HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

Learning under a veteran NBA head coach in Washington has been great for Cassell, who admits he isn’t quite ready for the big chair yet.

"I wanted to be an assistant first. I’m not ready to be a head coach in this league yet. This is an ideal situation for me. I work for a great guy who understands the game of basketball and understands the in and outs of coaching in Flip Saunders. Right now I’m enjoying the guys I work with and they’re showing me a lot about the game of basketball. This is not an easy job to get, so players who want to be coaches should take the time to learn while they’re still playing and be sincere about it. Coaching is a lot harder than playing. A lot harder. All the time I used to spend in the weight room and on the court I’m now spending in front of the TV watching game tape. You have to watch at least the last three games for every team you’re about to play. I’ve watched more film this year than I watched in 16 years of playing basketball."

The expectation coming into the 2009-10 NBA season was that the Wizards would be not just a playoff team, but contenders for the NBA championship. Those plans fell apart almost immediately, and Cassell admits it’s been rough coming down to earth the way the Wizards have this season.

"It’s been a very tough season, but it’s a learning experience for all of us, but there will be some changes this summer. We have to see what kind of transition we have, but the biggest thing is we know we’ll be better next year than this year. That’s for sure. I think (GM Ernie) Grunfeld and Flip will put their heads together, make some changes, and we’ll see where we are next year."

In the mean time, Cassell is also doing some work with Gatorade, trying to help high school athletes understand the importance of hydration. We’re not talking Sprite, Pepsi or just plain water here, either. The world of science is constantly gaining a better understanding of what our bodies need to perform at the highest level, and with that in mind Gatorade is now offering three different levels of hydration. 

"We’re really just trying to spread the word about the importance of staying hydrated," says Cassell. "Gatorade has produced G1, G2, and G3 and made them accessible to high school players as well as the NBA. We’re really just trying to raise awareness, and they’ve got a set-up you almost have to see to believe. It’s a tractor trailer made up to look like an NBA locker room, really something to see. The message though, is to prepare yourself before the game with one Gatorade drink, during the game with another one, and after the game with another one. Athletes need different kinds of hydration at different times, and we’re really starting to understand that. Water is good, but it doesn’t hydrate you to the fullest. Gatorade is working to provide the right kinds of hydration at the right times."

Gatorade is touring select high schools and events with the G Series Mobile Locker Room, a state-of-the-art facility and fully functional locker room equipped with professional grade lockers, testing stations to gauge sweat losses, and SMART Board interactive displays for high-tech X’s and O’s. Students using the Locker Room will meet with sports performance experts, and will be among the first athletes to test the new G Series products designed to meet athlete needs before, during and after activity.
  
Now through Sunday, April 11, Gatorade is holding a photo contest to find the FINAL high school to receive a visit from the G Series Mobile Locker Room – and all you need to enter is a story and a photo. High school athletes, coaches, administrators or parents may submit a brief story about their own locker room rituals, along with a photo, to the Gatorade Facebook fan page (www.Facebook.com/Gatorade) before Sunday, April 11. The winner will receive a visit from the G Series Mobile Locker Room for his or her school, and a $500 gift card for themselves.

It’s great to see that Sam Cassell has found something to do in his spare time that can take his mind off of the woeful season the Washington Wizards have had. 

"The good part is, we can’t be any worse next year, so there’s nowhere to go but up," says Cassell, ever the optimist.

"My name’s Aretha," said Mrs. Aretha Henry as I introduced myself. 

"Spelled like Aretha Franklin?" I asked.

"Yes," she replied, "but please don’t ask me to sing."

She brushed off my extended hand and gave me a big hug.

"We’re huggers around here," she said, smiling broadly. "I hope you don’t mind."

Mrs. Henry has lived in the same house in South Dallas since the 50′s, and proudly told me of the children and grandchildren she raised in the house, which was selected for refurbishment in cooperation with the NBA Cares program.

"My youngest was three years old when he came to live with me. His mother was on drugs, but I don’t hold that against her. People make mistakes. I took my grandchild in like he was my own. I told him his mother loved him and that was enough. Now he’s 19 and he’s about to go to college."

