, athletics have been my biggest passion and interest in life. I remember waking up early on the weekends to get the paper as it was arriving, but I don't recall ever checking out any sections other than the Sports.
For me, college athletics are the pinnacle of athletics. Maybe it's because we have the College World Series here, or possible because I grew up cheering for the Big Red on Saturdays, or maybe just because we don't have any professional sports teams in Nebraska....but I think that college sports is one of the purest forms of the games today. College athletics are huge from a publicity and media standpoint, and yet they are all about the TEAM. It drives me crazy to see the professional athletes that hold out for more money, and then tell the world that all they care most about is winning a championship. And then you'll see the same guy dog it on a play, or not hustle all the way through a play.
The college game, and you can say this for just about every college sport, is truly about the team, and trying to win a championship. You work your tail off in the offseason, and it is a year-round commitment with your goal being to take home a championship. I feel that many professional athletes talk that talk, but they don't walk that walk. I shouldn't just dog on the professional players either...because it is certainly a business, and it's not like many of the professional organizations really have their players best interests in mind.
Now, enough of my ranting about college and professional sports...I love the NCAA Tournament of 65! It gives just about everybody that deserves a shot to win it all, the opportunity to do so(sorry Creighton fans). We are now down to the Sweet 16, and unfortunately there haven't been many big upsets, and Cinderella has left the dance. What we are assured of though, is we will see 16 teams that will give it their all, and play their hearts out, to be the one team celebrating when it's all said and done. With that said, there isn't much of a difference in talent between many of the teams left...especially the top few teams. More often than not it is the little things that make a team the champions. A team might get a break here or there...they might create their own luck through hard work and hustle...they might not have their 'A' game one night, but still pull off a win. It is somewhat UNCOMMON for the most talented, athletic team to end up the champions. I will take the hardest working team in the country(especially if they are near the top in talent), over the most athletic team any day of the week. When times are tough, or someone needs to make a big play in the clutch, I will take the guys who have poured out the "blood, sweat, and tears" to make that play.
Championships are a product of the work you put into the offseason, and everything that leads up to that point. Muhammad Ali once said, "Before I get in the ring, I have already won or lost. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses, behind the line, in the gym, out there on the road, long before I dance under those light." I suppose he knew a thing or two about hard work, preparation, and also winning! Are you willing to put in the extra work? Not everyone can be great, because then great would just be average. You must do more than your competition, or you better not be disappointed if your competition beats you!
With that said, our next speed and agility session begins next Tuesday, March 31st. Check the website for class schedules, and make sure to get registered online at www.accelerateomaha.com.
For me, college athletics are the pinnacle of athletics. Maybe it's because we have the College World Series here, or possible because I grew up cheering for the Big Red on Saturdays, or maybe just because we don't have any professional sports teams in Nebraska....but I think that college sports is one of the purest forms of the games today. College athletics are huge from a publicity and media standpoint, and yet they are all about the TEAM. It drives me crazy to see the professional athletes that hold out for more money, and then tell the world that all they care most about is winning a championship. And then you'll see the same guy dog it on a play, or not hustle all the way through a play.
The college game, and you can say this for just about every college sport, is truly about the team, and trying to win a championship. You work your tail off in the offseason, and it is a year-round commitment with your goal being to take home a championship. I feel that many professional athletes talk that talk, but they don't walk that walk. I shouldn't just dog on the professional players either...because it is certainly a business, and it's not like many of the professional organizations really have their players best interests in mind.
Now, enough of my ranting about college and professional sports...I love the NCAA Tournament of 65! It gives just about everybody that deserves a shot to win it all, the opportunity to do so(sorry Creighton fans). We are now down to the Sweet 16, and unfortunately there haven't been many big upsets, and Cinderella has left the dance. What we are assured of though, is we will see 16 teams that will give it their all, and play their hearts out, to be the one team celebrating when it's all said and done. With that said, there isn't much of a difference in talent between many of the teams left...especially the top few teams. More often than not it is the little things that make a team the champions. A team might get a break here or there...they might create their own luck through hard work and hustle...they might not have their 'A' game one night, but still pull off a win. It is somewhat UNCOMMON for the most talented, athletic team to end up the champions. I will take the hardest working team in the country(especially if they are near the top in talent), over the most athletic team any day of the week. When times are tough, or someone needs to make a big play in the clutch, I will take the guys who have poured out the "blood, sweat, and tears" to make that play.
