The Master Manipulator

[Zorro]

I just chanced upon this very interesting little piece on Geno by John Walters. If it has already been posted I did not see it, nor did a search of the past ten pages turn it up. If it is old news, I apologize.

post original url/A7w6cYnPKe

 

[DaddyChoc]

X-Cel Center? who this hell is this guy. he needs to do his research when writing about UConn.

 

[OneTrickPony]

The author misses what I consider to be the main ingredient in Geno's relationship with the team...the fact that he cares deeply about every one of them and he always will...

 

[Zorro]

John Walters is a proific author, and not just on sports. His book, "The Same River Twice", is about the year he spent with Geno and the team in 2000-2001 It is a very good read. And while I am sure that others will disagree, I hink that this little piece hits the nail directly on the head. And a lot of coaches care deeply about their players, but are not willing able to use that caring to motivate the players to achieve to their own personal max. Geno is.

 

[meyers7]

I just chanced upon this very interesting little piece on Geno by John Walters. If it has already been posted I did not see it, nor did a search of the past ten pages turn it up. If it is old news, I apologize.

post original url/A7w6cYnPKe

Yea, I remember seeing that a bit ago. Not sure if someone posted it here or not?? Still, I thought a very good read.

 

[Olde Coach]

This is a worthless article. There are way too many "armchair psychologist" generalizations and assumptions made about Geno, about the players, and about the asst. coaches.

John Walters has a very high opinion of himself.

 

[Waquoit]

The author misses what I consider to be the main ingredient in Geno's relationship with the team...the fact that he cares deeply about every one of them and he always will...

I agree, the reality is a little more deep and subtle than the author presents. Declaring they are "trying to prove him wrong" is too cynical. It seems to me that the ones that buy in are trying to prove him right, that his faith in them is justified.

 

[meyers7]

The author misses what I consider to be the main ingredient in Geno's relationship with the team...the fact that he cares deeply about every one of them and he always will...

I don't think he misses it, may not come right out and say it, but it's there.

 

[meyers7]

This is a worthless article. There are way too many "armchair psychologist" generalizations and assumptions made about Geno, about the players, and about the asst. coaches.

Have to disagree with you. Remember this guy was with the team for quite awhile. If anyone from the "outside" knows the team and some of the team dynamics, it's probably him. Granted he was never on the "inner circle", but he got to see a lot none of us here have ever seen.

John Walters has a very high opinion of himself.

I find that quite amusing that you would say that.

 

[meyers7]

I agree, the reality is a little more deep and subtle than the author presents. Declaring they are "trying to prove him wrong" is too cynical. It seems to me that the ones that buy in are trying to prove him right, that his faith in them is justified.

That's a big leap for young women at this age. I think a few might fit that (Taurasi, Moore, Bird), but most probably not. I think that is the place where Geno would like to get them, not sure many make it.

 

[VAMike23]

I agree, the reality is a little more deep and subtle than the author presents. Declaring they are "trying to prove him wrong" is too cynical. It seems to me that the ones that buy in are trying to prove him right, that his faith in them is justified.

Maya bought in -- hell, she was the driving force on the team for most of her 4 years--and she was quoted candidly several times as saying exactly the same thing this guy said. Proving Geno wrong was a very central and ongoing motivator. Lobo, too, more famously. And they're not the only ones. Kelly said much the same thing at least one time this year and if there's one thing BYers can agree on it's that Kelly Faris bought in.

Of course there is mutual affection between Geno and his players which runs very deep--we see plenty of evidence of that, too, year in and year out. Bria talking during the season about how she appreciated Geno's faith and support as just one example of many. But it's not like this article is completely off the mark. Many parent/child relationships have similar, complex dynamics.

 

[DobbsRover2]

This is a worthless article. There are way too many "armchair psychologist" generalizations and assumptions made about Geno, about the players, and about the asst. coaches.

John Walters has a very high opinion of himself.

Yeah, there was a thread about the article a few weeks ago, and I remember that it was generally well received, though some people will always be uncomfortable with the term manipulator due to all the negative connotations the term has picked up and because obviously there have been a lot of well-documented cases of abuse lately. "I'm going to throw 50 more basketballs at your head so that I can make a man of you that your teammates will respect."

All coaches, whether young or old, are manipulators to some extent, but some like Geno are far more skilled in eliciting great dedication and performances out of a lot of players, though there are always some that even the best coaches screw up with. Part of the coaching and manipulative process is of course showing the interest and "love" in a player to make the successful connection, so that if Walters doesn't emphasize that aspect it is not to me a big deal, or that he did not identify the eX-Shell Center properly, which I always have problems with, too. Personally, I don't think there's anything especially groundbreaking or revelatory in the article, though the details and stories are always what make an article good. Not sure what Walters thinks of himself, but if you're writer and you don't write with some attitude, you're not likely worth reading.

 

[Zorro]

Walters makes a point of saying that he means nothing pejorative by his use of the term, but merely the (rare) ability to get the most out of each player (which is to her own advantage as well as his) by his deep understanding of what makes each of his players tick, and of how they relate to him, and thereby knowing what buttons to push and when to push them. Of course, even Geno doesn't get it right every time, but he is obviously pretty damned good at it. The results speak. And, sorry if I have brought up a subject that has already been thoroughly discussed.

 

[meyers7]

Walters makes a point of saying that he means nothing pejorative by his use of the term, but merely the (rare) ability to get the most out of each player (which is to her own advantage as well as his) by his deep understanding of what makes each of his players tick, and of how they relate to him, and thereby knowing what buttons to push and when to push them. Of course, even Geno doesn't get it right every time, but he is obviously pretty damned good at it. The results speak. And, sorry if I have brought up a subject that has already been thoroughly discussed.

No problem, we got a long summer to get through.

 

[Biff]

Walters makes a point of saying that he means nothing pejorative by his use of the term, but merely the (rare) ability to get the most out of each player (which is to her own advantage as well as his) by his deep understanding of what makes each of his players tick, and of how they relate to him, and thereby knowing what buttons to push and when to push them. Of course, even Geno doesn't get it right every time, but he is obviously pretty damned good at it. The results speak. And, sorry if I have brought up a subject that has already been thoroughly discussed.

Eh. I think "Master Motivator" would have been a better term to use.

 

[DaddyChoc]

This is a worthless article. There are way too many "armchair psychologist" generalizations and assumptions made about Geno, about the players, and about the asst. coaches

sound like you're taking a shot at Boneyard posters

 

[Samanthabrown3]

John Walters has a very high opinion of himself.

And I have a high opinion of John Walters, mostly based on The Same River Twice and his insights beyond basketball.

 

[UConnCat]

The author misses what I consider to be the main ingredient in Geno's relationship with the team...the fact that he cares deeply about every one of them and he always will...

I don't think he misses it at all.

I spent a year with the UConn program in 2000-2001 and nothing about Coach Auriemma struck me more sharply than this: far more than he understands basketball, Geno Auriemma understands people. Understands human nature. He also demonstrates to his players in quieter moments, and this is almost never discussed, that they are a family.

 

[OneTrickPony]

I don't think he misses it at all.

I spent a year with the UConn program in 2000-2001 and nothing about Coach Auriemma struck me more sharply than this: far more than he understands basketball, Geno Auriemma understands people. Understands human nature. He also demonstrates to his players in quieter moments, and this is almost never discussed, that they are a family.

Perhaps I was the one who missed it...(blush)...