He Came at Them Like a Rookie, Like a Ghost

    "Come in like a rookie," the coach told the thirteen-year veteran. "Come in with the same determination, the same eagerness to learn. Bring the same fervor."

    Ersiel Ilysiuak was a humble player. He wasn't against backing up in his career. He wasn't going to be hung up in the pride of saying, "Coach S, don't treat me like a rookie. I've been around. I'm good. In all the NBA, there isn't anyone better at taking a charge. Don't treat me like a rookie. I'm a proven player. I shoot the three as good as anyone."

   No. Not at all. Instead of all that, Ersiel said no more than, "No problem, Coach S."

   "No need to call me coach," Coach S replied. "S will do. Just call me S. We can be friends and call each other by our first names -- or nicknames. Oh, and when I say come in as a Rookie, spell that with a capital R -- Rookie. It's that important."

  "Call me Turk, then, if we are doing nicknames" Ersiel said, "and I'll be your Rookie, then."

   So, Turk joined the team and quickly found a spot -- on the bench. He didn't play much until 10 games in. When injuries set in, they gave him a chance to play. And, did he ever respond, scoring 20 points by halftime and leading the team with five rebounds, four steals, and three blocked shots. 

   But, come the second half, he found himself back on the bench, for whatever reason.  

   Turk didn't play much more for a number of games. And, when he did, his shot was off. His shooting percentage took a dive and his spot on the team was in jeopardy.

    Long about the end of the season, that changed. Now, this is where the story veers from what you understood to have happened, so hold on. 

   "Remember, Turk, how I told you to come in as a Rookie," S asked, taking him aside. 

   "Of course, Coach, I haven't forgotten."

    "Just S. I'm just S," Coach Schwinn Ryder replied. "Turk, when a Rookie is a Rookie, they are always ready. They sit at the end of the bench, but they are always ready to come in and play with a fervor and determination and belief in themselves -- at any moment, at any chance."  

   Turk hung his head.

   "And, they don't hang their heads," the coach said. "They might wait and wait. They might pine. But, they are always ready. There's a difference between a rookie and being a Rookie with a capital "R." That first letter stands for Ready. Rookies with capital Rs are always ready. And, they always believe in themselves. Small "r" rookies get to where they no longer believe in themselves, but big case that "R" and it means you are raring and ready.

   "Oh, and "R" means reachable, too. Rookies with the big case "R" are reachable, teachable. Big case Rookies are raring, ready, and reachable." 

  It would be playoff time before Turk had another chance to play. Then, in the seventh game of a series, another starter went down. S slid Turk into the starting spot. Turk tore up the game, going 14-for-22 from distance in route to a 50-point game.

   From there, there was no looking back. He won his spot. He didn't always start, but he was always in the rotation, reaching stardom well past his prime. And, he earned another nickname.

   "We'll call you Ghost," S told him after the NBA championship game. "That's what you've been. Seven different teams you've played for -- plus others overseas. Nobody saw you. Nobody saw what was coming. You came at us like a Ghost.

   ". . . all because you were willing to come at us like a Rookie."