A "Rocky" Season

Whether boxing or volleyball, you need to give and to take a punch. 

Sylvester Stallone was inspired by viewing a heavyweight fight and wrote the script for Rocky. He turned down $125,000 and $250,000 (five decades ago) insisting he star in the film. Studios said, "you talk funny and you look funny." Finally, he settled on $35,000 and the role. Rocky won the 1977 Academy Award for best picture. A star was born. 

Toughness is a skill. It demands doing what you don't want to do when you don't want to do it, so that you get to do what you want when you can. 

Former Celtics' coach Brad Stevens said that he never met a great defensive player who wasn't an excellent student. 

Many of you have read Jay Bilas's book, "Toughness." Bilas shares that his father asked him to change the contact paper in his sister's bathroom vanity. He did so, but with shoddy work. His father came home late from work and redid the job over a couple of hours, saying nothing. Bilas felt shame at having done poor quality work, unacceptable to his father. 

You owe yourself and your teammates the pride and professionalism of bringing your best self to the court every day. That's toughness. 

Lagniappe. Former Melrose AD told us over fifty years ago, "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." 

Be pleased at earning another title. Don't be satisfied.