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  1. Leadership Principle #1: Do What You Say You Will Do

    by Cory Dobbs, Ed.D. 01-03-2012 11:44 PM Athlete Career Development | Leadership

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    Imagine a world where all your friends, teammates, family members, educators, coaches, and those you encountered on a daily basis took full responsibility for their actions. In this imaginary world everyone you interacted with did what they said they would do. And people approached interpersonal interactions with a perspective of looking beyond personal goals to consider those of the team or the community. 

    Trouble is, when it comes to answering for one’s word, many people see little value in honoring their word. Accountability entails taking ownership of one’s actions (which includes promises and commitments) or the expectation of one’s taking action and the consequences that arise from the action or inaction. By failing to honor our word we signal to others that we are unreliable and unpredictable.
     
    The problem is that we live in an era where the definition of accountability has become murky and, for the most part, open to one’s personal definition and situational interpretation.
     
    We often encounter issues of “accountability” within emotionally-charged interactions that involve blame, divisiveness, and hostility. Quality interpersonal relationships are essential to any cohesive team. And nothing destroys quality relationships more than losing confidence in the authenticity of someone’s promise or commitment.
     
    The First Principle of Leadership is to simply Do What You Say You Will Do. Leadership accountability requires a level of ownership that involves making, keeping, and answering for personal commitments. Simply put, when you hold yourself accountable, those around you know you can be counted on to complete your responsibilities or follow through on your promises. When you do what you say you will do you build credibility. 

     

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  2. Athlete Weekly Rundown: Cam Newton's work ethic is the key to his success, Money will never change Derrick Rose & Dennis Horner's longshot NBA dreams came true

    by Al-Hassan Sheriff 01-02-2012 11:38 PM Athlete Weekly Rundown

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    Athlete Development

    • NFL rookie QB Cam Newton had lots of expectations coming into this season, as well as many critics who questioned his ability and work ethic to run an NFL offense. After setting several league records with the Carolina Panthers, Newton’s head coach and several teammates discuss the level of commitment the Rookie of the Year candidate displays on Sundays. [Work Habits, Once Questioned, Are a Key to Newton’s Success]
    • Derrick Rose will never let a lucrative contract extension dampen his desire to improve his game. "“Knowing that nobody ever in my neighborhood ever saw that kind of money and knowing the background that I came from, the struggles that I went through, it’s just going to make me work harder. That’s the only thing that I thought about: I’m never satisfied. No matter how much money I have or whatever, I will never be satisfied as a player.” [Rose held firm by his Chicago roots]
    • DeMarcus Cousins better start listening to Kurt Thomas' advice or he won't be in the League for long. Thomas told ESPN, "This is a business.  You're not playing for just one team, you're playing for the 29 other teams. You've got to keep playing, keep your head. A lot of guys think it's all show. You've got to keep your head." [Cousins Must Grow Up -- On Another Team]

     

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  3. Embracing Challenges

    by Jason Krump 01-01-2012 11:59 PM Education | Human Relations

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    What challenges do you embrace?

    Before you answer, hear from a person who knows a thing or two about the topic.

    To do so, sit in with the Washington State University football team on the morning of one of its biggest games of the year.

    On the night of Saturday, Nov. 12, 2011, the Cougars will host the Arizona State Sun Devils at Martin Stadium. The game will be nationally televised and be played in front of a capacity Dad's Weekend crowd.

    Viewed as prohibitive underdogs to the Sun Devils, the Cougars hold their pregame walkthrough that morning at the Indoor Practice Facility.

    As the players enter the facility they notice an individual waiting for them. They gather around, and for the next 15 minutes, listen to his message.

    The person delivering the message is Steve Gleason. 

