What Is The Purpose?

"Being a teammate" is a concept that I have carried with myself, on and off the court, for the past 8 years. I played for an elite high school program at Corona Centennial High School and an elite DI college program at UNM. Both programs know how to win and expect greatness. I was never the star player. In fact, I never started in high school and I only saw the floor if we were up 20 or 30 points in college. Could have I played  a more significant role for a different high school team or a different college, I like to think so. But I have always been so driven to WIN and to be a part of something that not a lot of people get to experience. And as we learn throughout our lives, personal experience is the best teacher. So I decided that, just being a basketball player wasn't enough for me, I decided to become a TEAMMATE. 

A player, in any team sport, is someone who plays for them self. A player looks to make theirself look good. A player says after a loss, "Well I did my part." A player strives for individual milestones. A player does not lead their team. A player does not help his team. A player...will NEVER be a champion. 

A teammate, in any team sport, plays for the team. A teammate looks to make the team look good (ie: winning). A teammate says after a loss, "What could have I done more to win this game?" A teammate strives for championships. A teammate will lead their team. A teammate will help their other teammates. A teammate...will become a CHAMPION. 

Readers, I am 22 years old and I have 4 championship rings. And as I get into coaching, I am looking to add more to my collection. The main reason why I've been a part of championships is not because I was a player, not because I wanted the spotlight, not because I wanted to make myself look good, but because I dedicated myself to become a teammate of winning programs. Was it easy to be a part of these two elite programs? NOT EVEN CLOSE. It was difficult to have the discipline, have the physical ability, and have the dedication to be a part of winning programs. If it was easy everybody could do it. 

I worked as hard as the starters, I worked as hard as the scholarship players, but as you learn in team sports, not every player's role is going to be the same, but every role is needed. If I didn't plays role right, if I didn't have the right attitude, I probably would have quit and more importantly, I could have negatively affected my teams to where we didn't get those championships. 

Readers, I got to be a part of a DI team and not just any team, the UNM Lobos, a team I dreamed of playing for. I didn't do it by impressive stats or impressive athleticism. I mean, I look at high school players in New Mexico and I see most of them either have my lack of athleticism to have way more athleticism...Why me? Why did Coach Alford let me walk-on to his program? Out of all the players he could have recruited, why did he choose a 6 foot, 165 pound Hispanic from Corona, California? 

I didn't do it selfishly, I played for my team, I played hard and to be honest, for the high school players that are getting recruited or want to get recruited...if you show you can gain impressive and efficient stats by playing within your team and leading your team, you will be on a college basketball team. If I could be a part of one, so can you.

Thanks for reading my first blog, hopefully it has helped you in either athletics, everyday life, or both. Please respond with feedback, especially criticism because I want to do my absolute best to take what I have learned, and share it with my readers.

Thanks again,

CP

God First, God Bless