BOOK OF THE WEEK: "7 Commitments of a Great Team" by Jon Gordon

Jon Gordon's latest book, the "7 Commitments of a Great Team," could not have come out at a better time. It was released on May 20 - nearly a week before Cornell men's lacrosse won it's fourth National Championship and first one in 48 years. 

Cornell was the number one team in the country this year with the best collegiate player, who some even say may be the best lacrosse player in the game today, C.J. Kirst. 

Kirst carried a 65-game streak of recording at least one point in to the Big Red's national semifinal game against Penn State. That streak came to end that day, but Cornell stayed alive and headed to the title game on Memorial Day. 

I was fortunate enough to be at Gillette Stadium working alongside, host, Harvard University's athletic communications team during the NCAA Lacrosse Championships. It was at halftime of the championship game I was walking back to the press box when I ran into Jon Gordon - an alum of the Cornell men's lacrosse team - in attendance. 

The 2025 Cornell men's lacrosse team embodied all seven of these commitments to being a great team, that's why they are champions. 

The first commitment is being committed to "Valuing Each Other." This is one of the commitments the main protagonist, Tim, added last to make it 7 Commitments. His reasoning was simple. When you consistently making effort to provide positive, pointed feedback at your teammates and/or employees, you're going to always get the best of out of them. The key is to find something specific to compliment them on. 

Next is the commitment to "Vision and Mission of the Team." During my Newbury days our crew worked so well as a team we had the phrase "One Team One Dream." We were One Team together and didn't let the outside noise from other departments divide us. It's too easy to become divided when you let what happens on the outside leak in. That's why the most important job of any leader is to "run interference" for their staff. 

The following commitment is ultra important. It's the commitment to "Staying Positive Together." It's really easy to stay positive when things are going well and you're winning. But when you have to tackle all the different curveballs life throws at you, it becomes harder. Things are going to happen. Mistakes are going to made. Losses are going happen. But don't jump off the roller coaster.  Stay the course and stay positive, because positivity is contagious. 

Always be committed to "Giving Your Best" everyday. Now your best is going to change from day-to-day, but when you are committed to always giving your best each day, you will find your things start working out for you. 

This leads into the next commitment - "Commit to Getting Better" each day. In this chapter, Coach Richie brings up up the old saying "today's paper wraps tomorrow's fish." All that means is what got you to this level won't get you to next level and might not make you great tomorrow. Always strive to keep improving yourself, even after wins. 

The sixth commitment is is the "Commit to Connect" by getting to know your teammates and letting them get to know you. When you know your teammates (and your fellow colleagues) you begin to know what what drives them and what hardships they faced. You become more empathetic. And when you let others people in, let them know your own difficulties and challenges you're facing, they will be there to support you. In isolation you are week, but when you come together you become stronger. 

It flows nicely into the seventh and final commitment: "Committing to Each Other." Feedback is a gift, learn to appreciate it. Sometimes feedback can sting a bit, as humans we never like to hear criticism about ourselves or our performances, but if your team has mastered the fifth sixth commitment and are committed to connecting with each other it lessens the sting. Be committed to asking for feedback about how you can do better and be better. 

BLOG: Jarren Duran & The Importance of Not Reacting

Let me preface that as much as Jarren Duran's mental health struggles are real, the issue with Duran lies
much deeper than just his mental health. 

Last year, Duran was suspended last year for inappropriate and derogatory language in response to another heckler at Fenway Park. And that heckler said nothing inappropriate just making a  comment about how Duran "needed a f'en tennis racquet" - it was quite funny. 

Now, this year the comment directed at Duran was completely inappropriate, but it didn't necessitate Duran's reaction. Duran's reaction was not appropriate of a Major League Baseball player. 

Yes, players are all human and they experience the same feelings everyone else does, but they are at the pinnacle of their field in Major League Baseball. They are the best of the best and whether they like or not they are always in the spot light and how they react is always on center stage. 

To those who are a familiar with Dude Perfect, you know Tyler Toney is known as a the "Face Of Dude Perfect." He's the front man. The guy who's always taking the hard shot and doing the interviews when they need one person to speak, that the rest of the guy's came up with an acronym "S.T.B.T.F" - "Sucks To Be The Face." 

