Mo Motion - The Podcast

ACL repair surgery is something that the orthopedic surgery community is just now beginning to talk about after decades of subscribing to the belief that it isn’t possible. The belief is slowly changing, in large part because of the groundbreaking surgical work of my guest on this episode, Dr. Gregory DiFelice of the Hospital for Special Surgery, Sports Traumatology & Joint Preservation Surgical department. In this conversation we talk about about the approach surgeons have taken in approaching ACL surgery in the past, what he’s done to ask questions that nobody was asking, and how his steps have led to the reintroduction of ACL repair surgery that is proving to be highly successful. This is a very important topic to me because I experienced my own ACL injury and had to undergo surgery myself.  Maureen: So the body wants to heal... Dr. DiFelice: You’re darn straight, it does. It wants to heal everything and all we’ve gotta’ do is get out of its way and try and let it heal. Click here to download on iTunes ACL repair surgery is not impossible, surgeons have only thought it was for the past 30 years. Dr. DiFelice points out that it’s hard to overcome the long-held beliefs of any group of people. That’s what he’s discovered has been the case among orthopedic surgeons for the last 30 years. Efforts in the past made to repair ACLs instead of replacing them met with very low success rates, so the concept was abandoned. But his research has shown that those stats are the results of applying the same surgery to EVERY type of ACL injury. Taking a closer look enabled him to determine that the patients who did do well with ACL repair surgeries had a particular type of injury and revealed an option he felt deserved more consideration. Dr. DiFelice:  I’ve been doing this (surgery) for eight years now, I’ve done almost one hundred (now over one hundred) primary repairs, we’re running at well over 90% success rate, and I’m pretty much used to it. The orthopedic surgery community is starting to come around, so ask your doctor about the possibility of ACL repair surgery. There is only one way the promising possibilities of ACL repair surgery can become mainstream, and that’s for patients to ask their surgeons why they don’t do repair surgeries that are having such huge success rates. Then, surgeons who have not learned the new methods Dr. DiFelice has pioneered may begin to explore it as an option to add to their practice. But more importantly, many young athletes can potentially be spared the agony of a more invasive surgery they don’t need and athletic careers can be saved. That's what matters to me - and why I wanted to have Dr. DiFelice on the show. Dr. DiFelice: As you know, change is hard and we’re sitting on a situation here where three generations of orthopedic surgeons have been trained as their dogma that the ACL cannot be healed. So basically, I’m going against the Bible… you have to open your mind to believe that maybe there could be a different way, maybe they were mistaken. Click here to download on iTunes Outline of this episode [0:23] Maureen’s introduction to Dr. Gregory DiFelice, surgeon. [3:39] The problems faced with ACL surgery and the outcomes normally achieved. [6:53] The way ACL injuries used to be handled compared to current methods. [9:19] Why younger athletes who have ACL surgery experience greater failure of the surgery. [14:34] Changes Dr. DiFelice has made to his surgical approach - and the improvements he’s seeing. [24:28] How the type of ACL tear is diagnosed and treatment is determined. [27:03] The amazing results Dr. DiFelice is seeing with his new surgery. [30:35] The difference in pain meds needed with the two types of surgeries. [35:19] Cost comparisons and insurance issues. [37:04] The post-surgery advice given to each category of surgical patient. [52:49] The impact of the repair surgery on the growth plate of young athletes. [55:41] Dr. DiFelice’s hopes for the future of this surgical procedure. Resources Mentioned https://www.gregorysdifelicemd.com/ Dr. DiFelice’s YouTube channel An article on LinkedIn about this groundbreaking ACL repair surgical option.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald is well known as the head coach of the Northwestern University Wildcats football team. Taking over after the unexpected death of his predecessor at the age of 31, he was the youngest head football coach in the Big Ten Conference at the time. Coach Fitz has built the Northwestern football program into one that is about more than winning - it’s founded on the importance of character, teamwork, and the right kind of atmosphere in which students can not only win but also mature as human beings. In this conversation, we chat about Fitz’ childhood, how he was recruited to the football team at Northwestern as a student, and his coaching and team philosophy. How college recruiting has changed over the years. Back when Coach Pat Fitzgerald was recruited onto the Northwestern University football team there was no internet, no social media, and no high profile press coverage like there is today. And more importantly, there were no 3rd parties involved in the process. It was just the player, his parents, and the coaching staffs of his high school and the prospective college. With the changes in technology and the business world that have come to touch college sports, more and more pressure is being placed on future college athletes to look and play the part of a future star. Coach Fitz talks about the changes and how the Northwestern staff approaches recruiting - and it’s a lot more like the old days than what you might think. On recruiting: “The process is pretty simple… Number one: if you don’t fit who we are academically, we’re just not going to recruit you. Then number two: We have a set of values we believe in who fit who we are as a program and we try to investigate this as deep as we can. Number one is the young man’s attitude. What type of attitude does he choose to have? And that’s not a ‘some of the time’ question that’s an “all of the time.’