A couple of months ago I was introduced to some people who gave me the opportunity to speak at a TEDx conference. TEDx conferences are independently produced following the TED format. I had heard about TED here and there and had actually viewed a few of their videos on-line.

The speakers range from a Tony Robbins, known world-wide, to people such as myself. The sole purpose of these conferences is to educate the viewers in a memorable way. I learned a lot in preparation.

One of the things I really got was the importance of story. People remember the story where they may not remember the data. They can relate to a story about someone rather than hear about an object. There is no life in things, only people.

My eight minute segment was centered on œRelationship is the Key to Everything. How we relate to friends, family, business associates, communities, countries and even ourselves effects our experiences of life. Creating relationship is a process not a place to get to or something to have.

In 1970 I was hired to coach the NBA expansion team in Portland, Oregon. My job, as I saw it was to create a relationship between the NBA/Portland Trail Blazers and the City of Portland and the State of Oregon. We did that. My operating principle was that each fan got their moneys worth at every game.

The way we did that was by running the best fast break in the NBA. We scored over 100 points 80 out of the 82 games we played; which I believe is still a league record. If we played slow, we would be over-powered by the veteran teams. There were two other expansion teams that year who were in the same boat as we were and we were 17-7 against them.

We beat the defending champion New York Knicks and both the finalists for the 1971 NBA championship, the Milwaukee Buck and the Baltimore Bullets. Rarely were we completely out of a game and the fans appreciated that. In fact, we scored 48 points in the fourth quarter against the Knicks in Madison Square Garden. Another record I think.

We did what we did with our players on the court, and along with the rest of the organization, we did it by becoming members of the Portland community. In fact, some of those original players still live in Portland.

I am wondering if the current NBA players and owners have forgotten about those relationships with all of the current failed negotiations. It looks like a meeting of Prima Donna owners and Prima Donna players to me. The crowd roaring as the Blazers completed a beautiful fast break was appreciated by all. Are those days over?

Go to lulu.com or Vervante.com and check out Coach Todds latest book, œThe Art of Losing. A must read for any coach or leader.

Have a great Holiday Season.