The 2019 calendar for the U.S. womens national soccer team is over, but for new coach Vlatko Andonovski, who has strong ties to Kansas City, the work is just beginning.

Andonovskis coronation by U.S. Soccer as the new coach of the womens team was held, Oct. 28, in New York. He won his first two matches with the team, beating Sweden 3-2 and Costa Rica 6-0. The international friendlies are helping prepare the team ahead of the Olympic qualifiers.

I knew coming into it that it will be extremely important to win all the big tournaments, said Andonovski, 43, during his introductory news conference.

The way everyone sees it, thats the way it should be. Andonovski is charged with the duties of keeping the U.S. team in its place as the worlds No. 1 ranked team. The U.S. Women won their fourth World Cup title this summer in Paris, half of the eight since the womens World Cup started in 1991.

Andonovski, who was born in Macedonia, first came to Kansas City in the early 2000s to play professional indoor soccer for the Kansas City Comets.

A legacy of winning

Andonovski succeeds Jill Ellis, who stepped aside after the team completed its victory tour with matches around the country on the heels of winning this years World Cup over the summer in France.

What this team has done and what Jill (Ellis) has done is, I think, absolutely amazing, said Andonovski. Jill was hired to win one World Cup and she won two. It pushed the standards even higher.

Defender Becky Sauerbrunn played for Andonovski on FCKC, the National Womens Soccer League team in Kanas City between 2013 and 2017. During that time, FCKC won the NWSL championships in both 2014 and 2015. Sauerbrunn, a starter on the U.S. national team, said shes pleased with Andonovskis appointment as the new national team coach.

I had him five years in Kansas City, so I know what he can do, she said in Columbus last week. I know how much I developed with him as my coach. I got really excited for the players I played with on the national team.

Before last weeks match against Sweden, Sauerbrunn had a meeting with Andonovski, and she was reminded of her FCKC days of how he guided the team. to a championship level.

He basically showed (me) on his computer that he had these work-ups on every single player, and he had all these characteristics and things he wanted them to work on and also things that make them special, said Sauerbrunn, who now plays for the Utah Royals FC in the NWSL. Its just a little detail of how much he puts into it.

Hes a coach

For the past two seasons in the NWSL, Andonovski was the head coach of Reign FC, which was in Seattle before moving to Tacoma, Washington, this year. During a break in the Reigns schedule last summer, Andonovski returned home to Kansas City to coach one of his three kids at a soccer camp held at Rockhurst University.

He (Andonovski) loves to do it. Hes a coach, said former FCKC technical director Huw Williams, who ran the camp at Rockhurst. Long before their FCKC days, Williams knew Andonovski from his youth coaching around the Kansas City area.

We saw each other on the soccer fields and I actually hired him for my company (Global Sports International) and I really didnt have a job for him. I just knew that he was a good guy and somebody that we needed, said Williams. GSI is a locally-based youth sports managing company.

On the first day, he came over and asked, What am I doing? (I said,) I dont know. Well figure something out, said Williams. Then he became our director of our winter league. That was our first connection together.

Theyve remained close since.

A surreal trip

When the rest of Andonovskis family joined him in Columbus for his first match as the national team coach, it was Williams who drove them there.

As the national team traveled to Jacksonville, Williams was back on the road to Kansas City for the return trip, which he called surreal.

They are very proud of their dad and husband for sure, said Williams. Its stressful for B. (Biljana), his wife, in particular, because it changes their life, too.

Olympic qualifying between North American and Caribbean nations begins Jan. 28 in Texas and concludes Feb. 9 in California. But while the U.S. team will be idle until then, Andonovski will be figuring out a way to maintain his squads top ranking over the long haul.

Greg Echlin is a freelance sports reporter for KCUR 89.3.

Continued here:
Meet The Kansas City Coach Hired To Win Olympic Gold For The U.S. Women's Soccer Team - KCUR

When Jim Boylen, the University of Utahs head coach at the time, was in San Antonio in the spring of 2008 looking for an assistant coach, one thought kept on creeping into his head: He needed to hire Stan Johnson.

(Johnson) just rose to the top of those guys, Boylen said. Every time I talked to a different person, I kept on thinking about Stan. I kept thinking about how he would be (working) with me.

Boylen interviewed 17 candidates, including assistant coaches at PAC-12 and Missouri Valley schools, but Johnson, an assistant at a school that had never won a Division I postseason game, stood out.

Standing out is nothing new to Johnson, who is now in his fifth season as an assistant coach at Marquette and third as MUs associate head coach. His recruiting prowess has helped Marquette mens basketball rebuild itself into a borderline top-25 program.

Hes one of the best recruiters in the country, said Ryan Silver, the head coach of Under Armour-sponsored travel team West Coast Elite.

The reason? His personality. Just ask the people around the 40-year-old coach.

Hes just a people-person and enjoys talking to people, Long Beach State assistant coachBobby Braswell said. That put recruits and parents at ease when you have a guy like that on your staff.

At a cafe about 10 minutes away from Los Angeles International Airport, Johnsons recruiting prowess was on full display. There, he met Silver, who coaches for West Coast Elite. The club has produced some of the best talent in the Under Armour summer basketball circuit.

Members of last years WCE team have committed to Arizona, South Carolina, Buffalo and DePaul. Alumni from the previous class went to Oregon, Utah and Ole Miss. When Johnson walked into the beach-themed cafe, Silver listened.

He builds trust with the kid because he cares about their lives, Silver said.

Boylen, now the coach of the Chicago Bulls, pointed to one specific aspect of Johnsons personality: his character.

Character is what really matters in these positions, Boylen said. If you have character, you can learn. If you have character, you can build relationships. If you have character, you can honor the head coach.

At Utah, Boylen said Johnson served as an excellent recruiter and basketball coach, fulfilling two important needs.

I needed a recruiter and a coach, Boylen said. I wanted (an incoming player) to go into (an assistants) office for basketball too. Sometimes when the recruiting process is over, he might not go into that guys office.

Boylen said Johnsons selflessness stood out during the interview in San Antonio.

He didnt talk about himself, Boylen said. It was what we were going to do, how we were going to do it. He was very we and us.

