A SPOON FULL OF SUGAR, WILL HELP THIS BLOG GO DOWN!!!

Where do I begin America? This weekend the Warriors played in a civilian tournament at the University of Maryland. The stakes were high because the winner of this tournament would win a trip to Detroit Michigan to play for the National Basketball Championship, sponsored by PowerAde. When the Warriors registered to play it was unanimous that they would win it all. Unfortunately, there was another military team participating in this event that stole the spot light from the Warriors. Yes Fort Meade made their way to Turtle Town and what do you know; the RIVALRY CONTINUES!

The Warriors had no problem in pool play beating Bowie State and Towson. But there was no way that the Warriors could be proud of these wins because lets face it these are 19 and 20 year old boys. When the brackets came out thankfully Fort Meade wasn’t in our bracket but in the end we had to face each other in the Championship game. The Warriors had to play three games to make it to the championship which wasn’t a problem. Fort Meade got the first round bye and cruised their way to the championship as well. So the re-match was on, and the civilian world was brought into the rivalry of the two best military teams on the east coast.

Honestly I believed that many of my fellow teammates did not want to see Fort Meade again. But in the championship game it wasn’t the player’s of Meade that beat us but, in fact, it was the self destruction of the Warriors. It seems like every time that we play a team that is “flat out” better than us we fold. Instead of elevating our individual game we always alienate each other and point out all of the imperfections that disrupt our union. So carrying on with this tradition the next couple of key strokes will point out the “IMPERFECTIONS OF THE WARRIORS,” player by player.

1. Myself – I must hit the weight room harder b/c I was getting pushed around by guys half my size. Also I must play better one on one defense because all weekend I was on getting abused by everyone that I faced. I STOPPED NO ONE over the weekend. I must realize that my skills are diminishing and just being a role player is all that I am now. (Now that’s a tough one to swallow!)
2. Andre Hall - It is clear that you can not be stopped down low but as soon as you get tired your game goes from A+ to F-. Get in better shape which means working hard outside of practice. When you get tired your field goal and free throw percentages drop severely and you start making foolish mistakes. Also the way you speak to players on this team causes a big disruption in the balance of what this team is trying to accomplish. So tone it down during the games because you spark up friction throughout this team. You are a part of the chemistry meltdown on this team but no one will say anything to you because you are unstoppable and impossible to guard. So many of the players just keep their thoughts to themselves thinking that out of all the players you are the one that can and will not be replaced. You bash members on this team and demolish what little confidence that we do have and it shows by our play. Also the way you speak to the coach during the games isn’t helpful as well. So clean it up and build this team with your WORDS, not your PLAY!
3. Lamonte Harvin – It never fails with you when you are having a good game we are running on all cylinders. But when you decide that you don’t feel like playing or when you feel like you are not getting the ball you just stop playing on both ends of the court. But the most puzzling thing that I don’t understand is why doesn’t the coach sit you on the bench? Instead of just playing you end up walking away from the team. You could be a leader and anchor for this team but if you keep playing only when you want to we will never be a great team. And whatever bad blood you have with Bobby Driver, just address it and move on because it is affecting the team. I don’t know if you guys just dislike him or if you guys see so much potential being wasted that it is making all of you sick to your stomach. But please handle this issue A.S.A.P!
4. Bobby Driver – You are a great offensive talent better yet scoring talent. But if you do not work on your ball handling skills and GET SOME HEART you will not make it far. Stop letting people get under your skin with just words. I don’t understand how players on this team destroy your game more than the opponent. In a couple of games this weekend I don’t remember if you were even in the gym. If you are not scoring what are you doing? You must find another part to your game, I don’t care if it is rebounding, playing defense, or blocking shots please add something else to your game. But most of all tune out the players on this team and allow your game do the talking for you. Even on an average performance you are still better than half the people on the court. Just think if you put the finishing touches on your game……………??????
5. Brian Hill – We need more consistency out of you. Yeah you make three’s but not at a high percentage throughout the game. You must understand that when you are playing the point you must get everyone else involved and not just yourself. Right now you are the only guard that is actually scoring for us. Also you must work on your defense because that is the only weakness in your game. So work on your defensive game and use your quickness and speed to help this team where we need it the most.
6. Phillip Bouy – You are a point guard but there are times it seems like you don’t want the ball. Against better talent your game goes down but when we play weaker teams it seems like your confidence is through the roof. Stop getting so defensive when someone says something to you about your game. You are the one that said and I quote, “I am going to be the best guard in the WAMAC this year.” Now can you honestly say that you have been just that? YOU SAID IT NOT ME!
7. Mike Monroe – You are the malignancy on this team. You seat on the bench and point out every mistake that everyone else makes. You just keep planting a seed of disruption in the ears of everyone. You might think that you are helping this team but you are not. When you get in the game what exactly do you bring? All that talking on the bench does it translate to production on the court? But I must say you do hit your free throws. You might be saying the right stuff but please find a better way to present it to the team as a whole.
8. Quantarius Burns – What planet are you on right now? You could be the point guard that we need. You play defense, you handle the ball effectively, and you can get to the cup at will. But your decision making isn’t that good. If you will just realize that you are THE POINT GUARD, THE FLOOR GENERAL and you should make the decision that will build this team up. Stop listening to everyone else and just play ball like I know you can man. We have all the pieces and we just need you to bring them all together. I am putting it on your shoulders…. IF WE DON’T WIN IT IS YOUR FAULT… DEAL WITH IT.
9. Lance Boulware – I don’t know where your game has been but please find it. You use to be one the top players in this area better yet in this region. You were just crowned the MVP of the All-Star game. So tell me this where does all this talent go during a regular game? You always blame others but I put the blame on you for your fading play. Your confidence is no longer and it seems like you are afraid to shoot the ball. Get back to your old self and just play ball…. SHOOT THE BALL MAN!
10. Montoya Wooten – I know that you have been plagued with injuries but we still need you to play. You started off playing great basketball but lately where has your mind been. Yeah your minutes have dwindled but that is no excuse. Get recommitted to the game that you use to play because we need you and your veteran savvy.
11. Coach Banks – I don’t know how you are going to keep everyone on the same page. But good luck in doing so. I use to think to myself that if we had this type of coach things would be different but nothing changes. The reason why nothing changes is because it isn’t the coaches it is the players that are the problem. We think that we know everything and we don’t listen to anyone. Honestly I don’t think that any of us will change because we are all COWARDS when it comes to HUMILITY and TEAMWORK.
12. THE ENTIRE TEAM – Can we please stop acting like little boys when we play the game of basketball? We want to be tough guys with one another but we get pushed around by everyone else. Let’s stop crying and become MEN! Because if we keep this up we might as well cancel the season and sell Girl Scouts Cookies!

I know that this was a very long blog but hopefully these words will reach the hearts of the Warriors. If I offended any of you by the words of this blog than suck it up because the truth hurts sometimes. I don’t know why we let Fort Meade take away our pride and desire to play. I don’t know why we can dig deep and play hard against other teams and bend over backwards for Meade. This entire tournament teams said that it was unfair that Walter Reed was able to play in this tournament because we were too good. But little did they know that our kryptonite was in the gym as well. We will face Fort Meade for the fourth time this season, Saturday at 3pm here at Walter Reed. Will the Warriors be able to slay Goliath? Will the Warriors be able to face FEAR, DANGER and ADVERSITY and cast out the demons that are within this team? WHO KNOWS!
If you don’t believe that the words in this blog are true,just come out and see it firsthand because the TRUTH HAS SET ME FREE! AND I HOPE IT WILL DO THE SAME FOR YOU!