Stay the Course

I was reading ESPN today (at work...don't judge me, lol) and I came across an article that hit really close to home (you can click on this link to read it -----> ( CLICK ME ).  The article is about redshirt ("redshirt" means that during his first year of college, he practiced but never played in a game and still has four years of eligibility to play once his "freshman" year is over) freshman James Johnson.  James is leaving school because he feels like he isn't getting enough playing time on the basketball court.  This happens to a lot of freshman every year but in the past decade or so it has become common place for freshman to see immediate action.  This hasn't always been the case though.

How this story relates to myself is that I transferred from my original college (Morgan State University) after my freshman year to another school (Frostburg State University).  As I stated earlier, freshman (at that time, the mid 90's) really didn't see a lot of playing time, any if at all.  I was fortunate enough to start though, as a walk-on freshman at a D-1AA now the Sub-Division level.  My situation was a little different though.  I left Morgan because after starting the entire year I was told that Division 1A players were transferring in and I would have to compete for my spot all over again...needless to say I wasn't too happy to hear this.  I thought that the school "owed" me something and would "show" them what they were missing after I transferred.

The point I'm trying to make here is that in life difficult times will arise and you have to stay the course.  I should have stayed at Morgan and played just as hard my sophomore year as I did my freshman year.  I feel as if James should do the same because the grass is NOT always greener.  I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Frostburg and made some life long friends there, but I definitely didn't display any kind of H.E.A.R.T by leaving.  In fact I showed the opposite.  I displayed fear and the sense of quitting.  I have no idea what thoughts are running through James' head, but I hope that he reconsiders and realizes that quitting now will more than likely set a precedence for the rest of his life of running away from adversity.  I learned that lesson the hard way and eventually stopped that trend.

Always remember, bad shit happens in life.  You can either try to run away from it, or face it and try to make the best out of your situation.  Bad situations are only as bad as you allow them to be.

P.S. I'm not a UVA fan, I just hate to see anyone quit...

Tim Gavin

I tend to write most of my blogs about H.E.A.R.T when it pertains to sports, but in my opinion, life AND sports are the same thing.  You prepare to play, play to win and sometimes you lose.  But then again, sometimes you win.  Although statistically speaking you always have a 50/50 chance of winning or losing, preparation, skill, team, your opponents and various other factors come into play to create a derivative of this common known statistic (the 50/50 thing).  This brings me to the guy you see in the picture above you....Tim Gavin.  Without a doubt one of the people I have ever known to have one of the biggest if not most genuine and caring and tough H.E.A.R.T.

Attitude:

When people think of the word "attitude" they generally think of it in a negative sense.  I can see that, but in reality, your attitude is the only thing in this world that you can truly control.  You can't control your body temperature, emotions (don't lie to yourself) or peoples opinion of you.  But you can control your attitude.  If you think positive thoughts long enough, you will trick yourself into being positive (although it may be brief).  Timmy has been through some of the crappiest situations I have ever seen a person go through and he still keeps his head.  He may not be as happy as when the situation was more cheerful, but he's not an ass to be around.  Every time I was down in the dumps, I could always call on Tim to bring some sort of levelness to the situation.  The world could be going to hell in a hand basket and Tim would be cooler than the Fonz on a blind date.

Resilience:

The resilience level of Tim Gavin is incredible.  I think it's one of his greatest attributes.  Timmy is a very sharp individual although he's not been know to get straight A's (for the record, neither have I...moving on).  Tim accomplished something that most college students don't...HE GRADUATED.  Not only did he do so, but he did it with limitations that were beyond his control.  Did he allow this to be an excuse and just say, "ah who cares about school?"...no.  He dug in his heels and he worked his ass off to graduate.  I personally knew how hard he worked to graduate, that's why it was so important to me to watch him walk across the stage and get his diploma (I was living in Seattle at the time, Tim graduated from a western Maryland university).  He never gave up on his dream (since H.S. to teach P.E. and possibly coach) and all of his hard work paid off.

(Tim Gavin during a timeout coaching the Towson Generals)

Toughness:

Toughness does not necessarily mean how mean and bad ass you are, it can also mean how mentally tough you are as well.  Without getting too personal into Timmy's life, let's just say that he is a Maryland guy.  His entire family is from Maryland, his lovely wife Sarah's family is from there and all of their friends...are from Maryland.  When Timmy graduated he had to teach in Virginia and then moved onto teaching in West Virginia.  His passion was teaching and coaching, but he was only able to do this in these two states.  A much lesser individual would have most likely quit and moved back.  Tim stayed the course though.  Even though the situation looked bleak and he, his wife and unborn baby (who is now born and she's adorable...what up Casey!) probably would have had to stay in West Virginia, Tim kept on grinding to get back to MD.  All of his hard work paid off because he's now back in Maryland.  If he wasn't as tough as he needed to be when it was required, who knows where he would be today.

I know this post sounds extremely biased, and maybe it is, but I love this guy and his H.E.A.R.T is bigger than most people I have ever known.  He doesn't quit, cry or whine and completely genuine.  I haven't met a single person who doesn't like him, would do anything for him or believe that he wouldn't give you the shirt off of his back.

Brain vs. H.E.A.R.T

In the human body there are two vital organs that you need in which to survive (well, really there are a couple more than that, but for argument sake, we're just going with these two).  You have the brain which controls basically EVERY function and action in the body and you have the H.E.A.R.T which pumps blood (if we were a car this would be the oil) throughout said body.  Both are very important to survival, but only one is essential for truly living.