Johnsons personality meshed well with Boylens personality. While Boylen prided himself on being great at closing the deal, Johnson helped set Boylen set the table.

Much of this came from Johnson being great on the phone, as Boylen described it.

He was way better of an over-the-phone guy than I was, Boylen said. He just has a feel for it. He asks the right questions.

After Johnson found out the three or four factors influencing a recruits decision, he would focus on those for the rest of the recruitment. That way, he said, it goes beyond just, How are you doing?

Whos involved with you? Boylen said. Who are you leaning toward? Whats important to you? Whos going to make the decision with you? Whos going to make your decision for you?

By the time Boylen came to a recruits school or house, Johnson already told the prospect relevant information about Boylen. Boylen said thats not always a guarantee in the college basketball world.

If the dad asks a question like, Did you ever coach in the pros? Well, yeah I did. He should know that already, Boylen said. I never had that situation (with Johnson), where a parent or a coach didnt know who I was as a head coach.

Boylen was certainly not the only one to benefit from Johnsons time at Utah. Johnson described the experience as the cattle pull to his career.

I took so many things away from (Boylen) that today are maybe some of my strongest beliefs, Johnson said. It has been one of the great blessings of my life.

Johnson also said coaching alongside Boylen taught him how to prepare for games. He compared Boylens preparation to that of a football team with late offensive countermoves and a solid, firm foundation on defense.

How to prepare offensively for a game, how to prepare defensively for a game, Johnson said. And how to take that preparation that you have as a coach and make sure your guys understand it. Its not what we understand (as coaches). Its what your players understand.

Coaches saw Johnsons character much before his time with the Utes. Braswell was one of the first coaches to see it, hiring Johnson in 2007 for an assistant coach position at Cal State Northridge. It was Johnsons first Division I coaching job.

He just impressed me with his work ethic and just overall how he carried himself, Braswell, now an assistant at Long Beach State, said. Being the first guy in the gym watching games and being one of the last guys to leave.

Johnson also brought much-needed positivity to Northridge, a program that Braswell admitted does not necessarily sell itself.

One of the other assistants, Louis Wilson, looked at him and said, Man, why are you so positive? Why are you always smiling? Braswell said. He brought in a positive energy that was infectious, to say the least.

Johnson also remained realistic at Northridge, even if a recruit or fellow coach did not necessarily want to hear it.

Stans a guy thats not always going to tell you what you want to hear, but hes a guy that is going to tell you what he thinks, Braswell said. As a head coach, you always appreciate that.

Johnsons impression on Braswell was in spite ofa relatively short stay at Cal State Northridge. One season after getting his first Division I coaching job, Johnson got the call from Boylen for the Utah job.

Braswell said the staff jokingly calls Johnson Bagger Vance, a reference to the 2000 sports drama starring Will Smith and Matt Damon.

I tease him and say, Do you have your bag ready? Braswell said.

There are no hard feelings between Braswell and Johnson, though.

He wanted to be there longer, but shoot, that was his dream job. He grew up in Utah, and thats where his family was, Braswell said. I wouldve been angry at him if he didnt go after that. It was Gods plan.

All jokes aside, even in just one year, Braswell said Johnson recruited the necessary talent for Northridge to win its conference and appear in the 2009 NCAA Tournament.

Braswell said he is hardly surprised to see Johnson at a program like Marquette. He said he knew Johnson was a special coach in their first month together at Northridge. Now as he turns on his television 12 years later, he sees the assistant he hired at age 27 go on 12 years later to coach in March Madness games.

Im so happy for him because I know how hard hes worked, Braswell said. I knew he was going to be successful.

Fast forward about a decade, and that character helped Johnson bring senior guard Markus Howard to Marquette. Howard is now a consensus second-team All-American and Big East Player of the Year.

Howard initially committed to Johnson at Arizona State before reopening his commitment. When Johnson took the Marquette job, Howard was his first call.

(Johnson) was the main reason why I committed (to Arizona State) so early in my recruiting, so hes like family to me, Howard said at his first media day at Marquette. Even as Im here now, hes really been that one guy I can go to with anything I have.

Johnson said his relationship at Arizona State with Howard was key to re-recruiting Howard.

Ive known him forever, Johnson said in 2016. Dating back to my time at Arizona State, we developed a great relationship to the point where he allowed us to recruit him when I got to Marquette.

Freshman forward Brendan Bailey said Stan Johnson played a big role in his decision to come to Marquette.

Stans like family, Bailey said. Stan is also an amazing guy. I know that he would do anything for us in the program, and thats something that I always look for.

That helped with Baileys particularly unusual path to becoming a Golden Eagle. After graduating high school in 2016, he went on a two-year Mormon mission. He heard from coaches via email, the only allowed form of communication which he said helped through the process. He said it was good to come back to the same support he had two years ago.

Johnsons close misses also tell a story about his ability to recruit. In the pursuit of five-star guard Nico Mannion, Johnson used his long relationship with Mannion to keep Marquette in the running with Arizona, Duke and Kansas.

He built a relationship with Nico when Nico was really young, Silver said, and just maintained that relationship all the way through.

Mannion emphasized this in an interview with the Marquette Wire a couple months before making his decision.

Im actually really close to Stan, Mannion said last August. I talk to him all the time. Sometimes not even about basketball, hell call and check in.

Mannion eventually picked Arizona, but Marquette put up a much better fight than almost anyone expected.

Stan, you are a great coach but you are a better person! Nicos father Pace Mannion tweeted at Johnson. Thanks for recruiting Nico and pushing to the end! I know it didnt work out but our respect for you and Marquette will always be there. I wish you and Wojo all the best. Class Program!!!!

Johnson said he does not like being described as an excellent recruiter.

I just dont really love the label, Johnson said. Being a good recruiter is something that all of us have to do in college basketball, but for me, its always been important in my career to be a coach. Thats the title I want. Being a college coach.

Looking forward, Johnson is well-positioned to eventually take a head coaching job.

I believe hell be a head coach soon, Silver said. Hes just a really good guy and a fantastic recruiter.

The guy who chose the then 28-year-old coach in San Antonio 11 years ago does not have many doubts, either.

