Training for any sport is a difficult process that requires years of practice to perfect. When it comes to basketball, there are quite a few components that you should master to be at the top of your game. Whether you are the competitive type that wishes to outwork your opponents and focus on your skills, or you are interested in what it takes to be a successful hooper, you are in the right place. Here are a few tips on how to train to be a solid basketball player.

For Black History Month, I created a series showcasing our everyday heroes, who work tirelessly day in and day out to give back to their community. The work that they do does not require recognition. The individuals were selected based on their dedication and positive community efforts. The first person being recognized this month is Bridget Pettis.

Michael Jordan was born February 17th, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York to James R. Jordan and Deloris Peoples. Michael and his family would soon move to Wilmington, North Carolina when he was just a toddler due to an increase in crime in Brooklyn. By Michael's sophomore year of high school he was 5'11 and was believed to be too short for the varsity basketball team at Emsley A. Laney High School. Michael would instead join the Junior Varsity team where he averaged 40 points per game becoming the star of the team. This, combined with Michael growing four inches over the summer, helped Michael earn a spot on the Varsity team in his Junior year. In his Senior year, Michael was recruited by several colleges but chose to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Michael would go on to be drafted 3rd overall by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984 NBA draft. Michael would go on to play 14 seasons with the Chicago Bulls and 3 seasons with the Washington Wizards. Michael also played on the United States Olympic teams in 1984 and 1992 where he won a gold medal at both. Currently, Michael is the majority owner of the NBA team the Charlotte Hornets.

Grown folks don’t usually cry over nothing. With the passing of the Lakers legend Kobe Bryant, the tears flowed. The other seven passengers on that helicopter, including his daughter Gianna, had lives, too. As individuals, they must be acknowledged for their time on earth as well. But they didn’t win five championships. They didn’t have a career high and National Basketball Association second best 81-point game. They didn’t earn the Most Valuable Player award for the league. Bryant did all of these things and more. His dedication to his craft and undying spirit of competition propelled him to the greatest of heights. Even in his lowest times and hours of darkness, a light appeared that guided Bryant along a path of true, earthly righteousness.

As I write my first draft for this post, Tuesday, January 28th, 2020, I attempted to buy Kobe’s autobiography: the Mamba Mentality. I was not able to purchase the book, however, for it was completely sold out. On Amazon. Since Kobe passed away, I’ve been surprised at how much of an impact he had on the world. I had ignorantly thought of Kobe as merely a great basketball player, and as a huge basketball fan, I certainly recognized him as one of the greatest.

I do not think that there are any words to describe the devastation in the sports world right now. It's been 3 days since we lost one of the most influential players in basketball history, his daughter and 7 other members of the basketball community to a terrible accident.

Death

As we all know, one of the greatest NBA players of all-time met a tragic fate the other day. I am heartbroken by the news as is all around the world who watched his greatness. This article is meant to honor Kobe by going through his legendary basketball career. #MambaForever

“Mamba out.”

Last week, Los Angeles Lakers big man Dwight Howard committed to participating in this year's Slam Dunk Contest in Chicago February 15th. Howard would be tied for the oldest dunk contest competitor ever at 34 years old - tied with the original ABA Dunk Contest champion Julius Erving- and just the sixth player over 30 years old to participate in the event.

On Saturday at Pace University, Somers and Vestal played a sustained back and forth until midway through the third quarter of the New York State Regional Semifinal. But in stepped Somers’ top gun Hannah Angelini to finally upset the balance and begin busting the bracket for the Section One champs. She went off the dribble for Somers’ final fourth to tie the score at 27 and then drove the lane to put Vestal in back for good in the Tuskers 45-39 victory.

Professional sports are one of the most popular forms of entertainment in the world, and as a result, they generate millions of dollars in revenue each year. However, as anyone who has ever tried running a lemonade stand can tell you, that profit doesn’t come without its costs.