Last week, Sports Illustrated (SI), the world's most popular sports magazine published an ugly account of the UCLA basketball program. Once America's most successful college basketball program, SI told a story of a program under 54 year old coach Ben Howland as being in disarray and some of the players out of control. As a result of that article, the coach has been under fire from many people.
The team finished this season with 19 wins and 14 losses and Los Angeles Times sports writer T. J. Simers conducted a nearly 2 hour interview with coach Howland, during which the coach said something that will catch your attention as it did mine:
"Have I lost confidence in myself? Absolutely not, 'he [Howland] says, for a moment welling up' [in tears]. "It hurts. It's no fun, that's for sure, and did I have a tear in my eye when all this came down? Yes I did.
"But in terms of all these attacks directed at me from the media through the Sports Illustrated article, it's been most gratifying to find out all the people who do care, who do love me and appreciate me. I've received so many great emails and texts from people who I have coached."
What was this coach most seeking in his time of trial? Love and appreciation. He wanted what we all want and need, for it is fundamental to all of mankind to be loved and appreciated. It is a big reason why so many people have dogs, someone who will love and appreciate them unconditionally, something this coach needs now.
Dick
To see T. J. Simers' interview http://www.sacbee.com/2012/03/12/4329790/tj-simers-howland-doesnt-sound.html
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