Hes an unbelievable head coaching candidate He doesnt have to jump at a job, but if the right one comes along, I think hed be great at it, Boylen said. His opportunity is coming, and in the meantime, Marquette is really fortunate to have him.

Johnson said becoming a head coach has been on his radar and something he has dreamed about since he was a kid.

Maybe thatll happen. Maybe it wont. Only God knows that, Johnson said. I pray every day that God will open the right door, wherever that is, but my purpose is not to be a head coach. It is to be a coach.

Johnson is not in a rush out the door partly due to how special Marquette is to him. He said the quality of people and support from administration at Marquette is unmatched by other schools hes worked at.

I can be a little more selective, Johnson said. I love being here. Every year, there are always opportunities that come by, like it does for any other assistant around the country. This is home for me. This is home for my family. It would take something unbelievably special for us to leave what we have here.

If a situation like San Antonio emerges again, theres even less doubt about what Boylen will decide.

The biggest compliment for a guy is if you want to work with him again, Boylen said. Hes a guy that would be great to work with again.

This is the first part of a three-part series profiling Marquettes assistant coaches.

Originally posted here:
Personality helps Johnson stand out on recruiting trail - Marquette Wire

Murinzi (second name withheld on request) was expelled from school under unclear circumstances. He says his antisocial nature raised suspicion, as many times, he was found hanging out on his own. Unfortunately, rumours of drugs and other bad habits followed, as no one understood why he always wanted to be alone.

He had been bullied for the first year of high school, something that may have had an impact on his character and conduct.

I felt like everyone was against me, and that I was going to end up alone, he says.

After his expulsion, one of the very few people Murinzi talked to approached him and recommended a life coach, or a modern-day mentor.

With four visits a week, it was a life-changing step, Murinzi says, referring to how he regained confidence. And he attributes the change to the increasingly common path in society mentorship.

Initially, I was sceptical about it. I thought that everything I was going to share with the mentor would be revealed to my previous school and I didnt want that to happen. I guess it is because I wasnt happy with the way things had turned out, he says.

But after a couple of months, she (the life coach) started getting through to me, breaking it down for me and showing me where I could have done better.

She also made me realise that there was no need to compare myself to other people, or search for approval or acceptance, he explains.

She encouraged me to complete school, and even go to college. She highlighted the benefits I stood to gain and how success was within my reach.

The 23-year-old is now pursuing a bachelors degree in general veterinary at Kigali Christian University.

Many people associate the life coach service with people looking to advance their careers, but Murinzi is of the view that it is extremely helpful to anyone in need of it, especially the youth who are easily misguided.

According to Vanessa Gakuba, a school co-counsellor, it is important in life to find someone skilfully trained to help people maximise their full potential and reach their desired goals.

She adds that a life coach, or personal mentor, encourages and counsels people on a range of professional and personal issues.

Life coaching is not just advice, it is consulting, counselling, mentoring, and administering therapy. They are normally consulted regarding professional projects, personal goals and transitions.

Also, a life coach helps you grow by analysing the current situation, identifying limiting thoughts, and various potential challenges to help someone achieve specific outcomes in their lives, Gakuba says.

Norbert Sugira, a 25-year-old mentor, is of the view that life coaching is a widely important approach.

He says people that use a personal mentor or life coach are often short of confidence and find themselves devoid of achievement.

Their self-worth is low and the challenges they face are deemed too high. A life coach essentially seeks to reinstall an individuals faltering confidence and ensure they have it within themselves to live up to their full potential, Sugira says.

Needless to mention, life coaching can help with virtually any aspect of someones life. Whether it is in their professional or personal life. Sugira says.

Elias Kurgat who has been a coach for more than five years at Nu-Vision High School says that many young people seek this kind of coaching due to the influence of social media.

Todays generation leans mostly on social media as their means of connection to the rest of the world.

I had a client once who had over 4,000 followers on Instagram but she didnt have anyone in her life to confide in when she really needed it, Kurgat says.

One of the most common questions, Kurgat says, is what should I be in life?.

I laugh when young people come to me asking how they should live their lives because you hardly know anything when you are still a teenager.

He adds, Your lifes purpose is meant to evolve overtime, and that question should be asked more than once. Many young people feel dispirited when they dont get what they want in a specific period. They forget life requires patience.

Kurgat is one of the few local coaches who approaches his clients with a deeper understanding of the issues they face. And in particular, focuses on young people since he once had similar concerns.

He also believes that coaching should be unregulated. Although I personally have qualification, I think that anyone can be a coach. And should be willing to help a friend in case they see them struggling with a burden.

I always tell people who approach me that they should not be deterred by age.

When I started I had clients who were much older than me, but age has nothing to do with it. It is about your experiences and what you have learned. They didnt care how old I was and neither did I.

We live in a society where people are in need of help. If you can help lessen the problems, I believe they will change and also do the same for others.

editor@newtimesrwanda.com

View post:
Life coaches: What is their role in modern day society? - The New Times

Michigan State's Cassius Winston and coach Tom Izzo embrace as Winston leaves the the team's NCAA college basketball game against Binghamton, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 100-47. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)(Photo: Al Goldis, AP)

EAST LANSING Ten days before he'd leave this world, Zach Winston spun around in the Breslin Center stands to see where Cassius ran off to again.

The oldest Winston brothers team just beat his younger brothers' team in a game of basketball, but this one felt bigger than all the others.A 15,000-seat arena was their playground this time.

Theres one reason, and one reason only, that a reigning Final Four team like Michigan State would hostan exhibition with Albion College, and it was spelled out by the backs of the black T-Shirts in the crowd:

Winston vs. Winston.

This was the one and only time that Cassius would get to play a college basketball game against his brothers, Zach and Khy. And though Zach was merely a spectator due to a pulled hamstring, he cracked a smile from the stands when the buzzer sounded at the end, for now the party could begin.

Family and friends were huddled in a pack outside the locker room when Cassius opened the door. He was in a white hoodie, and they handed him one of those custom black shirts, where the front had a basketball design split in thirds one each for Cassius, Khy and Zach.

