BEST TOWN EVER

Yesterday I opened the paper to see an article regarding "BEST TOWNS EVER" with a Top 10 List shown by Outside Magazine. I don't know what the criteria was in the selection, but I can tell you that 2 of the places on the Top 10 List are pretty fantastic choices as Bozeman, Montana and Carbondale, Colorado both made the list. Here are a couple of the similarities: 1) GREAT PEOPLE-I always tell prospects in the recruiting process that their decision will ultimately come down to the people because at the end of the day you are going to spend the majority of your time with them. The people in these two places define scripture in Mark so well with the words "love your neighbor as yourself." 2) MAJESTIC-God had some pretty incredible days creating Mt. Sopris in Carbondale and the overlapping ranges in every direction of Bozeman from the stretches of the Bridgers to the Spanish Peaks. If I wasn't a coach I should be a photographer! 3)THE GREAT OUTDOORS-I am not talking about John Candy & Dan Akroyd taking on a Grizzly bear, but I suppose that could happen if you didn't "hit the sticks together" to detour them from your hike. At least that is what Dale Dawkins, Alexa's dad suggests. I grew up ski racing on the slopes of Buttermilk Mountain, learned to kayak from my brother on the Colorado River, know the difference between a brook & rainbow trout from my dad, and that I could use lint from our laundry dyrer to start a fire from my husband. Yet the most important lesson has still been and always will be only eat Spam while camping. It doesn't taste the same once you get home. 4) ATHLETICS-So dear to my heart is the game of basketball and it has been since the day I had to make a choice between that and ski racing. Considering I am 10 degrees colder than everyone in my family I think choosing the sport that is always 70 degrees was a wise decision. What is so "EPIC",as my son would say, is that Carbondale and Bozeman get behind their teams & support in consistent fashion. When our high school team went on to win 3 consecutive state championships nearly our entire town filled the lower bowl of McNichols Arena, and when our women's basketball team runs out of the Bobcat Head in the Fieldhouse we see & hear around 1,500 people in the stands. I love sports, indoor and outdoor doesn't matter. I love the great outdoors, nature, and these two great towns our country has even recognized. So if you visit Carbondale please buy some Carly's Gold sauce to marinate your meats for grilling this summer, and when you visit Bozeman you better sport the same colors that the Roaring Fork Rams own, the BLUE & GOLD because we are the BOBCATS! Coach Bin

SUSTAINABILITY

This topic isn't discussed nearly enough so I thought in the wake of the NBA Playoffs it somewhat timely. If you consider the length of the NBA season, the number of games, physicality, and the travel, it's hard to comprehend their abilty to sustain that schedule. Here are just a few of my beliefs on how these athletes are able to pull it off. 1)They are in the most elite physical condition possible. This has developed over the course of their careers in the weight room, speed & agility training, and conditioning. 2) Their nutrition matters. Over the course of one's career, your nutrition is one of the most important supplements in recovery after a workout, a game, an injury, etc. 3) They prepare well. I decided to retire from playing basketball because it was taking me close to a half hour just to get warmed up enough to perform at the level necessary. I guarantee these athletes warm up well, stretch well, and cool down right. I didn't do that a few weeks ago when I jumped in at noon ball and pulled my "hammy." I am not getting any younger. 4) They rest. That long of a season doesn't come with 3 hour practices year round. Nor does it include high intense training for 12 months of the year. To all of those young recruits out there taking it to the next level, it is a fact you can over train. Listen to your body, put a program with "cycles" in place where you are building up to the most important parts of the seasons and BELIEVE that rest is part of your program. So sit down in front of that t.v. and- Enjoy the playoffs! Coach Bin

Self Discipline

What a weekend of events. It's always emotional to watch our young student athletes reach their collegiate destination, that hard earned college diploma. I am so excited for their next ventures in life as I know they will all have a profound impact on our society. In sitting their during the graduation ceremony in the Fieldhouse, I began to process my four years with them, their shining moments, their adverse fights, and some of the opportunities that I missed with them. As a coach and a teacher, I reflect on our student athlete's careers and how it's so important for me to slow down in my own world to be a greater impact on their behalf. One of the areas I have committed myself to is taking my quiet time every morning before I begin my busy day. That moment of silence, the time in my devotion I can think, listen, focus and hopefully use that to prepare me for the day of opportunities ahead. Many times those opportunities are right in front of me and I miss either by distraction, busyness, or lack of boldness. I am a work in progress, but my daily goal is to be more than present, to be alert! I just opened up a wonderful card this morning from one of my student athletes with a profound scripture from Corinthians 9:24-27. Here is what Paul says. 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. Paul was one of the most dedicated and focused disciples I can think of. His motivation was an eternal destination with Christ, with daily goals of seizing opportunities with others. I am so thankful for this opportunity to teach, mentor, and to be so humbled every day when I learn from my own student athletes. What a great job but more importantly what a great responsiblity not to waste. Coach Bin

