As an Underdog

Jason Kidd recalls his NCAA days when his Cal Bears beat the 2 time defending champs, Duke.  As underdogs, they played loose, got a few breaks, and won.  Pressure and playing loose...

Dean Smith - RIP

Legendary basketball coach, Dean Smith, died this week.  His legacy is that not only of a successful basketball coach, but as a good man who was respectful of opponents, and supportive of his players in all dimensions of his life.  I am skeptical about the coaching industry, but here is a man who seemed to be successful while keeping his role in perspective.  He took brave political stands, and his players graduated.  With the cloud hovering over UNC athletics, hopefully, they can use the legacy of Coach Smith to balance athletics with university life (again, I am sceptical).  Maybe Smith was lucky that he did not have to bend the rules to be successful because he was smart and innovative.  In any case, his example is one to aspire to.

Developing Talent

This article in the New York Times is about a young 'prodigy' from Norway who just signed for Real Madrid.  His father - a former pro player - devoted lots of time to his development.  Is it nature or nurture?  Yes, and, probably.

To sleep, Perchance to dream

Recent research suggests that athletes perform their best according to their internal clock - their circadian rhythms.   Early risers do better earlier in the day than late risers.

This makes sense to me.  When I can, I am a late riser.  I find I am sharpest in the afternoon/early evening.  I figured it was the result of years of after school sports that usually start around 3pm.

Anyhow, I suppose we can get a good sense of when we perform our best, and try to schedule accordingly.  I can sympathize with those golfers who must contend with 6a.m. tee times.

 'As for coaches and team owners, Dr. Smith said, “It would be handy to know the phenotype of all of your team members. You could predict who would be playing well at various times of day.”'

Coaching Styles

Interesting article on ESPN about Pete Carroll's career fall, and current rise.  In New England, he followed Bill Parcells - the expected hard-ass type coach.  Carroll was seen as a west coast hippie.  His relentless optimism vs. Parcells' more 'old school' toughness. 

A few weeks ago, an article about Urban Meyer, coach of Ohio State football, documented his rise and fall and rise.  He turned to a Christian book about leadership to re-find success, and to find some balance in his life. 

So, is the old-school, Parcells-type coach just outdated?  Do players' respond to the military-style of coaching that puts discipline above all else?  Has Bobby Knight's style come and gone?

His protege, Mike Krzyzewski just coached his 1,000th victory in collegiate basketball. Coach K. IS a product of the military, but he seems to blend in other influences.

Are these just cosmetic differences in coaching style, or do we live in an era of different expectations, or something else?

Sport Psychology

Sport Psychology, or, at least, the role of the sport psychologist, is often viewed as b.s. for the weak of mind.  The Onion pours it on Mark Sanchez, who, as of time of writing, seems to be succeeding.

Coaching Perspective

Coaching college basketball is a difficult job because it requires recruiting, coaching, and raising money for the university.  There is much more to say on this topic, but for the moment, this article about Steve Lavin, the coach at St. John's University in New York, discusses a bit of the tumult of coaching big time college basketball - losing recruits to bigger fish, and trying to maintain perspective.  I'm usually cynical about coaches, but this article is humanizing.