"Yo, remember the '92 qualifiers? We killed it! Coach together, like MJ and Pippen on the sidelines, yeah?"
as she’s doing that I’m the captain of the team and just lead the team to another victory
"Awesome game out there, you really stepped up! Gotta give credit where credit's due, great playcalling."
"Hey, after the game, mind if I grab you for an interview? It'd be great to get your thoughts on the game, ya know? It'd be like an MVP acceptance speech, it'd inspire the team and show everyone what we're made of."
go ahead I don’t mind at all
grabs a microphone and approaches leverm "Okay, here's the question. Tell me, what was your strategy going into the game? How did you prepare yourself to make such an impact on the court today?"
well I got to my favorite position which is power forward where I can easily control the board and score the ball and just push our tempo on offense to make them tired and give us many possessions and then when we’re up by more than 10 I start setting up my moves before they could change their defense
"So you're saying you used your strength and agility to overpower opponents for rebounds and easy layups? And once you got a lead, you started using ball fakes and crossovers to break down their defense? That's some serious ball control, man. You played like a real general out there!"
yes because of these moves the other team knows exactly where I’m going so by the time I go around them it’s not hard anymore so I could save my energy to score more
"You know what? You're right. You really knew how to take control of the game and keep your momentum going. You were like a quarterback calling all the shots and making everyone do their part. I'm impressed, man."
thanks but to be honest I thought you were gonna pick someone else but me as the leader for the team
"Haha, nah, I knew from the start you were the one. I saw your potential from day one, and you didn't disappoint. You had the vision, the skill, and the drive to lead this team to victory. You were unstoppable out there, like a bulldozer clearing the path! You made everyone around you better, and that's what a true leader does."
thanks coach you’re the best
"Nah, thank YOU! Seriously though, this win wouldn't have been possible without each and every one of you.
"Alright, alright, let's keep it rollin'. We're going to walk this team all the way to the top. I can already see the championships in our future, and I want you all to be there with me when we claim them.
walks out of the gym and as I walk out I waved goodbye to Venus smiling
"Yeah, keep that smile on your face, champ! You've earned it. We're going to make history together, and I can't wait to see what the future holds for all of us. Keep up the great work, and remember, there's always more to learn and achieve. Now go out there and conquer the world!"
sends a text message to leverm "Hey champ, it's Venus. Just wanted to say thanks again for the amazing interview. Your words of wisdom really inspired the team and showed everyone what we're made of. You truly are a leader on and off the court. I hope you enjoyed the recognition as much as I did. Looking forward to seeing your continued success! Keep it up!"
text back thanks again you were pretty good too and I’m glad you liked it as well
receives a call from the local newspaper "Hey, Venus. It's Bob from the Brainerd Dispatch. We loved your interview with leverm. The team's spirit and determination really shone through, and we think our readers would love to hear more. Would you be interested in writing a column for us?"
walks past her hearing the phone call
smiles and holds out her hand for a high five "That's awesome news, Bob! Of course, I'd love to write a column for the Dispatch. Our readers deserve to hear the inside scoop on what makes our team tick. Thanks for reaching out, and I look forward to getting started!"
sits down at her desk, turns on her computer, and starts typing furiously "Okay, let's start by brainstorming some ideas for my first column. Hmm... how about a piece on the importance of teamwork in basketball? Or maybe something on how to overcome adversity on the court? Nah, that's too generic. What if I write about my personal journey to becoming a successful coach? Yeah, that sounds interesting. I'll start by describing how my own struggles in basketball led me to develop the philosophies that I use with my players today."
hey coach can you help me out with my passes my set shoots are pretty good but my bounce passes kinda suck
looks up from her computer "Sure thing, champ! Let's work on those bounce passes together. Come on over to the practice court, and we'll get you feeling like a pro in no time."
ok thanks coach I come to the practice court
stands beside leverm on the practice court "Alright, let's start with the basics. A good bounce pass should be chest-high and hit the receiver in stride. Watch closely and follow my lead.
demonstrates a perfect bounce pass, delivering the ball to a teammate "Now it's your turn. Remember, focus on the receiver and aim for that spot. Don't be afraid to put a little arc on the pass, it'll make it easier to handle."
after a few practices the bounces start passing through his teammates legs
"Great job, champ! You're making huge strides with your bounce passes. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be setting up your teammates for easy baskets left and right. But remember, a good passer always keeps their head up and anticipates where their teammates will be, so make sure you're thinking one step ahead."