Welcome back sports fans. Today, I would like to touch base on Katie Ledecky’s dominance, Jay Monahan’s anxiety, and share the first part of my multi-part series on the NFL conspiracy. First, let me give props to the final four at the Women’s World Cup.
Host with the Most
Had the good fortune to catch the replay of the England/Colombia game without checking the score. England won setting up a semi-final match with the Matildas (Australia). Australia beat France in the longest penalty kick battle in World Cup history. It is the first semi-final appearance for Australia in the their history. The other semi-final pits Spain vs. Sweden. I have already mentioned that I am rooting for the host nation, and I am also rooting for Spain. I am not a proponent of seeking solace in the fact that you lost to the eventual champion, so Spain beating Sweden will preclude the U.S. from making that claim. I have not seen Australia play. Poppy, needs his sleep, but I am certain all of the teams are deserving of their chance at the Cup. On the lighter side, Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird just bought a luxury flat in Soho.
Shark Among Minnows
I love to swim, but like most Americans, I am completely ignorant of competitive swimming unless I am watching the Olympics. The big news in swimming this week was Katie Ledecky surpassing Michael Phelps for the most world swimming titles. I have watched her perform in the last two Olympics, and she is as sure a bet as anyone in sports. Michael Phelps has become a celebrity, and has hosted Saturday Night Live. I do not know if Ledecky is good at skit comedy, but she deserves as much recognition as her male counterpart. According to EssentiallySports.com, her net worth is 5 million with only 100,000 coming from swimming. Phelps’ estimated net worth is 100 million. Even if these stats are not completely true, THAT is what I call a wage gap in sports. And the hits just keep on coming.
Sell Out, Stress Out
Speaking of money. Jay Monahan, the head of the PGA tour, had to take a temporary leave due to anxiety linked to the merger between the Tour and LIV golf. Once again, I watch golf on occasion, and as a hacker myself find their talent and composure almost otherworldly. At some level, I am content that the best golfers in the world will face-off in most tournaments now; however, my concern is that every decision- I mean every decision- in the U.S. comes down to green. I am not talking putting greens. I know there was severe backlash from many when Monahan went back on his word and signed a partnership with the Saudi based backers of the LIV Golf Tour. It can be justified that Monahan was preserving the best competition and product for the fans, but I quote Rod Tidwell in Jerry MacGuire, “Show me the money.” In the face of all of those dollars, Monahan probably had no choice, but wavering morality would make me anxious, too.
Before I get into my thoughts about the NFL, let me share some tips from the sidelines:
Coaching 101 and a 1/2
Skills/Drills
Anytime you are working a drill during practice, make sure you try to conclude with a finishing element that resembles game play. Even when working footwork drills and conditioning, try to have your athletes complete the drill with some sort of decision-making and movement to aid in muscle memory and visualization.
For example: In football, during tackling drills, you do not have to take your teammate to the ground, but it will help to widen your base and drive for five yards every time you tackle or work on tackle progression. If you have receivers running stems, have them catch the ball, and turn up field and sprint for ten yards
In lacrosse, have your poles practice being pressured by a ride, rolling back and then switching the ball to the other defender on the other side of the field. My favorite drill, “grubbing,” has the players pulling ground balls out of the alley and then clearing to the restraining line. Like musical chairs, it requires grit and toughness, but it also teaches escaping from tight spaces and never giving up on the ride.
In wrestling, one of my least favorite drills was performing stand-ups for conditioning; however, our coach always made us lean back and turn to get used to the idea of creating leverage to break the opponents’ hold.
Clearly, there are myriad ways to approximate game play, but the key is to make them easily understandable and easily applicable.
1/2. Character Counts
I have to give props to my former colleague, Farmington H.S. head football coach, Chris Machol. As an educator like myself, Chris required all of the coaches to create lessons on character that we delivered at camp and during team meetings throughout the season. Not only did it strengthen communication channels between the assistants and the team, but emphasized that sport is much more than x’s and o’s and that quality of character is essential for success in all areas. Too often, athletes overly celebrate routine plays hoping to post on Instagram and create individual notoriety. These lessons explain the dangers in a lack of unified commitment to team, and for a blatant lack of sportsmanship.
The NFL (The National Fixed League)
Part I: Origin and Occasion
I grew up in the 1970’s playing midget football and following my favorite team The Minnesota Vikings. I loved their helmets, and their colors, even though I was color blind. My favorite player was Chuck Foreman. I loved Fran Tarkenton, and I hated Roger Staubach and The Cowboys. The star still elicits a visceral reaction when I see it on the turf or on the side of the silver helmets. Staubach always had a way of leading a thrilling comeback and winning games that were seemingly out of reach. Their offensive line used to raise up in unison before they took their stances, and they were already “America’s Team.” I guess I was already an outlier, but they were annoying.
Secondly, I need to state that I am a huge conspiracy theorist. Did we land on the moon? Are we already in contact with extra-terrestrials? Is Paul McCartney the real Paul McCartney? My interest, and conviction, does not go as far as thinking that our politicians are lizard people, but I would be willing to hear this theory presented.
Putting those two bits of history together, I need to express how I became suspect of chicanery going on in professional football. I was still weighing in to play when I saw something that made me question the game. I was watching the Super Bowl (after research XIII) between the Dallas Cowboys and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Steelers were absolutely dominating the game in the second half. During the third quarter, the Cowboys drove into the Steelers’ red zone, and on a third down play, a veteran all-pro tight end named Jackie Smith dropped an easy touchdown in the back of the end zone. After a storied career, Smith was playing in his first Super Bowl and the pressure of the moment could have gotten to him, but after the drop, the Steelers reeled off fourteen straight points and hung on for a narrow victory. So what?
I had no dog in the fight, but something was off. The ebbs and tides of the game were generated by more than momentum. At the time, I did not know about point spreads or the millions bet on the game, but on that day, my reverence for the players and the game diminished.
Fast forward, Super Bowl XXX. Steelers and Cowboys, again. How come the Browns were never in the Super Bowl? Steelers are clinging to a slight lead when Neal O’Donnell throws his second interception directly to Larry Brown who returns it inside the 10-yard line to set up a game-clinching Steelers’ score.
Different winners, but also the same archetypal pattern in the loss. Smith, O’Donnell. Two aging veterans on the downside of their careers making overt mistakes on the biggest stage. Once again, pressure. I will admit that Jackie Smith’s drop may have been due to a lack of concentration, but during Super Bowl XXX, I had already been coaching for a few years. One fundamental aspect of teaching QB play is to, “never throw late to the flat.” Both of O’Donnell’s interceptions occurred when the Steelers play-caller threw late to the flat, and to add insult to injury, and fuel to my conspiratorial fire, on the second, more damning pick, there was not a Steelers receiver in sight.
Since then, I have noticed anomalies in many games that make little sense from players performing at this elite level. My Vikings have even benefitted from a “weird” fundamental breakdown during the Minnesota Miracle. I have seen defenses give up scores purposely to allow their offense a last chance to win. I have seen defenses flat out quit when the score is lopsided. But, every conspiracy needs more than one component, so it is not just the players who have come under my scrutiny, but the coaches, referees, and the league, itself.
That is my first salvo,
Tune in next Saturday for Part II
Seven Blind Mice: The Role of the Officials
Love and laughter,
Coach P.