Championships are a product of the work you put into the offseason, and everything that leads up to that point. Muhammad Ali once said, "Before I get in the ring, I have already won or lost. The real part is won or lost somewhere far away from witnesses, behind the line, in the gym, out there on the road, long before I dance under those light." I suppose he knew a thing or two about hard work, preparation, and also winning! Are you willing to put in the extra work? Not everyone can be great, because then great would just be average. You must do more than your competition, or you better not be disappointed if your competition beats you!
With that said, our next speed and agility session begins next Tuesday, March 31st. Check the website for class schedules, and make sure to get registered online at www.accelerateomaha.com.
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Eric Crouch
Most of the people that read this blog have probably already noticed that Eric Crouch is joining the Accelerate Omaha team. Eric is a great guy, with some incredible experiences and knowledge of athletics and training. He has been around and learned from some of the best in the business, and he will be a great resource for the athletes to learn from. Not only that, but Eric is an extremely hard worker, and is a great role model for kids in any sport or activity.
Eric is extremely busy with his full time schedule, family, and everything he has going on. He will not be a full time trainer at our camps, but will help out as needed, and he will help out with large group camps, and programs for entire organizations.
Speaking of working with organizations...last year Accelerate Omaha teamed up with the Omaha Bobcats Organization and "ran" a 2 day, speed, agility, and conditioning camp for their football program. As a part of doing this, we donated a portion of each registration fee back to the Bobcats. The camp was a great success for everyone, and we look forward to working with them again.
We also do a lot of work with individual teams of all sports, which can be set up and scheduled by sending an email to jeff@accelerateomaha.com. If you have a team or organization that you think would like to take their game to the next level, and increase their training and perfomance, please let us know.
Eric is extremely busy with his full time schedule, family, and everything he has going on. He will not be a full time trainer at our camps, but will help out as needed, and he will help out with large group camps, and programs for entire organizations.
Speaking of working with organizations...last year Accelerate Omaha teamed up with the Omaha Bobcats Organization and "ran" a 2 day, speed, agility, and conditioning camp for their football program. As a part of doing this, we donated a portion of each registration fee back to the Bobcats. The camp was a great success for everyone, and we look forward to working with them again.
We also do a lot of work with individual teams of all sports, which can be set up and scheduled by sending an email to jeff@accelerateomaha.com. If you have a team or organization that you think would like to take their game to the next level, and increase their training and perfomance, please let us know.
Monday, February 2, 2009
Superbowl Monday
As a guy, I think I am automatically a football fan and Superbowl viewer. Many people associate me with baseball, but I probably enjoy football slightly more. If I would've been bigger, meaner, and faster, I may have chosen to pursue football instead of baseball. Last night's final game of the season was definitely one of the best Superbowl's that I've been around to see. Both teams put on a show, and the last minutes of the game were all one could want(unless you are a Cardinals fan).
The Superbowl is such an extravagant event, and just about the ultimate evening of entertainment. However, what we sometimes forget, or maybe never realize, is how hard these guys work behind the scenes. They don't just show up on Sunday's and make highlight real plays. They don't just wake up in the morning and be Superbowl ready. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talked in the post game interviews about how hard his team worked, and the sacrifices they all were willing to make to get to that point. I LOVE IT! Nothing great comes without hard work, and if you love something, you need to work your hardest to become the best you can at it.