The Brain

The human brain controls everything that is found in the body.  This is a fact that we all know.  But we also know that the brain can die while the human body is kept alive with machines.  Although we know this, many people still put an emphasis on how important it is (it really is, I'm NOT downplaying this fact) without acknowledging that people "survive" everyday without it.  The human brain can also play tricks on you.  It can make you see, hear and feel things that don't exist...like fear.  Fear is an emotion that cripples people daily from achieving goals that they want to pursue.  Maybe you want to start a business, or ask specific person out on a date.  You probably want to try out for a sports team, write a book or run in a marathon.  Fear will seep in and tell you that, "you can't do that, that's stupid, you'll fail".  This all stems from your brain.  You have to constantly fight against this negativity to keep moving forward (or START moving forward). 

The H.E.A.R.T

The human heart pumps life throughout the body every time it contracts.  Think of yourself as a machine or a car.  If you don't change the oil, you are going to have SERIOUS problems.  The machine/car breaks down and it either dies or it costs a ton of money to get it fixed.  With a little maintenance, your H.E.A.R.T (machine/car) will run smoothly.  If the brain dies, the body can still be kept alive with machines.  If the H.E.A.R.T dies, it has to be replaced or the entire body dies...period.  This is where motivation fits in.  Motivation is the ignition that gets you motor going to get the machine/car started.  Without motivation, you truly are dead.  You do not accomplish anything and you are stuck in the same position you were yesterday, last month and the year before.  Your H.E.A.R.T will not play "tricks" on you, but it does need a tuneup every now and then so you can keep striving for your goals.

Conclusion

Don't EVER let your brain override your H.E.A.R.T...ever!  Your H.E.A.R.T runs the show and that's real.  When your brain wants to talk that crazy ish, that's when you need to dig deep and let it (the brain) know that your H.E.A.R.T is bigger and badder (someone always is) and you won't be stopped until they put you in the dirt.  You may not achieve everything you want to do in your lifetime, but you NEVER will if you give up and allow your H.E.A.R.T to give and die.  Please believe that.  I hope this finds you in time and that you continue to play the game of life with H.E.A.R.T!

3 Life Lessons I Learned Playing Football

In my life I've been fortunate to have plenty of teachers who left me with knowledge that I previously did not have.  Some have been family members, some friends, teammates and PLENTY of haters.  But the one teacher that left a definite imprint has been sports.  Without a doubt, Football has reinforced most of the lessons that may have fallen to the wayside that the aforementioned may have tried to hammer home.  So...since my head is so thick, it only made sense that constantly knocking it against others while trying to win a "meaningless" game would only clarity those lessons while giving them relevance.  Here are 3 of the lessons that I learnt.

1. There is ALWAYS someone bigger, badder and tougher than you....ALWAYS.

My Pops used to tell me this...constantly.  When I moved to MD from NJ, I most definitely kept my Lawnside swagger.  He would tell me to tone it done, but I wasn't having it.  This was when I was 15, 16 years old, let's fast forward to when I was a Sophomore in college.  The last college game I played in I had to cover a DIII All-American.  I talked shit all week, but my best friend Tim Gavin knew what time it was (he knew I was nervous because I talked in my sleep).  Well, long story short, I got beat for about 7 catches, 120 yards and 1 TD.
Lesson Learned: Keep your mouth shut, or someone will shut it for you.

2. Don't look for someone to save you.  If you do, you'll be waiting a REALLY long time.

I started playing football when I was in 3rd grade.  I rode the bench until I got to High School (and believe me, it sucked).  I knew I was good but never really got a shot to play.  When I went to High School I said to myself, "there is NO WAY I'm riding the bench ever again".  I decided that a concussion was a better way of going out than sitting for another 4 years.  I watched Pro's and collegiate players, studied how they played and changed my strategy.  My offensive model was Eric Bieniemy and defensive one was Eric Allen, with a splash of Dick "Night Train" Lane. Ever since my Freshman year of High and ALL through college, I started every game (yes, even as a walk-on Freshman at a Division 1-AA college).
Lesson Learned: If you want it bad enough, grab your sack, pull down your skirt and take it.

3. Tough times don't last, tough people do.

My first year of playing Varsity Football (Sophomore Year) my team was really young and inexperienced.  We went 1-8 and barely won that one game 14-7 (against another bad team, Haddon TWP).  But I loved football and didn't care if we lost EVERY game, I just wanted to compete and play.  Some guys quit during the season and some quit on the team even though they continued to play.  All that mattered to me was going out and gettin' it in (that's slang for "doing work").  Shit is going to get shoveled on you in life, just as in sports and you have to decide right then and there if you're a going to eat it or use that manure to plant something for next year.  I was fortunate enough to plant that manure and it grew into a State Champion at Linganore High School.  I never forgot how bad the taste of losing felt and vowed to NEVER taste it again.
Lesson Learned: Even a blind squirrel can find a nut (you keep trying and something good will happen).

Well, these are just a few of my lessons that I learned that were cemented through sports that I try to express through my company H.E.A.R.T Athletics.  I hope you guys enjoyed this post and feel free to share it with your friends and family members.

