The Contrast in NBA and NFL Post-Election Reaction

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These have been very polarizing times.  Sports figures have not been exempt from commenting before and after the recent Presidential election.  The NBA and NFL have had very different reactions from players and coaches alike.  This is not surprising to me given the nature and their respective sports. 

NBA head coaches Steve Kerr (Golden State), Greg Popovich (San Antonio), and Stan Van Gundy (Detroit) have not been hesitant to voice their displeasure of Donald Trump victory last Tuesday, the tone of his campaign, and the aftermath with the reality that he is our President-elect.   

According to The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sport, the NBA was 74.3 percent black during the 2015-16 season and 81.7 percent were people of color. The study said that the NBA was 18.3 percent white last season, which was 5 percent less than the season before. The league was also a record 22.3 percent international last season.   That 18.3 percent of whites in the NBA from TIDES also includes non-Americans such as Europeans, Canadians and Australians of white descent. Entering the 2015-16 season, the NBA had 42 white American-born players.

The NBA is a players’ league.  Meaning that they have most of the leverage in terms of impact on the game and player movement.  A basketball team is comprised of only 12-15 players.  It is a very intimate group and the head coach needs to have a relationship with all of them.  The relationship between star player and coach is paramount to the team’s success and in reality dictates a coaches' reputation for the future.  

If Phil Jackson couldn’t get buy in from Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Shaquille O’Neal or Greg Popovich from Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Tony Parker they would not have generated the 16 championships between the two of them.  

Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy addressed the media before a recent game vs. Phoenix.  He noticed his team was “a little quiet” entering the arena. He initially thought the silence might’ve been caused by the previous night’s blowout loss to the Clippers, but backup center Aron Baynes said team’s mood was about “last night.”

He admitted that he and his players will have trouble facing fans from a city whose voters largely supported Trump.“I’m having a hard time being with people. I’m going to walk into this arena tonight and realize that -- especially in this state -- most of these people voted for the guy,” Van Gundy said. “Like, (expletive), I don’t have any respect for that. I don’t.”

In 2015 the NFL percent of black players was 68.7% while the percent of white players was 28.6%.  Unlike the NBA, NFL players are more disposable and are treated as such.   There are multiple layers between the head coach and players with position coaches and coordinators.

The NBA is not the NFL where in 2010 then Washington Redskins coach Mike Shanahan benched starting quarterback Donovan McNabb with under two minutes in a six point game questioning his understanding of the offense in that situation.  With the history of black quarterbacks and the issues they have faced of having their intellect and leadership questioned to run a football team many, including myself took this as racial coding.   Shanahan had been around the NFL too long not to know that and this was his first black starting quarterback.  Shanahan made multiple appearances on the campaign trail for Donald Trump.  “We need leadership for our country,” said Shanahan. “We need leadership for our kids.”

During a speech the day before the election Donald Trump not only announced that New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady called him earlier in the day to say he voted for him, but also read a letter of support he received from New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick.

Current San Francisco head coach Chip Kelly faced criticism of his relationship with black players while coaching the Philadelphia Eagles.  Players made comments such as “uncomfortable around grown men of our culture.”   Philadelphia was Kelly’s first professional coaching job.  Traded cornerback Brandon Boykin said, “He can't relate and that makes him uncomfortable...He likes total control of everything, and he don't like to be uncomfortable. Players excel when you let them naturally be who they are, and in my experience that hasn't been important to him, but you guys have heard this before me.”

Ownership is key in any business including sports.  In NFL culture it is front office, head coach, and quarterback focused.  If a key player or coach on a NBA team publicly acknowledged Trump in the manner Brady and Belichick did  it would cause issues within the team.  I’m sure some NBA players and coaches voted for Donald Trump, but they also would be in tune with their teammates feelings.   Trump has become a taboo topic in some NFL locker rooms as Mike Freeman of Bleacher Report has reported during this election season.

In sharp contrast, eight black players Freeman spoke with expressed the sentiment that the Trump election was one of the ugliest moments in American history and was about white America wanting to keep blacks, and other people of color, as one black player said, "in our place."

"Black players are constantly playing the race card [when it comes to Trump]," a white NFC player said. "This election had nothing to do with race."