When Jackie Robinson broke into the the majors as the first black player, he was given specific directions from Branch Rickey to not react. There were going to be fans that weren't happy about the decision, segregation was still a thing and there were going to be hotel staff and restaurant staff who were going to deny him, but it was on him that he couldn't react. If he reacted it would've made things worse. 

It's a similar situation that Duran faces. He was brave enough to put himself out there and admit his mental health struggles publicly, but now the next step is realizing there are going to be jerks out there like the Cleveland fan who are going to say nasty stuff. But Duran can't control that, he can only control his reaction to it and resist the urge to verbally or physically react. 

It's not easy, but it's the next hurdle Duran needs to conquer in order to become great. Not letting the critiques of the fans get to him or trigger him. When he does that he will be unbreakable. 

BLOG: IVY CHAMPS! The Harvard/Carrie Moore Model

"What I told the team yesterday was it's not about me at all. It is very much about them. Myself and my staff will work tirelessly to help make this program relevant again.  I believe there is no better job in the country than this one and I'm so excited to get to work." - April, 2022

Those are the words of Carrie Moore in her introductory press conference as The Kathy Delaney-Smith Head Coach of Harvard Women's Basketball back in April, 2022. Flash forward three years later, Coach Moore certainly delivered on her promise - maybe even OVER delivered. 

Don’t mind me, just handling some housekeeping items…#GoCrimson x #BelieveIt pic.twitter.com/TWhxw9PV0F

— Harvard Women's Basketball (@HarvardWBB) March 17, 2025

The Crimson had their best season since 1997-98 with a 24-4 overall record, which included winning the Ivy Madness Championship and earning a bid into the NCAA Tournament. They were also the top defensive team in the country, allowing average of just 52 points in games. Offensively, they were led by senior Harmoni Turner, who registered 40-plus points, twice - once in the Ivy semifinals. 

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But before Harvard could even get to this point, Coach Moore had a lot of work to do. 

Turner was recruited by Moore's predecessor, the legendary Kathy Delaney-Smith. A Texas native, Turner could have easily transferred when she learned the coach who recruited her was retiring. But Moore was able to win over Turner. It's no easy task and the hardest job as a new coach. 

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This season Moore brought excitement to Lavietes Pavilion. The Harvard women were must see entertainment - and senior Harmoni Turner helped out with that. On November 14, hosting Boston College, Turner set a new program record, dropping 41 points on the Eagles in an eight point, 78-70, win. The Crimson went on to go 4-0 against Division I teams in Massachusetts (UMass, BC, Northeastern and BU). 

And they are not done yet. One more game against #7 Michigan State. 

#BelieveIT

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BOOK OF THE WEEK: "How To Live Like The Little Prince" by Stephane Garnier

The last time I read "The Little Prince" it was in high school - in french. So we were reading "Le Petit Prince" and yes it was  hard to follow and confusing especially since on the first page was a picture of hat or a snake after it ate an elephant. But I digress. (Occupational hazard.) 

Five key principles learned from this book that everyone needs to take note of: 

1. #BelieveIT

There is a reason why Harvard women's basketball has the tagline #B
elieveIt. Everything happens for a reason. Believing is extremely powerful. If you can believe it and visualize it, then you can achieve it. In just her third year at the helm of the Crimson and following a legend in Kathy Delaney-Smith, Head Coach Carrie Moore has many people talking about Harvard. 

Earlier this season, they beat a nationally-ranked team in Indiana - the mecca of college basketball. Senior guard Harmony Turner dropped a whopping 40 points and new single-game record in a win over on Power Five school in Boston College. The Crimson are 4-0 against Massachusetts opponents - UMass, Boston College, Northeastern and Boston University. 

Listen to Coach Moore. Believe it you guys, Believe It! 

2. Take Care of Yourself

There MIGHT be some people who may or may not have to read this chapter of the book once every morning. I'm not saying who those people are but they are out there and they know who they are. We all know someone, or maybe it's yourself, that fits into this category. 

It's important to make time for yourself and do things that make you happy. Remember what flight attendants say at the beginning of all flights in case of a lose of cabin pressure "put your own oxygen mask on first." If you're not taking care of yourself, then how can you take care of others? 

