This is the last game of the season. Sadly RCP didn't make the playoff, strange but they have been trying to figure out the major problem with the team. After speaking to a few players and the coach, it seems they have figure it out.
Sadly it is to late, why? To me it should have been working on during the season, but I also noticed that many players have this main concept it is about them and not about the team.
Many players may not agree with me and some players may even get mad at me for saying this. But in order for a team to grow, stand strong and become as one, they have to put themselves to the side and work on things as a team. I visit the team at practices and I have attend every game. Surely at practice they work as one, it get a little crazy, especially going against one another, but when it comes to a game, it seems that some of the players tend to forget it is a team sport and begin to try to show their own skills, and before you know it, RCP is either down by 10 or more.
Looking at the faces that coach make each time this happen, he find himself wondering if he made a mistake with a few of these players, and if they will ever realize that it is not the coach fault the way they are players, and they must start taken responsibilities for their actions as a player. I have recently heard players say, it is coach fault because he didn't put me in the game, or it is coach fault because he need to rotate more, it is coach fault because of this or that. But I have attend many of these games, and from my point of view, the fault I see with coach is he has a soft heart. He tries his best to give all the players playing time, and that is not going to work especially if he plan on keeping this team alive.
Now truly next year is another outcome, I made it a strong point to host a meeting with Coach/Owner Bishop Smith, and he have been keeping it very close to his chest on what he has decided to do next year, in fact when ask if the team will be back I obtain this quote from his email:
I can't say if we will or if we won't, I can only say, what ever God has plan I will shall follow. I love this team, I admire many of the players, I know that many of them can truly make a good team, but when it all comes down to it, it is not about what I think anymore, it is about if they are truly serious about being a team and not being about themselves. As a owner and a Coach, I learn that I can't keep allowing friendship and being cool with the players get in the way of business, and that was my main fault this year. So now I have to deal with the outcome. So once again, I will not say we will be back or we won't be back, but I will say this. What is about to take place is going to make alot of individual think twice about what I am all about."
River City Panthers, is a family and that is what I believe, but one thing the players have to understand that a family, a workable, creative, and faithfully family works together in order to make progress. When you got a family that only thinks about themselves, not turn out right, and you begin to see all the weakness and loop wholes that is involved. At first I took all the responsibilities when it came down to the loses that we have taken, but after while I begin to understand what last "Coach" said- "Many players are not coach-able, they don't want to be coach, they just want to play, they don't care about winning or losing, they just want to play, they realize or even think about the whole team, they just want to play. This is a Semi-Pro basketball team, not gym time or street ball. We have to be organized as a team, and until that happens, we will not win. Selfish ball playing, bring forth a Losing Team".....
After reading that email, I understood exactly what Bishop Smith was saying, and after reviewing some of the video and I begin to see more of what he was saying. But I pray that he stand firm in his belief and not give up, and bring forth the team. It would be a honor and a blessing to see River City Panthers back next year win or lose, if they continue to show Peoria IL and the Surrounding area that they are serious about being a strong program for this city, trust me when I say people will begin to support his cause.
This is another article from you Brother in Christ, #JCSWAG and Family. Check us out as we begin to start writing more articles concerning the CBA league next of 2015.