John H. Harris II

Nothing is Impossible

When I was just starting out in sports, I would always doubt myself because I wasn't the biggest or fastest kid on any of my teams.  It never occurred to me that there were other players on other teams that had my same situation.  It wasn't until around 7th or 8th grade that I realized that life and sports are what they are.  Which is sometimes not fair.  But really, what is fair?  Is fair everyone being equal?  If that's the case then there will never be any winners or losers.  Even if a sporting event ends in a tie, there is a team that lost (the team that should have won) and a team that won (they should have lost...and the tie is virtually a win).

It was only when I noticed other players that had my same height and weight limitations that nothing was impossible.  If they could do it, I could do.  And you know what...I could probably do it better.  Most people think that a player that plays with H.E.A.R.T is a player of lesser skill or talent.  This isn't necessarily the case.  H.E.A.R.T is something that is deep inside of you that compels you to play your cheeks off all game long, no matter the outcome or who your opponent is.  Below are a few of the players that helped me (even though they don't know it) find faith in myself as an athlete and showed me week in and week out what playing with H.E.A.R.T truly means.

Mark McMillian played Corner for the Eagles AND Crimson Tide...needless to say, I not only followed his career, but he was a huge inspiration as well.  He wasn't the biggest guy in the world.  But he played his butt off and never let his limitations define who he was.

Mario Bailey played for UW.  Now as a DB, I'm not too fond of WR's but Super Mario was different.  He went hard EVERY play.  His Senior year at Washington, in my opinion played better than Desmond Howard (who won the Heisman).  Not only did he put up ridiculous numbers (over 1000 yards receiving) but in the Rose Bowl when they trounced the Wolverines (Desmond's team)...he scored a TD and did the Heisman pose...awesome.

David Palmer was the first "small" athlete that I watched that let me know anything was possible on the football field (which is why I'm a Bama fan to this day).  He played QB/WR/RB and returned kicks.  He was literally EVERYWHERE on the field.  He made plays and there was no doubt the opposing teams were scared of his skills.

Last but not least...Rohan Marley.  Five foot nothing and full of piss and vinegar.  He started at Miami in the 90's (which speaks volumes) and he did so on a team full of four and five star recruits.  All I have to say about him is "google his ass".  Watch the videos and then make up your own mind.

These are just four of the many athletes that inspired me and let me know that ANYTHING is possible.



H.E.A.R.T Series, Part Three: Andre Coard

I've known Andre' Coard ever since I moved to Lawnside NJ, in 1987 (yeah, 1987).  And to this day, Andre has to be one of the toughest people I've EVER met.  Plain and simple, Dre' doesn't get punked and he doesn't give up.  Andre is one of those guys who if he says he's going to do something, it's either going to happen, or he's going to make it happen.

When we first started playing Pop Warner football together, Dre' was so tough and fearless that his nick name was Herschel...as in Herschel Walker.  He ran tough, he played tough and he would hit anything in another jersey that moved on two feet.  As a youngster, this is not the norm, but there also really aren't any huge players at this age either (that are good).

The biggest thing with Dre' though is that he never lost this passion or H.E.A.R.T when he got older.  By the time we went to High School (Haddon Heights), we (BOTH Dre and I) were not what you would call the "biggest" cornerbacks you've ever seen.  In fact, we were quite small, but frankly we didn't give a sh!t.  Our motto was, "Water covers 2/3's of the Earth...WE cover the rest".  And on top of that, we LOVED to hit.  Opposing ball carriers may not have felt our hits, but they knew we were there, and we were going to be there ALL DAY LONG.

Dre's H.E.A.R.T sticks out in my mind in one game in particular.  As Sophomore's, we started Varsity against Sterling High School.  Sterling at this time had a Tailback at 220 lbs and a Fullback at 250 named Joe Miller.  We watched tape and the coaches would continuously remind me and Dre that we should tackle low so we don't get injured.  Before the game, Dre tells me, "F that...if either one of them comes my way I'm going head to head and we're going to see what's really good".

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for getting hyped up before a game...but Dre' REALLY meant what he was saying!  The very first play of the game was a dive to Joe Miller.  He and Dre met head to head on the sideline and long story short...Joe won...that battle.   Dre NEVER gave up.  At 140 lbs, Dre took on a 250 lbs Senior Fullback head to head.  He just would not give up or even think that that was a possibility.  That first play of that game had a huge impact on me that I never told Dre' about.  I saw him get in the mix and it made me want to not only get in on it too, but to NEVER fair catch a punt...ever.

Andre' Coard was and still to this day is one of the toughest dudes I ever met or had the opportunity of knowing that played his H.E.A.R.T out.  Dre', you inspired me then, and you continue to do so now.  You probably didn't know this, but you do now, and it's meant alot to me and helped me to get to where I am today.  I wish you the best in everything you do, and I'll see you at the top man!

H.E.A.R.T Series, Part Two: My Linganore Offensive Line

If you have ever built anything, you know that your foundation is the base for which every other item is placed upon.  The middle.  The center.  The lifeline.  Without it, you could probably move forward, but more than likely, your structure is going to falter.  In the middle of your body is your spine (prime example).  Without a functional spine, NOTHING in your body will work.  If you break the spine, there is a good chance you are going to expire (nice word for die).

When I think of the spine on a football team, the obvious choice is the offensive line.  Before I dive into this, I want to acknowledge that it is the Offensive Line that is basically the only position in football where stats take a backseat to penalties.  The only time spectators truly realize that linemen exist is when there is yellow laundry (flags) on the field.  This isn't right.  Linemen are the only position that hit someone on EVERY...SINGLE...PLAY (re-read that, and then watch a game and tell me I'm wrong).

