Unless you kept your head on a swivel this weekend and really performed with a sense of urgency, you probably missed the OTHER national holiday that we observe in early July.  You can't just depend on your calendar to remind you of major events such as these, because after all, you don't play the games on paper - especially not paper calendars.

 

Before I get the cart too far ahead of the horse and really grind it out and break down the X's and O's of this national holiday, I have to remind you that it's not all about the X's and O's, it's about the Johnnys and Joes.

 

Can you feel the electricity?  This place is pandemonium.  The crowd is on its feet. 

 

It's gut-check time.  And speaking of checking your gut, stay hungry - the holiday observance is so close, you can almost taste it.  And although it's a game of inches, don't forget that close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and slow dancing.  How bad do you want to be good?

 

Get your game face on, dig deeper than you ever have before, and take this week one day at a time.  I realize that seven days is a long time, but you can't be intimidated.  Remember, it's a marathon not a sprint.  When the week feels like it's taking its toll on you, bend but don't break.  You'll get stronger as the week goes on. 

 

So get out there, stay focused, perform like the gamer that you are, and don't leave anything left in the tank.  Because July 5th through July 11th, 2009 is National Sports Cliche Week.

 

I hope you'll give this national holiday 110 percent effort. 

 

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