A white NBA player and coach could not survive and be successful in the league without being conscious to some degree.  The beauty of the game is the close knit nature of the group.  The time together forces understanding from one another.  The head coach must be engaged with all of them.  With that you get what we heard from the respective NBA coaches and players who did speak out.   

One thing players can sniff quickly is a phony.  A pro basketball locker room is the toughest to win over.   They know the power they have and the coach better be able to communicate with them effectively.  Unlike college basketball where the main stars are the coaches and they have the most of the leverage.  Many of them have been quiet because they represent universities whose dynamics from the administration, student body and donors are not reflective of the athletes.  They don’t want to rock the boat.  The NBA is a workforce where there is reliance respecting and understanding it.  The NBA is and has been steps ahead of the NFL in terms of social awareness and this is no exception.

Takeaways From Ben Simmons One & Done Documentary

After watching the documentary on Ben Simmons on Showtime there were so many takeaways.  A few things stood out.

He would have been better served playing overseas for a year or going to a program such as Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, or UNC that had experience dealing with one year players.  The coaches at those respective schools would have had some boundaries in place and better prepared him and his family for what was in store.  Simmons had the attitude that he was doing LSU a favor by attending, which he was because he was their most high profile basketball player since Shaquille O’Neal.  The coaching staff couldn’t tell him anything.  The team’s struggles were concerning and his lack of competitiveness in key moments.  His teammates didn’t appear to trust him.  They go 18-13, miss the NCAA Tournament and get blown out by 23 points in their last game in the SEC Tournament.

  The one and done rule needs to go.  For an athlete of Simmons stature who has no interest in being a college student attending college for a year, especially with the attitude he had toward it makes a mockery of college.  This is not about simply being 18 and having the right to work.  Every entity makes a decision on what is the minimum requirement whether it is age, education or years of experience.  Enough players have had success entering out of high school.  With the NBA Developmental League they can continue to develop until they are ready.  I would like a rule similar to baseball, which has a three year mandatory stay if you choose to go to college and not turn pro out of high school.  Basketball would be better served with a two year rule.  But this is a NBA and union issue to resolve, not the MCAA, but they need to get involved.

Simmons had legitimate complaints regarding the NCAA, but they are not new and he is not the first. His family was very supportive, but appeared overwhelmed and when he was drafted #1 the end seem to justify the means.  Then he ill-advisedly puts on 35 lbs in the offseason and breaks his foot three weeks before the season begins.  The majority of that weight cannot be lean muscle and will have an impact on movement.  It is not shocking that he suffered an injury to a lower extremity.

That being said, he is very talented and a full recovery is expected.  A bright future is still available to him.  From my observation certain intangibles are missing and he is young and his teammate weren’t that good are irrelevant in how a player approaches the game and competes.  Time and age in most instances doesn’t change that.  It will be interesting to see how it plays out for him.  

Dear Will Cain

Dear Will Cain,

This letter is to potentially bring more perspective as to why you received so much backlash yesterday regarding your commentary as a guest host on “The Right Time” yesterday.  I must admit when I first saw you on ESPN platforms earlier in the year I was taken aback by your hire.  I can not claim to be a political junkie, but I do keep a close eye on current events and listen to political commentary.  Several of your views over the years have demonstrated a disconnect on matters of race in this country so I anticipated a moment like yesterday would come at ESPN.  

Unlike with your past political commentary experiences the audience of “The Right Time” is more diverse than your previous positions as a political commentator.  Bomani Jones offers a refreshing perspective on topics that many in the media do not provide, black, white, or any other race.  It is not about agreeing with him all the time, but it is a thoughtful perspective from a black man living in this country.  

Fair or unfairly to you, a white man whose past is considered a right wing conservative perspective is the polar opposite.  Your commentary yesterday did not change that stereotype of what is to be expected when you address racial matters.  Your constant need for details was frustrating to listen to.  Colin Kaepernick stood in front of his locker for 20 minutes discussing his position.  If you need more details on police brutality and lack of accountability then that is part of the problem.   When recent events have shown that the encounters with police should not have lead to deaths.  The details of the particular cases are different, but the common theme of white police officers interactions with blacks should be enough.  The retaliation on officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge being killed is also a tragedy.  As Kareem Abdul-Jabbar eloquently stated in the The Washington Post Kaepernick’s protest is as American as the pole vaulter Sam Kendricks stopping for the anthem during the Olympics.