Mrs. Henry told me her story as we stood in front of her home in the middle of a neighborhood that seemed to be forgotten by time. Like the abandoned factories, run-down schools and churches and dilapidated businesses around it, Mrs. Henry’s house had seen better days . . .and now, thanks to the Dallas Mavericks, HP volunteers, and the people at Rebuilding Together, the house would see better days again.

"I’m so blessed," said Mrs. Henry, tearing up. "I’m 69 years old and there’s just no way I could ever have done all of this work myself. Today I know I am truly blessed to have these volunteers and players come out to do this for us."

Dallas Mavericks Eddie Najera and JJ Barea were inside rolling new paint on the walls in the living room while Caron Butler applied a fresh layer of paint to a newly-repaired front door jam and hammered up the new numbers that indicated the house’s address.

"My grandson wanted to stay home from school today so he could meet the players, but they’re doing testing this week and I told him there was no way he was going to miss those tests. Grades have to come first," said Mrs. Henry, very matter-of-factly.

Her grandson was, no doubt, shocked when he got home from school to see his house transformed. The volunteers working with the Mavericks worked tirelessly to turn a run-down house that looked barely livable back into a home.

"We’re actually working with Rebuilding Together Greater Dallas, and they’re the ones who chose this home," says Gina Calvert, Community Relations Manager for the Mavericks. "They have a process they go through. The homeowners they work with are usually older homeowners and they’ve lived in the houses for many, many years. Mrs. Henry has lived here for over 40 years, and there’s a process they go through to apply to Rebuilding Together. They’re the one who chose it, came out, saw what needs could be addressed, from painting to replacing appliances and plywood exteriors, and then they came to the NBA. The NBA decided to work with them, and the Mavericks took it from there. They’re wonderful to work with and make the process extremely easy. We just come in and do the grunt work."

As I prepared to leave, I walked over to Mrs. Henry one more time to give her my card. I explained that we’d be running this story and wanted to thank her for taking some time to talk to me. She looked carefully at the card and looked up at me, puzzled.

"I don’t see your TV channel on here."

"No ma’am," I said. "We’re on the internet. HOOPSWORLD.com."

A blank gaze stared back at me.

"Ask your grandson when he gets home," I suggested. "He’ll know all about it."

"Yes, I’m sure he will," nodded Mrs. Henry. "He’s a smart boy."

It occurred to me that the Henry household probably didn’t have internet access. Looking around, in fact, I decided it would be shocking if any of the houses around me had internet. Many of them were barely livable, by all appearances. I’m sure that by the time the volunteers cleared out there would be internet available in the house, but it was obvious that the internet was not a regular part of Mrs. Henry’s life before now.

I couldn’t help but think about the things I take for granted. My biggest complaint this week was that my high-speed internet was moving at middle speed, and kept kicking my PS3 offline. AT&T had to come out and spend several hours fixing it, while I was trying to do an online NBA chat, nonetheless. Very inconventient.

As Mrs. Henry gave me a big good-bye hug, again telling me how blessed she was, I couldn’t help feeling a little blessed myself. Receiving a blessing is a powerful experience, second only to the experience of being, in some small way, a blessing to others.

Portland Trail Blazers @ LA Clippers: The Blazers are currently in the West’s eighth seed, but they could be in a three-way tie for sixth if they win and the Spurs and Thunder lose. Welcome to life in the Western Conference. Juwan Howard has food poisoning, and is doubtful for Portland. Travis Outlaw (groin) is questionable for the Clippers.

Phoenix Suns @ San Antonio Spurs: Tony Parker’s return helped the Spurs take out the Kings last night. The Suns promise to be a bit more of a challenge, and need a win to regain their share of the West’s second seed. San Antonio has shown a propensity for knocking off top teams of late, and over the last couple of weeks no team in the West has been as good as Phoenix.

Other Games: NY Knicks @ Indiana Pacers, Washington Wizards @ Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors @ Minnesota Timberwolves.

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