Ladies & Gentleman, this isn't for everyone & it's long. But it's a fascinating interview with renowned US NFL/NBA sports' psychologist for the multi-championship winning Warriors, Dr Scott Goldman phD with James Graham.
It was interesting how Goldman talked about qualifying the right players for a club.
He noted they often have to let talented players go or pass because they would not be a "great fit" for them but a "good fit" elsewhere.
Goldman also dives into the pressures fan bases cause on administrations who make decisions básed on optics and "longer runways" - to appease public pressure - which might not be best interest of the club as they race the clock. In a sense, this is relevant to what happened to us, I feel. Ryles and Hardies gives the club temporarily a slightly "longer runway" to use a Goldman phrase.
It's something Ryles will need to contend with. And he wary of making player decisions - who to let go of and chase - based on public pressure or optics. And seek not a "good fit" or "fan fit" but a "great fit" for the club. Gus did that at the Dogs, despite the critics berating the utilities and journeymen he recruited.
Geez someone like Goldman would be an asset. No wonder Wayne Bennett takes Dr Jauncey around with him everywhere he goes since he starting coaching the Broncos for forty years or so.
There are a lot of lessons for us here. And it's not the first time US sports' thinking and processes could teach us something.
Lombardi deeply inspired Jack Gibson & he learnt so much from NFL processes. The NFL's Denver Broncos inspired the Broncos who modelled themselves on them in their inception.
The US are ahead of us in many ways.
My only disappointment is Goldman doesn't name some of the greats he's worked with - like Warriors' great Stephen Curry who I'm a huge fan of - nor the coaches, figureheads, CEOs and owners he's helped and talks about in principle out of respect and client confidentiality.
The Warriors' Stephen Curry. A true wizard. No wonder Stephen Chricton loves basketball.
Replies
Nice Blog HOE as always but I agree to a cetain extent with optics and sentiment around the appointment of Ryles ...the new next big thing in coaching we are all hoping for however ....
James hardie...how can we possibly go back there the company destroyed so many lives ....and for nostalga and a nod to our golden days we have aligned with them again...its like if we started a sponsorship deal with Phillip Morris...
Im wont get that Kit. I have them all but cant go there ...
Thanks, Parra Greg. Great points as usual.
I suppose the quality of what this US sports' psychologist was saying made me realized how much we needed and how useful someone of his ilk would be.
It's a shame we never gave Dr Jauncey a go. Or even contacted him. There's that All Blacks mentor as well.
Jauncey has got a more successful track record than anyone in Oz - not just through Bennett'song career, who has him by his side, but AFL and cricket. And he's very contactable and a guy who is willing to help or at least was.
If it were me, I'd have brought Dr Jauncey or a top line Sports psychologist on board as a key appointment. We have someone, but I don't know who that is. Is it is still that young chick I saw a while back (a bit of equality optics I suspect)?
When you get heads of championship teams and players such as Stephen Curry in the hands of guys like Goldman and following his advice (eventually), you realize how important this is.
Goldman has literally told some GM, CEOs or Top Dogs they are the "rotting head" of he fish that needs work and a new perspective despite being well-intentioned (even Steve Sharp was well intentioned). How useful would someone like that inside the four walls of our sanctum?
You've got a point on the Hardie's sponsorship, which I may be underestimating.
There will be many who are dead set will be against buying any mercendise with Hardies especially with any affected directly. I wouldn't be surprised if we get a few issues and not just with sales. As an aside, it's tragic and shocking there are still billions around the world still exposed to asbestos and using it as often as sliced bread.
Optically "returning to the past" also seems at odds with the "new era" mantra - and even why it appears we turned down Brian Smith.
I suppose both parties - us and them - needed something from each other despite some risks.
Absolutely, I was writing blogs - on the Barbie optics of the next, hot young thing rookie appointment like a ferret on ice - and was pretty peeved for two weeks after the appointment. Wallowing, hehe.
Not everyone agreed with this optics argument but didn't understand how we went from Bennett to rookie.
It's easy to understand when you look at the reputation and the optics of it. The mainatream media have been bashing the club, but I have not heard one bad thing about Ryles. I think only Brandy mentioned "No-one knows" what kind of head coach he'll be.
The wash of that is to put my ego aside and see the club's perspective. They seem to have genuine hopes, and need him to work. I don't want to white ant that even if I disagreed initially and we were sending all sorts of stuff to the club which they heads saw (and actually agreed with some things fans like me thought were our key challenges).
I like the Storm mantra and standards Ponissi spoke about, "We can disagree and challenge, but we stay committed to the cause."
I just pray something good will come out of the Ryles appointment for the club's sake and us all. On a wing and a prayer, with parachutes ready.
I still feel we need stronger leadership but McElduff will expire in 12 months or so. Who the next Chairman is, will be a decisive factor moving forward. Luck of the draw it may end up. Tbh, we need some changes to GM, R&R - Rogers/MON imo. A GM of Gus' ilk. Someone with a big stick and a leader making some good decisons.
A lot is on Ryles' shoulder. Perhaps too much.
As usual , HOE producing the goods . Very relevant to our club .
Nice to see you are pushing this line of coaching HOE. Badly neglected and cost is a lot in a lot of areas. Hope Ryles has that kind of awareness.