... What kind of work ethic does he have? Is he willing to invest and understand that what I’m working for today I may not have that return on for a number of years or months? It’s not instant gratification.  That’s not the way the world works.  What kind of character to they demonstrate? Are they making the right choices when no one’s watching? Are they trusted by their peers and by their community?”   Click here to download on iTunes. What makes Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s recruiting philosophy unique? When it comes to college recruiting every college wants to have the best players. But how you define what makes the best players makes all the difference. Coach Pat Fitzgerald and his staff are not only looking for the players with the most talent or best high school stats. They are looking for the best team players, the ones who have demonstrated humility and responsibility. They want the young men on their team who have the ability to apply themselves for the good of the team as a whole, and will be there for their brothers on and off the field. In this conversation, you can hear how Coach Fitzgerald and his staff find young men who fit that description and why it’s a non-negotiable. Football orientation that is more than learning how to play the sport. When a new student comes into the Northwestern Wildcats football program, he goes through a series of orientation classes - and they have very little to do with how to play football and fit in as part of the team. Each student is taught a series of lessons about teamwork, study skills, college success, and how to handle the newfound responsibility of being away from parents for the first time. It’s one of the expressions of Coach Pat Fitzgerald’s greater concern that his players not only succeed on the field but also succeed in life - and in his mind, college success is one of the first steps in that journey. You can hear more from Coach Fitz as he chats with me on this episode. If the culture is right, ownership flows from the locker room outward. Team culture is one of the most important aspects of any sports program. Pat Fitzgerald knows that better than most. He spends just as much time building a sense of family and ownership into his players as he does teaching the skills that make for success on the field. He believes that without the sense of community in the locker room, the team will have much less chance of advancing on the field. You can learn how coach Fitz works to create that family atmosphere, and more by listening to this candid and refreshing conversation with one of college football’s greats. Click here to download on iTunes.   Outline of This Episode [0:24] My introduction of Coach Fitzgerald and this episode of Mo Motion. [2:30] Coach Fitzgerald’s background, family life growing up, and the building blocks of his life. [5:55] When Coach Fitzgerald knew sports would be more than a game for him. [10:57] How Pat was recruited for college and how it differs from today. [21:28] The kind of mistakes college players make early in their career that ruin things. [28:20] Reasons parents SHOULD have for their child playing sports. [38:04] How we can deal with the physical risks of youth sports. [47:20] The role of women in sports and the Northwestern approach. If you enjoy the show, please spread the word and be sure to subscribe to and rate the Mo’ Motion Podcast. You can also find out more about our training at momotion.org. Full Transcript Here

Andy Borman serves as coach of the New York Rens, a basketball association that aims to develop exceptional student-athletes who understand and embrace the fundamental principles of basketball, develop good sportsmanship, exhibit positive athletic and personal conduct, and excels in athletic competition. Coach Borman has been with the organization since August of 2014 and in this episode, he shares his thoughts about how players can create their identity as a player, find their place on the team, and excel in their exact role within the team. I hope you take the time to listen. It’s a great conversation that focuses on how players can increase their value and up their game by creating their own identity. When a player is truly eager to excel in his/her role on the team they need the input of the coach. But it’s not always easy to get in a way that is helpful to the player. The coach is busy, working not just to help each player improve but also working to build a game strategy and plan that will actually win games. That's why the individual needs to take responsibility for his/her own growth