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I was
thinking about my origins of working with athletes on the Game within the Game
when I caught myself staring at my walls. On either side of my computer
screen are pictures of sorts of two of my role models. I realize that
this in and of itself is no big deal, but it did get me thinking about origins
and imagination as it relates to sports and sport psychology. On my right
is a baseball card of Sandy Koufax. He was my childhood idol. When
I was 9, I recall being mad at my parents for allowing me to be
right-handed. There are lots of reasons of course for my reverence for
Koufax. He was the best of that era and he came from a similar family
background. This of course pleased my otherwise anti sport mother.
I have a funny story about Mr. Koufax and not me, but my mother. My
mother came home one day from work. She was secretary to the president of
a large discount retail store in California called White Front. She said
she met this very nice boy at the store and he gave her this toy to give to
me. Now I was about 10 at the time and was thinking I had outgrown
toys. It was a Sandy Koufax Pitching Game. You threw Styrofoam
balls at these plastic points on a sort of dartboard. On the box it was
signed to Mike from Sandy Koufax. I was speechless. My mother said
he had told her to bring me over, but she didn't think it was a big deal.
I didn't talk to her for a week. I did however believe in my heart every
time I picked up a baseball that I was Sandy. It was my summer of
baseball and it couldn't have been better as not only did the Dodgers with the
World Series, but I pitched in almost every game. In my mind's eye I was
Koufax and pitched like him that whole year. There was nothing I wanted
more than to play professional baseball.
On the left of my computer is a picture of
Albert Einstein. My parents seemed to insist that I spend my time doing
more than playing baseballand other sports. I got
reallyintrigued with him through one of my Jr. High teachers. He
said he liked the way I thought about things, so I should understand
Einstein. Had no idea what the teacher meant, but I did what I was
told. I was intrigued withhim to be sure, though I was still more
interested in being an athlete rather than a scientist of any sort. What
I did recognize is that Einstein was into thought problems. He explored
the Universe with his mind. It wasn't E=MC2 that
caughtmy attention, but the quote "Imagination is more important
than knowledge". It is that quote that is up on my wall.
My third role model was Wilt
Chamberlain. OK, forget about the number 3000 for a minute.As a
basketball player (I gave up baseball soon after Koufax retired), I wanted to
be Wilt. I saw him as cool. He was big and bad. He was tough
on the court, yet smart enough to stay out of foul trouble. He could score
at will and I wanted to be like him. So how did it turn out? I
could dunk (not bad for a 6 foot kid). I could defend big tall
players. And I could do a finger roll. I averaged 20 points a game
my senior year in high school. There was one problem though. I
practiced being big, bad and to take people into the paint. Couldn't
dribble to save my life, which of course was a large problem as I went to take
my game to the next level.
So there are three stories. The very
short end to this blog is simple. When we were children we used our
imaginations to do everything. We used it to play as toddlers and as
would be athletes. Somewhere along the way our natural ability to use our
imagination got taken away from many of us. It is a key component to
success in everything. Sports and virtually everything else we do in
life. If I can leave every athlete I meet with something it would be to
remember when you believed you were Koufax (insert current star here).
Play like you did then and see how fast your game accelerates. We can control
our world very simply and play out of our minds.
So who is
your hockey role model? Do you have a similar body type? Are they the best role
model for you? How about their character and work ethic? Sometimes we choose
the wrong person to emulate. My football hero was some guy named OJ. Just like
the movie line from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade "Choose wisely".
My name is Mike Margolies. I've been helping
athletes for three decades on the mental game. I've trained world champions and
professional players in just about every sport. I am available for workshops,
team and individual consultation, assessment and as a keynote speaker. My new
book is called "The Athlete within You- a mental approach to sports and
business" It is for athletes and non athletes working to achieve more in
sports and life. My website is TheMentalGame.com
Thank you for being part of JuniorHockey.com
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