I’ve heard you use terms such as cheap hashtag activism in reference to the “Bring Our Girls Back” movement of Boko Haram and question the legalities of Donald Sterling being recorded instead of what was said.  You’ve wanted to discount the racial aspects in the Trayvon Martin case.  I stand by my observation of the comments you made on “Real Time” with Bill Maher regarding our country being past racism because President Obama was elected in the first place. 

In the election four years ago Mitt Romney had 14% more votes of white educated men over President Obama.  Which demographic dominates government, business, banking, and media?  I’m in agreement with you in reference to the need to further the discussion with an action plan to address matters, but the problem is you don’t offer any.  We have to listen Donald Trump’s disingenuous plea to minorities in one breath and telling Kaepernick he should leave the country in another if he’s not happy.

I don’t know if your view on issues of race is an intentional attempt to get under people’s skin, a disconnect, or both.  But you don’t get it and the problem is you think you do.  When well versed minorities articulate the “why” you still want to question it.  My desire is that you would listen more for understanding and have more sensitivity to why black folks are fed up now to be quite frank. 

Sincerly,

Jamaal Piper

Sports Fan and Concerned Citizen

The Rise of Boutique Fitness Studios

Boutique fitness studios are the fastest growing trend in the fitness industry.  As I travel throughout the Washington, DC area I see more of them from yoga, cycling, circuit training concepts, and other new innovative trends.  This is a common trend throughout the country.  These boutique fitness studios now account for 42 percent of the American health club market. That's double what it was just a year ago. The average gym membership is about $57 per month while just one class at a boutique studio can run $25 to $40.  Most boutique users were found to use more than one facility—a health club and a stand-alone cycling studio, for instance.

Photo Credit:  www.yelp.com

Boutique studios tend to be located in highly foot-trafficked locations in affluent cities.  They are a byproduct of the gentrification taking places in many of these cities.  Very few are located in suburbs.

Meredith Poppler, vice president of media communications at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association (IHRSA), cites dramatic growth of studios as two-fold for owners, the cost of running a small studio is less expensive compared to the overhead to maintaining a full service gym.  “These studios are centered on a particular community of people with similar passions [Pilates, yoga, Zumba, boxing], and provide a high-tough, personalized environment.”

Why have them become so popular?  They have not reinvented the wheel in terms of their concepts.  The combination of exercises and the overall experience is the draw.  Relationships are established within the class and it is a great way to train with friends, families, and co-workers.  

The challenge with group training is the lack of individual programming to address needs and goals.  Since a group workout is, by its very nature, designed for a group, it may fail to address individual differences or weaknesses.  Someone with a previous injury or weakness in a particular area performs the same workout as another participant who is strong in that area. Granted, good teachers are quick to provide progressions and regressions for individual cases, but it's often difficult to address each unique situation.

Many of these boutique studios have a singular focus.   They revel in specialized training in niches such as Pilates, barre, yoga, group cycling, boot camp, mixed martial arts and boxing.  For example a cycling studio provides an intense cardiovascular workout.  Yoga provides strength and flexibility.  More circuit training or HIIT (high intensity interval training) studios are popping up.  They incorporate high intensity cardio exercises, rowing, and resistance exercises utilizing body weight.  They have incorporated science and technology.  Some studios have participants wear heart rate monitors during the session.

With the boom it has created a more competitive market place for consumers dollars.  Working out used to be straightforward with strength training, cardio and you’re done.  In today’s market the options are plentiful.  Big box gyms are offering similar group classes to compete with boutique studios so they will not lose their members.  

To get the best of both worlds, program group fitness classes into your schedule alongside a structured individual regiment.  Your overall training should include strength training, cardio, and stretching.  That way, you'll reap the benefits of the group experience, while at the same time addressing personal needs brought by individual training.  

Jamaal Piper
Health and Wellness Consultant/Personal Trainer
www.piperpersonaltraining.com

2015 NFC East Champions: Pleasant Surprise

The Washington Redskins surprised the football world by winning the NFC East.  When the season began I made a decision to limit my social media comments and let the season play out.  Like most fans, I was frustrated with the constant drama surrounding the team.  The most exciting offseason move the team made was hiring general manager Scot McCloughan.  Fans of other teams did not understand why there was so much excitement about the hire.  