as a player. In this episode, Coach Andy Borman shares the most important question an individual player can ask his/her coach to get the feedback needed for improvement - and how to ask it effectively. Listen to Mo’s Part II interview of Andy Borman Subscribe to The Mo’ Motion Podcast on itunes. What parents need to understand about their child’s participation in sports programs. Every parent wants to see their child play, especially when it’s a program where a fee is required to be part of the team. But it’s an unrealistic expectation to think that your child will play every game, or sometimes, at all. In this conversation, Coach Andy Borman of the New York Rens shares what parents are actually paying for when they place their children on a sports team and why they need to do their part to make it the best experience for the player possible by engaging with the process. It’s a challenging but important topic that parents need to hear, so please listen. “Where they (parents) are customers, they are paying for a service. The thing I say to them is… ‘You are paying for the training, not playing time.’ And then I would just say, ‘He ain’t playing.’ ‘Oh, but I’m paying X amount of dollars…’  ‘Yeah, I said that in the parent meeting. I’m sorry. You must not have cared enough to show up just like your kid didn’t care enough to come to practice.  Not my fault.’... If you’re playing on a real team, playing time is earned. Nothing is given.” Developing yourself as a basketball player requires building on who you are, not who you aren’t. As Coach Andy Borman watches players advance through the levels of his program (the New York Rens) he’s eager to guide players in the paths that will most benefit them as an individual player. That often means helping them learn how to study the game, not just the star or big-name players. You can hear Andy explain what that looks like for various positions and types of players and how he followed that philosophy in his own career by listening to this episode. “The only thing I’d say to players is, I can’t tell you if you’re a student of the game. Do you really watch basketball? Do you watch it as a fan, cause watching it as a fan is different than watching it as a student, are you studying? And then, who are you studying?... You better watch people who are just like you and are successful… if you want to be a basketball, watch the basketball. But if you want to be a great basketball player, watch the players that are like you.”   Outline of This Episode [0:24] My introduction of this part 2 episode with Andy Borman. [1:33] The most important question a player can ask their coach. [3:05] Andy’s experience in team sports as a kid. [8:58] How player selection works at the lower levels in Andy’s programs. [12:20] The traits Andy is looking for in kids below 7th grade. [14:31] The 7th grade through 9th grade years: What matters in terms of player skill? [19:12] The role of toughness and effort in a great college player. [29:50] Why emotional control is powerfully important for players. Listen to Mo’s Part II interview of Andy Borman Subscribe to The Mo’ Motion Podcast on iTunes.    (Thank you to Freddie Astaire for his awesome intro music.) “I don’t know if I could have gone any further than I did. I out-kicked my coverage. I played my hand out. I bluffed as far as I could possibly bluff.” - Andy Borman, on his playing days as a walk-on at Duke Full Transcript Here

Andy Borman serves as executive director of the New York Rens, a basketball association that aims to develop exceptional student-athletes who understand and embrace the fundamental principles of basketball, develop good sportsmanship, exhibit positive athletic and personal conduct, and excel in athletic competition. Coach Borman has been with the organization since August of 2014 and in this episode, he shares about his own background, his experiences in sports as a kid, what he learned from his dad about sports, and the importance and power of the coach’s decision in sports. And be sure to stick around to the end when Andy shares the three best and worst things parents can do in raising young student-athletes. Here's his Dad’s advice to him in 7th grade: "If you want to ensure that playing time is there for you, no matter what… you have to be the best player on your team. And it has to be obvious. Not obvious to you but obvious to everyone in the stands…. And if you’re not the best, now it’s coach’s decision." What parents need to understand about Coach’s choice. Many parents feel that their input to the coach about their kids’ ability will get a better opportunity for their kid. It’s natural for parents to want their child to have every opportunity, but from a coach’s perspective, the kids have to be willing to work for the opportunity. They have to be willing to workout and hustle to become a better player because it’s the better players that get to play. But in the end, it’s the coach’s choice as to who those “better” players are. Parents need to understand that. Parents need to be willing to hear the truth if they ask the coach about why they are not playing. Advice to parents: "I will never question the coach in front of my kid. I have no problem with parents talking to coaches, just don’t do it in front of your kids. Then don’t turn around and relive that conversation with your kid. It does no good.  