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Miami Heat Fil-Am Head
Coach Erik Spoelstra. |
In a lengthy interview with Quinito "The Dean" Henson of the PhilStar, Miami Heat Filipino-American head coach Erik Spoelstra talked so many things about the Heat, on how he
is looking forward on the start of training camp and the excitement it brings on a
powerhouse line-up anchored on the new “Three Kings” in Dwyane Wade, Lebron
James and Chris Bosh. He even shared his healthy diet to keep him fit and sharp
during the NBA season. Spoelstra also added that it was an awesome experience
to visit the motherland of his mother once again and marveled on how big basketball is in the Philippines.
“We know what the goal is. Right now, we’re getting ready for
training camp. We’ve brought in players who fit the Miami fabric, guys who embrace our philosophy
and culture. We’re looking forward to the challenge. We’ve got a diverse staff,
a coaching staff and the players to get the job done. The key is to stay
focused.
“It’s different each year. Each season is unique in its own way.
Obviously, we’re excited about this coming journey. We know what we need to be.
We built our team not thinking about how other teams are or will be. We brought
in guys who know how to win, how to play under pressure, guys whom we can be
proud to call Miami Heat players.
“Udonis embodies our philosophy and spirit. He could’ve gone to
another team for more money but chose to stay. It’s all about attitude. Udonis
and Dwyane have that leadership quality, the character we need to bring our team
to the next level.
“Pat’s my boss and mentor. His office is just down the hall from
mine. When I need to consult him about something, I just knock on his door and
go straight in. I’ve learned a lot from him and I haven’t stopped learning from
him.
“Sometimes I feel old for my age with all the stress of an NBA
coach. But you feel young when you’re fit, doing what you love to do. For
exercise, I do different things. I love to run – it clears my mind, refreshes
you. I bike and lift weights, too. In a way, exercising is my release and it’s
fun to do. It helps you physically and mentally. As for my diet, I’m a creature
of habit in that I eat nearly the same thing over and over. For breakfast, I do
three eggs, whole wheat bread, tomatoes, oatmeal and fruit – home and away. For
lunch, I do a salad with tomatoes, leafy veggies or broccoli and grilled
chicken or fish. For dinner, it’s about the same. I don’t do junk food although
I do have my cheat days which aren’t that often. When I do unhealthy food, I
get sluggish. During the season, I try to eat healthy all the time.
“What I notice from watching the collegiate and pro games was the
passion of the spectators. It was an awesome atmosphere and reminded me once
more of my greatest regret in life – not being able to play in the PBA. The
atmosphere in the collegiate game was electric with all the bands and
cheerleaders. In the PBA, I saw the competitiveness of the players and how
well-coached they are.
“It’s respect for the game. We call it a sense of urgency, that whatever
you do on the court, you do it well, you do it with impact. The game can be
taken away from you very easily because someone out there is waiting to move in
and willing to work harder. You respect the game and it treats you right in
return. Basketball is a beautiful game and you play it with discipline,
commitment and respect. I thought the response of the kids to our message of
urgency was terrific.
“The Philippines is one of the few
countries in the world where basketball, by far, is the No. 1 sport. People
play it all over the place. I’ve seen makeshift goals in streets and kids
playing even without shoes. Kids start playing at a young age so they learn
early. Fans are very knowledgeable about the NBA and everywhere I go in the
country, I’m asked about next season. I know there are a lot of Laker and
Celtic fans among Filipinos. I’m hoping to encourage more Miami Heat fans.”