Michigan State senior point guard Cassius Winston (middle, right) poses with brothers Zach and Khy in addition to members of the basketball team at their alma mater, University of Detroit Jesuit High School.(Photo: Nate Atkins | Lansing State Journal)

The three boys crammed together, flashing peace signs as they cracked jokes on one another.

Children, children! Wendi Winston said, readying her phone to snap a photo.

Youve gotta get in the photo, Cassius Winston said to her. Its family.

The oldest Winston boywanted them all to be a part of thismemory, so the parents squeezed around thethree sons and flashed their signature toothy grins for one final photo together.

Just a week and a half later, the photos are a way to remember Zach. Its perhaps the closest Cassius can come to reaching his younger brother again.

The middle Winston posted one final set of photos to his Instagram account on Friday night. In them, hes smiling and flashing the peace sign again. His caption reads, I know the truth is you wont love me til Im gone. And even then the thing that comes after is moving on.

Two days later, Zach was gone. He died Saturday night after he was hit by an Amtrak train near the Albion campus.

The news hit Cassius soon after. He was in the team hotel the night before a game when Tom Izzo found him, holed up in an assistant coachs room and surrounded by all his teammates.

The news shook them all, given how close Zach was to being a part of the team. Matt McQuaid used to find him in his stall in the locker room after games because that was the closest he could get to Cassius.

Now, Cassius wished he could sit by his side one final time.

Often a screamer and a motivator, Izzo didnt have many words for this. He just knew his captain could use some space, to be with the brother he hadleft, and so he took Cassius and Khyon a walk away from everyone else.

He let Cassius do much of the talking. Cassius told Khy that they had to accept that their brother was in a better place now.

Back in the hotel room, silence filled the air until the quietest player on the team stood up. Marcus Bingham had only played with Cassius for one year, sharing the court for a handful of minutes, but he had a little brother he played basketball with, too. And he told his teammates to think about theirfamily members, to not just think but go back to their rooms and give them a call.

The concept of family is not just a basketball trope at Michigan State. Steven Izzo's dad is the coach. Kyle Ahrens and Xavier Tillman both have wives. Tillman has a 2-year-old daughter namedAyannawho will climb into Cassius' arms after the games.

Zach and Khy Winston have always seemed like little brothers to them.

Cassius would have given anything to have that last conversation with Zach. He was the closest brother in age, the one he walked 280 steps every day to middle school and toughened in King of the Court games out back, all so he could pass those traits to Khy. Their father, Reg, always wanted his first-born son to resemble a warrior, but he knew Cassius needed a tender side to keep a friendship going. So whenever the games at home would get too rough, the brothers would have to hug it out or share a car ride holding each others hand.

Basketball was a way to blend the toughness with love. Cassius might get up in your face one game and then pass you the game-winning assist on the next. He did plenty of both with Zach, including for two years on varsity together at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School. They celebrated their final game together by winning a state championship in the Breslin Center.

Then Khy got to play with Zach as Cassius went on to Michigan State, where he spread the Winston name around the country. He became the Big TenPlayer of the Year, a second-team All-American and a captain on a Final Four team, and yet none of therecognition comparedtowhat he saw in his brothers' eyes whenever theyd come to a game.

Their opinion means everything to me, Winston said a couple weeks ago. If they feel like Im doing a good job, then I truly feel like Im doing a good job.

It was a mutual bond.

He was always that big brother figure to me, Zach Winston said last spring.

Michigan State point guard Cassius Winston (center) poses for a photo with his brothers Khy (left) and Zach (right).(Photo: Photo courtesy of Zach Winston)

And so that's much ofhow the younger Winston brothers wound up at Albion College, a school of 1,500 students in a town of less than 9,000 people, located 50 miles south of East Lansing. That closeness meant staying in each others' busy lives. Cassius could finish a scrappy Big Ten battle and find Khy and Zach waiting for him in the locker room, and the younger brothers could run out for warm-ups in Albions Kresge Gym and spot their All-American big brother smiling from the crowd.

Cassius credited his brothers for taking him from the kid who cried after basketball losses to the one commandinga huddle in an NCAA Tournament game, where an entire team needed someone to look up to.

Now, Zach isnt looking up, and Cassius cant fill that void in his life anymore.

Sometime after 4 a.m. the night he lost him, Cassiuspulled up Zachs final Instagram photo and typed a reply.

I love you w everything in me gang. Wish I could wear yo pain on my shoulder.

When the sun rose the next day, Cassius pulled on his green warm-upsweats and headed back to the Breslin Center.

The Spartans were 15 minutes into their pregame shoot-around when the oldest Winston brother pushed through the doors. He soon told Izzo that he was wanted to play against Binghamton, but he didnt say why.

Khy came out to the gym, and so did their father, Reg, their first time back at a game since the photo with Zach in the lobby. The three remaining Winston boys then shot jumpers like old times.

Grief counselors arrived to help Izzo through what he called the toughest day of his coaching career. They spoke about how grief affects everyone differently and how the majority of it sets in later, like aholein the heart.

The hardest part of life that Im learning is it never stops. It keeps going. Someone dies and someone is born, Izzo said later that night. I think I knew that all my life, but then it hits home a little differently.

Hes coached in 22 NCAA Tournaments and eight Final Fours, but hed never gone to a place like this.

And so rather than pretend to have a game plan to follow that day, Izzo embraced the unknown. He asked his team to play with a broken heart. He told them to let the tears flow if they came, because this wasn't just a game and their point guard needed more from them than buckets tonight.

Michigan State's Cassius Winston, center, stands with teammates during a moment of silence in honor of Winston's younger brother, Zachary, before the team's NCAA college basketball game against Binghamton, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in East Lansing, Mich. Michigan State won 100-47. (AP Photo/Al Goldis)(Photo: Al Goldis, AP)

Those teammatesstood with him in a lineas a packed arena held a moment of silence. Cassius shook in place and pulled his hoodie up to shade his eyes while fellow seniors Kyle Ahrens and Joshua Langford rubbed his back.

He needs to know that hes not alone,Ahrens said. Hes our brother. Hes family.

Cassius was the final starter introduced, and he ran out into a huddlehis teammates formedwith their arms, as if to shade him for just a moment from the world.