In my opinion, I played on one of the most dominate teams in Maryland in the 90's.  The success we had would have been nothing if it wasn't for our Offensive Line.  Andy Dills, Mike Kies, Dan Zebroski, John Rucker and Ryan Caldwell were the foundation for a team that could run ALL DAY LONG.  These guys paved the way for an 1800+ yard starting TB, 700+ yard starting FB and a 800+ yard 3rd down back.  Oh...and a 12-1 record on our way to a State Championship.

All five of these guys sacrificed their bodies for the sake of the team and usually didn't get their names in the paper unless they played defense.  These guys were the soul, H.E.A.R.T and backbone of our team.  Every lineman is, they usually just don't get the credit but normally get all the blame.  I can't express how important the line is to any team, none the less MY team.  So the next time you see a Lineman, don't look at him like he's not important...because he's the backbone of the team.  Every single play is decided by the line and they deserve more respect than they get.

You build around your core...and the core of any football team is its Offensive Line.  Fortunately enough for us (Linganore H.S. 12-1, State Champs), our core was studly.  Hopefully yours is too.  But if it isn't, be thankful for your Linemen, without them NOTHING would happen.

H.E.A.R.T Series, Part One Keith Cannone

For the next week or so, I want to write about people I have met in my life that exemplify what H.E.A.R.T means to me.  Playing with H.E.A.R.T doesn't necessarily mean that you are the best player (it doesn't mean you're not either), doesn't mean you put up gaudy stats, or that everyone knows your name.  It means that you play your cheeks off no matter the score, the final outcome of the game or how many people are in the stands. 

One person who continuously sticks out in my mind is a great guy I know who I went to High School with.  His name is Keith Cannone.  If you went to Linganore High School in the early 90's, there is no doubt you crossed paths at some point with Keith.  He's not only was one of the nicest guys you would ever meet (for a Yankee's fan), he LOVED the sport of basketball.  I mean he REALLY loves basketball.  Keith would dribble a basketball between classes in the hallways at Linganore.  To increase his hops, he wore those incredibly uncomfortable shoes that worked your calves all day long.

Keith loved basketball as much as I love football...maybe even more.  He was such a great teammate that he NEVER once complained out loud about minutes.  NEVER talked stats.  He just played his ass off every time he got in the game.  It was evident to everyone who knew him how much he loved hoops because when he got in the game, the crowd would go nuts.  Everyone in the stand showed Keith love because he truly loved the game and played his H.E.A.R.T out, every minute of every game.

I loved the way Keith played the game, his love of the game and his unselfish dedication to his team and school.  There is NO statistic you can put on the impact that he had on me and countless others.  I'm proud to say that I not only know Keith but that he actually helped mold my thinking of how every play counts and that you should play each one like it's your last.

Breaking Down the H.E.A.R.T Athletics Player Card

Most of you know by now that I am a sports junkie...big time.  But as a kid, everything was cookie cutter processed and given to the masses.  Not only was this the status quo, but most of what we were given was marketed to us through athletes we had no connection with other than that they played on our favorite team.  I think it's great that you are one of the best athletes in your sport, but when it comes to impressionable young kids, teenagers and young adults, we often use individuals who are in the spotlight as "role models".

The H.E.A.R.T Athletics Player Card was created by me (John Harris), with the help of Brent Riley.  This shirt is aimed at encouraging, empowering and highlighting the contributions (no matter how small or big) that your athlete has made over the past season.  Why look to follow in someone else's shoes or blueprint when you can make your own path, carve your own niche, while making YOUR own history.

Let's break down the front of the shirt. 
1. Identifies the team or school that your athlete plays for. 
2. Is an action picture that you can upload on the site for your athlete (This is a picture of Billy Hubbard, really, really good football and lacrosse player). 
3. Identifies your athlete by name, number and position.

Back of the shirt breakdown.
1. again identifies the athlete. 
2. Provides all the information that a professional trading card would have, but this card is tailored to specifically to your athlete. 
3. Provides and detailed explanation on the past season and what they contributed (even if it was only ONE play, special teams or scout team...THEY did it and deserve to be recognized for it). 
4. and 5. provide the stats for the past or current year.

This shirt was designed for your athlete and their self-esteem.  While it is good to have people to look up to and goals to shoot for, you shouldn't have to look outside of yourself for motivation.  Every athlete can't be All-State, a Blue Chip or a Five Star stud, but every athlete that plays their H.E.A.R.T out should be recognized for it.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC
www.heartathleticsllc.com

H.E.A.R.T Definition

www.heartathleticsllc.com

Having Enough Attitude Resilience and Toughness is a concept that hit me when I was talking to my long time (very long time) friend Andre Coard.  We were sitting there talking about life and wanting to start our own company's and how difficult it was at the time for us.  This was in the spring of 2007.  Out of nowhere it hit me that the way to overcome the difficulties we were going through, we learned playing sports.  Having "H.E.A.R.T" is a phrase that is so commonly used that it gets over looked.  No matter what situation you find yourself in in life, the only thing you can control (honestly control) is your attitude.  If your attitude sucks, so will your outcome.  If it's positive, at least if things turn for the worse, you can take it with a smile on your face.  Your attitude affects your resilience and your toughness.  That smile on your face will make you bounce back from any setback.  The toughness comes from continuously bouncing back (your resilience).  The biggest thing is that you have to have ENOUGH of these attributes to succeed.  What is enough for you may not be enough for me and vice versa.  I can't live my life to your standards and you have to live yours according to yours.  Having H.E.A.R.T got me through athletics and it also gets me through life.  I hope you have enough (H.E.A.R.T that is) and if you don't...don't sweat it, I do, and I'll be here to motivate and encourage you to blaze your own path.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

