Random Thoughts on Sport

Great teams have great players. Or so it would seem. Sam Walker's The Captain Class is about the top ten percent of the top one percent. 

Players don't spend much time thinking about leadership, although the group reading project addresses that. What makes great, great? 

Walker's book confirms that there's more than 'numbers' to define great. Inspirational players make their team and everyone around them better. It's not just how they play, it's how they carry themselves, their professionalism. 

Confidence balances arrogance and doubt. Confidence helps players and teams find and maintain stability under pressure to 'get over the hump'.

Dean Smith, legendary North Carolina basketball coach, made a point of praising contributing players to the media, not just 'stars'. The double double guys get ink by the barrel. The reserve player or uncelebrated player who "chops wood and carries water" is critical but less known. 

There's a downside to "naming names." Sport egos are fragile. A scribe said of Alex Rodriguez, "the biggest stars have the greatest insecurity." During a major league playoff game yesterday featuring Bo Bichette, the announcer said that his father Dante, a former major league, always wondered whether every hit would be his last. 

The great Miami Heat coach, Erik Spoelstra, shared, "every team has a pecking order." What happens when situations disrupt that? "Figure it out." 

I’ll never forget the day I went home in 10th grade and complained to my dad about my coach and playing time. His response “You have three options. Get better, stay where you’re at, or quit. None of those options involve you complaining to me.” Life changing advice. Thanks dad!

— Chris Abaray (@ChrisAbaray) October 8, 2022

Leadership is balance. The great Cal rugby coach, Jack Clark, believes in distributed leadership. "Fifth on the list is EXPECT EVERYONE TO LEAD. This is a form of shared ownership where everyone is contributing to successful elements of a culture.  Successful people work at making the right decisions within their priorities and strive to properly manage those decisions daily.  The first and most important person that you lead is yourself."

No Melrose volleyball team had an undefeated season leading to a sectional championship or State Title. None. Every team lost at least once.

Name a name. A player who may not get so much recognition is Emma Desmond. She's not going to get 'big numbers' while fielding "bombs" in the back row, especially against the 'big dogs' like Newton North or Westborough. It won't ever be perfect; that's the special nature of the back row.  

The stories of our sporting and personal lives contain wins and losses. The great Yankee slugger, Mickey Mantle, struck out over 1700 times. But when he wasn't striking out, he hit over 500 homeruns, played in 20 All-Star games, and for SEVEN teams that won the World Series. It's what you do when you're not striking out that people remember.  

After my daughters, my favorite Melrose volleyball player was Victoria Crovo. "You can call me Victoria or Vic, but not Vickie." As fate would have it, she never won a Sectional Title, despite being a great leader, great teammate, and great player (All-State). I called her "the V-Rex." She was skilled, tough, and vocal. Be like Vic. 

Exceptional teams find a way. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich called a timeout during the championship run that spawned five NBA titles. He didn't bring a lecture. He told his team to "figure it out." 

"Chop wood, carry water." Figure it out. 

Everybody says they want to be an All-American. Are you willing to do what it takes every day?