Sunday, December 24, 2023

Merry Christmas Manifested

Merry Christmas to you and yours. In the best circumstances, a Christmas article means special merit, unique insight. Wishful thinking. 

Volleyball affords us opportunities for emotional extreme, joyous victory and shattering defeat. In Making Decisions, Ed Smith quotes Steven Conner on his thoughts on sport. "The sporting event aims to force evidence into manifestness." That restates the words of the immortal Ivan Drago, "I must break you."  


Movies share unforgettable truths. Work hard and smart and you'll succeed, like the Hickory Hoosiers. The richness of storytelling doesn't guarantee championships in real life. Hard work aligns the odds more favorably, but skill, will, and luck all intersect to determine outcomes. 

Results in sporting events do not occur randomly, such as along a Galton Board. 



If sports were truly random, then Watertown would not be a superpower in field hockey and Melrose would sort along the Bell Curve like the marbles above. Program organization, attraction of athletes into volleyball, superior coaching, and 'tradition' combine to shift the marbles to the right, wins above expected. 

Economics studies the allocation of limited resources. There are a finite number of motivated athletes. Capture the eyeballs of athletic elementary schoolers and more elite MVB players emerge from the 'competitive cauldron'. 

Books for the literate sports reader with Christmas gift certificates? 

1. The Boys in the Boat... Dan Brown weaves a tapestry of the Great Depression, the 1936 U.S. Olympic Crew team and the rise of fascism in 1930s Germany. Brilliant storytelling and prose. 

2. Legacy... James Kerr reveals the culture and chemistry of the New Zealand All-Blacks rugby team, the most successful team in sports. 

3. In These Girls Hope Is a Muscle... UMASS journalism professor Madeleine Blais shares the trials and tribulations of the Amherst Hurricanes girls hoopsters as they seek unity amidst chaos and rivalry. Named one of Sports Illustrated top 100 sports books. 

4. The Leadership Moment... Michael Useem informs stories of leaders who emerged amidst crisis both local and global. It's required reading for the UNC Women's Soccer team. In the introduction, he asks readers to consider:
  • What went well?
  • What went poorly?
  • What can we do differently and better next time? 
  • What are the enduring lessons? 
Lagniappe. Beating tough opponents demands tough responses. 

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