Then the sweats came offand it was time to play.

On the first possession, Cassius assisted a three-point basket. On the second, he nailedhis own. Michigan State built up a leadfew will remember against an opponent thats easy to forget. Like the scrimmage against Albion, all that mattered was the people who played.

Cassius turned in a nearly flawless game, totaling 17 points and 11 assists with just one turnover. He went to check out near the end of theblowout, but Izzo told him he could haveone more chance to take some shots if he wanted, and that toothy grin cameout again. Cassius went back on the court, crossed over a defender and gently laid the ball into the net for a score.

In one game, Cassius made something difficult on the inside appear easy on the outside. He bottled it in like Zach would have, and that had him typing one final message to his brother that night.

You fought every demon w everything you had in you, Cassius wrote to Zachon Instagram after the game. You went to war w yourself every single day not knowing if you could win that battle. And you won time after time.

The next time I run into someone in your situation ima save them, cause thats what you would want me to do.

RELATED:How being the 'perpetual older brother' prepared Cassius Winston to be MSU's team captain

RELATED:How 'crybaby' Cassius Winston evolved into Michigan State basketball's iron man

MORE MSU BASKETBALL:Become an LSJ subscriber for as little as $5 total for 3 months, well into Big Ten basketball season and an interesting MSU football offseason. Already a subscriber? Thank you.

Contact Nate Atkins at natkins@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @NateAtkins_.

See the original post here:
How Cassius Winston wore pain on his shoulder and honored his brother's life - Lansing State Journal

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LEXINGTON, Ky. In the hours before taking the floor inside Kentuckys Rupp Arena to face the top-ranked team in the country, Evansvilles coaching staff gathered the Aces to show them a clip from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness for inspiration.

Evansville was a 25-point underdog entering a raucous atmosphere where its head coach Walter McCarty once played. No one on the outside expected the Aces to win.

McCarty believed.

Dont ever let somebody tell you, you cant do something. Not even me, Will Smiths character told his real-life son Jaden Smith as they stood alongside a basketball court. All right? You got a dream? You gotta protect it. If people cant do something themselves, they want to tell you, you cant do it.

You want something? Go get it! Period.

Tuesday night felt like a movie, fittingly.

Evansville head coach Walter McCarty celebrate with his team after defeating the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.(Photo: MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS)

Evansville shocked the country in defeating No. 1 Kentucky 67-64. Its the programs first-ever road win over a ranked opponent. The third-biggest upset in college basketball in the last 15 seasons. The first win by a true mid-major on the road against a No. 1 team since 1993.

The list of superlatives goes on.

No one expected us to come in here and play the way we did, McCarty said during his postgame interview with reporters. Hed already changed out of his suit the Aces soaked during a much-deserved locker room celebration.

From at the buzzer: Evansville basketball upsets No. 1-ranked Kentucky

The Aces (2-0) didnt luck into a victory, either. They spent 29 minutes, 34 seconds with the lead. They shot better than the Wildcats, shared the ball better and even out-rebounded them. K.J. Riley scored a game-high 18 points while Sam Cunliffe also finished in double figures with 17.

They sent Evansville basketball a proud program with deep tradition that hasnt been to an NCAA tournament since 1999 back to national relevancy, if even for one night. Social media couldnt seem to get enough of the Aces' improbable upset.

We just showed the world we can play, Riley said. Anybody can play with anybody. We played with confidence and we stuck to the game plan.

They said they believed they could win before they even got to town.

Evansville's Sam Cunliffe (20) defends Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey (3) at the basket as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.(Photo: MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS)

Its amazing, said Cunliffe, who had previously faced UK twice at Arizona State and Kansas. Coming to a school like this, you talk about making history like this. You know, making history and playing in front of these bright lights.

We prepared the right way and had our minds in the right spots, so to actually do it is surreal. I couldnt have imagined this ever in my life.

Cunliffe willed the Aces in the first half, scoring 15 of his 17 points, all of which came off the bench. UE carried a 34-30 lead into the break and kept pace with the Wildcats when some likely thought the Aces would crumble.

Cunliffe added that he felt like he perhaps has an added advantage coming off the bench because it allows him to evaluate the flow of the game and pick his spots. The Aces believe they have 10 players capable of starting.

As long as I play, I dont care if I start or come off the bench, Cunliffe said.

Kentucky head coach John Calipari talks to his team as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.(Photo: MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS)

Kentucky had a chance to send the game to overtime but what wouldve been the tying 3-pointer was off the mark during the final seconds. A disappointed Wildcats coach John Calipari said the Aces deserved to win because they were the tougher team.

If we wouldve somehow pulled it out, it kind of wouldnt have been fair, Calipari said. They made shots, threes and free throws, and my hats off to them. He had his team better prepared than I had my team.

He added: This was a great lesson for all of us, including me. I mean, we could say they got outplayed and I could tell you I got out-coached.

More: Evansville Chick-fil-A giving away free food to celebrate Purple Aces

Meanwhile, UE students back on campus congregated to cheer, Aces, Aces, to celebrate. The Aces players themselves could be heard cheering from inside their locker room throughout the postgame interview sessions.

I believe in this team and weve got enough to compete with anybody in the country, McCarty said.

Evansville head coach Walter McCarty celebrates with the Aces in the locker room after the gameas the University of Evansville Purple Aces defeat the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats 67-64 at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.(Photo: MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS)

McCarty doesnt talk about his playing days much anymore. He even admitted Tuesday that his players parents probably remember his career better than they do. Although, he was sure to point out hes never lost a game of 1-on-1 to them.

Tuesday wouldve been special to the second-year head coach regardless of the score. But his homecoming couldnt have gone any better. He said he felt like he was back in college when he arrived at Rupp.

I felt like I was getting ready to play and its a good thing I still dont play because I cant play anymore, he said. Those juices as a competitor start flowing and I start getting excited. I just feel like, Lets go. I think our kids saw that.

McCarty added: I dont know if anything matches this other than winning a national championship.