If you look around on the internet, you can also find stuff about James Harrison's offseason workouts. This is a guy that got cut four times by NFL teams, and he definitely wasn't one of your can't miss prospects. This year he was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, now has a Superbowl championship, and has the longest TD in Superbowl history. In case you missed it, Harrison scored on a 100 yard interception return to end the first half. The word is that he works out twice a day during the offseason, and if he doesn't think he went hard enough in one of the first two...he'll throw in a third workout that night! That is commitment! That is passion! That is the kind of effort and work ethic that make champions in all areas of life.
For anyone looking to participate in February speed and agility classes...we start tomorrow night! Go to www.accelerateomaha.com to get signed up.
The Superbowl is such an extravagant event, and just about the ultimate evening of entertainment. However, what we sometimes forget, or maybe never realize, is how hard these guys work behind the scenes. They don't just show up on Sunday's and make highlight real plays. They don't just wake up in the morning and be Superbowl ready. Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin talked in the post game interviews about how hard his team worked, and the sacrifices they all were willing to make to get to that point. I LOVE IT! Nothing great comes without hard work, and if you love something, you need to work your hardest to become the best you can at it.
If you look around on the internet, you can also find stuff about James Harrison's offseason workouts. This is a guy that got cut four times by NFL teams, and he definitely wasn't one of your can't miss prospects. This year he was the NFL's Defensive Player of the Year, now has a Superbowl championship, and has the longest TD in Superbowl history. In case you missed it, Harrison scored on a 100 yard interception return to end the first half. The word is that he works out twice a day during the offseason, and if he doesn't think he went hard enough in one of the first two...he'll throw in a third workout that night! That is commitment! That is passion! That is the kind of effort and work ethic that make champions in all areas of life.
For anyone looking to participate in February speed and agility classes...we start tomorrow night! Go to www.accelerateomaha.com to get signed up.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Story From Olympic Athlete and Former Husker Brian Duensing
Today, I am going to post a message from a former Husker teammate of mine, Brian Duensing. Brian had the opportunity to play in the 2008 Beijing Olympics for the USA baseball team. He is a tremendous athlete, a very hard worker, and most importantly, a great person. He is currently one of the top prospects in the Minnesota Twins organization. Getting to this point hasn't always been easy for him, though. He wasn't recruited by a ton of college teams when he was in high school, and he had a near career ending surgery on his throwing arm in college. Despite all of this, he has continued to outwork many others, and has had some incredible experiences in his athletic career. Brian has also continued to be very humble, and he is a great role model for kids in any sport or activity. Here is what Brian had to say about the Olympics, and also his professional baseball grind... 
"Being part of the US Olympic Baseball team was one of the most unbelievable and exciting experiences I have ever been a part of. I felt like all the hard work that I have put into the game was coming back to help me. I was among some of the most amazing athletes in the world. As a team we hung out with team Canada the most really. Most of the guys on that team are teammates of ours during the regular season, and some we just know from competition in the states. Meeting the other US athletes, like Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, Misty May-Treanor, and even coach K, was a real honor. However the part of the Olympics that really sticks in my mind is the medal ceremony. Being able to stand on the podium and have a bronze medal put around your neck and to have the few USA fans chanting while you do it, gives you chills. We are one of the best baseball teams in the world in that sport. Nothing can take that away from us. Its an unbelievable honor.
A lot of people think that playing a sport is only that. Every day we get to play a game. What a lot of people dont understand or dont realize is that we put so much time and effort in to working out and staying healthy that it becomes a battle against your mind and body. The baseball season is anywhere from six to eight months, depending on how good your team does. The next six to four months we are not just laying around doing nothing. Yes the first month or so is a relaxing time. We use this time to let our bodies recover from the punishment we give it during the season. After that then it is five to six days in the gym. There we lift and run to make our bodies stronger. This is really the only time we have to get strong. During the season we dont lift as much. We still run, and sometimes we run more during the season then in the off-season. The reason we do this is because we just maintain our strength during the season. There is no use risking injury. Our bodies are our weapons so to speak. If they break we dont get paid. So living a healthy lifestyle is like investing in ourselves, much like someone would in a stock."