You’re undermining the coach. You can do that, and then just know that it will get to a point where, whether it’s high-level AAU or high-level college when that coach will say, 'Get out and take your kid with you.' There are 100 different ways to get what you want. Anytime you make a coach feel they like they are invested, that they are a part of your kid's life, I think it’s better for your kid. And so if you’re not happy with your kid’s playing time then grab a ball, get up a little earlier in the morning, and go to the park. Because once again, if your kid was the best player, he’d be playing. If he’s not, then it’s coach’s decision." Three of the worst things parents do in the lives of their student-athletes. One of the questions Coach Andy Borman was asked on this episode of The Mo' Motion Podcast was what parents do that are terrible for their student athletes.  Coach Borman was not shy about responding. He says that when parents run down the coach or make everything the coach’s fault, they are not helping their kids - they are giving them a victim mentality. When they don’t hold their kids responsible for their own actions or lack of diligence, they are not helping their kids. Find out more about the ways Coach Borman says parents sabotage their own kids’ success on this episode. Outline of This Episode [0:20] Introduction of Andy Borman and this episode of the podcast. [1:46] Andy’s growing up years and his athletic pursuits as a youngster. [7:44] How Andy advises parents to allow their kids to participate in as many sports as they like and how his experienced helped him. [12:44] Andy’s best moments as a player in college. [19:50] The lenses through which parents and coaches look at players. [23:05] When should a kid enter A.A.U.? [27:49] How can parents accurately determine the skill level of their child? [41:10] Important values Andy believes parents should adopt. [49:16] Three of the worst things parents do to their student athletes. [51:45] Three positive things parents should do for their kids. Click here to listen to this episode of The Mo' Motion Podcast on iTunes. (Thank you to Freddie Astaire for his awesome intro music.) Full Transcript Here

It was as recent as 1996 that the WNBA, the Women’s National Basketball Association was formed, and the first season began in June 1997. Since then, the WNBA has been the home for the best women’s basketball talent in the world. Among the brightest spots in that short history has been Katie Smith, the all-time leading scorer in WNBA history, Olympic athlete, and now coach. About people’s response to her accomplishments: It’s a little surreal. When you’re in something and you’re doing something you don’t think how big it is because you’re just doing your job. So sometimes, you’re like, ‘Oh, I did that.”... Honestly, it’s just more of a, ‘Wow!' You know, going down the road from where I came from and here I am and did all these fun things. It was pretty amazing. In this conversation, I chat with Katie about her growing up years, how she got interested in athletics, about her college and pro careers, and what she’s learning as she transitions into her new role as an assistant and soon-to-be head coach.  You will love what Katie has to say about doing her time as humble apprentice who is eager to learn the art of coaching, instead of just assuming she can make the player-to-coach transition. Katie was always the type who wanted to study, get things right and give the best effort whether it was basketball, school or dance. As Katie Smith grew up her parents allowed her to be involved in all kinds of activities, from basketball to dance class. In all those experiences there was very little expected of her except that she give it her all in every setting. That mindset served her well as she began to excel in basketball and move from high school to college. Katie and I chat about those formative years, the role her parents and brothers played in her development as an athlete and the way she learned to use her natural and learned skills as a player to dominate on the court. The mental game in basketball is important, but it can also be an exercise in overthinking. As we chatted about her career I was very interested to hear how Katie Smith dealt with the mental aspects of the game. I was surprised to learn that she felt that while it was important to think things through - watching film, learning about opponents, improving her knowledge of the things she’d face on the court - she also said that she had a tendency to overthink it at times instead of letting her instinct and natural abilities do their thing. You can hear Katie’s approach to the game (and life) from a mental standpoint in this great conversation. Moving from all-star player to coach - a natural transition. Katie Smith was a natural on the court, playing at a top competitive level for her entire career. It turns out she’s also making the transition from player to coach in a pretty natural way as well. While there are definitely challenges, she’s finding that the role fits her well and that her desire to motivate and inspire players comes to her comfortably. Here’s a bit of what she had to say about the transition: When it comes to basketball, of course, there are lots of things I have to learn on the coaching side, and you are always questioning yourself, whether you’re doing enough, or was it the wrong play call, or are you doing this - but it’s something that I DO know and it’s a little easier to grasp.... But I enjoy life.  