     

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  4. Athlete Weekly Rundown: Former Super Bowl winner Ben Utech suffering memory loss at 30, Retirees file a rash of lawsuits against the NFL over head injuries & Peja Stojakovic and Brandon Roy retire due to injuries

    by Al-Hassan Sheriff 12-26-2011 11:18 PM Athlete Weekly Rundown

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    Athlete Development

    • Former NFL TE Ben Utech won a Super Bowl as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, but he retired after suffering multiple concussions in six seasons. “Will I experience early-onset dementia in my 50s? Will I experience more issues with amnesia or headaches or behavioral changes? All of these things are consequences of brain injury. I think now that I'm aware of them -- especially now that I'm the father of three beautiful little girls -- it's definitely in my heart and on my mind. I'd be lying to you if I said it wasn't.” [Former Super Bowl Winner Suffering Memory Loss at 30]
    • As a response to the Browns not testing QB Colt McCoy for a concussion he suffered during a game, the NFL has decided to hire an athletic trainer who specializes in brain injuries for each team. [NFL Adds Concussion-Specific Trainers for Games]
    • More former pro athletes are speaking out about how concussions they sustained during their playing day have affected their lives. Former New York Jets wide receivers Al Toon and Wayne Chrebet recently shared their stories. [Two Ex-Jets Have Moved On, but Concussion Effects Linger]

     

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  5. Lead Like Tebow, Now!

    by Cory Dobbs, Ed.D. 12-26-2011 07:14 PM Athlete Career Development | Leadership

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    The world has changed. The pace and scope of change in the past ten years has been unprecedented. To succeed in our ever-changing world we need to find new leaders and new ways to lead. The challenges and opportunities we face are huge. To deal with these challenges we need people with diverse skills and perspectives to become leaders. In short, today everyone needs to be a leader.

    Tim Tebow has captured the attention of the world. He has done so, because he exemplifies the leader many want to model. He has a mission and that mission gives him power to realize his full potential. And Tebow’s leadership comes at a time when Americans have issued a wake-up call to the coercive command and control transactional leaders that a massive shift in the balance of power is underway.
     
    Tebow’s leadership exemplifies the three dimensions of leadership necessary in this new world order. The industrial model of leadership has been dismantled brick by brick. We are now in a world that revolves more around sharing of information and the creation of knowledge than one shaped by making and selling things. Education too has seen a change in tools and tactics for educating its customers. 
     
    The three dimensions of leadership that participants in the new world order need to be a high-performing leader are self-leadership, leading of others and leading with others. The ability to lead with others is much more complex than the order-giver, order-taker foundation of the industrial age transactional leader.
     
    Tebow is first a leader of self. The best leaders have deep self-knowledge and are willing to commit to higher standards. His standards are higher than any that anyone else could place upon him. Tebow displays his commitment to self-leadership by demonstrating consistency between his words and actions. As his teammates will tell you “he walks his talk.” Receiver Eddie Royal says, “there’s nothing fake about Tim Tebow. He represents the game of football the right way, by his play, by his emotion, by his enthusiasm. He's the perfect example of the type of guy that you want to be off the field."
     
    It’s obvious that Tebow, unlike many leaders we used to consider to be role models, pays constant attention to ethics, integrity, and values. This is responsible leadership.
     
    Tebow’s excellence in self-leadership also includes taking the time to reflect, to learn from his and others thoughts, feelings, and actions. He’s forever drawing out lessons from his own experiences and thinking deeply about how his actions affect others. 
     
    The second dimension of leadership is leading others. To Tebow leadership is a verb. It’s about taking action. It’s about inspiring his teammates (and the rest of the world) to come along with him. Tebow understands responsible leadership involves developing one’s social and emotional intelligence. He’s fully aware that what he says and does matters to those around him.
     
    The final dimension of leadership is leading with others. The new world order demands this advanced type of leadership. Many student-athletes, most students for that matter, aren’t prepared to lead with others—a distributed leadership model that companies like Google and Facebook employ. Tebow takes the time to build relationships and connect with his teammates so they believe in what he is trying to do—and so they believe in him. 
     
    It’s clear that Tebow utilizes trust as the foundation for building relationships. His leadership resonates with his teammates because of his trustworthiness. Trust in Tebow stems from the selfless way he uses his energies and abilities for the purposes of the team. He understands that one of the most important ways to wield influence is to share it. This is because no single individual has all the answers or can make all the decisions. He’s comfortable leading with others and cares to create a team environment that sparks passion and leads to high performance. This happens because he’s genuine and authentic—his teammates want to lead with him.
     