"Being part of the US Olympic Baseball team was one of the most unbelievable and exciting experiences I have ever been a part of. I felt like all the hard work that I have put into the game was coming back to help me. I was among some of the most amazing athletes in the world. As a team we hung out with team Canada the most really. Most of the guys on that team are teammates of ours during the regular season, and some we just know from competition in the states. Meeting the other US athletes, like Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps, Misty May-Treanor, and even coach K, was a real honor. However the part of the Olympics that really sticks in my mind is the medal ceremony. Being able to stand on the podium and have a bronze medal put around your neck and to have the few USA fans chanting while you do it, gives you chills. We are one of the best baseball teams in the world in that sport. Nothing can take that away from us. Its an unbelievable honor.
A lot of people think that playing a sport is only that. Every day we get to play a game. What a lot of people dont understand or dont realize is that we put so much time and effort in to working out and staying healthy that it becomes a battle against your mind and body. The baseball season is anywhere from six to eight months, depending on how good your team does. The next six to four months we are not just laying around doing nothing. Yes the first month or so is a relaxing time. We use this time to let our bodies recover from the punishment we give it during the season. After that then it is five to six days in the gym. There we lift and run to make our bodies stronger. This is really the only time we have to get strong. During the season we dont lift as much. We still run, and sometimes we run more during the season then in the off-season. The reason we do this is because we just maintain our strength during the season. There is no use risking injury. Our bodies are our weapons so to speak. If they break we dont get paid. So living a healthy lifestyle is like investing in ourselves, much like someone would in a stock."
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Tuesday night classes and the Millard Bulldawgs
All of my speed and agility classes did an outstanding job on Tuesday. I think everybody probably learned a few new warmup exercises, and we worked a lot on our running form. Improving your form and being more efficient, is one way to improve your speed. We worked on our arm swings, our forward lean, our heads being relaxed, and a bunch of other stuff for different individuals. All of these things are easy to work on at home or at school, and you don't need a lot of space to practice them.
Here is the warmup routine for the Millard Bulldawgs(others can use this as well). Remember, I will run it again next week, and then we'll have the athletes start leading it after that.
Jog 2 laps, forward run/backpedal 2x, skips down and back, shuffles down and back.
Knee to Chest
Lunge to Straight Leg
Lateral Lunge
Leg Swings
Spidermans
Shuffles
Carioca
Power skips
A-Skips
Fast Leg
Falling Starts 2x
Domino Sprint 2x
Here is the warmup routine for the Millard Bulldawgs(others can use this as well). Remember, I will run it again next week, and then we'll have the athletes start leading it after that.
Jog 2 laps, forward run/backpedal 2x, skips down and back, shuffles down and back.
Knee to Chest
Lunge to Straight Leg
Lateral Lunge
Leg Swings
Spidermans
Shuffles
Carioca
Power skips
A-Skips
Fast Leg
Falling Starts 2x
Domino Sprint 2x
Monday, January 19, 2009
What's Going on Here?
I should start this off by saying, I have never done a blog, and I was by no means a journalism major in college. The purpose of this blog is to provide information, share motivational and inspirational stories and quotes, share information from professional athletes, and give viewers anything related to athletics. With that said, if there is ever anything people would like to know, or things they would like to see, please let me know. If there are athletes, parents, or coaches viewing this, please feel free to ask questions, and let me know if there is anything you want on here.
I would also like to take a little space to let people know what I do other than Accelerate Omaha speed and agility camps. I love doing speed, agility, and athletic training for athletes, but I also enjoy training adults and helping people get in shape. I am a certified trainer, and if people are looking for training, please let me know. I can do personal training, or get a small group together and workout with some friends or family. The other type of training I do is hitting lessons for baseball and softball players. Baseball was my sport of choice, and I absolutely love hitting. If you would like lessons, or have baseball type questions, please let me know. I do my hitting lessons at UBA, and you can sign up for small group, or individual lessons.