Crunch Time

There are many sports cliche's that symbolize the serious nature of situations that have to be achieved in order to win.  Fourth quarter, crunch time, gut check, Mr. October, now or never, etc.  For me, today is my fourth quarter.  Tomorrow, September 30 at 9 am PST, the doors to H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC will be open to the public.  It's been a life long dream of mine to start my own business.  I've always had the entrepreneurial spirit in me and this what I was born to do.  As a sports junkie who watches any sport he can on television, it only made sense to start a company that tailors to athletes as well as motivate them at the same time.  So stop by tomorrow www.heartathleticsllc.com, take a look around and let me know what you think of the site.  I'm living my dream right now...and it's kinda cool.


John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

ESPN has NO clue what quitting looks like

I ran across this story just a couple of minutes ago and the title of it absolutely infuriates me.  For ESPN to say this kid is quitting is entirely false.  This kid IS NOT quitting, he is attempting to ensure the rest of his life isn't filled with the effects of post concussion syndrome.  Quitting in the regular Americans mind is giving up when you feel like it or just plain ol' quitting because you CAN'T handle whatever situation you find yourself in.  This kid is looking at his future, not the situation he finds himself in currently.  Tell me if this sounds like a quitter to you...You sign a letter of intent to play for a University that can recruit in its state alone and NEVER...EVER have to recruit outside of Texas.  You have a history of concussions, but still try to play.  You redshirt your Junior year because of a shoulder injury but still come back the next year (*blogger note* redshirting means you sit out the entire year, you get to practice but can not play in the games.  But as you sit and watch, others are getting the chance to play meaning that you have to earn your way onto the field...again).  Does THIS sound like a quitter to you?  ESPN, you are full of people who have no clue of what H.E.A.R.T means...no clue.

There is NO such thing as an Off-Season

Too many people dislike Monday.  Why?  What did Monday do to you?  If you think about it, it's not what Monday did to you...it's what you did to yourself over the "weekend".  I'm sorry to point this out to you, but the weekend is nothing more than a marketing tool to not only let your guard down, but for you to spend money and do other activities which are called "relaxing".  I can't lie, I used to fall into that weekend mode, but working for myself and running my own company, the weekend is just two regular days in my book.  The same can be said in the sports/competition world. 

In any type of sport that is done competitively, there is a season where you compete against others (or yourself) and there is a time a year called the "Off-Season".  The off-season is allegedly the time of year when your rest and recuperate to get ready for the next season.  Just like the weekend, if you let your guard down too much (or at all) it's harder for you to get ready again for the up coming season (or Monday).  This is why some teams and individuals have such a slow start to the season and why Monday's are frowned upon.

By the end of this week, my WEBSITE will be up and running (it's still being worked on, but you can cruise around a little to see what it's like) and my "Off-season" shirt will be ready for public consumption.  This shirt is aimed at keeping you ready and alert, even if you think there really is an off-season (or weekend).  Every day is just another day and you should always stay alert and keep moving.  Taking a day off is fine...taking a season off (or off-season...see how the words are just reversed...?) can be disastrous...You can't move forward by stopping.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

Never Go Down Without a Fight

I was taking a break this morning from work and I came across this little gem on the internet.  I love plays like this because it's part skill, part luck and part determination.  It would have been easy for the QB to take the sack, but even as he was going down he KNEW where his receiver would be.  Now don't get me wrong, throwing in this situation is wrong...absolutely wrong and usually winds up being intercepted.  But it worked, because of practice and determination.  Sometimes you have to go against the grain to achieve your goals. 

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

Gabe Levand

This past Saturday (10SEP11) I went down to Carson City to shoot the Pop Warner games and to watch my little cousin play for the Carson City Senators.  One of the things I love about amateur sports is that the kids generally have such passion for whatever sport they're playing.  They generally don't care about being in the paper or being on television, they just want to play.  My cousin, Gabriel Levand is one of those kids (#75).  He's not the fastest kid, and this is only his second year of organized football, but he has such a passion for the game and wants to get better.  Most of the game he was double-teamed or he had McQueen's HUGE offensive guard (who outweighed him by at least 50 lbs.) blocking him.  He never gave up, never complained...he just worked his tail off.  By the end of the game (even though they lost 16-0) Gabe had 4 tackles and two 1.5 sacks.  I'm not only proud of Gabe, but the entire Carson City team.  They went up against tough odds and never gave up.  The lesson here is that when you play hard, play with H.E.A.R.T and play smart, the odds of you coming out on top increase.  Even though they didn't win, McQueen definitely didn't see this dog fight coming.  You guys (Carson) played a good game, you should be proud.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