Like, why not? I’ve been playing basketball forever, I’ve met great people, I’ve traveled the world, I have a great family - and honestly I want to keep growing and hopefully find a way to give back and kind of find that niche, you know because I’ve had so many people give to me and that the game has given to me and it’s like, how do I, now that I’m kind of done with the playing part, how do I use it? It’s fun but it’s also nerve-wracking. Outline of This Episode [0:23] Maureen’s introduction of Katie Smith, her guest this week. [2:04] How Katie feels when people cite her accomplishments. [3:00] When Katie realized that athletics was something she would pursue and the family support she received. [7:40] The expectations Katie’s parents had of her in anything she did. [9:20] The point when Katie started specializing in basketball and how her normal day went throughout high school. [12:02] Facing the more challenging competition of college level players. [15:20] The game within the game. [18:10] The Big 10 years and what Katie loved about it. [22:06] The mental training Katie did in her playing career. [24:10] The challenges of playing as she got older and had to deal with injuries. [28:20] The transition from player to coach. [33:10] The issue of the double-standard in the basketball culture. [38:04] Things Katie wishes she had done differently. Subscribe to The Mo' Motion Podcast . (Thank you to Freddie Astaire for his awesome intro music.) What was also notable to me was how Katie handled the pressure. Maybe she was lying through her perfect teeth when she said, "I was just playing basketball and loving every minute of the game. I was happy out there." When asked about how different her life would be if she was a male player with her accomplishments, Katie said sure, she'd love to have more money in her bank account, but she wasn't sold on the fame. She said she wouldn't be able to go anywhere without people wanting her or asking her for something. Listen to an honest, fun and inspirational podcast interview with one of the greats, Katie Smith.  Katie will tell her about her parents and their parenting style through what it was like to endure two ACL tears and what she felt differentiated herself from other players during her path to excellence.  In having spoken to Katie and after watching her on the sidelines at the Liberty games, I do think that she will be a truly outstanding head coach at the pro and/or college level in the near future. Subscribe to The Mo' Motion Podcast.    Full Transcript here

Women’s basketball has come a long way in the last 10 to 15 years, and Anita Kaplan Fiedel is one of the women who has helped it do so. This conversation with my friend is a touching look into what it was like growing up tall as a girl, how basketball helped her fit in and find her sense of purpose and identity, and what happens when a perceived liability is turned into an asset. A career of distinction and dominance in women’s basketball. Anita achieved excellence on the basketball court at every level. Even though Anita, who was 6’4” in eighth grade, was never the best athlete in the gym – not even close – Anita ran the paint with advanced footwork, I.Q., and a deadly hook shot that she practiced in sets of 100s in her driveway - a shot she made without looking so many times that her teammates nicknamed her “Radar.” Anita earned the highest of high school rankings in becoming a Kodak, Street and Smith and Parade high school American. We were on an AAU team in high school that drew hundreds of college scouts to our games. All 10 out of 10 players on our team received full Division I scholarships. During her career at Stanford University, Anita was an All-Pac 10 center on a team that appeared in the Final Four three out of four years and won a national title in 1992. Turning a perceived liability into an asset as a dominant force in women’s basketball. "I was tall from the get-go. By Kindergarten I was 4’ 11”. And my parents, my Dad who is 6’ 7” saw this opportunity and he said, 'You can either suffer and be the only tall girl and not make anything out of it, or you can put it to some good.' So I started playing basketball when I was 5, in the driveway with my Dad. And his thing was, just get out there and shoot, and shoot, and shoot, and shoot. He hammered it home, 'If you love something and you work hard enough for it, you can attain anything.'" What can replace such a distinguished basketball career? It’s hard to imagine following a basketball career like Anita Kaplan Fiedel had. How do you top it? How do you live the rest of your life knowing that the thing you loved so much and excelled at is a thing of the past? For Anita, it was not hard to find the right replacement for all of that success once she began to have children. "Then after my MBA, I focused in finance and accounting and went to work in the finance and accounting world and didn’t enjoy that - even less than marketing. Then I had my three children. I was working when I had my twins, and felt like I was going to have a nervous breakdown because here is something that actually filled the