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Realities
This is one of the great scenes from one of my favorite movies. Monty Python and the Holy Grail makes me laugh each and every time I watch it. I probably laugh more when I watch it for the 250th time than I did the 1st time.
I really don’t consider myself a political person and really don’t align very well with either political party. But, if there was a Dennis the Peasant Party, I may have to consider joining up, even if it didn’t involve a “farcical aquatic ceremony”.
And, for the record, I’ve been known to drop a “Come and see the violence inherent in the system!”, every now and then for good measure.
Scene Three from Monty Python and the Holy Grail
King Arthur: I am your king.
Peasant Woman: Well, I didn’t vote for you.
King Arthur: You don’t vote for kings.
Peasant Woman: Well, how’d you become king, then?
[Angelic music plays… ]
King Arthur: The Lady of the Lake, her arm clad in the purest shimmering samite, held aloft Excalibur from the bosom of the water, signifying by divine providence that I, Arthur, was to carry Excalibur. That is why I am your king.
Dennis the Peasant: Listen. Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.
Arthur: Be quiet!
Dennis the Peasant: You can’t expect to wield supreme power just ’cause some watery tart threw a sword at you!
Arthur: [grabs Dennis] Shut up! Will you shut up?!
Dennis: Ah, now we see the violence inherent in the system!
Arthur: [shakes Dennis]Shut up!
Dennis: Oh! Come and see the violence inherent in the system! Help, help, I’m being repressed!
It’s all about how you compete. It’s all about how you develop players who compete.
Success hinges upon this one factor. Competing.
Competing needs to be a way of life and a daily approach to the task at hand. It is developed through constant challenge and drive to squeeze a little more out of what is in the arsenal.
And I’m not just talking about the championship caliber athlete or team, either. I’m talking about taking the average Joe. I’m talking about teaching him the basic fundamental techniques, teaching him the basic philosophy, and infusing in him a philosophy to compete every single day.
It’s not about facilities or about fields.
It’s not about snazzy uniforms or the newest and best equipment.
It’s not about peppy-ness or spirit or “rah rah”.
It is not about team functions and dinners and trinket/snack sales.
It is about competing. Every day, every hour, every minute, and every second.
It is about being a competitive clog in a competitive wheel and not settling for anything less than full-out effort by everyone.
It is about getting down and dirty every day to push yourself to get better.
It is about being up to the challenge and providing the new challenges every day.
Athletes and coaches, if you can understand this one thing and if you can focus on competing, you will be instantly headed in the right direction. Instantly.
You may not win every game, but you will compete with every ounce of marrow in your body.
You will walk from every contest with your head held high and the respect of your opponent in your pocket.
THE COACH HAYS 