New year...Same expectations

Everybody knows I'm from New Jersey.  I have nothing but love for my Haddon Heights teammates and the Garnets...but, it was just meant to be for me to have the opportunity to be a Linganore Lancer.  When my parents divorced, my Pops stayed in Mt. Airy and my Moms moved to Jersey.  So even before I was old enough to appreciate the "tradition" of a true powerhouse team, I was already a part of it.  At Linganore, anything short of a Chip (Championship) is viewed as failure.  I came across this quote on the MVAL website, "Some teams would view a 7-3 record a successful season. Not the Lancers. Anything less than a state championship run is viewed as sub-par in Mt. Airy. Coach Rick Conner believes if the Lancers stay healthy they can compete. Maryland commit RB Joe Riddle will lead the Lancers. The I-70 rivalry with Urbana could settle the conference title and a playoff spot in the ultra-tough "region of death" (3A West). Coach Conner and the Lancers know a 7-3 record will not be good enough to get Linganore into the playoffs in 2011, so every regular season game is a playoff game to them".  With Championships in the 80's, 90's and 00's, winning (7-3) is acceptable...Championships are.  Aim for the moon, if you miss, you're still among the stars...aim for the ground and you'll probably wind up in the gutter.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

What good is your team if it doesn't work?

I understand that teams are a collective of individuals geared towards obtaining a (or several) main goal(s).  Teams can be as large as a college football team, 85 scholarship player not including walk-ons.  Or they can be as small as a Mens/Womens Tennis Doubles team.  Regardless of the size, there are going to be times when at least one person is going to need help or an encouraging word from someone else on their team.  This is where the other teammate(s) need to step up and provide some form of help.  Even though I no longer play organized sports, I still have a set of teammates that are there to pick me up when I'm down or need the motivation to keep going.  Being a good teammate isn't about putting up gaudy numbers or garnering a lot of attention, being a good teammate is being there for your team when they really need you.  When someone needs your help, whether it's on a busted play, or weakside help, or if they lose their job...will you be there to have their back?  Individuals are only as good as their team, and a team is usually only as good as its collective individuals.

John H. Harris II
Owner/CEO
H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC

If It's Easy, It Probably Isn't Worth It

Sorry it's been a couple of days since my last post, but I was EXTREMELY worn out from all the football games that took place Saturday...in 95 degree heat.  I wasn't quite sure what to write about until I glanced over at ESPN.com and read a couple of articles.  The article centers around the University of Texas' quarterback battle.  Any college football junkie can tell you that quarterbacking at UT is a very...very big deal.  The story was about Garrett Gilbert and how he had to actually win his starting job back.http://espn.go.com/colleges/texas/story/_/id/6901299/leading-mattered-most-garrett-gilbert-remain-texas-starting-quarterback
So hold up, you're telling me that you DESERVE to start.  This is your third year of college so the job is AUTOMATICALLY yours?  In other words, you don't have to WORK for it...ok, I see you ESPN.  Let's give the youth more of a sense of entitlement.  Now don't get me wrong, I feel as if everyone who plays a sport, no matter how long you have been around, still is subject to competition.  Now does Gilbert deserve to take all of the blame for UT's poor record in 2010...no, I don't think so.  Should his job as the starting quarterback for the University of Texas be up for grabs...yeah, it should.  This is a lesson that I think every child, kid and teenager could use.  Garrett Gilbert "chose" to go to the University of Texas.  This is a decision that he should stick with.  The lesson that should be learned is that, even though there are tough times, and these tough times may be because of YOUR own decisions...you have to put on your big boy/girl pants at some point and deal with it.  The easy route for Gilbert would be to transfer to another school and parlay his past accomplishments into a starting job.  But Gilbert, to me, demonstrated what I believe H.E.A.R.T to be.  He has enough (in my mind) attitude to say, "I'm not going to quit, and you can't make me".  The resilience he showed after almost leading his team to a National Championship, to quarterbacking a losing record the next year, to having to EARN his job back, proves that he can bounce back from any set back.  I think the toughness speaks for itself...Garrett Gilbert stuck with his decision and dealt with the consequences.  I respect him for toughing out the hard times and driving forward.  This is a lesson that young and impressionable kids take to H.E.A.R.T and apply in their own lives when the time comes...instead on transferring out, quitting or just giving up.  NEVER GIVE UP.

Sometimes, It's Just Not About You....