I’ve viewed the ‘Skins as an organization that would have a hard time landing a top coach or executive with options.  The only reason they were able to hire McCloughan is because he had some issues in his personal life and other teams strayed from him.  Since Dan Snyder has owned the team the checks and balances in the football operation have not been in place.  We wanted to see how football decisions were made.  The less buzz about them the better.  The decision to make Kirk Cousins the starter generated a variety of responses.   I took issue with how the organization handled and communicated the decision, but agreed it was the correct one. 

Photo Credit:  www.wavy.com

The dysfunction of the past helped the organization this season.   In the 2012 draft the ‘Skins did something which is almost unprecedented.  The quarterback position had to be addressed.  The team mortgaged future picks to draft Robert Griffin III and in the fourth round drafted Kirk Cousins.  Both of these quarterback were considered to be future starting quarterbacks.  Why would they draft two highly touted quarterbacks in the same draft? My thoughts were that former coach Mike Shanahan wasn’t crazy about Griffin, that was the owner's preference.  Cousins fit more of the mold of what he wanted in a quarterback in a rare deep draft for the position and would be a safety net if Griffin did not pan out.  Griffin did not have a playbook in college and his learning curve would be longer when there were other options.

After Griffin’s knee injury at the end of 2012 and what has took place after is well documented.  My biggest issue with Shanahan and current coach Jay Gruden’s handling of Griffin is how public they were with their frustration with him.  Their issues with him as a football player have merit.  But I can’t recall a quarterback publicly being reprimanded by a former and current coach as much as Griffin was.  As a fan there are certain things we should not know even with all the access we love to have.  A head coach is the spokesperson for the team and should keep certain things in house and protect their players.  But when an organization forces a player on a coach when they have made it clear how they feel about them, the player will get the short end regardless if the reasons are justified are not.  It usually doesn't end well, this was no exception.

Players are not easily fooled.  They're in meetings and on the practice field and witness who is playing better and have feelings of who should be on the field and who should not.  When the New England Patriots practiced with the 'Skins during the 2014 preseason many Patriots players and staff walked away more impressed with Cousins than Griffin from the perspective of running the offense, fine-tuned mechanics and how decisively the ball came out of his hand.

Griffin and Cousins were put in a difficult situation from day one.  If Griffin ever struggled there would be temptation to go to Cousins.  When Cousins played his first three years he knew he was just keeping the seat warm for Griffin.  There was probably some mutual insecurity.   With both quarterbacks entering their contract year head coach Jay Gruden made a decision to go with Cousins and demote Griffin to third string, meaning he would be inactive and not dress for games.

Cousins has improved as the season progressed.  It has been refreshing to see how the offseason acquisitions through the draft and free agency have contributed to the team.  Also, new hires on the coaching staff with a new offensive line coach, quarterback coach, and entire defensive coaching staff.  

So excuse us ‘Skins fans for our excitement.   We have witnessed foolishness for a long time.  It appears to be some order to running the team.   It is only one season and another game vs. Dallas before the playoffs.  In the the NFL things can change quickly week to week and year to year.  I just hope they stay the course through the good and bad in the future.

What Happened When I Cooked All Of My Meals For 30 Days

At the beginning of the year I was recovering from a stomach virus and lost 12 pounds.  I worked diligently to return to my previous weight.  It took approximately two months.  Later in the year I decided I wanted to put on eight more pounds.  That would require me increasing my macros and calories to reach that goal.  I consumed more “cheat” meals during the week that were high in calories.  After a couple of months, mission accomplished.  When attempting to gain weight in many instances will also lead to an increase in fat when consuming some of the foods that were in my diet such as pizzas, hamburgers, and milk shakes to reach my goal of calories.  I was tracking my meals in an app and it was working.

Sample Meal: Chicken, shrimp, brown rice and mixed vegetables

After reaching my weight goal I didn’t appear as lean as I would have liked, so I decided to do something that I’ve never done before and that was to prepare all of my meals for 30 days and limit myself to eating out three times per week.  With my schedule I found myself purchasing lunch and dinner sometimes simply because I was on the go!  When any type of restaurant prepares food it is impossible to know all of the ingredients and the quality.  Grilled meat and vegetables can be of a poor quality and high in sodium.

