Dick Devenzio's influence has been around the game for decades. Yesterday I enjoyed visiting with former LSU point guard Doug Saylor who works individually with young players and the conversation drifted to Dick and how he is inspired players and coaches a like. Most everyone in the game has read his book "Stuff," which is an absolute basketball classic. It was first given to me by Judy Southard immediately after she hired me as her assistant at Marshall University -- some 25 years. Dick is one of those special people in the game that has "crossover" influence. He has effective the men's game and the women's game equally, on all levels, for an extended period of time. I was "reintroduced" to Dick Devenzio last spring sitting around talking basketball with my friend Dena Evans and Mano Watson. Dena tutored under Dick in his Point Guard College and he continued his work after he passed away in 2001. Dena later sent me one of his books "Think Like A Champion" which is a good book for coaches looking for lessons to pass to players. It is a great book for players to read. Here is a very short sample of just one of the many topics from that book:Loyalty: Loyalty to friends, to teams and to nations is unwarranted when it conflicts with doing what’s right.
Loyalty is a word often associated with sports. Some coaches emphasize its importance. Personally, I am skeptical about it. If you find yourself demanding or asking for loyalty, you may not be doing the things necessary to inspire it.
Loyalty is often requested when it is undeserved. A person caught cheating doesn’t want you to report him and claims that doing so would be disloyal. Or a person breaking a law wants you to break it, too. In those cases, if loyalty is going to be a factor at all, it is loyalty to yourself, to your integrity, and to doing the right thing.
The way loyalty gets twisted is what I’m concerned about here. Make sure you remain loyal to yourself and to the principles you believe in. Loyalty is not always admirable; loyalty to friends, to teams and to nations is unwarranted when it conflicts with doing what’s right.
You have to decide for yourself what’s right.
Below are some articles that are well worth reading to get to know Dick and what he stands for or, as I did, to remind me of his influence and teachings.
A great article at the time of his passing in 2001 about his legacy:
Article by Dick on Leadership from HoopU:
A lot of great notes from Dick by Eric Musselman:
Here is Dick's "baby" that he has been "adopted" by Dena Evans:
