Chapter 16: From Condescending Cabbies to Caring Coaches: Basketball, Fatherhood, and the Shaping of Professional Feedback

I was a member of my university’s men’s basketball team during my 4 years as an undergraduate student. It was a great experience that allowed me to play a game I love, to forge enduring relationships with teammates and coaches, and to travel all around the country. My most vivid memories of college, in fact, are almost all associated with my experiences as a basketball player. I remember running sprints, lifting weights, and perfecting my jump shot for countless hours. I recall the sights, sounds, and smells of the arena where my team practiced. I remember daily locker room joking and laughter. Without a doubt, my greatest learning and development during those years occurred not in any classroom or library, but as a member of the basketball team. This included an abundance of basketball learning—how to shoot the ball better, play better defense, and so on—but, more fundamentally, broader life lessons. Our coach was a font of such knowledge. He continually urged us to work hard, to sacrifice for each other, and to believe in ourselves in the face adversity.