The Real Athlete blog

Athlete Development

• Some of the NFL's most elite athletes are using freeze-dried, ground up, liquid extract from deer antlers as a growth hormone. [Latest PED gives sports deer-in-headlights look]

• Tramon Williams, a Louisiana Tech walk-on who went undrafted, has 15 interceptions in the past three seasons with Green Bay and is having a big post-season for his team. [A Packers Cornerback Is Overlooked No Longer] 

• Matt Mitrione was, by his own admission, a below-average NFL player, but the 6-foot-4, 260 pound fighter is making a name for himself in MMA. [Mitrione applies NFL lessons to his MMA career]

It's been a busy start to the New Year with a lot of things in the works here at Access Athletes. It was a big weekend in Maryland with the Baltimore Ravens advancing in the playoffs after they blasted the Chiefs in the first round. Next weekend, they will face their heated rivals, the Pittsburgh Steelers, in a showdown that will finally settle the debate about who is the best team in the AFC North and determine who will ultimately advance to the AFC Championship.

Recently, we brought on another incredible contributor at Access Athletes. Master Certified Coach, Chrissy Carew, is the Founder of The Insightful Player™, a bold movement of hope committed to lifting the spirit of the human race by putting high integrity NFL players on the largest stage in the world to share their personal heartfelt stories to inspire all, especially kids. The NFL contains so many examples of these fine young men who happen to be sports heroes, but beyond their stats, live their lives in an exemplary fashion and devote themselves to helping individuals and society as a whole. Through this campaign, Chrissy has interviewed more than 30 NFL players and has assembled their stories in the "A Gift of Insights".  You can download a special PDF copy of all 30 Insightful Player™ stories for free and help Chrissy spread her powerful and uplifting message. 

Roger Federer beat Rafael Nadal on November 28 in the ATP Tour World Finals in London. This came as a surprise to many, as Nadal had a 14-7 edge in their matches. Many have said that Federer is the best tennis player of all time, but right now he may not even be the best of his generation, which is paradoxical to say the least.

Nadal’s strategy against Federer is simple: camp out on Federer’s backhand and pound high balls there until he gets a short one and then rifle it away for a winner. This has worked perfectly in the past. Federer would start to get defensive because he couldn’t hit an aggressive shot when the ball jumped up so high and the 14-7 advantage in match play told the story.

That scenario was different in this year’s final.

One of the most common questions I get this time of year, from both players and coaches, has to do with working out over Christmas break. There is not a “one size fits all” answer.

There are several questions you need to ask when putting a plan in place:

• How long are you off from school?
• Do you have any games over the break (holiday tournament)?
• When is your first game of the New Year?
• How many days will you practice over the break?
• Will the practices be long and intense?
• How are you feeling (fatigued & banged up or rested & healthy)?

The answers to these questions will dictate what you should do.

The New York Times recently published a very touching story by reporter Greg Bishop about the beautiful bond between Tony Richardson, New York Jets fullback, and Tyler Nelson, a 16-year-old from Texas who is awaiting a multiple organ transplant.

Tony and Tyler met in Tampa, Florida in February 2009 through the Make a Wish Foundation and bonded instantly. The friendship between the professional football player and the ailing teen with cystic fibrosis blossomed in the months that followed, and the two have shared hours of conversation as well as visits, phone calls and text messages. While Tony admires the boy’s courage and stamina, young Tyler is flourishing under the nurturing attention of the sports star and his colleagues.