We have a two week camp that starts tomorrow evening(Tuesday, January 20th), and will meet on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. All you have to do to get signed up is send me an email at jeff@accelerateomaha.com, and indicate that you would like to join. This camp will be at the new Ultimate Baseball Academy building off of 120th and 'I' St. The building is not 100% finished, but we are cleared to do our workouts in there. We have a ton of space to use, and we are excited to be able to use this awesome facility. I should note, that these camps are NOT baseball specific. There will occasionally be sport specific camps, but these are generally set up with an organization, league, or team. All of the camps on the camp schedule of the website, will be for all athletes, and will cover speed, agility, coordination, and many other skills to help your athlete in any sport!
Have fun, work hard, and check back often!
I would also like to take a little space to let people know what I do other than Accelerate Omaha speed and agility camps. I love doing speed, agility, and athletic training for athletes, but I also enjoy training adults and helping people get in shape. I am a certified trainer, and if people are looking for training, please let me know. I can do personal training, or get a small group together and workout with some friends or family. The other type of training I do is hitting lessons for baseball and softball players. Baseball was my sport of choice, and I absolutely love hitting. If you would like lessons, or have baseball type questions, please let me know. I do my hitting lessons at UBA, and you can sign up for small group, or individual lessons.
We have a two week camp that starts tomorrow evening(Tuesday, January 20th), and will meet on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. All you have to do to get signed up is send me an email at jeff@accelerateomaha.com, and indicate that you would like to join. This camp will be at the new Ultimate Baseball Academy building off of 120th and 'I' St. The building is not 100% finished, but we are cleared to do our workouts in there. We have a ton of space to use, and we are excited to be able to use this awesome facility. I should note, that these camps are NOT baseball specific. There will occasionally be sport specific camps, but these are generally set up with an organization, league, or team. All of the camps on the camp schedule of the website, will be for all athletes, and will cover speed, agility, coordination, and many other skills to help your athlete in any sport!
Have fun, work hard, and check back often!
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Welcome To Our Blog!
About Jeff Leise
Jeff Leise has enjoyed running, playing sports, and competing ever since he was a young child. Jeff played multiple sports through high school and played college baseball at the University of Nebraska, where he was able to play in the 2001 and 2002 College World Series. He also played one year of professional baseball in the San Diego Padres organization.
Jeff has won many awards in his college baseball career, including Big XII Sports person of the Year, Academic All-American of the Year, 1st Team All-American, and All-Big XII. He was also named a team captain of the baseball team at Nebraska and was recognized as the University's team Lifter of the Year.
What kind of kids attend Accelerate Omaha camps?
The Accelerate Omaha fitness training camps camps are great for all kids 8 to 18 years of age. Whether you are the fastest kid on your team, or you are looking to catch up to the fastest kids, we can help. Our sports camps are also a great way for all kids to get in great shape.
Join Accelerate Omaha, and get results! Here’s what to expect:
Jeff Leise has enjoyed running, playing sports, and competing ever since he was a young child. Jeff played multiple sports through high school and played college baseball at the University of Nebraska, where he was able to play in the 2001 and 2002 College World Series. He also played one year of professional baseball in the San Diego Padres organization.
Jeff has won many awards in his college baseball career, including Big XII Sports person of the Year, Academic All-American of the Year, 1st Team All-American, and All-Big XII. He was also named a team captain of the baseball team at Nebraska and was recognized as the University's team Lifter of the Year.
What kind of kids attend Accelerate Omaha camps?
The Accelerate Omaha fitness training camps camps are great for all kids 8 to 18 years of age. Whether you are the fastest kid on your team, or you are looking to catch up to the fastest kids, we can help. Our sports camps are also a great way for all kids to get in great shape.
Join Accelerate Omaha, and get results! Here’s what to expect:
- Increased speed, agility, and quickness
- Improved balance and coordination
- Better flexibility and range of motion
- Increased power and explosiveness
- Enhanced athleticism
- Improved Vertical Jump
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