"A Player That Makes A Team Great Is More Valuable Than A Great Player." - Anonymous
"Life... Off The Court"
Tucker Pollard's Monthly Blog.
Tucker Pollard At Fila Nationals In Atlanta, Georgia With Coach R:), July 2011.
Tucker Pollard is Coach Robinson's Chief Administrative Assistant for the 292 Basketball Program and the Winston-Salem Stealers. Tucker will be posting a monthly blog on this page beginning in December 2011.
Keep checking back for more updates on this page.
GO STEALERS!!!
Keep checking back for more updates on this page.
GO STEALERS!!!
Tucker's Bio.
A little bit about Tucker Pollard:
- 1996 University of Virginia Graduate.
- BA, Anthroplogy from Wake Forest University.
- University of Georgia, Juris Doctor.
- Law Clerk at Dozier Miller Pollard & Murphy in Charlotte, NC.
- Law Clerk with Judge Steve Jones, Athens-Clarke County Superior Court, Western Division.
- Research Assistant at Advantage International, INC (now Octagon) in McLean, VA.
- Wake Forest University Men's Basketball English Tutor.
- Marketing Director for Wilmington (NC) Film Studios.
- Administrative Assistant for Coldwell-Banker Baker Properties in Wilmington, NC.
- Membership Director for The State Club in Raleigh, NC.
- Flow Motors Invitational Tennis Tournament Director and Play Coordinator from 1990-1999.
- Meals on Wheels Volunteer 1999-present in Wilminton, NC; Athens, GA; Winston-Salem, NC; Nashville, TN.
- Sandpiper Nursing Home Volunteer 2004-05 in Mount Pleasant, SC.
- Volunteer for Family Outreach in Corpus Cristi, Texas in 2006.
- USTA Laison and Events Director for the Davis Cup Quarterfinals in Winston-Salem in 2007-08.
December 2011 - Blog.
Moral Courage is something I recently read about in light of the Penn State scandal. Although very few of us are affected in the way that Jerry Sandusky’s deplorable actions affected others, and no matter how much we would like to sweep that administration’s behavior under the carpet and say “Well, it wasn’t our behavior!” the moral courage I learned about is something that is severely lacking in our society, and it is an issue that can be rectified by anyone willing to think outside of themselves.
For most of us, and teenagers especially, problems that seem life-threatening are only passing, and get resolved quickly. For many at the same, age, however, dysfunction in the family, bullying by peers, sexual pressure from “partners”, among myriad other situations, take away that individual’s ability to perform; while others may see what is going on, many are caught up in their own lives. Speaking up for those in trouble is, to say the least, disruptive.
Scholar-athletes, more than anyone else, are taught to reach further, dream bigger, and aim higher. And they do. But what happens when a situation is uncomfortable...when someone who can’t do any of those things is suffering, and it’s not a secret? Is there a call to us to reach out, when we know it is right, no matter how much discomfort it may cause our own well-directed and well-meaning lives?
My answer is yes. There are so very many issues addressing young adults: sex, alcohol and drugs, bullying, peer pressure. Some of us are more adept at dealing with these issues than others. Some of us, in fact, don’t even have to worry about them. But ALL of us see others who suffer.
I submit that Moral Courage is to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. In fact, for those who are doing particularly well, they have a DUTY to defend those less prepared for life.
There are no rules giving anyone a duty to reach out. But there is Moral Courage, and I pray that the shining stars of tomorrow– many of whom I have met and have the utmost respect for– can recognize when someone needs help. Most of the time these issues are hidden from adults, and so must come from peers. I believe in you, our youth, and trust that you will always stand for not only the brightness, but the shadows that can be shown light.
January 2012 - Blog.
I stopped making New Year’s Resolutions few years ago, when the realization hit me
that each time I tried, I was setting myself up to fail. The reason I could not bring myself to reach
certain goals from January 2-December 31 was simple: I either couldn’t, or I
didn’t want to, and the dawn of a new calendar date wasn’t going to change the
core of who I am and what I don’t like to do.
Yet there has still been an urge to began anew and have some sort of fresh start; at the dawn of 2012, that urge is as strong as ever. Therefore, I have decided, that instead of adding a new responsibility (aka burden) to my life, I am going to try to release of a part of my life that is unwanted.
For me, the burden I carry is resentment—more specifically, grudges against people who have behaved in some way that don’t enhance My Life. In some cases the offense has been an act of omission (failing to send me a Christmas present—horrors!); in other cases an act of commission (e.g. not-so-constructive criticism, a sin perpetuated by more than one “well-meaning” person on more than one occasion!); and, in a few cases, a transgression I can’t specifically remember, but I am mad anyway.
My grudges are varied, diverse, and often known only to myself. I find that I have avoided certain places, opted out of special occasions, stayed in when I wanted to be out—missing out on plenty, I know—all because of my own discomfort. No one else is missing out, least of all those I am “punishing” by being absent, and only my own razor-sharp memory carries the burden I have (carefully, purposefully) inflicted upon my own happiness and freedom.
What if—somehow—crazy of crazy ideas—I let go of these feelings? What if I decide to simply be friends (or, at the least, neutral acquaintances) with these villains? What if, then, I find that they actually aren’t so bad…and, unbelievably, they are people I would actually enjoy having in my life? Could 2012 be the year that I could possibly make such a Sacrifice?!
