True Confessions of a Bookworm

I've got a confession to make. My basketball career was over
virtually before it began. In a lot of areas I've been a late
bloomer, but the highlight of my playing days was the 8th grade.

At 5' 7' I was decent forward material, but who could have
guessed I would eventually top out at 5 feet 7 and a half inches.

Still height wasn't the main reason I became a basketball coach
and fan instead of a player. In my case width was the problem.
I don't know if it was junior high (middle school) stress or just
the legendary Delker sweet tooth but if you'd have seen me at
the bakery most days in 1963-64 you'd have thought I was in
training to be a doughnut toting beat cop. And it all showed in
my clothes.

I had always been shy and introverted, but believe me
becoming a fatty didn't help turn that around one bit. I was also
a brain and a bookworm. I lived around the corner from our
public library (Thank you, Mr. Andrew Carnegie), and as an
insatiable reader I knew that place like the back of my hand.

That's probably why I've always been so fascinated by
psychology and spirituality and matters of the heart. I've
always had an active inner life and lived in my mind most of
the time. Thank God, I faced some of my fears and did
eventually join the real world. Better late than never.

Fortunately I learned there is a bridge between a person's inner
world and their outer world, and that bridge is called ACTION.
It is action that separates the men from the boys, the women
from the girls, and indeed the winners from the losers. And I
was a loser back then in many ways. I was avoiding the world,
and we're put here on this earth to have an impact. I was hiding
my light under a bushel.

No matter how much you dream and visualize the results you
want, it's not till you take action that you will begin to see those
things in your life.

To be the best shooter possible I believe you have to have a
strong mental game, but don't make the mistake of never
translating that into results by taking action. You must see
yourself becoming a great shooter before it will happen, but
don't make the mistake of assuming it will be automatic.

You must take action. You must practice. The work will be
much easier if you have pre-programmed yourself for success
and confidence, but action you must take.

Shoot For the Stars,

Dean - The Dean of Shooting Hoops

P.S. You probably have never thought about it, but one form
of action you can take that will give you a huge competitive
edge is to exercise the hands and fingers. If you're doing
something your competitor is not, isn't that a good thing.

The Chinese believe one way to master the body, and keep
the flow of energy balanced and powerful is to master the
hand. All the major energy meridians of the body are said
to be mirrored in the fingers.

As an athlete your hands and your fingers are your bread
and butter and they need to be in tip-top shape. If you
are ready to be known as that shooter with the soft hands
and the shooter's touch make sure you check out the
'Finger Fitness' course I've found for you at:

http://www.deandelker.com/finger_fitness.html

Copyright, Delker Enterprises, Inc. 2006