According to a January 2013 Wall Street Journal Report, American adults eat in restaurants an average of five times a week—which means they probably eat way too much salt.  Salt is indispensable in restaurant kitchens beyond just how it makes food taste. It extends the shelf life of prepared foods, prevents bitterness in produce and encourages binding in breads, says Joy Dubost, director of nutrition at the National Restaurant Association, a Washington, D.C., industry group. Replacing salt with alternative preparations or seasonings, such as herbs, will almost always end up costing more.

My diet is based around balanced meals consisting of lean proteins, nutrient-rich, low-glycemic carbs, and generous portions of healthy fats.  I wasn’t going to document macros or calories this time around.  My favorite sources of lean protein are chicken breast, 98 percent or leaner ground beef, turkey, fish, steak and quality protein supplements of whey and casein protein.

It is important to find the right balance of carbs.  Carbohydrates are fuel, they give working muscles the energy to do their job and maximize training sessions.  My carbs come from high-fiber, high-nutrient foods. I include plenty of sweet potatoes, oatmeal, and brown rice, among others.  For example, pre-workout I would consume a whey protein shake that included carrots,  1/2 banana, 1/2 orange, 1/4 cup of rolled oates, and 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk.  Healthy fats would compromise olive oil when cooking and almonds for snacks.

I purchased and prepared foods in bulk.  I would cook on Sundays and then a smaller portion on Thursdays to get me through the weekend.  The meals were not bland and had plenty of flavor.  I baked, grilled, or sauteed all of my meats.  Vegetables were steamed or sauteed to preserve the nutrients.  After a week I noticed an increase in energy, after two weeks my palate changed.  I purchased a meal at a restaurant within my three meal weekly limit and didn’t want to finish it because I could taste the salt and quality of the meat and vegetables.   I didn’t get an upset stomach, but it did digest differently.   As I continued through the process I didn’t have a desire to eat food other than meals I cooked or someone else prepared at their home.

After the 30 days I stepped on the scale and weighed the same.  I appeared leaner and had more energy, developed a habit that I plan to continue, and saved money!  The time set aside to prepare my meals saved me time during the week and I learned new recipes along the way.  Eating healthy can be a process you enjoy.

Jamaal Piper

Health and Wellness Consultant/Personal Trainer

www.piperpersonaltraining.com

It Starts With Preparation

In my last blog I discussed how we need to take control of our health.  The responsibilities of life can make that difficult.  Bad habits get engrained and it is difficult to visualize how things can get better.  Below are practical tools that will help you take control of your health and have a more active lifestyle.

Prepare Meals In Bulk

Photo Credit:  www.crossfitborder.com

At the beginning of the week (Sunday or Monday) set 1-2 hours aside and prepare your meals for the week.  Cooking in bulk will help you will save not only your health from avoiding all those questionable and unknown ingredients eating out.  Save you time from cooking throughout the week.  It keeps you on track with your health goals regardless of what you’re trying to accomplish.  Have plenty of tupperware and ziploc bags handy for storage to assist with organizing meals.

Here is an example:

Breakfast:  Smoothies with fruit, raw vegetables, fruit, and rolled oates.

Lunch/Dinner:  Kale or mixed green salad with fish or meat or grilled/baked meat with brown rice/sweet potatoes and vegetables.

Snacks:  Avacado, almonds, trail mix, granola and yogurt, carrots, crackers, fresh fruits and/or vegetables, .

Use an app that can track your meals and adjust your intake to your activity level and goals.

Exercise Should Be Convenient

As I’ve stated on many occasions exercise location should be convenient to your home and/or office.  If your schedule makes it difficult to get to the gym there are plenty of options at home with or without equipment.  Body weight and cardio exercises can easily be done at home such as push-ups, squats, and crunches.  Resistance bands, dumbbells, and suspension trainers can give you challenging resistance exercises that rival sophisticated gym equipment.  If you can not get to a gym have what you need at home.  There are fitness channels, apps, dvds, and many other sources of workouts designed for your home.

Consult A Health and Wellness Professional

If you have questions regarding how to go about reaching your goals get help!  It can be very frustrating to have the best intentions, but not eating and/or exercising properly to reach them.  You need to have a plan.  Professionals in the health and wellness industry will be a great asset to design one for you and teach you to properly use the resources at your disposal.

Jamaal Piper

Health and Wellness Consultant/Personal Trainer

www.piperpersonaltraining.com

202-409-8674