Walter McCarty on Evansville's win over his alma mater Kentucky Chad Lindskog, Courier & Press

Game contract: Kentucky paid Evansville $90,000 to show up Tuesday

Evansville has now proved it has talent to its hometown fans, Missouri Valley Conference opponents and seemingly all other sports fans who saw news of the upset. People nowhave seen why DeAndre Williams was an NBA Top 100 camp invitee, why Cunliffe was a top-40 prospect and why its veteran leaders like Riley, John Hall and Noah Frederking mean so much to this team.

Everyones individual skills complement one another, and they believe in each other. They also seem to truly like their coach.

This was for coach, Riley said. Coming back to where he won a championship, we did this for him. We took it very seriously. We knew he wanted to win and we did everything in our power to win.

Evansville's DeAndre Williams (13) defends as Kentucky's Tyrese Maxey (3) drives the basket as the University of Evansville Purple Aces play the number one ranked Kentucky Wildcats at Rupp Arena in Lexington Tuesday evening, November 12, 2019.(Photo: MIKE LAWRENCE / COURIER & PRESS)

McCarty certainly believes in them, too.

Were going to come in here and get one, McCarty recalled telling his old teammates before the game. Were going to surprise a lot of people today.

Evansville pulled off the unthinkable, even if its been a trend in the MVC. Over the last 20 seasons, the MVC is 4-3 vs. No. 1 teams the best such record by any conference. The Aces will have one day off before playing IU-Kokomo (NAIA) on Thursday inside Ford Center.

After inspiring his team with the movie clip on Tuesday but still well before tipoff, a confident McCarty told his team one more thing:

Its a great day to be a Purple Ace.

It sure was.

Contact Chad Lindskog of the Courier & Press by email, clindskog@gannett.com, or on Twitter: @chadlindskog.

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UE Insider: The Aces wanted a win over Kentucky. They went and got it. Period. - Courier & Press

Throughout my journey of building businesses, there were many times when I felt like giving up. Like the time my business partner Frank Restuccia and I received a bill from the ATO for a quarter of a million dollars, or when we couldnt afford to pay ourselves for the first two years, or when we got penalised by Google and lost most of our traffic.

Building a business from scratch is hard and its even harder to make it sustainable. In fact, over one in 10 Australian businesses fail each year.

Every time I make a decision, or feel that intense struggle of getting a new business idea off the ground, or feel overwhelmed, I turn to these tips from the greatest business owners Ive learned from over the years that have changed my life.

Elon Musk will go down in history as one of the most prolific business leaders of our time.

His astounding mind and never-give-up attitude has led to his incredible success. The guy has blown up more rockets and cars than anyone on the planet and when hes down, he brushes himself off and gets back up.

When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor. Elon Musk.

The PayPal co-founder taught me to question how things are done and think deeper into problems I want to solve.

In his book, Zero to One, he highlights the very reason why you want to start a business: by changing the world, making a difference or changing the future.

To do so, you need to be innovative, dont be scared to test and work out new ways of doing things. This is how businesses succeed.

Most people dont think of Mick Jagger as a brand expert, but the lead singer and founding member of the Rolling Stones has built a personal brand that has spanned over five decades.

Jagger has been described as one of the most powerful and influential frontmen in the history of rock and roll, worth an estimated US$360 million.

His career includes 26 albums, four solo albums, 26 film appearances and he produced seven films. Jagger has used his influential power and interests to launch educational music programs in schools and a sports promotion company, he owns a music studio and was also knighted by the queen in 2002.

Making mistakes is a big part of our culture at Finder.

Winfrey said, Do the one thing you think you can not do. Fail at it. Try again. Do better the second time. The only people who never tumble are those who never mount the high wire. This is your moment. Own it.

I always tell my crew that if they arent making mistakes they arent trying hard enough.

Not long ago, Jeff Bezos was named the richest man in the world, amassing a fortune of over US$100 billion, and the Amazon founder is someone I look to for inspiration when Im dreaming up big ideas.

The founder of the worlds largest online retailer, Amazon.com, is big on diversity, testing ideas, constantly improving and focusing on the customer as the number on priority.

He built businesses that challenged how people shopped, how people read books, how businesses operate, and has spent hundreds of millions of dollars on acquisitions and investments. Bezos builds sustainable businesses for the long-term, with a key mission to help people make decisions.

Arguably the most famous reality star on the planet, Kim Kardashian leverages her worldwide following to build an empire of business lines worth an estimated US$350 million.

The key to success for Kim K is content marketing, starting with the hit reality show, Keeping up with the Kardashians, and growing an audience to market to (she has 151 million followers on Instagram alone) with a consistent stream of content.

One of the worlds top life coaches has built success by helping others succeed.

With a value of $500 million, six international best seller books and seminars in over 100 countries, Robbins has been spreading the power of positive thinking for almost four decades. Life coaching has improved every aspect of my life, Im a big believer in learning self reflection, mindfulness and overcoming fears.

Story continues

One of my all time favourite books is Dale Carnegies How to Win Friends and Influence People, which was first published back in 1936 and still relevant today. It teaches the power of persuasion, the impact your behaviour can have on others, and techniques on how to be a better communicator and leader.

From almost flying around the world in a hot air balloon, bungee jumping, driving a tank through New York City, cross-dressing and wearing a space suit to a press conference, I have certainly learnt a thing or two about Richard Bransons incredible showmanship to cut through the noise with publicity.

Ive even wore a space suit a couple of times at our own events! There is nothing more important than being unique and creating a spectacle when going to market.

When I met Arianna Huffington at a luncheon in 2015, I was burning my candle at both ends. I would work so hard for so many weeks straight that I would get brutally sick and need timeout to recover.

Arianna spoke about her latest book, Thrive, and the importance of sleep on the body and mind. I took action and improved my sleep routine by going to bed at 9.30pm most nights and waking at 3.30am. When I give myself six hours of sleep regularly I dont crash as hard or as often.

When I first read Ben Horowitzs book, The Hard Thing About Hard Things: Building a Business When There Are No Easy Answers, when it came out in 2014, it was a pivotal point in Finders culture.

Something Horowitz wrote about was wartime versus peacetime CEOs, and this led to Finders newfound war on its competitors. We had sandbags in the office, everyone wore army hats, and I told our crew that our competitors were breaking into our homes and stealing our TVs off the walls. We got pretty fired up and havent looked back.

