What's fair...?

I'm a true believer that sports provide kids a parrallel between competition and "adult" life.  I know there are certain people who say that, "it's just a game".  I respect that...I disagree, but I respect that.  In any sporting event, you can draw a parallel to real "adult" life in which they/you can translate into experience.

This brings me to Bishop Gorman.  Bishop Gorman, in laments terms, is a MONSTER when it comes to High School sports.  If you don't know who they are, feel free to look over their history here -----> (Bishop Gorman).

This past year, Gorman won the 2011 State Football Chip (slang for Championship)

Won the 2011 Boys State Hoops Chip

and won the 2012 State Baseball Chip too...

Now, is this "fair" to the other schools in Nevada?  What's fair?  Is fair a level playing field?  Is it everybody has an equal shot at winning?  This is where I have pros and cons...

Pros:
1. Life isn't fair.  Period.
2. It IS a school (regardless if they recruit or not).
3. Every day of your life provides a lesson.  So if you don't like losing, don't do it.

Cons:
1. Public Schools have to play with what they have.
2. Public Schools are at an automatic disadvantage.
3. Creates division instead of competition.

In short, without standing on my soapbox, schools in EVERY district should play with who lives in their district.  But in sports as in real life, this isn't the case.  Progressive thinkers do what they can to gain an advantage.  This leaves the Nevada public schools at a great disadvantage.  But as in "adult" life, you have to adapt to your environment and keep moving forward.  Life isn't fair guys, sometimes sports isn't either.  You can either cry and complain, or you can get back on your grind and get busy...



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Reed vs. Hug Varsity Boys Hoops

January 10, 2012

I'm still trying to get a feel for High School hoops out here in Nevada.  Last week I went to see Douglas vs. Reed and came away impressed.  So my dude Nate (from Douglas H.S.) told me I should check out their game against Hug.  So to get a fair assessment on Hug, Reed and Douglas, I was fortunate enough to see Reed play Hug tonight.  For me, it's not all about wins and loses, it's about how hard and how much H.E.A.R.T you play with.  I don't care if you lose by 50, just don't give up, don't quit and never, ever think of a loss as a loss...it's a learning experience.

So I'm at the game shooting pictures H.E.A.R.T Athletics and I couldn't help myself actually watching more of the game than picture taking.  Here are a few of the players that stood out from this game from Hug and the dudes from Reed who cemented what I thought about them from the Douglas game last week.

The game had mad energy from the get go.  The Hug players before they even started to warm-up did the huddle thing and got the crowd GOING! *BLOGGER NOTE* I tried to up load the pictures from the game but for some reason blogger.com is being stubborn, you can see the Reed vs. Hug game photos on my business facebook page www.facebook.com/heartathleticsllc.com.  Moving on...

Hug Players



Andrew Johnson (PG) is a stud...period.  This kid can get any shot, anytime he wants.  He's at home controlling the tempo, driving the lane and playing D.  Without a doubt, I was thoroughly impressed.  He's not the biggest kid, but his H.E.A.R.T is huge.

Norris Dupree (SG) is the glue man.  He's quick, can create his own shot and hustles.  I actually sat in front of his Uncle and we chopped it up a little.  Also played with a lot of H.E.A.R.T.

Sam Williams (C) is a force in the middle.  Without a doubt he owned the paint tonight.  But I got to be honest.  Douglas has this kid Hunter Myers that's going to make Friday's game a true battle.

Reed Players

Jamel Ramos (PG) is a Freshman playing Varsity hoops...enough said.  He started off the game guarding Drew Johnson and held his own.  The kid hustles, plays D and can knock down the open jumper.  When he's a Senior he's going to own the Reno area (you heard it here first).

A.J. Silva (F) can knock down open shots, hustles and plays his ass off.  I've seen him twice and he definitely translates his football skills to the hardwood.  Big ol' H.E.A.R.T on this kid.

Ty Shepard (G) plays hard all game long, but I got to be honest...he's quick enough to get past his defender but looks to get others involved first.  At the end of the Hug game he was taking control by driving the lane and getting buckets....I just wished he had done it sooner.  Either or, the kid "gets it" and is team first.  Hard nosed player.

Overall it was a great game, some iffy officiating (but that's to be expected) and both teams played hard to the end.  I'm really starting to dig Reno hoops.  A lot of the kids here play with a ton of H.E.A.R.T and I can't wait to see this Hug vs. Douglass game!



Douglas vs. Reed Varsity Boys Hoops

January 6th, 2012, I went to a High School Boys Varsity Basketball game in Sparks, NV.  Being from New Jersey/Maryland, I have no background in Nevada High School hoops.  I don't know who's good, who sucks and who is just having a good/great/crappy year.  I am COMPLETELY out of the loop.

This is where my man Nate Vonahsen, makes his very first appearance.  As I try to spread the word about H.E.A.R.T Athletics (the company that I own and run), my goal is to contact student athletes that I feel embody the characteristics of the values that are dear to me and my company.  Being that H.E.A.R.T Athletics is still a "start up" company, we are happy to provide FREE products to the public representing our gear.  This is one of the reasons why I attend the Douglas vs. Reed game, to give Nate his shirts and to see what Nevada hoops is all about..

So I show up to the Varsity Boys game on Friday not knowing what to expect.  All I know is that after the first quarter of play, the visiting team (Nate's team Douglas) is down 21-8.  And to put it nicely, this was not an easy 13 point deficit to overcome.  Reed H.S. had not only hit a variety of 3 pointers, but they were harassing the hell out of the ball and putting on a 3/4 press as well.  In all honesty, it DID NOT look good for the Douglas Tigers.

This is why I'm not a Basketball coach
                                                        End of the 2nd Q
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Beginning of the 4th....

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And by the end of the game.....
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The point of the story is this, no matter what your "history" says about you, you are able to change it in one day.  It's all about your attitude.  I still do not have a definitive idea on who Douglas and Reed are when it comes to hoops, but I know that Douglas will NOT give up no matter what.  This may be an outlier, but it could also be who they ARE.  All I know is that I can only go by what I see.  The Douglas Tigers took the Reed Raiders best shot, and still came back for more.  Although Douglas didn't give up, neither did Reed.  Both teams played their H.E.A.R.T's out and I couldn't be more proud of the effort put out by both teams.