The truth is, it makes life a lot easier for us if we can forgive and move on. Resentment breeds fear, and fear leads to loss of freedom—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual. Fear govern our bad decisions; it sentences us to failure, as we become paralyzed with the where-I-can’t-gos, what-I-can’t-dos, and who-I-can’t-bes. Holding grudges—Holding On—is pretty addictive, really, even though, like most addictions, it does nothing in the end but make us our own personal prisoner.
Letting go, however, is not easy. I am working on it myself, and I know: Holding On is much easier. I do, however, have a choice each day to let go; each time I make the choice to do so, I feel a little better and a little freer. I am realizing that many people and things I told myself weren’t important or didn’t matter, actually do. And this year, I plan on enjoying them.
Yet there has still been an urge to began anew and have some sort of fresh start; at the dawn of 2012, that urge is as strong as ever. Therefore, I have decided, that instead of adding a new responsibility (aka burden) to my life, I am going to try to release of a part of my life that is unwanted.
For me, the burden I carry is resentment—more specifically, grudges against people who have behaved in some way that don’t enhance My Life. In some cases the offense has been an act of omission (failing to send me a Christmas present—horrors!); in other cases an act of commission (e.g. not-so-constructive criticism, a sin perpetuated by more than one “well-meaning” person on more than one occasion!); and, in a few cases, a transgression I can’t specifically remember, but I am mad anyway.
My grudges are varied, diverse, and often known only to myself. I find that I have avoided certain places, opted out of special occasions, stayed in when I wanted to be out—missing out on plenty, I know—all because of my own discomfort. No one else is missing out, least of all those I am “punishing” by being absent, and only my own razor-sharp memory carries the burden I have (carefully, purposefully) inflicted upon my own happiness and freedom.
What if—somehow—crazy of crazy ideas—I let go of these feelings? What if I decide to simply be friends (or, at the least, neutral acquaintances) with these villains? What if, then, I find that they actually aren’t so bad…and, unbelievably, they are people I would actually enjoy having in my life? Could 2012 be the year that I could possibly make such a Sacrifice?!
The truth is, it makes life a lot easier for us if we can forgive and move on. Resentment breeds fear, and fear leads to loss of freedom—be it physical, emotional, or spiritual. Fear govern our bad decisions; it sentences us to failure, as we become paralyzed with the where-I-can’t-gos, what-I-can’t-dos, and who-I-can’t-bes. Holding grudges—Holding On—is pretty addictive, really, even though, like most addictions, it does nothing in the end but make us our own personal prisoner.
Letting go, however, is not easy. I am working on it myself, and I know: Holding On is much easier. I do, however, have a choice each day to let go; each time I make the choice to do so, I feel a little better and a little freer. I am realizing that many people and things I told myself weren’t important or didn’t matter, actually do. And this year, I plan on enjoying them.
February 2012 - Blog.
It’s that time of year: dead-winter. Christmas and New Year’s have passed, and everyone is in hibernation mode, waiting for spring to come. No matter how many times I have tried to talk myself out of the winter-blues, they hit anyway. This year I decided to combat them head-on, before I fell into a soul-sleep, not able to emerge till Easter blossoms emerged on the trees.
After a lot of searching, I think that I have found areas of life that can be dealt with daily, with results that help me enjoy this February-Pre-Spring Break period: sleep, relaxation, nutrition, and exercise.
Although all four are what we know to be beneficial, the difference for me has been looking at them as hobbies rather than chores. Sleeping is not something I need to endure; relaxing is not something I should feel guilty about; nutrition doesn’t have to be foods I hate; and exercise can be the kind I might actually enjoy.
So often we see what is good for us as something that needs to be endured rather than enjoyed. Hate running? Don’t do it. Dance..or bike...or hike. Hate whole-grain cereal? Eat an eggs-white sandwich with salsa and a great roll. Hate napping? Bundle up and lie in the sun. Stressed out by emails and texts? Turn off your phone and go to a movie.
Little pleasures shouldn’t be guilt-inducing. They are, in my belief, healthy to a sense of balance in the world. When we feel that we are beholden, resentment builds and the inner rebel tells us to stop.
Our culture is ridden with guilty-inducing priorities– work, sacrifice, and endure. But what good are we to others when we are so worn down by our efforts that we can’t accomplish what we want?
Take time for yourself. Relax. Eat something nurturing. Dance. It will help in the long run, because not only will you feel better, but you will be able to make a bigger and better difference.
After a lot of searching, I think that I have found areas of life that can be dealt with daily, with results that help me enjoy this February-Pre-Spring Break period: sleep, relaxation, nutrition, and exercise.
Although all four are what we know to be beneficial, the difference for me has been looking at them as hobbies rather than chores. Sleeping is not something I need to endure; relaxing is not something I should feel guilty about; nutrition doesn’t have to be foods I hate; and exercise can be the kind I might actually enjoy.
So often we see what is good for us as something that needs to be endured rather than enjoyed. Hate running? Don’t do it. Dance..or bike...or hike. Hate whole-grain cereal? Eat an eggs-white sandwich with salsa and a great roll. Hate napping? Bundle up and lie in the sun. Stressed out by emails and texts? Turn off your phone and go to a movie.
Little pleasures shouldn’t be guilt-inducing. They are, in my belief, healthy to a sense of balance in the world. When we feel that we are beholden, resentment builds and the inner rebel tells us to stop.
Our culture is ridden with guilty-inducing priorities– work, sacrifice, and endure. But what good are we to others when we are so worn down by our efforts that we can’t accomplish what we want?
Take time for yourself. Relax. Eat something nurturing. Dance. It will help in the long run, because not only will you feel better, but you will be able to make a bigger and better difference.