Debbie Smartt

[Jermaine Curtis @JermaineCurtis]

I signed to UCLA my junior year of high school and was told I was going to start Day 1.

Opening Day at UCLA?

I was sitting the bench. 😭

I had 2 choices:

1. Complain, pout, and blame the coaches

OR

2. Find the holes on the team and become valuable.

So for 3 weeks, I sat the bench.

I showed up early.
Stayed late.
Cheered for my teammates.
Dragged the field every 3rd inning.

Meanwhile, I studied the team.

The middle infielders were doing well.
Third base wasn’t.

So I told the coaches:

“I can play third.”

Then I noticed something else:

Offensively, we were either hitting home runs or getting out.

I saw the gap.

If I could become a tough out, get on base, and bring energy to the team…
I could create value.

Then we played Miami.

The starting third baseman was hitting .115.

They gave me a shot.

I went 2 for 3 with a walk.
Played solid defense.
Brought energy.

I never sat the bench again.

Eventually, I became team captain…
and we were ranked #1 in the country.

One thing baseball taught me:

Opportunities don’t always go to the most talented player.

Sometimes they go to the player who becomes the most valuable.

[Leah Rain ✝️🇺🇸🎸🏝️ @LeahRain77]

Just a really sweet timeline cleanse.
Baby, hears for the first time

[Matt Lisle @CoachLisle]

They'll understand in a decade.

The coaches who demanded excellence.
The ones who didn't accept excuses.

They loved you most

[JSUGamecock4Life @JaxState4Life]

A Belmont grad, troy native, and daughter of one of Alabama's all time great girls high school coaches, Dyneshia Jones-Elder (433 wins over 25 years at CHHS).

Welcome, Gamecock!

[Thomas Ashworth @_ThomasAshworth]

Troy native and former Belmont star joining Ricky Austin’s staff at Jacksonville State.

Had a standout career at Belmont, where she played in 169 games to rank fourth in Division I women’s basketball history.

[Jacksonville State Women’s Basketball @JaxStateWBB]

HIRED: Head coach Ricky Austin has hired Tuti Jones as an assistant coach!

Welcome to Jacksonville, Coach Jones! 🥳

#StayCocky🐔 | #FearTheBeak👌

[Cameron Chafetz @CameronChafetz]

We blame “this generation” a lot, how about the adults, who raised them who can’t clean up after themselves.

[Belmont WBasketball @BelmontWBB]

Congratulations @tutijones3!!

[Reads with Ravi @readswithravi]

“Always keep going. The storm eventually ends.”

— Kobe Bryant

[Seth McClung @Seth_3773]

I see this all the time in coaching. Just STFU and do what you’re supposed to do. I hate this generations entitlement.

It’s a problem, they are a problem…

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Overprotected kids become unprepared adults.

Dawn Staley said it.
And every parent needs to hear it.

Here's what parents get wrong about raising resilient kids.

[THREAD]🧵

[Coach Thomas-Anderson @_CoachAnderson_]

Athletes‼️‼️Being on an athletic scholarship is a JOB.

And just like any job, you should clock in on time, handle your responsibilities, and execute the tasks your coaches assign. Film, lifts, treatment, study hall, practice, it all counts and is part of your job description.

Just like any job, there are other duties as assigned and overtime too, the things nobody applauds but everyone notices when they are not done. If you want a bigger role, more minutes, more trust, doing the bare minimum will not get you there and can lead to you being “released” from your role or put on an “improvement plan.”

Show up early. Be consistent. Produce. Be coachable. That is how you separate yourself. The ones who treat it like a job are the ones who last.

[Greg Berge @GregBerge]

Tough teams do 3 things better than everyone else:

1. They communicate
2. They hold each other accountable
3. They keep showing up, no matter what

It’s not just a mindset.
It’s your standard.

[Next Level Baseball @nextlevelbb]

If wins on the field are more important than players doing right off the field.
The program is filthy.

[Troy Silva @TroyPSilva]

It’s official.
It’s so hard to sit and watch your kid play the game they love and listen to some of the nonsense that parents talk about.

It’s really not that bad.
You don’t need to complain about every little detail.
You don’t need to try and dissect everything the coach is thinking.
You don’t need to get upset over every close ball/strike call.
You don’t need to offer your hitting advice after every pitch.
You don’t need to question every decision.
You don’t need to make excuses for poor play.

Please just stop 🛑
It’s so annoying and embarrassing at the same time.

#BaseballTruth