    Many student-athletes don’t see themselves as leaders. This happens because from the time we begin to walk what we’ve been taught—that leadership and authority go hand in hand with certain roles. Our models are our parents, the school principal, teacher, or coach. Certainly these roles require leadership—and our followership. It’s simply that for most of us this becomes a process in which we’ve grown comfortable watching “others” lead. 
     
    What’s different today is everyone needs to be a leader. And what Tim Tebow illuminates so brightly is the fact that being a leader is not something that happens later. Every day the opportunity to lead stands before you. You must learn to lead and engage in leadership now. Every student-athlete needs to think this way. 

     

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  6. Ravens Anquan Boldin Hosts 1st Fundraiser Dinner in Baltimore

    by Matthew Allinson 11-13-2011 11:58 PM Philanthropy | Special Event

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    Access Athletes will be attending Anquan Boldin's Inaugural Fundraiser Dinner for the Anquan Boldin Foundation (Q81 Foundation) tomorrow evening at M&T Bank Stadium. Bridgett Coates of Exposure BBC invited me to cover the event and I'm thrilled for the opportunity to be able to provide my readers with a glimpse into Boldin's charitable work. 

    Boldin, who was awarded the 2010 Ravens’ Walter Payton Man of the Year award, has a strong record of community service with the many successful youth programs he has established. Other athletes can learn a great deal from Boldin's perspective on philanthropy and what it means to him to be a professional athlete, as reflected by his quote below.

    "I don't want to be just another guy who played in the NFL. We have a bigger purpose to touch lives and I'm trying to do that."

    I look forward to writing more about the Q81 Foundation event in the near future.

    (Press Release below)

     

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  7. Athlete Weekly Rundown: Terrence Jones focused on taking next steps at Kentucky, with mo' money comes higher expectations for Chris Johnson & DeAngelo Williams & Jared Allen assists wounded veterans

    by Al-Hassan Sheriff 11-13-2011 09:39 PM Athlete Weekly Rundown

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    Athlete Development

    • It appears more often than not that each year the potential No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL Draft will be highly scrutinized. While Stanford QB Andrew Luck seems to be the favorite to be selected first on draft day, he has at least one tough critic: former Giants QB and Super Bowl XXI MVP Phil Simms. “I think the hype is a little too much,” Simms said. “I feel bad for him in that respect. I mean, [how's] he going to do to match what they say he can do? There's a lot to him…But the one thing I don't see, I just don't see big-time NFL throws. I don't care what anybody says. I've watched a lot of him. He never takes it and rips it in there…Hey, he can develop it but, even in the USC game, you know, he's very careful with it, guides it a lot. That's what I see.” [Phil Simms: Andrew Luck hype is ‘a little too much’]
    • It’s no secret that many of today’s pro athletes, including the star athletes, are talented. Yet, one factor that appears to fuel their success at sports, and elsewhere, is a motivating factor or a source of inspiration. For Kentucky Forward Terrence Jones, his inspiration came from the role his aunt Ava Mashia played in his life. ESPN writer Dana O’Neil takes a look at how that relationship has helped him currently, and perhaps will help the sophomore lead a Wildcat squad with a talented freshman class back to the NCAA Final Four. [O'Neil: Mature Jones Focused on Taking Next Step at Kentucky]
    • This LA Times article takes an in-depth look at why NFL rookie receivers are having so much success this season. The interesting part in particular is the input from a couple of Hall of Famers at the position. [For Rookies, It's So Much Better To Receive]
    Business
    • Imagine having to go to work with the feeling that your employers have little regard for your physical well-being. Well, that’s the scenario Bears RB Matt Forte paints with his comments regarding his current stalemate in contract negotiations: “The running back position is the most physically demanding on the field. Everyone acknowledges that. So to continue to give me the touches I've had since my rookie year but not award me a long-term contract sends the message that you're OK grinding me into a pulp.” [Matt Forte: Bears Are Grinding Me Into A Pulp]
    • New York Times columnist William C. Rhoden feels that Pittsburgh Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger is “in the top two” at his position. And he may have a valid point: the signal caller has more Super Bowl wins and appearances than every starting QB in the NFL not named Tom Brady. Yet, Big Ben’s off-the-field issues have critics overlooking his success on the gridiron. A classic case of how your personal life can interfere with your work life. [Video: Credit Where It’s Due]

