We’ll See What Tiger’s Made Of

I’m looking forward to seeing how Tiger Woods comes back from his reconstructive knee surgery.  I’m betting he’s tough as nails and comes back playing some of the best golf of his career.

He seems to be the kind of athlete who loves to test himself, either in the toughest circumstances in a tournament or in life situations. This torn ACL has to be a powerful challenge for him and, deep down inside, an intriguing way to find out what he’s made of.

In some small way I understand. I tore my ACL playing pickup basketball at the age of 48. After surgery I pushed hard in the rehab process and was back on the court 4 months to the day, but with a different perspective on life. I’m certainly no athlete like Tiger Woods, but even I wanted to find out what I was made of.

My surgeon told me that he can tell very quickly which kind of patient will push through and be successful and which won’t.  He said it’s all about attitude.  There are a lot of athletes who are good while they’re feeling good, but the great ones go beyond that and look at obstacles and injuries as a testing ground for even greater personal achievement.

This quote from legendary coach John Wooden has always meant a lot to me, “Things turn out the best for those who make the best of the way things turn out.” Let’s see how things turn out of Tiger.

Quit Thinking So Much

Rudy’s thoughts on Phil Mickelson at the recent U.S. Open.

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Stand Up Like a Man

Wasn’t it something the way Big Brown trainer Rick Dutrow bragged about his horse winning the triple crowd before the Belmont Stakes and then refused to be interviewed afterwards, stumping off the track and as much as threatening a TV reporter? Then he threw his jockey Rick Desormeaux under the bus by claiming he was the one who cost Big Brown the victory by the way he handled him during the race.

Dutrow exemplifies everything that’s wrong with bad coaching, and don’t be mistaken, he IS the head coach of that racing team. Warm and fuzzy doesn’t cut it when a bad break turns you into a brooding, excuse driven complainer. You can’t fake it both ways.

I’d rather him be a jerk all the time than to pretend to be a nice guy when all is well. At least you know where the jerk stands.

Coaching By Example (Even When You’re Not Trying)

Ben Davies of Brentwood Academy in Nashville is a good example of an athlete who was coached by the example of his father long before his dad really was his coach. It was coaching by example even when he didn’t intend to. Now Ben’s a state champion in the decathlon four years in a row. Here is Rudy’s take on Ben and his dad, Brad Davies.

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