Wrinkles Pass Their Problems
Start with the socks. That’s what Coach Wooden said to do. Put them on attentively. Get the stitches on the toe-line straight then pull them tight, smoothing the cotton insulation to and around the heel before securing the ribbing snuggly above the ankle. “You want to make sure they stay in place,” said the Wizard of Westwood.
Wrinkles pass their problems up.
Coach knew. He knew that haphazard preparation could create challenges for basketball players once they took the court. And he knew the feet were an athlete’s grounding—the flooring for the “where” and “when” and “how” she does what she does as she plays. Coach Wooden also knew that athletes in a hurry to access their greatness, might run right past the most important part. Hence the elementary reminder.
When feet get forgotten, our walk gets wonky. Not to mention our run and jump . . . our start and stop . . . the ability to lean and lurch or just stand still. The twenty-six bones of each of our uniquely designed weight bearers are designed to work in concert with one another-- to absorb and withstand, to propel and shift, to hold steady. When compromised, the messages get mangled. From the ankle to the knee to the hip, the entire lower chain of the body takes its cues from the feet. A thing as tiny as a blister caused by a rumpled sock can throw a glitch in the gait.
Players know. When the feet are good, the body follows.
