Vinny's Lessons

Working hard between the whistles

"I genuinely believe that playing hard is a skill because if it wasn't everyone would do it."

-T.J. McConnell

Every summer—for at least the past 25 years—I have made it a point to tackle a variety of projects around the house. Some big and others small. It’s one of the perks of being a classroom teacher for sure, and truth be told, I usually fail in getting them all done. As they say, the road to you-know-where is paved with good intentions, so I should probably get cracking.

My fiancee refers to these plans as etch-e-sketch moments. I’ll announce my intention to do something, but that’s the extent of it. Just as every kid growing up with that popular childhood toy would abandon the awesome house they started creating with those two little white dials, I shake the etch-e-sketch, relinquishing my idea and moving on to something else. But for those things on that summer list I do get to, once that first whistle blows and I begin, the effort is relentless until I hear that second whistle so to speak.

A few weeks back—while going through a box labeled “Basketball Stuff”—I came across two old training notebooks I had kept from the Summer of 1993. The contents in those Mead college ruled notebooks reminded me that the work we do is the biggest ingredient in our pursuit of success, and when done in good faith, that time and effort becomes engraved into our very being, providing us with an opportunity to reach new heights.

Back in 2023, I published a story about Vinny, a longtime coach who, outside of my parents, had the most profound effect on the formative years of my life. Click here to read. Vinny’s basketball mind was at a higher level than most, and coupled with his unique way of teaching the game, the improvement shown by those he worked with throughout his almost six decades of coaching was undeniable.

With Vinny you had to be uncompromisingly dedicated to the task at hand. He used to say, “Tommy, if you don’t want to do this; if you never pick-up a ball again, I’ll still love you. But I’m not going to waste my time if you’re not all-in.” Hence the notebooks. I realize now that the purpose of keeping them wasn’t just for accountability, but even more so as a way to ensure I knew I had done the work and was improving.

Workout from July of 1993

Vinny was a huge proponent of using the track to build endurance and speed. Because of this, I spent many summer mornings in 1993 running in circles at Rocky River High School while dribbling a basketball. The above picture is one of those famous “Speed Workouts” written in his distinct penmanship. Not having seen this notebook in a few decades, two things stood out as I paged through the unique little time capsule. One, my times dribbling with both hands steadily improved. Two, whatever malfunctions I had while doing the drill were clearly noted. I’m gonna guess “losing control” pertained to my temper—something Vinny’s workouts eventually helped me rein in.

Vinny’s simple belief was that repetition, coupled with commitment and hard work would give me a chance to play Division I college basketball. That’s all he ever guaranteed—a chance. An opportunity to potentially achieve that dream. He promised nothing. There was no shortcut. There was no magic wand he could wave to make me better, and he knew I would inevitably have to deal with failure, so at the bottom of every page in those notebooks I was expected write the following quote from him:

One of the best quotes I have read pertaining to work ethic in recent years came from Indiana Pacers player T.J. McConnell, who stated, “I believe playing hard is a skill because if it wasn’t everybody would do it.” His success is certainly a testament to that belief. The undersized McConnell has been a crowd favorite everywhere he has played because of it. He understands that without mastering the skill of hard work first, shooting, passing, and rebounding will never improve. Likewise in life, if folks don’t embrace giving it everything they’ve got, they will be shaking the etch-e-sketch time and time again. Hard work supersedes everything else. It’s a lesson I can’t wait to share with a new group of players.

Last month I accepted an offer from Coach Chris Fleegle to be a varsity assistant with his Lady Lions basketball team. Altoona Girls Hoops is rich in tradition and has had success at both a state and national level. I’m thrilled and extremely grateful to be a part of his tremendous program. The decision to take Chris up on his offer is what led me to go through and organize that box labeled “Basketball Stuff,” which resulted in rediscovering that pair of old, one subject notebooks. I’m excited to bring Vinny’s lessons to a new generation of players, who, if they buy in, will work harder than ever before, particularly between the whistles.

-Tommy O’Sionnach