     

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  8. Reputation Management: Lessons from the St. Louis Cardinals on Collapse and Comeback

    by Wesley Mallette 10-31-2011 12:35 AM Public Relations | Crisis Management | Image Branding

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    The sixth game of the 2011 World Series between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers will go down in history as perhaps the single greatest World Series game ever played. By now, we are all aware of the Rangers' late (and extra inning) collapse and the Cardinals' unbelievable and incredible comeback. Twice the Cardinals were one strike away from elimination and the end of what was a miraculous run to and through the playoffs. Twice the Rangers were one strike away from greatness and their place in baseball history with their first World Series title. And one man named David Freese, a local St. Louis area guy, found himself on center stage and in a place where he would either be remembered as the final out or the one who enabled his team to fight another day.  

    We all know the outcome. Freese delivered and thrust himself into the history books with a game tying triple in the bottom of the 9th inning and then hitting the game winning homerun in the bottom of the 11th inning. His role in the Cardinals' comeback was pivotal in what would result in the Rangers' collapse and it was all in lockstep with his team's never give up, never quit attitude. Despite the obstacles in front of them or the adversity they faced, they never gave up.
     
    It's a lesson for all of us, that no matter what happens to you, you cannot quit. No matter how dire the circumstances, you cannot give up. Even if you lose or come up short, it is not the end. You have to fight on.
     
    Especially when it comes to building, managing, rebuilding or repairing one's reputation. 
     
    Athletes and public figures (everyone for that matter) should take a similar approach when it comes to managing their reputations. Too often, the carelessness of self-inflicted wounds caused by careless comments or stupid actions, quickly lead to the demise or sullying of one's reputation. The results can be devastating as millions in endorsements, sponsorships and contract renewals are at risk for loss, as well as one's future in their chosen sport or high profile profession. Sadly, many of these career-changing moments occur or are influenced by an athlete's actions off the field—actions that are easily controlled.
     
    So when it hits the fan, what do you do? How do you get through reputation damaging situations? The road to reputation redemption is not easy, but getting through the recovery process can be done if managed properly and a well thought out strategy is in place. For starters, you should:
     
    1.         Always Be Prepared. Understand the importance of your reputation and protect it by having a good team of strategic advisors in place (i.e., PR, agent, lawyer, etc.) to help build your brand strategy well in advance and stay aligned with that strategy as you move through your career. 
     
    2.         Build your "bank of goodwill" from the outset. This will help you as you build your name both on and off the field. 
     
    3.         Understand the importance of your words and actions. Be consistent in how you govern yourself in all situations. Always think before you speak and act, and understand that your actions and words are subject to interpretation (especially in a digital universe) and may not be received the way they were intended. In other words, don't say things to "get them off your chest" in the media and don't allow Twitter to be a 140-character shotgun blast to the head of your reputation.
     
    4.         If you do mess up, realize that it's not the end of the world (although depending on the circumstances, the damage may be significant). Understand that the process of reputation recovery and getting on the road to reputation redemption will take time.

     

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  9. 10 Tips For Pro Basketball Players Playing Overseas

    by Corey Crowder 10-30-2011 11:58 PM Life After Sports | Athlete Career Development

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    This article is for American basketball players that have made a career out of playing outside of the United States, and find themselves without a job at the beginning of the season.  Your season just ended 3 to 4 months ago, but now you are without a contract and the season has already started. I know what you are going through. I faced this exact thing maybe 6 or 7 times in my 14-year career, 12 of those years in Europe. 

