Yesterday, for some unknown reason, I received an email with an alluring offer: “Courtside Seats became available right next to the Warrior’s bench.  Not only do they provide a great view, but you can hear the interaction between players and you are really part of the game!”

I’m not sure how a guy in Arizona could really take advantage of season tickets to Golden State Warriors basketball, but the offer triggered pleasant memories of my first introduction to professional basketball, featuring an earlier version of the Warriors team.  

As a young boy growing up in southern Idaho, we didn’t have television in our home, but at night, our old tube AM radio could tune into faraway stations like KNX in Los Angeles, KSL in Salt Lake City and KNBR in San Francisco. KNBR was home to the San Francisco Warriors, who played in the Cow Palace and featured emerging star Nate Thurmond.  How I loved to listen to the games and imagine the fantastic plays of those talented athletes.

I don’t remember many details about those old games, but seeds sown back then grew into my great love for the game of basketball.  As I watched the Oklahoma City / Memphis 3OT thriller last night, it was great to think back across the years and realize again how much I love the game.

Jared Dudley, you inspire me!  You really do.

For my second sports blog of the day, I share with you three tweets that reveal why Jared Dudley succeeds.  Jared is a go-to bench player for the Phoenix Suns.  He has not been blessed with superlative talent.  In the high-flying, above-the-rim style of NBA basketball, he can barely dunk the basketball.  But the kid works, and works, and works … and his persistence pays off in games.  Time after time, his coming off the bench inspires the team to new levels of effort and performance.

A bit of his secret?

At 11pm on Tuesday night earlier this week, in the middle of the summer, Jared was watching film, trying to figure out how to improve his game.  He shares his thoughts with us:

Every night I been watching film on the top players I have to guard. Tonight is Kobe and the Lakers. It’s cuz of him I’m goin on this diet lol

I’m watching this WCF vs lakers, and Kobe can wear u down..Right when i thought I had some of his moves down he shows me something new

My thinking is I’m not getting any taller or a longer wing span.. So I better get in the best BBALL shape possible.. Back to the LAB

The best BBALL shape possible.  Yes, we can learn from that.  No matter where we are, or what we are doing in life, we can improve our performance, regardless of physical constraints that would hold us down.  We need to study, and work, and study and work some more.  Then, we can rise above our limitations and achieve greatness.