If at some point in your life you played a team sport, you have either run into or may have been, that individual who could care less about the team goals and just went for self...These individuals may or may not "get" the TEAM concept and it is this difference in philosophies which will either cause the team or the individual (possibly both) to crash and burn.  I constantly hear people talk about sports being a metaphor for life, and they don't really explain their thoughts clearly.  To me, as an athlete in Grade School, High School and College, I honestly didn't feel that way.  Now that I look back at not only my athletic career but life as an adult, I truly believe that sports can be used as a metaphor for life.  IF, the metaphor is reasonable and relevant to the individuals current situation.  Example, if I told you that the two free throws you have to make at the end of the game, to win the game are a "life and death" situation...well, then I'm going a little too far and this isn't truly the case.  Because unlike death (where you DON'T come back), there will probably be another game where you can redeem yourself.  On the other hand, there are situations where a sports metaphor is true and can be used to see your current situation in a sports theme.  Let's take for instance me and my wife Lindsay.  There is no doubt that we are a team...no doubt in my mind.  Whatever I do affects her and whatever she does affects me.  We work together for common goals and we help each other with our individual goals as well.  We're also there for support and motivation.  I'm bringing up the theme of sports metaphors in real life because I had to use it Wednesday to ensure that my wife Lindsay had a great day off of work.  You see, my wife loves to be outdoors and hike.  I'm more of a city person, but I don't mind being outside; I just don't love it as much as my wife does (*BLOGGER NOTE* Everything in brackets is how I feel sports metaphors relate to real life).  So my wife wanted to hike to Marlette Lake up near Tahoe.  If you have ever been, you would know that this hike is 4.5 miles all uphill...so, we're looking at a 9.0 mile hike round trip (just like 2 adays).  This is what my wife wanted to do and while I wanted to spend time with her, I also wanted to make her happy during the process (team cohesion).  What you don't know is that we actually tried this hike about a month ago and I basically had enough after 1.5 miles...I actually quit, it was that rough (quitters never win, winners never quit).  I knew Lindser was upset but took the high road and didn't really complain about it.  I knew I had to get my shit in order in the next couple of weeks so I could make this hike (dedication and resilience).  So I worked out harder the next few weeks, weight training, running, plyometrics, whatever (voluntary summer workouts) to get in better shape to complete this hike (giving my TEAM the best chance to win).  So we went on this hike Wednesday 24AUG11, and it went as planned.  We both made it, so did our dogs and it was a great view.  Were there times that I wanted to quit again...sure, but I would be letting down my TEAM and at some point you have to pull up your skirt, grab your nuts and say, "fuck it, it's going to hurt but it's not going to hurt forever".  And that's what I did, and we had a great hike and Lindser had a great day off (Win).  Although most people have misguided views on winning and losing, in my opinion its not about the win or loss column, it's about how much effort and how far you are willing to go to achieve a win.  The "W" is mostly the results of the hard work that you have put in for you or your team (depending on the sport), but it's not about the destination, it's about the journey and the lessons you have learned before you get to your destination.  That hike wasn't about me, it was about my wife and making her day off the best day off she ever had.  This is a lesson that I learned from sports, even though at the time I learned it, I didn't even realize that I had.  So remember, if you look at the big picture, it doesn't matter what the wins or losses column says.  It matters how big is your H.E.A.R.T is and how that translates into the effort you gave to achieve your or your teams goal(s).  Play hard, play with H.E.A.R.T.

Words of Wisdom from Chad Davis

For the past four years I worked for one of the smartest, hardest working individuals I have ever met.  He didn't take shit from anyone and he most certainly never gave up on anything.  While working together he would counsel individuals who needed his guidance and just about every single week (if not day) there was at least one person who wanted to quit or give up.  Since Chad Davis doesn't believe in quitting or giving up, he wasn't about to nurture these feelings the individual had and allow them to quit.  He considered himself the "motivation officer" of our company.  Chad would continuously tell these people that, "if you quit today, you are setting a precedence for the rest of your life".  Some people see it, and some people don't.  That precedence that they were attempting to set was that of quitting when it starts to get tough.  I say that to say this, everybody is going to encounter something, someone or some situation that is unpleasant...if you quit, avoid or run away from these instances, you always will.  At some point you have to pull up your skirt, grab your nuts and say, "f-it", let's get it done.  If you don't you will always be a doormat and the dreams you want to achieve will be just that...dreams.

Nick Gavin

A couple of days ago, one of my Mom's and I were emailing each other back and forth.  She told me about how my little brother had made the Dean's List (I'm not surprised, he's a real smart dude, sometimes he's just a little lazy) and how he planned on playing football again at Stevenson in the Fall.  When I think of Nick Gavin, the first thing that comes to mind is that he is one of the toughness bastards I have ever met...EVER.  Not only is he focused (when he wants to be) but he has this determination that is just relentless.  I mean the kid has one hell of a motor.  To really understand Nick Gavin I have to take you all the way back to 1993...yeah '93.  This was the first time I met Nick.  He was maybe 4 or 5 years old and he wasn't really that big.  Honestly, like me, he's pretty small, but tough...don't forget tough.  After a while he tells me that he wants to play football when he gets older and wants to play for the Lancers (*Blogger Note* Playing for Linganore is a privilege, not a right).  Being that I played football, I run him through some drills in his living room.  This is where I first took notice that this kid was something special.  I put him through the basic 45 degree tackling drill.  I was the ball carrier and he was the tackler.  I don't know what went through my mind, but my instincts kicked in and I juked him...the poor kid went head first into his fireplace...a BRICK fireplace.  Needless to say I almost shat my pants because this was the first time I had ever been to Tim Gavin's house...uh oh.  Well, Nick cried for about 3 maybe 4 minutes.  And the kid had the nerve to say, "Ok, I'm good, let's keep going!".  I was completely shocked.  A four year old kid just took a header into a fireplace, has the lump the size of Saturn on his nugget and he STILL wants to tackle.  If that's not H.E.A.R.T then I don't know what is.  Let's fast forward to the now.  Being that Nick took a couple of vicious hits, he suffered a few concussions.  He went through a down time like most football players do when their career is over.  But Nick, being the resilient and tough guy that he is wouldn't take that for an answer.  He worked hard not only in the classroom, but in the weight room and also in his personal life with his relationships.  Nick took the bad that was thrown his way and never gave up.  Even if he doesn't play a single down at Stevenson this Fall, it doesn't matter.  It shouldn't matter.  The only thing that truly matters is that he took his lumps, dusted himself off and got back up into the fight.  I can't even express how proud I am of this little guy because I always knew he had it in him.  Even when he didn't believe (and I can tell when someone doubts themselves), I believed in him and now he's proving me right...even though I knew I was right.  Lol.  Nick, I love you man, I'm very proud of you and I'm so happy that you MADE your own second chance.  Just remember where you were and how you never want to go back.  You have the biggest H.E.A.R.T I've ever seen.