End of Year Banquet/Senior Graduation

The weekend is certainly busy. Don't forget to join us tonight for our Season Banquet at the Comfort Inn 5:30pm. We also have FOUR graduates walking tomorrow, Kelsey Roben, Kate Webb, Chelsea Banis, and LaTisha Adams. I am definitely bringing the kleenex for that one. So much to be excited about and so many young women to be proud of. I LOVE MY JOB!! Coach Bin

SOCCER SEASON

I think all outside sports should only be offered during the months June, July, August, and September unless the sport requires a certain element of weather, for example SKIING. Soccer practices began which means crummy weather. Last night I witnessed both soccer goals crash during the course of the hour session due to the strong winds. Good news was that our kids were not near the goals. It was so stormy that our puppy Cole was shaking in fear, however. In Montana, any game or practice will be held unless there is a safety risk. I think a soccer goal tipping over might qualify for that. Since I am biased I can say that we do have the best soccer coach in the valley. Our kids are getting trained from all aspects of the sport whether it's the corner kick, throw in, pass, it was covered. Next week he is bringing in Mia Hamm for a session, joking of course. The most impressive moment was when I saw the uniforms. WOW! I think I might play soccer just to get the uniform. On a serious note, I do love spring in Bozeman because you never know what you're going to get. We have had 70's, 50's, maybe snow & shine in the same day but it's great to be outside. Except for our student athletes of course because it's finals week. Good luck to all of our EXCELLENT students. Finish strong! Coach Bin

It's a Boy

Last weekend my family adopted an 8 week puppy named Cole. Let me tell you how this happened. It began a long, long, time ago in a galaxy far away; Wait! I am getting off track. It started when our oldest child, Justin wanted a dog when he was about 3 years old. Todd and I were able to hold him off for a few years with the saying "we travel too much," or "it just wouldn't be fair to the dog," or "our yard isn't big enough. Then our second child comes along which bought us about another year, yet Brooklyn then began to talk and feed off her brother. "I want a dog too." So we started with a hamster and named him Opie Indiana Binford. That should solve it right? One month ago our neighbors down the street had a litter of bunnies and happened to be in our driveway with one when we were leaving the house. Justin then decided what he wanted for his birthday, a bunny! Todd and I with our careful consideration and thorough parenting abilities decided that bunnies were still easier to handle than dogs so we agreed he could get the bunny for his present. However, 2 weeks later before we got the bunny He went missing. No present in hand for our son's 9th Birthday party sent my fingers to the internet. Any other bunnies in Bozeman to buy? Then I clicked for some reason over to the Hearts of the Valley webpage and saw a gorgeous dog. I wasn't really serious at the time but showed Todd and said he had been thinking about getting a dog. Who do you call at that point? You call Nana because she knows the good and bad to every kind of dog breed there is. You don't call Papa because he will take all of them! She suggests checking the newspaper and boy did we. Todd went through the paper and saw a Yorki Smorki puppy for sale, we still liked the dog at Hearts of the Valley and were planning on visiting with a family of puppy labs later that afternoon. We met with Nana and Papa at McDonalds before visiting the first home when my dad said "You know what you are getting into right?" I said, "what do you mean?" "You aren't leaving there without that dog." I laughed and said "sure we will. We want to go to Hearts of the Valley and check out the labs too as that's what Justin said he wanted." As we pulled up to meet with the folks who had the Yorki I saw "Cole" sitting in the gentleman's arms and I said "oh no." I was sold as he was SO CUTE! Justin and Brooklyn got out of the car, knelt to the ground and Cole ran right up to them. Justin yelled "the is the one I want!" So we took him home, tried to think of some names and then I asked Justin who the Lego Ninja was that work black. "Cole!" A week later I feel like we have had another baby as Cole is going through potty training, yet I don't recall Justin and Brooklyn stealing my shoes as babies or biting my clothes. It's been a blessed week and my favorite line so far has been by Brooklyn. "Mom, Cole should listen!" Coach Bin

Love to Work

There is a sense of satisfaction when you complete a challenge, a task, & especially an early morning workout. This morning our athletes rose to a chilly but refreshing morning to tackle the prowlers on the football field. Our strength coach threw in some additional medicine ball & situp activities throughout their circuit. My job was to make sure their arms didn't didn't go completely numb. I walked around with my husbands enormously big gloves, patted down the limbs, gave them the Rocky "fake" slap to their bellys as they were in and out of situps, and gave the 2 second shoulder massage. To walk away stronger both mentally & physically is exhilerating, although I think our players would also say a bit exhausting. After the workout I decided to stick around and see how steep the new stadium bleachers are compared to the old ones. I can tell you this. The view from the top of the Gallatin Valley was magnificent but you don't want me behind the wheel of a car because I might not be able to lift my legs up for the brake. They are still shaking! Coach Bin