In this part 2 of our tribute series to Kobe Bryant we break down the psychology of the ‘Mamba Mentality’.

We start by detailing Kobe's life from start to finish, illustrating the ways in which key experiences from childhood and his early adult years likely contributed to the shaping of his legendary will to win.

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“To live is to suffer, to survive is to find some meaning in the suffering”

-Friedrich Nietzsche

In this episode we sketch the great legacy of Kobe Bryant and outpouring of love that followed his tragic death on Sunday Jan 26, 2020.

Additionally we present the stages of grief and describe how grieving is essential for helping us find meaning though suffering.

Lastly we compare and contrast healthy vs unhealthy grieving and introduce a form of grief condition known as complicated bereavement which increases the risk of developing major depression, anxiety and PTSD.

Athletes Featured:

Kobe Bryant #8|24, Gianna Bryant #2

Happy New Year!! We kick off 2020 by breaking down the art of achievement - the psychology of new years resolutions and goal setting.

In this episode we introduce 2 new mnemonics: SMART/SMARTER (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, time-limited, exciting, recordable) referring to the key criteria for developing successful goal setting strategies.

Achieving the goals we set out to accomplish is indicative of greatness. Any athlete seeking to improve in his or her sport should have a reliable process for setting and accomplishing new goals.

Athletes Featured: Michael Phelps, Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, Lebron James, Russell Westbrook

'Tis the season to be grateful. The simple exercise of being grateful or practicing gratitude has been shown to have immediate benefits in both performance and in overall life. We highlight the reasons behind why this is true along with what you can do at home today to feel the power of gratitude. Also find out about how the Calm app and a new dedication to mental fitness allowed Lebron James to become a Champion through mindfulness.

Athletes featured: Lebron James

Fan. a shortened version of the word fanatic. Fanatic /fəˈnadik/ noun - “marked by excessive enthusiasm and often intense critical devotion.” It comes from the Latin word fanaticus meaning “insanely but divinely inspired.”

This one is dedicated to sports fans. In this episode we explore questions like: What does it mean to be a sports fan in 2020? Why do we become such huge fans of sports? Is it the entertainment value or the sense of community it creates? Is it because of the nostalgia for a game we played when we were younger or because we are attracted to greatness and success?

Additionally, we discuss what underlies our attraction to sports and investigate the parts of the brain associated with becoming a fan of something. During that segment we also describe important systems of the brain including our mirror neurons and their role

in developing empathy towards others (like our favorite athletes). We go on explain how hormones like dopamine and testosterone are involved with the process of becoming a fan.

We also explore the other side of the coin and how increasing expectations from fans can cause increased pressure for athletes and describe how both the media and social media add another layer of stress for athletes to face in their careers and tie up the discussion by describing examples of moments when fans cross the line and do more harm then good.

Moments Discussed: The 1987 Washington Redskins Super Bowl Parade, 2012 Eastern Conference Finals, 2006 AFC Championship Game, Malice at the Palace

Athletes Featured: Doug Williams, Lebron James, Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Kyrie Irving

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How do you fit best on a team? Are you the front and center dominant alpha or the behind the scenes glue guy? Do you like to get your teammates going by giving a passionate pregame speech (see Drew Brees) or are you busy reviewing the analytics of the opponents pass rush? Find out why tools like the DISC Assessment are becoming more and more popular for CEOs, NCAA Division I programs, front offices, general managers and coaches in hopes of creating the perfect team.

Athletes (and coaches) featured: Tom Brady, Bill Belichick, Steph Curry, Steve Kerr, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, Aaron Rodgers, Brett Favre

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Moments of Mindfulness is a new recurring series brought to you by the SportsPsychMDs about mindfulness and how it can help athletes maximize performance in competition as well as how it helps us apply better judgement and enhances resilience in dealing with issues off the field/floor/court.

In the Moments of Mindfulness in Sports series we take current stories in sports with potentially adverse mental health or performance implications and provide our perspective on the ways in which practicing mindfulness - a gateway to enhanced mental flexibility - may have contributed to a better outcome.

For each episode, we practice mindfulness by highlighting a few of the more compelling stories occurring in the present moment.

Additionally, we introduce what it means to be mindful, how to implement these practices in daily life and how mindfulness can improve mental health and wellbeing for athletes and for all.

In the News: Professional athletes & load management; Myles Garrett's actions and suspension and more

Athletes Featured: Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, Lebron James, Myles Garrett, Josh Gordon, Antonio Brown

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What does it mean to be an athlete in this modern era of sports?

Lebron James and Colin Kaepernick are two of several high profile athletes who are reframing how we define what it means to be an athlete in the digital age.

With more eyes (and money) on athletes today than ever before, the old adage of ‘to whom much is given, much is required’ takes on a whole new meaning.

In this episode we explore the “anatomy of identity” by identifying the primary brain structures associated with a our personalities and describing how they work together to create our identities.

Through this discussion we explore the question of image for athletes and the extent to which being in the spotlight creates a responsibility for athletes to represent positive values. We highlight the Colin Kaepernick story and debate the significance of identity for athletes in today’s world.

Athletes Featured: Lebron James, Colin Kaepernick

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Your SportsPsychMDs, Armin and Torey, describe why sleep is essential to performance for athletes. From testosterone deficiency, which can reduce sex drive and libido, to numerous physical and mental health consequences described in this episode, sleep deprivation is commonly referred as a silent killer.

We break down the recent the ESPN article on a sleep deprivation epidemic within the NBA that has surfaced and is generating considerable attention. Many players, including Lebron James, have been vocal about the importance of sleep on their performance and how the rigor of the season in conjunction with frequent travel can adversely impact their ability to achieve high quality sleep.

We also provide useful insights on what to avoid, practical things you can do at home to make your bedroom space more compatible and ways in which we as physicians can help you achieve and sustain restful sleep to optimize your health and ultimately your performance.

Athletes featured: Tobias Harris, Lebron James, Andre Iguodala, Kent Bazemore

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Following an in depth, eye-opening discussion about eating disorders and sports the SportsPsychMDs feature special guest, Janelle “The Gazelle” Li-A-Ping, who opens up about her experiences competing in track and cross country at both the high school and D-1 collegiate levels.

Janelle describes the pressures of having to compete at a high level in a sport where having the right body type and maintaining the right body weight can make the difference between success and failure.

Janelle was a stud cross country athlete who broke nearly every school record in distance running at Loyola High School (New York City) and went on to earn an athletic scholarship to compete at Northwestern University from 2009 to 2012 where she was distinguished as Big Ten Distinguished Scholar Athlete and Academic All-Big Ten.

Her story highlights perseverance and how far the will to win can take you in sports.

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