While on my journey of personal growth, I discovered Ben Horowitz was also a massive fan of Andy Grove. A founder and CEO of Intel, Grove led the company to be the biggest computer processor manufacturer in the world, before he died in 2016. We use many of Groves strategies at Finder, including OKRs objectives, key results to set goals and measure our performance.

The co-founder of music file-sharing company Napster taught me about the importance of being a visionary.

He was the first President of Facebook, and co-founded several other companies to amass an estimated fortune of US$2.4 billion.

Even though Napster was short lived, it was one of the fastest-growing businesses ever and it revolutionised the music industry. The key lesson here is to build things for the future and industries will catch up or lose out.

Fred Schebesta. Source: Supplied

One of the wealthiest people in the world, worth an estimated US$82 billion, Ive learnt the key to building wealth from Warren Buffett is frugality.

Buffetts money lessons that I live by include living below your means, putting money aside to save each month before paying any expenses, and the value in things Price if what you pay, value is what you get.

As the co-founder and former CEO of once the biggest company on the planet, Bill Gates is inspirational as he continues his mission on improving our world.

First it was bringing home computers into our homes and businesses, then Gates founded what is reportedly the largest private foundation in the world, dedicated to improving the quality of life globally.

Building businesses that make a positive impact on people is why I get out of bed every day.

Theres a reason why more people have watched Bren Browns TedX presentation on YouTube than any other. Its because her 20 years of studying vulnerability, courage and shame resonates deep inside your core.

She said, Vulnerability is having the courage to show up when you dont know the outcome. Its about being uncomfortable, and being ok with that. Vulnerability stifles creativity: If youre not willing to fail, youre not willing to innovate. If youre not willing to build a vulnerable culture you cant create.

I love how the lead singer of Queen, Freddy Mercury, created a brand that rebelled on so many levels.

The bands music defied mainstream pop culture of the 1970s, it combined genres in an innovative way, it pushed boundaries of music industry rules, and created a style that was shocking and dramatic.

Even its name was defiant. In an interview when Mercury was asked why the name Queen, he replied, because at the time it was outrageous. Dont ever conform. Do things differently.

Stephen Coveys famous book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, is my bible. Make all of these seven lessons your daily habit and it will change your life.

No one championed the customer better than Steve Jobs.

The co-founder, and former CEO and Chairman of Apple Inc. was obsessed about the user experience and made Apple devices so smooth and easy to use that it became the benchmark worldwide.

Everyone who builds a product or service should benchmark Apples user experience.

Just win baby! is Al Daviss most famous line and the motto for the American football team, the Oakland Raiders Davis was the owner and general manager of the team for 39 years.

With Daviss leadership, the Raiders were one of the most successful teams in history. In business, winning is the only thing that matters. Second place is the first loser. If you are driven to win, you will stay focused on your goals.

When there is too much going on or new ideas are presented, this is when you need to stop and think back to what the goal is. If they dont contribute to achieving your original goal it may not be worth pursuing.

Fred Schebesta is Co-founder of Australias most visited financial comparison website, Finder, Co-founder of cryptocurrency broker, HiveEx, and 2019 Australian Financial Review Young Rich Lister. Hear from Fred and business partner Frank Restuccia about how they build sustainable businesses at Finders Founders Lunch in Sydney on December 3.

Make your money work with Yahoo Finances daily newsletter. Sign uphereand stay on top of the latest money, news and tech news.

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My life-changing tips from 20 of the best business owners in the world - Yahoo Finance Australia

Sarah-Jane Mee of Sky News, Debbie Wosskow OBE, Naomie Harris and guests at the Allbright opening in FebruaryDAVE BENETT/GETTY IMAGES

Behind a dark wood door on Maddox Street in Mayfair is the second branch of the women-only club the Allbright. And on Thursday last week it was mine for the morning.

It starts at 7.45am, when the club is empty, bar me and the many friendly staff (men and women). I hit the weights studio for a 16 workout on the clubs spa floor (no men allowed up here, though they can be guests of female members). A female trainer with headset and smart kit shows me how to do squats properly while telling me that Ill feel more empowered and confident as a result. Do I? Maybe, but mostly I just feel rather hot.

Next is a quick shower (think five-star hotel bathrooms with

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A day in the life of the Allbright club - The Times

A Perth woman who led Scotlands wheelchair curling team to silver at a world contest is now a finalist for a UK Coaching Award.

Sheila Swan was shortlisted for the High Performance Coach of the Year Award after the Scottish team placed second in the World Wheelchair Curling Championship earlier this year.

The other finalist from Perth and Kinross is the Care About Walking project, which aims to improve the lives of older people in the area.

It was shortlisted for the Coaching for an Active Life Award.

Ms Swans coaching expertise and experience is shared with wheelchair curlers of all levels, ages and stages.

On her award nomination, she said: It was a big surprise, especially when you see the calibre of the other coaches.

It is more about the recognition for the team. Its as much for the team as it is for me.

She added: Winning medals is obviously important as it demonstrates that we have helped athletes achieve their potential, but our wheelchair programme has been so much more than that.

It has been truly life-changing for some and has helped to create a very real lasting legacy.

Wheelchair curling is a Paralympic sport, with many similarities to its Olympic counterpart. The major difference is that sweeping is not permitted.

Perth and Kinross Care About Walking project has made a more local impact in its work with older people.

It increases the provision of walking, strength and balance exercises within care homes.

Over the past year, it has worked with 250 staff and residents.

Manager of Paths for All, Frances Bain, who is heavily involved with Care About Walking spoke of the groups response to being in the running for the award.

She said: The team is delighted at being chosen as a finalist for this prestigious award.

While not necessarily a traditional coaching project in terms of the sporting world, its great to have the work we are doing to empower, facilitate and support care homes to deliver physical activity opportunities recognised.

The UK Coaching Awards will be held on December 5 in London.