    For whatever the reason, teams have overlooked you, and nobody has stepped forward to offer you a contract to play on their team. What do you do now, while your agent continues to offer your services to teams around the world?
    I am writing this article, to give you some advice on how to deal with the uncertainty of future employment as a professional basketball player.
    Here are 10 things you must do to stay prepared:
    1.       Stay in shape
    a.       You must continue to eat right and monitor your weight. You do not want your agent to call you with a contract, and you show up overweight and get sent back home. Therefore, you need to really monitor your weight. 
    b.      Make sure your body is as healthy as possible to avoid injuries. If you have some type of injuries, make sure they are taken care of before you board that plane. I have seen guys be put right back on the plane because they fail their physical.
    2.       Play and workout everyday
    a.       Find a gym and play every day. You need to be putting up more shots, so that you will be able to step right into the job, once you land in that country. I have seen where guys got off the plane and went straight to practice or games. You will not be given a second chance to produce.
    b.      Do as many individual drills as you can on a daily basis. 
    c.       Also, run more and more sprints to make sure you have your wind. If you cannot make it through a practice, you will be coming back home...without pay!
    3.       Contact your agent on a regular basis
    a.       You should at the least call your agent once or twice a week. Some agents have many players, and you could get overlooked for some new young stud, fresh out of college.
    b.      E-mail is a quick and efficient way to communicate with a busy agent. Most of them have smart phones now and they will get your message immediately.
    c.       Also, maybe ask about different countries, outside of their normal areas of expertise. Maybe they can work with other agents in different countries.
    4.       Budget your money
    a.       Really limit your spending to things that you only need to survive. 
    b.      You may have just played your last game. Therefore, you need to make the money you have last as long as possible.
    c.       No more movies, eating out, gifts, joy riding, hanging out, buying expensive clothes, high telephone bills, 100 channels on your TV, barbeques at your home, etc. You get the picture.
    5.       Find something to occupy your time
    a.       Spend more time with your wife/girlfriend and kids. Now is a great time to catch up on the time you have not been home.
    b.      Give back to your community in some way. You should do some work with charities.

     

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  10. Athlete Weekly Rundown: Student-athlete graduation rates are up, Michael Beasley countersues his ex-agent & JaMarcus Russell finally tells his side of the story

    by Al-Hassan Sheriff 10-30-2011 04:58 PM Athlete Weekly Rundown

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    Athlete Development

    • In the NCAA’s annual report of graduation rates over the last six years, student-athletes are earning their degrees at a higher rate than the overall student body at Division I universities. For any student-athletes interested in going pro, here’s some evidence that perhaps going through college first wouldn’t hurt. [NCAA: Six-Year Grad Rate at All-Time High]
    • Ironically while student-athlete graduation rates are improving, a powerhouse may be penalized for its players underperforming academically. The defending national champion UConn Huskies may not be eligible for the 2013 NCAA Tournament due to its low Academic Progress Rate (APR). The program already has lost 2 scholarships as a result of their APR scores. [UConn Academics Could Jeopardize 2013 Tourney]
    • While many speculated that injuries to players would increase due to the NFL lockout, one Pro-Bowler has publically made that claim. Redskins TE Chris Cooley, who was recently placed on injured reserve, alleges that the NFL’s no contact policy between players and team personnel during the lockout affected him. “I fe[e]l 100 percent that I'm a casualty for the season of the lockout,” Cooley said. “I think it was a shame that they didn't let players who had surgery spend time with the doctors and trainers they trust on daily basis, I wish I could've.”  [Redskins TE Cooley Says He’s a Lockout Casualty]
    Business
    • In response to decades of countless scandals due to improper benefits, the NCAA approved several changes, including allowing conferences freedom to increase the amount and length of athletic scholarships and allocate an additional $2,000 of spending money per student-athlete. Many NCAA critics believe these rule changes were a much needed step in the right direction. “I think it needs to happen or else I think what's left of the system itself is going to implode,” said an Ohio University professor and past president of The Drake Group, an NCAA watchdog. “We've always lost the moral high ground by saying the educational model is what makes this thing go. I think we're delivering a model that can exploit kids while they're here.” [NCAA Approves Scholarship Changes]

     

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