Karl Barry grew up in a small town in southern Alabama. The only child of a retired professional basketball player, he wanted to follow his father’s footsteps. Due to his short stature, Karl’s high school coach suggested he opt for the point-guard position that needed eluding taller opponents, while taking the winning shots from acute angles and long distances. Following coach’s advice, Karl excelled in the sport. In his final year, he even represented his school in national championship tournament. Karl had hoped that the recruiters from colleges with strong basketball programs would find him a good prospect, thus offering an athletic scholarship.
But, his short frame betrayed him. No top college basketball program selected him. Fortunately, a small college in Florida, in order to strengthen its basketball program, offered him an athletic scholarship. Karl already knew that his genetic make-up had predisposed him with his physical attributes. He would now decide to change the only thing that was under his control, his own game. Every morning before going to his classes, Karl would practice taking a minimum of five hundred long distance difficult shots to the basket from all possible angles. Secretly, he also started taking ballet lessons in the evening. In his last two years, he would represent his college team in national championship tournament playing against the powerhouses, while reaching to semi-final level in final year. Karl would gain national attention from live telecast of the games.
Yet, history repeated itself. His small college pedigree became a new obstacle to get selected by most professional teams. Only in last round, a well-known ex-champion with similar profile like Karl’s, now coaching a mediocre team from Louisiana, would decide to recruit him. In his first year, Karl got limited time on court, but he maintained his level of practice from college days. In following year, after getting more playing time, he exploded on the court, eluding opponents and taking spectacular difficult winning shots from faraway. Championship came at the end of the season, Karl being MVP of the season. From then on, he never looked back but kept improving himself. A reputed sports correspondent would pen an article about Karl’s rise in the profession including videos of his on-court movements. Famous ballet dancers would find his moves elegant and flawless, while players would remain in awe while playing against him.
Unbeknownst to him, Karl had already started an underground movement: “Believing the Process”. Young players in smaller colleges, learning the facts about his evolution, would start to emulate his rigorous example of self-improvement. In last collegiate basketball championship tournament, for the first time several small colleges would qualify to participate. Many players would display a high level of skills and athleticism, not seen before in college-level matches.
Watching telecast games, smiling Karl would begin to see him in each of them.
But, his short frame betrayed him. No top college basketball program selected him. Fortunately, a small college in Florida, in order to strengthen its basketball program, offered him an athletic scholarship. Karl already knew that his genetic make-up had predisposed him with his physical attributes. He would now decide to change the only thing that was under his control, his own game. Every morning before going to his classes, Karl would practice taking a minimum of five hundred long distance difficult shots to the basket from all possible angles. Secretly, he also started taking ballet lessons in the evening. In his last two years, he would represent his college team in national championship tournament playing against the powerhouses, while reaching to semi-final level in final year. Karl would gain national attention from live telecast of the games.
Yet, history repeated itself. His small college pedigree became a new obstacle to get selected by most professional teams. Only in last round, a well-known ex-champion with similar profile like Karl’s, now coaching a mediocre team from Louisiana, would decide to recruit him. In his first year, Karl got limited time on court, but he maintained his level of practice from college days. In following year, after getting more playing time, he exploded on the court, eluding opponents and taking spectacular difficult winning shots from faraway. Championship came at the end of the season, Karl being MVP of the season. From then on, he never looked back but kept improving himself. A reputed sports correspondent would pen an article about Karl’s rise in the profession including videos of his on-court movements. Famous ballet dancers would find his moves elegant and flawless, while players would remain in awe while playing against him.
Unbeknownst to him, Karl had already started an underground movement: “Believing the Process”. Young players in smaller colleges, learning the facts about his evolution, would start to emulate his rigorous example of self-improvement. In last collegiate basketball championship tournament, for the first time several small colleges would qualify to participate. Many players would display a high level of skills and athleticism, not seen before in college-level matches.
Watching telecast games, smiling Karl would begin to see him in each of them.
