I’ve done a lot of interviews in my career and been in a lot of post game press conferences. Winning is easy. Ask any question and the coach and the players will ramble on, but let them lose, and especially a heartbreaker and you’ll really get a chance to see character first hand.
In the opening round of the NCAA tournament, the Belmont Bruins, a 15th seed, lost by one point to 2nd seeded Duke. The back breaker was an errant pass by Belmont in the final seconds that was intercepted changing the game from potential victory to defeat in seconds, but the post game press conference was eye opening.
The head coach Rick Byrd spoke with calm measured words. The same character and self control that he displays on the sidelines in a game. Obviously disappointed, but not sulking or whining. A classy display, but even more impressive was Alex Renfro, the player threw the pass, who despite being heartbroken, spoke with the same dignity as his coach. He spoke from the heart…candid, but yet compassionate. Not full of clichés like you so often get in those circumstances. He even forced himself to smile then he talked about having to appreciate how far the team had come.
Players often reflect their coaches in their demeanor and their conversation. If a coach is uptight and guarded, the players will be as well, because they know he’s listening and judging their words. It’s refreshing when you hear and see a player and a coach who are as open and honest, with character, in defeat as they are in victory.
And the coach is the one who sets that tone.
March 24, 2008 at 5:56 pm |
Losing in a competition brings out more to show us what true character is inside of the team members. I appreciate that you portray a coach and his team as one entity in dealing with a loss.