Are Pros Just Hos?

I tried to warn you m@#%f’s in ” eMPTy Without It“.

(I guess I can say that in a Blog. Maybe you got the message … maybe you didn’t. Excuse my harsh tone, but it seems to be the kind of verbiage many relate to. I guess it’s true… pimpin ain’t easy...but somehow fair.

Everybody seems to have a personal trainer. But… the question is… is he or she a developer (“Gainer”) or like most–a “Maintainer?” Like I said before, “maintainers” have a certain value, only they’re just what the term implies– maintenance people. Can’t have a fancy high-rise without a maintenance plan . The structure would lose its value before its time ( I agree). That’s why Maintainers are great for what they do and necessary for top-level competitors. But who in the world would hire a maintenance person to build an annex, a new floor or even remodel a facility. Maybe an architect, or developer… but a maintenance person only WTF#@$?!

So I ask. Why are so many top-level players hiring maintenance people for “additions” to their game?

It's curious what the maintainers are saying to these guys and gals to get them to believe they are actually changing skill levels; unless it’s really just the players taking advantage of the “luxury” of not having to change too much. Maybe they're satisfied with where they are or perhaps scuurrred of certain types of work?

Being highly skilled makes it even harder psychologically to initiate change and continue progress beyond that; not to mention programming new information into your brain, or over-writing existing programs, is no joke. On top of that, it seems that too many top-level Maintainers are “Pimps” who have positioned themselves with smooth “game” of their own. I remember one “top flight” maintainer who never played or coached… but did go to law school and presumably slept at a Holiday Inn...?

So, if Trainers or Maintainers are “pimps”, doesn’t that make the players with maintenance people Ho’s? I mean they are giving up that "booty" and Maintainers do fly around city to city collecting checks.

Imagine an audio of one of the sessions…

“Say Mayne… look here! I need you ta dribble down to da blue right der there three times, wit two basketbawls. Ima strap diss here harness around yo sculptid lil waist… hah, hah. Then I want you to make six jumpas wit me holdn owne to da pulley. Nahmean? Now if you can make jumpas with me hangin on yo ass… you can dam sho make em when it counts in da in the game wid ain’t nobody holdn you ….hanhanhan!!!!! Nahumsayn?”

Many players are accepting the marginal gains of the common “workout.” If you’re a level 70 or higher player (pro level), It IS still possible to get a lot better--and I don’t just mean in better shape. Of course, getting in better shape will help you avoid injury and enable you to demonstrate your current skills more facile; but it won’t get you to level 85 or beyond in terms of your skill development and application.

I hope you haven’t been duped to believe you’re maxed out (skill-wise) and all you have to do is get a little wiser? The 100th percentile of function, across all skill sets, is a long way off— even if your name is Kobe or LeBron. Tragically, many players have a higher opinion of themselves than the level they are actually on.

The maintainer swoops in and pacifies the "ears and fears" and convinces you they are the answer. I don’t claim to understand the Pimp game…but it seems to work quite well on the street and often times at the gym . You would think at some point many would call BS on the arrangement--particularly in the age of NIL. However, it remains a thriving industry for many Pimps.

Is there a solution?

Yes!

The Martial Arts of Basketball (MAB) verifiably pushes any player to the next level (regardless of what level he or she may be on). Most of the time people pick up a drill here and a drill there…maybe they ‘re even privy to “top-level” workouts. After they’ve collected enough drills, they start calling themselves “Trainers.” But at the end of the day what many offer is simply a workout.

The Non-negotiable

Either you have a optimization plan to move your game forward towards the 100th percentile of function or you don’t! Any thing short of that is just good “game.--which may not produce one for you.”

I truly believe it's a no-brainer. What you absolutely need is a good “Gainer.”