Get Fit

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My first post is inspired by a plague of journalism since its inception: Sensationalization. In this case, a story is twisted to create a feud between two athletes. 

The website Fansided featured a story titled, “Hall of Famer Criticizes Duke Basketball Legend Zion Williamson.” Oh my God, when is the fight in the parking lot?

In short, Matt Giles’ wrote an article based on a podcast interview The Knuckleheads (NBA veterans Quinton Richardson and Darius Miles) conducted with fourteen time NBA All-Star Karl Malone. Giles chose to inflame one sentence of a two hour interview with Malone. What did Malone say? “Zion Williamson needs to get in shape”. 

The Challenge

Apparently, it is an insult for a guy with a 543 consecutive game streak to question the fitness of a second year pro. The reality is such an observation is a gift. In the interview, Malone credited his fitness program as a major contributor to his distinguished career. Malone colorfully recounted how former All-Star Adrian Dantley mentored him while they were teammates with the Utah Jazz. Dantley said to Malone,

“Young fella, you want to play ten years or twenty and make a lot of money? Your first four, five years you’re gonna bounce back real quick because you’re young. Start working out now and take care of your body. Ice your knees, lift. If you stay ready, you’re not gonna have to get ready.” 

Pass the Torch

Dantley passed the torch to Malone. Now Malone has passed the torch to Zion. “We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.”

The real headline from the Malone interview should have been: “NBA Hall of Famer Karl Malone offers to train Zion for FREE!” One could hear Richardson and Miles fall off their chairs when Malone made this statement. The full quote was:

“I love Zion Williamson. Zion needs to get into shape. If he doesn’t get into shape we might not ever know his full potential. . . I’m less than five hours away. If he ain’t bull shitting me and he’s not having all his people talking for him, I’ll work with him for FREE! I’m talking to you and not who’s handling you. All you have to do is pick up the phone.”

Pelican and NBA fans better hope Zion calls Malone or somebody because he needs to get into shape.

Scouting

When I watch sports I like to evaluate the speed and fitness of players. In light of the debate on Zion’s fitness, I will segue to football for a vivid example of the impact fitness has on a player’s performance.

The sports world went crazy over Dan Jones’ faceplant which ended his 80 yd. bootleg against the Eagles. What happened?

Dan Jones needs to get into shape. The problem with all explosive sports is the trainers do not know how to get their athletes in shape. Generally, the football community says, “A quarterback will never run more than 40yds on a play, so he only needs to prepare for quick, short bursts. Therefore, a guy collapses to end an 80 yds run because he never prepared to run so far.

Dan Jones is actually a great athlete and he can run. A long touchdown run in camp during his rookie season “sent the offense into histrionics and left the team buzzing after practice.” So, what happened on that fateful night against Philadelphia?

Let’s go to the tape

In the track world, we would say Jones’ legs got out from underneath him. He is clearly only conditioned to run 40 yds so when he got to the 60yd mark his body just fell apart. 

Early in the run Jones looked like a sprinter. He didn’t lumber down the field. He sailed towards the end zone like a fleet footed wide receiver. He was on his toes. He had a perfect forward lean and efficient stride. His knees and arms were in sync and effortlessly pumping. Jones actually hit the season’s second fastest speed of all players at 21.23 mph on this play. 

The Fall

Then Jones’ hips dropped. This is not good. It was the third quarter when fatigue rears its ugly head. Jones was tired. One could see the power of his movement evaporate. Jones’ weak hamstrings, one of which would pull a few weeks later, failed him. This breakdown is tantamount to the shut down of an engine. His implosion was solely a matter of a lack of fitness. Jones’ fabulous run confirms his promise. It should not call his talent or future into question.

These trainers have never figured out if a guy can run 100 yds really well it will improve his 40. In addition, they have forgotten Vince Lombardi once said, “Fatigue makes cowards of us all.” Jerry Rice didn’t. He was the fittest athlete in the League throughout his career. That’s a major reason he’s in the Hall of Fame. Let’s hope he’d take a call from Dan Jones.