void. Motherhood for me replaced basketball as something that I care so much about and am willing to put so much that I have into." Outline of This Episode [1:28] My introduction of my friend, Anita Kaplan Fiedel. [3:10] Where Anita grew up and what it was like being a tall girl. [5:11] The moment when Anita knew what she wanted and that she could achieve it. [9:15] Anita’s experience in AU basketball - what she learned and enjoyed. [14:58] The pressure of the college scouting process and why Anita loved it. [23:23] Anita’s favorite moment in her college career: a tournament at UNLV. [24:27] Highlights from winning the national title at Stanford. [35:00] What Anita would change if she could: try to have a life outside of basketball. [37:40] The thing that separated Anita from everyone else on the court. Subscribe to The Mo' Motion Podcast. (Thank you to Freddie Astaire for his awesome intro music.) Full transcript Link

Pete Holohan is the son of a World War II father who won a purple heart and bronze star. Pete played football at Notre Dame and for 12 years as a tight end in the NFL. In this episode of MoMotion, I talk with my cousin Pete about being recruited by Jim Boeheim, what it felt like to play in big bowl games, and life in the NFL where he played behind the great Kellen Winslow. Pete reveals the truth behind the concussions, cortisone injections, as how much grit it took to achieve excellence. He also discusses how his athletic experiences have helped him transition into his career post-football. The powerful impact of a father who understood the vital role of discipline: What is the role of discipline in life? Do you know? People who have experienced its benefits, veterans, for example, have been taught the role that discipline plays in personal achievement and the service of others. Pete Holohan points to his father’s attitude about discipline as one of the things that shaped his attitude about excellence and accomplishments... "He understood what discipline meant. He learned that in the Marines in World War II…He won the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart and he never talked much about it but I think he understood that at some point in our lives athletically or not, discipline becomes a foundation for the person you would like to become and if you don’t have it you’re going to struggle. He had a saying, “When things go bad, get up and go back to work.” Transitioning from college ball to pro ball is not as easy at it might appear: When Pete Holohan was drafted by the San Diego Chargers he discovered quickly that he was no longer a big fish in a small pond. Though the Notre Dame environment was high pressure and demanding in its own way, the professional football environment brought its own challenges. One of those was the pace of the game... "As good as I was in college, when I got here (San Diego) I realized immediately that everybody was talented and it took a while for me to catch up with the speed of the game, cause I think you see so many college athletes who don’t excel at the next level because the game is so much faster. And it took a while but it was definitely a great experience.... Kellen (Winslow), prior to his injuries was the most dominant tight end in the game. And if he didn’t get hurt… he probably would have gone down as the greatest tight end. He’s in the hall of fame, so that speaks volumes." How he retired from pro football and carried the same mindset into the corporate world: When Pete Holohan decided to retire from pro football he stepped into the corporate world as a salesman. It was a very difficult transition at first but Pete persevered with the same character he demonstrated while on the field. He’s moved his way up from sales team member to sales manager and says that the same dedication and discipline that made him successful on the field is what fuels him to drive results in his present position. As most pro athletes will tell you, there are life-long lessons that athletics taught them. Pete's story is a great example of that truth. Outline of This Episode [0:55] My introduction to Pete Holohan, my cousin, NFL player, and hoops star. [3:05] Pete as a young athlete and when he knew he wanted to pursue sports seriously. [5:00] The role Pete’s family played in his accomplishments and achievements. [10:00] Being recruited for both basketball and football - and the difficult decision. [13:30] Playing football in a legendary program like Notre Dame. [18:35] The transition from college to pro football. [23:25] Where the competitive spirit and training fit into the puzzle of athletics. [31:20] The concussion issue in football and Pete’s perspective on the issue, including his own experience with 10+ concussions. [38:14] The physical issues that pushed Pete toward retirement and the things that made the transition so difficult. [42:41] 3 things Pete loves about his journey. [45:36] Things Pete would change if he had it to do over again: train smarter, enjoy the ride more, play basketball instead. Listen by clicking below or go to iTunes to listen to this episode and subscribe to The Mo' Motion Podcast. (Thank you to Freddie Astaire for his awesome intro music.)  For the full transcript click here. Listen by clicking above or go to iTunes to listen to this episode and subscribe to The Mo' Motion Podcast.