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Perth woman who led Scotland's wheelchair curling team to world silver nominated for coaching award - The Courier

A short video of Gautham Karthik spending some quality time with kids at an ashram in Theni has gone viral on social media. The actor had shared the video with a post, They have been taught to serve others first before they serve themselves. I'm so proud of the way they have been raised! # #Theni. (sic) A source tells us, Gautham Karthik has been travelling around to spend time with his fans in the last few days. After celebrating his birthday, he went to attend a fans wedding in Hosur, and then went to Krishnagiri for a fans meet. From there, he drove to Theni and stayed the night there. The next morning, he visited the ashram to spend some quality time with the kids. He not only played with them, but also had a meal with the little ones, who were full of energy. After that, he went to attend another fans wedding in Theni. Gautham, whose last release was Devarattam, is now busy with a couple of films in Kollywood. The actor is shooting for Chella Pillai, a family entertainer thats being directed by Arun Chandhiran. Hes also got debutant Narthans remake of Mufti, which co-stars Simbu.

The rest is here:

Gautham Karthik spends time with kids at an ashram - Times of India

For a short 15 seconds towards the end of her interview with British Vogue, Emma Watson said,

I never believed the whole Im happy single spiel. It took me a long time. But Im very happy; I call it being self-partnered.

For the remainder of the video, she spoke about a variety of things and experiences shes had throughout her life:

Seeking Gloria Steinem's advice about feminist activism and relearning history from a different perspective, talking about how fame affected her as a child when she played Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter movie series and feeling guilty for being unhappy, and so much more.

Despite Emma diving deep into some of the most pressing issues, people across social media seem to be hooked on to the part of the interview where she spoke about not having a boyfriend or husband, and being self-partnered.

Adding to the hullabaloo, the interview too is conveniently titled Emma Watson Talks Turning 30, Working With Meryl Streep, And Being Happily Single.

It wouldnt be a shocker, since theres no dearth of headlines that focus only on their dating lives, choice of clothing, and whether or not they look camera-ready.

Its time we realise that public figures, especially women, are real, human, and can make meaningful contributions to the world.

Here are some eye-opening segments of Emma Watsons recent interview that deserve more recognition.

When Emma was appointed as the UN Women Goodwill Ambassador, she felt unworthy and not informed-enough. While she could have brushed it off and started tooting her own horn, she wanted to learn more about it.

"I did this speech for the UN - for this campaign that we launched, called #HeForShe, and I had a massive case of the imposter syndrome and it hit hard," she recalls.

Realising she needed to learn the ropes from people with more experience with feminist activism, Emma decided to approach Gloria Steinem, an icon who rose to public recognition when she became a spokeswoman for the American feminist movement in the late 1960s and early 1970s.

Emma hosting an interview with Gloria in 2016

Continuing the conversation about feminism, she speaks about receiving criticism about white feminism, which is the form of the movement where white women address only the things that affect them, and disregard other kinds of oppression women around the world go through.

The journey towards introspection, according to Emma, began when she started going to university in the United States.

To sit in another country and hear your history told differently to how you have been taught it at home - it was the first time I had a first-hand experience of realising that history is genuinely told from the perspective of whom its told by, she says.

She goes on to talk about the book Why Im No Longer Talking To White People About Race by author and journalist Reni Eddo-Lodge, from which the biggest lesson she took home was, the desperate need to reform our education system in the UK and the way we tell the story of how we have been involved in foreign affairs, in our relationship to slavery - which we never talk about, and its not okay.

Having previously considered herself very well-read, with a prestigious university degree, learning about different perspectives pushed her towards a course of correction and critical analysis. She says,

Many celebrities often have successful careers even if they don't care to speak up about pressing issues, or aren't well-informed.

But Emma, as host Paris Lees says, devotes so much time and energy, and strives to make a difference.

On why she goes the extra mile to actively participate in the discourse about things like feminism and LGBTQ+ rights, Emma says,

She feels that being an optimist at heart is essential to being an activist, and that being around other artists, creating space, and bringing people together has helped her greatly, over the past six months.

Emma Watson has been in the limelight ever since her debut as Hermione Granger in Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone. From the age of nine, all the way up to nearly 30, she has been in the film industry, among paparazzi and fans, with very less time to herself.

Emma in 2002, at the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

This much public exposure from such a young age is bound to have taken a toll. On the pressure she has felt, and how she overcomes it, she says,

There have been moments when everything got so big, I felt disconnected. And part of my sense of peace within myself has been in remembering my identity as someones daughter, a sister, belonging to a family, having roots.

Paris Lees, the host of the interview, is a trans woman, who shared the anxieties she faces and has faced throughout her life because of her identity. Empathising with her, Emma talks about a six-year-old trans child that she knows and cares about, and how shes so afraid about what they might go through, and just wanting basic rights for them.

On being asked about what she would say to people being uncomfortable sharing a bathroom with a trans person, Emma says,

You might not have experienced this in this specific way, but you will have experienced it in your life in some way, and you will know how thatll make you feel. Do you want to perpetuate that, and make somebody else feel that horrible feeling of someone telling you that youre not welcome, you dont belong, youre not included, we dont want you here? she adds.

Emma recalls watching the older Little Women movies as a child, and feels that the author of the book, Louisa May Alcott, put a little bit of herself into all of the sisters. She says this was a clever way and good literary device to explain that theres not just one way to be a feminist.

Speaking about the character that she plays in the upcoming Little Women movie - Meg March - she says,

She also talks about working with actors Meryl Streep and Laura Dern, whom she had already met before coming together for the movie. The three of them met in activist spaces, and had an added sense of solidarity of being actors who take part in activism.

In 2015, when Emma was interviewing Malala Yousafzai, she was told by Malala that one of the reasons she wanted to identify with feminism, was because of her speech at the UN. Speaking about this interaction, Emma simply says,

Emma also mentions meeting a young girl from India who lives in an ashram, and follows the actor on Instagram.

She was like, Every time I see you doing what youre doing, I just want you to know that theres a girl in an ashram in India whos rooting for you. I have moments where I just want to delete my Instagram account, but then I think about her, and Im like, No, thats meaningful.

So, there we have it. Emma Watson may be self-partnered, shes so much more, too.

(Edited by Rekha Balakrishnan)

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Emma Watsons interview was more than self-partnership. Heres the whole story - YourStory