Salim Stoudamire: A Gutsy Kind of Player

Salim Stoudamire hit the game-winner with 2.8 seconds remaining to send Arizona into the Elite Eight.

While scarfing down chicken and coleslaw (from Ralphs), I flipped the channel to college basketball's Big Dance on CBS. Arizona and Oklahoma State were scrapping it out in a closely contested game.

One player stood out to me: Salim Stoudamire.

Stoudamire scored 10 of his 19 points in the final 4:35 of the game.

He said afterwards, "I thrive on those situations. That's what I live for. That's why I play basketball. Bigtime players step up in bigtime situations, and I see myself as one of those players."

I see a star in the making.

The Corvette and The Brick Wall Meet for the Second Time This Season

The falling out of the Lakers' Dynamic Duo was one of the most bitter breakups in modern-day professional sports.



In 2005, Kobe and the Lakers are no longer serious contenders, while Shaq and the Heat are a shoe-in for the top seed in the Eastern Conference.



The Golden Child and the Diesel, diametrically opposed personalities, proved in the end that they...



...couldn't look past their differences and continue competing for league titles.

Reborn on the Blacktop

Growth comes when a person does something she isn't accustomed to doing.

I was playing basketball yesterday afternoon at Culver City High School. I drove to the rack a few times and converted lay-ups. During one sequence, after stealing the ball, I went coast-to-coast on a 3-on-1 fast break.

When I was in high school, I was mostly a shooter. I used to consistently knock down 15 foot open jumpers. One of my friends labeled me "Paxson."

But I've changed. I'm not much of a shooter anymore. I have moves now. Even though I usually won't score a mass amount of points, I can safely say I'm able to hold my own.

Two of the guys I was playing alongside said they were impressed with my play.

We Often Overlook or Ignore the Power of Stories

One of the most effective ways to grab a reader's attention is to tell a story. They tap into the deep wells of our collective imagination.

Skilled writers know the power of stories.

Film directors. Journalists. Sports announcers. Copywriters. They all tell stories to ensure their material leaves a long-lasting impression.