And also disconnect from your phone and other aspects of technology. You never know when the last time you speak with someone will truly be the last time. 

I'll leave the chapter below so those people can read here. 

3. Escape From Reality

We can get so caught up in everyday life, going to work, cleaning, doing laundry, dropping kids off at school, that we lose sight of that child-like wonder. We forget what it's like to be a child. Remember to step aside and to channel your inner Topanga Lawrence. "Use a mirror, babe." 

4. Connect To Others / Never Lose The Child-like Wonder

There is power in vulnerability. Ever realize that when a group of children get together how quickly they warm up to each other? This is something that is lost as we get older. As we grow into adults we want to stay in our own little bubble. If something seems uncomfortable we put up walls around ourselves to keep people out. We have to do better at taring down those walls and letting others in. Never lose that child-like wonder. 

5. Knowing When to Leave

At some point in our lives we chose a path and move forward with it because it our passion. As the years progress things change, we change and what drives us changes, but we still keep going down the same path. We never take the bold step to start a new chapter of our lives and do something different. It's important ot know when to leave. 

Bonus: P & H -- Positive and Humble 

This was the mantra of the late Boston College men's basketball media contact Dick Kelley. He always preached this to his student-athletes, interns and assistants. In the moment it may not feel like anything, but it will play out in the long term. Look at the YouTube sensations DudePerfect and FazeRug. Combined by they have over 80 million subscribers, but they remain incredibly humble. 

BLOG: The Shawn & Jack Brothers Multiverse Theory

The "Boy Meets World" re-watch podcast hosted by Danielle Fishel, Rider Strong and Will Friedle is one the top podcasts right now. But there still seems to be an issue with Shawn Hunter's family. He had a sister - Stacy - in the very first season; then in the third season Eddie came along as his half-brother. All this before Matthew Lawrence came on board as a full-time cast member in season five as Shawn's half-brother, Jack,- allegedly sharing, Chet, as the parent. 

Trying to figure out Shawn's family tree is mind boggling. (Yeah I know it's a '90s TV sitcom, they were horrible with continuity back then.) 

Maybe, just maybe ... here it is ... Shawn and Jack are not really half-brothers, but FULL brothers. Crazy theory, huh? But just hang with me here. 

After Chet succumb to a massive heart attack in season six, the following season, Virna, the woman that Shawn always knew as his mother, informed him that she was not his biological mother. In a later scene, Shawn went to the cemetery, Chet's ghost appears and tells Shawn that his biological mother was a stripper. But what if this was a lie? 

What if, Jack's mother was ALSO Shawn's mother. Chet and could've been with Jack's mother, had Jack, then a year later had Shawn. Things were going 'ok' but a few months after Shawn was born things began to unravel and go downhill. Jack's mother ends up leaving Chet and taking take Jack, who had just turned two, with her. She leaves Shawn behind with Chet because in her eyes "Shawn was too hard to deal with." 

Jack and their mother go on to live a happy life in another Philadelphia suburb and marries Jack's stepfather. The three of them go on to live a happy life, which includes having another child - a daughter (who also is Shawn's half-sister). All while Shawn is being cast aside and left behind by Chet back in Philly. 

Virna ultimately raised Shawn when his birth mother (Jack's mother) didn't want to, but it wasn't because she was a stripper. We are going off the words of Chet's ghost and while he was alive Chet wasn't always the most reliable person. Chet might have said she was was a stripper as a cover because he didn't want Shawn believing that his birth mother thought he was "too difficult to raise." 

That would not have been good for a kid like Shawn who lived a tough life and was always dumped off on someone else - whether it was the Matthews', Turner's or the trailer park. 

Even though Shawn mentions in the first episode of season five that Jack was his "half-brother" it was only because that is what Chet told him and wanted him to believe. But Chet didn't tell him the truth in order to spare Shawn more heartbreak. 

BOOK OF THE WEEK: "Hidden Potential" by Adam Grant

Adam Grant has a new book out and it is perfect. 

I'm going to flip all the way to the end and start at the epilogue. Why? I'm built different. But no in all seriousness, this needs to be said first. 