P.S.  You're without a doubt my favorite Lancer...ever

Motivation vs. Showering

It doesn't matter how motivated you are on Monday, if by Tuesday afternoon you're back to the same place you were Sunday evening...think about that.  Being motivated, whether it's to pass a test, take on a pulling guard, go to work, start your own business or whatever, you have to constantly motivate yourself in an attempt to reach your goal.  Let's look at taking a shower.  Taking a shower works (for most people) for a specific amount of time (this is why we shower EVERYDAY).  What good would it do to take a shower on Monday and then proceed through the rest of the week off of that one shower.  I'm guessing, and this is only a guess, that the rest of the week wouldn't produce the results that you were looking for.  The same goes for motivation.  You have to get up in the morning, each and every morning, with the thought that motivating yourself is the same as when you get up, brush your teeth and take a shower.  I understand there are going to be times when you don't want to do it and it seems difficult, but imagine that same train of thought when it comes to brushing your teeth or taking a shower.  Would you step out of your front door and converse with people in that instance?  Treat motivation like a daily chore you do everyday (eating breakfast, brushing teeth, showering, etc.) and sooner or later, you'll be up and running like a well oiled machine.  Although at times well oiled machines need maintenance, it's usually running at a high level constantly and this is what you should strive for.  This is what I strive for and what my company hopes it can make YOU strive for.  So in short, get up, get going and go get it.

Having a dream and goals are essential to progress.

The most outlandish goal I had as a kid...well, I had two.  The first (and I was always told to shoot for the stars, but I'd rather shoot for another galaxy!!) was to be the number one overall pick in the NFL Draft.  I used to always say to myself and outloud, "With the number one overall pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select...John Harris, Running Back, USC...".  The second was to play college football.  Well I think it's obvious that I didn't go to USC or get drafted, but I'm not defeated by that.  The goal to play college football which would hopefully lead to the chance to play professionaly was all I could think about.  Football consumed every minute of my day, and I was good with that.  I had friends, talked to girls and participated in other activities, but my main goal was to play college football.  And with blinders on, I proceeded to make this dream a reality.  By the grace of God I was actually able to play college football and contribute on a high level.  But as we grow older our goals change but the intensity that we use to achieve these goals should never change.  Over four years ago I was talking to a great long time friend and decided that we wanted to start our own company's.  I'm pretty sure that nobody would have believed in us or given us a second thought about what we KNEW we'd become.  Well, it is now the present day and we both have established the company's that we said we would four or five years ago right outside of Lawnside Park.  Although we are far from our end goal, we are on our way to getting there.  That same intensity that I used as a kid to get to the collegiate level of football is the same that I'm using in the business world.  Without goals and a dream you will just end up spinning your wheels in the same place.  Anything worth having is worth working hard for.  If you grind out each and every day, you're on the path to success.  Call it, your Daily Grind.  Keep your head and your eyes open.

High School Two-a-Days are here!

I spent the bulk of my morning watching Wooster High School in Reno practice today.  I don't know how good they are/were/or are going to be...and that doesn't even matter.  What matters is that these kids are out practicing in 90 plus degree weather.  They don't get paid and will probably never be on television.  But they're still out there because they love the game, if they don't love it then they at least have a great fondness for it.  Now, if a kid who receives NOTHING for playing can get excited about pre-season practice, why can't a Profesional?  At least the Pro gets paid, and it's usually a lot more than any regular American will ever receive in any given year.  My point isn't to beat the drum of "Pros don't love the game", because there are plenty of Pros who do and play their asses off.  But these kids are playing their asses off regardless.  And I think that they should be applauded for it.  By the way, the Tennis and Soccer teams were out practicing as well.  I takes H.E.A.R.T to practice in the desert.

Why H.E.A.R.T means so much to me.

As a kid, I never knew what the meaning of "heart" meant, but I always played my hardest even though I wasn't the best player on the field.  In the town where I grew up there were plenty of athletes who could run circles around me.  I'll name a few because they deserve to be acknowledged...Andre Coard, Tracey Moore, Mike Starks, Nai Moore,  and Rich Still to name a few.  Even though they were better, I still believed that I was a quality player and NEVER gave up on my dreams of playing College Football.  From 3rd grade to 8th grade, to put it nicely, I was a "scrub".  I wasn't neccesarily a bad player, but compared to these guys, I wasn't on their level...yet.  Before my 9th grade year I made a promise to myself that I would train harder, focus and start BOTH ways, even if it meant that I was going to severly injure myself in the process.  I didn't know it then, but the H.E.A.R.T that came out of me during those two-a-day practices stemmed all the way back from not getting alot of playing time and being fed up about it.  This brings me to the current day and how I want my company H.E.A.R.T Athletics LLC to inspire other athletes.  I now know the meaning of "heart" and I want to share my vision and thoughts through clothing and products that will enable others to understand and express themselves the same way I do.  I hope you guys can get an understanding of who I am and how I think through this blog and I hope you enjoy it as well.  Thank you and always keep your head up.  Because Having Enough Attitude Resilience & Toughness isn't just a phrase to me, it's a way of life.