A Feeling Like No Other-flow

After talking about "flow" in class, I got to thinking. As an athlete in high school, I continuously pushed myself to a point where my mind would be completely clear. While many of my teammates played to clear their minds to think, I loved the feeling of pushing myself to where I was thinking about nothing. This got me thinking. If that's how I felt in high school, being an athlete for a major university must be amazing. On top of playing to an extremely high standard, you also have hundreds of fans, including fellow students, cheering you on. The competitive level is in a league of its own. You move from a high school level to college, while in college, you need to work harder then everyone else in order to gain a spot in the pros. After this class began, it got me thinking about an interview I did for one of my sport management classes this year. One of my good friends left Michigan after his sophomore year in order to pursue a dream in the NBA. During the fall semester, I interviewed former Michigan guard and Los Angeles Laker Darius Morris about his thoughts on playing basketball abroad, and what it means for players to travel to other countries to play.

1.     How do you feel about international players playing for the NBA?

I like it because it shows that anybody can play the game. It’s cool because it broadens basketball’s horizons so other people can get involved.

2.     Do you think the NBA should implement a language learning program or should players have to learn it on their own?

If a player comes over, they get a translator, for example, Yao Ming had a translator but eventually learned it on his own.

3.     What fears would you have if you went to play in Europe?

Being away from home and the new culture. Communication would also be really difficult and would be hard to adjust. The style of play is different but for me the struggles would be more off court.

4.     Have you had any interactions with international players? If yes, have you had trouble communicating with them?

Yes, however I keep it basic, I can’t use slang but they are usually able to understand a little bit.

5.     Would you want to learn foreign languages to communicate with potential international players?

I would try to make an effort to learn their language and lifestyle; it would be my responsibility. My brother played overseas and was able to pick up on stuff from his teammates that would help him understand, but he really just did it on his own.

6.     Do you think the media treats non-English speakers equally?

Yes to a certain extent. It really just depends on the players abilities, Yao Ming is an example, his skill translated into media attention. However if there is a non English speaking player and an English speaking player with equal talent, it might be better for a reporter to go to the English speaking player.

7.     In your opinion, what is the biggest difference between European programs and American programs?

The states have more resources that other countries don’t and it is also easier for us to go to college, there is an easier transition to the NBA compared to someone trying to come in and play from overseas. But it doesn't matter where you play, it is the feeling of just "being" while you play. As a former college athlete, I remember the feeling of feeling nothing. Every time I step on the court, I strive for that feeling because I know I am doing something right.

I realized he is talking about flow. That feeling of working so hard for something, being so good at it that it becomes a part of you and you have no thoughts or feelings while doing it. It is something that everyone should try and feel at least once and I am really looking forward to learning about other types of games during the rest of the semester. Go Blue!

"Runner's High"

This morning, as I slowed down my speed on the treadmill from running to a walking pace, I looked at the screen in front of me. One hour, eight minutes. For a moment, I thought to myself—what was I doing that whole time? 

Running, yes. Exhausted, no. Sweating, yes. Thinking, no. 

And then I realized what I was doing. I was in a state of flow. According to Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, flow is a state of awe and bliss, which results from a person being intensely involved in what they are doing. Csikszentmihalyi, in his video “On Flow”, describes a musician in the state of flow: ecstatic to a point where he felt as if he almost didn’t exist. He claims that flow comes from something that requires a high level of challenge but also a high level of skill.  Well, running is very challenging for me, but I also am a skilled runner. I’ve known I was a talented runner since I was in elementary school and won the 50 yard dash during Field Day (our school-wide “Olympic” competition), since I was a 6^th grader in middle school and the coach put me on the 8^th grade track team, since I was a member of my high school track team’s 4x200 relay team that set the school record.

My teammate and I in the 4x200 race
when we set the school record

I do have a lot of skill when it comes to sprinting, but running longer distances is much more of a challenge for me, especially after breaking my leg and foot within a year of each other. Putting these different ideas together, I determined that what I had always considered to be a “runner’s high” was really a state of flow. I was doing something that was challenging, but I was qualified to take on. During my run, I had lost track of time and had no idea what I was thinking about, characteristics of someone in a state of flow. All I knew was that when I began my run, in my head I was singing along to my music but by the end my head was no where—not paying attention to my music, not paying attention to how hot I was, and not paying attention to the time. Rather, I was fully absorbed in my run. I was so focused on my run that I did not even realize just how focused I was, but as I began to cool down, I realized this run was the perfect example of flow.