For those that don't know the organizational psychologist, Adam Grant. He's a Harvard alum. But what you also probably don't know is, Grant failed his writing exam. Interesting. A New York Times #1 bestselling author failed his writing exam when he went to Harvard? Yes, it is true he did. But it was what he did afterward that made him into that bestselling author.

Sure it was probably quite humbling and a shot to the ego failing his writing placement exam. It's something that makes one feel as if they are an imposter and they didn't deserve to be at Harvard. But he met with his alumni interviewer again, the interviewer said the thing that he wrote to the admissions committee about Grant was not about being a magician. It was the initiative Grant showed in learning how to do magic and the courage he showed in the interviewer's law office to perform a magic trick. That's what made Grant stand out. 

That was one solid interview by the Harvard alum. But not surprising. It's not uncommon for Harvard alums to act in this way. Harvard alums are not uptight or stodgy as others may think they are. Just the opposite. Most would rather have you tell them a story about how you accomplished something. Grant's situation paralleled to a situation I faced this past summer. 

I had just shot my career low round of a 74, finished with +9 quota points AND recorded my first eagle (2-under par on hole) (outside of my hole-in-one from four years ago) on the Fourth of July. You could say I played well that day. Well the following Tuesday in the Tuesday night golf league, I got paired up with a pair of Harvard alums (Class of 81 and Class of 88). 

Riding around with the member of the Class of 88 for nine holes, it was only natural that the 74 and my first eagle came up (news spreads quickly around the course). But he didn't just ask. The words he used were clear, he said "tell me about the eagle." 

It's an interesting question. To the average person the response is "yeah well I got an eagle." But really the true answer was making it a story. A story that had a climax and some suspense to it. Because it's an eagle - 2-under par on a hole (so a 2 on a par four, 3 on a par five, 1 on a par three) - there has to be some dramatics. And there was some excitement. 

It was the shortest par five. It hit my usual drive - in the fairway. With a solid drive in the middle of the fair I was about 170 out from two cross sand traps so I hit a five-iron inside the 100-yard marker on the right, setting me up for a nice wedge to a front right pin. Anytime I'm within 100 yards or less, I always attack the pin and I did just that, that day. Ball is perfectly in line with the pin, takes one bounce and slight role into the hole.  

But that's it right there. That's what Adam Grant's Harvard alumni interview saw in Grant that day of his interview

BLOG: Be Versatile

Back during his playing days, the Red Sox continuously re-assigned Lou Merloni their Triple A affiliate so frequently that the route between Boston and, then, Pawtucket had been colloquially re-named as the "Merloni Shuttle." Merloni wasn't all to happy about being shuttled back and forth, who would, but the reason was simple: he had options that allowed the team to adjust the roster without fear of losing players to the rest of the baseball market. 

It's not fun to be this person. There so much uncertainty. One never knows how long they will stay in the big leagues before they getting shipped out. It's stressful. 

While there's a name for the the player who is on the cusp of Triple A and the Majors (Merloni Shuttle), what about those pitchers who on edge of being starter and reliever? Those pitchers who are good enough to be starter, but when other starters either return from injury or just better pitchers are acquired, that pitcher gets sent to the bullpen. 

Well that scenario was right there was Tim Wakefield. 

He was a starter, reliever and even a closer. Still pretty mind-boggling that a guy who threw a pitch that no one has any control over was chosen to pitch the last inning of the game, but hey that was Jimy Williams for you. 

It's no surprise since the man was drafted by the Pirates as an infielder. But when it was told to him that he may never make it to the majors as position player, he shifted his eyes towards pitching. Wakefield was an innovator. And it was what kept him in baseball for 19 years. 

Laggers build walls when they feel winds of change. Innovators build windmills.

— Imry Halevi (@imryh) August 26, 2023

Wakefield was always the man on the move. Shuttling back-and-forth between in the rotation and the bullpen, is not ideal. No one dreams of being a relief pitcher. They always dream of being a starter - taking the mound every five days. So when you're in the bullpen you can feel lost.

But just like he did in the minors when told he wasn't going to make it as a position player. He pivoted. Wakefield used his versatility to his advantage. And it is something that needs to be studied by anyone who plays a sport from the youth levels all the way to the professional levels. 

In this day when it is pays to be highly specialized we come to forget that it is the versatility that is the true marker of success.