Athletes, Trouble, and Subsequent Marketability

When I objectively examine the issue of athletes and their personal conduct as it relates to their marketing endorsements (fan likeability), I find it virtually impossible to arrive at one, majority-agreed upon way of measuring exactly who will be viewed as palatable, rehabilitative, and still endorsed; versus those who will seemingly lose all public enthusiasm, and will be relegated as incorrigible, morally-irresponsible, no-goods of society!

Obviously, the recent Tiger Woods story has brought this issue to the surface again, and it will be interesting to watch how his marketing contracts and fan response changes (if at all). Like you, I will watch how Tiger’s story unfolds, but I will try to study the outcome and hopefully gain better clarity of the following objective data:

a) The legal consequences
b) General fan response
c) Media “slant” (if any)
d) Marketing endorsements (whether he is retained, dropped, or adds new business)

While it is not my intent to equate the severity of Tiger’s current issues to any other athlete, it should be noted that history reveals that fans (and endorsement deals) wax-and-wane and cover the gamut of emotion and related consequences. The list is endless when it comes to athletes and moral, social, and legal issues, and it includes many very famous names over the years – OJ Simpson, Magic Johnson, Pete Rose, Kobe Bryant, Roger Clemens, and Andre Agassi to name a few – and the responses given in the past make it incredibly challenging, at minimum, if not impossible to determine how the current Tiger Woods situation will be judged. Some of the more obvious factors that will, at least in some part, contribute to general reaction will be the legal implications, previous fan support and likeability, social/political/religious variables, media portrayal, and the timing of response (both to the public and as it relates to subsequent athletic success).

Of course, this is just the beginning of ways to examine the factors that will contribute to general public response. Additional, more discrete factors might likely include race, gender, geographic location of home team, and physical attractiveness. Of course, the most salient features of Tiger’s issues (domestic issues are the central theme of most media reports at this writing) will resonate more strongly and directly to fans with deep emotional feelings about infidelity --- while other fans who do not feel as strongly about marital issues may whisk over that part of the story, and react by supporting Tiger because of his previous history of excellence in golf, or his terrific history of doing good for society through his charitable work. As you can see, there are a lot of “moving pieces” to examine as public reaction gently percolates.

I’m certain there are dozens of additional factors that will contribute to general public opinion that I could list (both with respect to Tiger Woods and general athlete-fan responses at-large), but I think I have made my point:

When it comes to athletes who get in trouble and general public opinion, it’s a crapshoot predicting how it will unfold.

Can Being Too Successful Work Against a Coach?

An interesting concept in psychology is "perceptual contrast," which is defined as follows: when we see two things in sequence that are different from one another, we will tend to see the second one as more different from the first than it actually is. Retailers are very familiar with this idea, as evidenced by how nearly every item is "marked down" from the original price to a much lower price, resulting in the perceptual experience of a big contrast (and super savings!). For example, an item "marked down" to $19.99 from $69.99 appears to be a great saving (and therefore a more desirable item) when compared to a second item marked down to $19.99 from $24.99. Quite often what is around something gives the object greater (or different) meaning, resulting in different perceptual experiences.


So how does this idea play out in sports, you might ask? Well, for successful coaches who have consistently set the bar high by consistently winning in the past, the "contrast" that occurs is often quite dramatic after just a few losses: fans become agitated about how the program is seemingly crumbling! It certainly appears that the more success a coach has, the less room for error when a loss occurs (or a semi-mediocre season for that matter).


On the other hand, when the bar is not set so high, expectations are usually much lower, resulting in more "wiggle room" when it comes to on-field success. The thinking is that if you are just a so-so program, then winning is unexpected and when it does occur it's viewed as a bonus.


My point to this article is to take a closer look at how we perceive things (in this case, coaches) and to remember that our perceptions do not take place in a vacuum ---- instead, we perceive the world through various filters, including how something is doing currently compared to the past. If the contrast is stark, the margin for error is usually thin, often resulting is negative criticism, greater scrutiny, and often the loss of a job if you are a coach.


So is this way of thinking and perceiving "fair?" Probably not - especially for coaches who feel on the hot seat every year when being "successful" simply isn't good enough. But this is the reality, and most coaches do realize these kinds of expectations exist in successful sport environments. Now after reading this article you know the "science" behind why we fans act in the ways that we do when appraising coaches!

I Guess Im Just Not a "Yeller"

I just completed reading an interesting article on coaches and their level of aggressiveness toward kids who play for them on a team:

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1579534.html

After reading the piece I began to think about the debates I have been a part of over the years -- some sport fans think coaches need to be volatile, aggressive, and "in your face" in order to win over their players and help the team reach it's full potential. The standard names that come up when thinking about this "old school" type of coach include, of course, Bobby Knight and Woody Hayes.

Other sport fans think that a more "civil" and toned-down approach to coaching is the way to go - this is not to suggest that the environment be so peaceful and nice that it resembles a church more than it does an athletic team, but instead points to the notion that you can have a relatively tranquil sport environment, and still win games.

I have to admit I am more on the side of the second argument, even though I am sure there are others that will disagree, and politely remind me we are talking about sports, not a child daycare! I get it, I really do, yet I have always believed that you can get just as much, if not more, out of people by building relationships, earning their trust, and praising them for their efforts (even if they fail). I have personally never felt as though yelling and berating someone would help me more than having an honest, frank conversation; and I never believe physical aggression should be used to make a point or to get someones attention (sorry Bobby Knight, I am not down with the choke hold).

So am I saying my theory is "right?" No, far from it - telling someone how to coach is like telling them how to parent - and it is certainly not my place to tell someone what to do. In my personal experiences, however, I have found the "win more bees with honey than you do vinegar" approach to be a winner -- but it is also hard to argue that the "old school" intimidating coaches don't get positive results with their approach, too. The big question to me is not what approach works better as it applies to wins and losses, but instead, what is the cost that comes with an approach that includes bullying, intimidation, and sometimes even physical aggression?

One last note: It's always been interesting to me how much parents, fans, and even the players themselves will take -- so long as the team is winning. Lets face it, the bully-type coach doesn't last very long if he (or she) isn't winning, but if a team is winning then a lot goes unnoticed and over-looked. Interesting, huh?!

Athletes & Off-Field Issues

The recent Andre Agassi book has once again raised eyebrows about athletes and their off-field (or in Andre’s case, off-court) issues and behaviors (http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/1337054.html ). Mike Tyson was also in the news recently for getting into another fight (this time out of the ring),
(http://blogs.reuters.com/fanfare/2009/11/13/it-was-self-defense-mike-tyson-says/), and Theo Fleury reports of regular drinking and drug usage throughout his NHL career, stemming from previous sexual abuse by a junior league youth coach (http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/16/sports/hockey/16fleury.html?_r=1 ). While none of these stories are connected beyond the irony of all three being about athletes’ personal issues making the news rather than their athletic talents, the stories do prompt us to think about why athletes – with seemingly everything going for them – continue to engage in risky, dangerous, and sometimes illegal behaviors?

Without knowing the intimate details of each of these stories, all any of us can do is speculate about what factors might have been at play that caused, or at least contributed to, each of their recent troubles. For Andre Agassi, after listening to him tell his story on 60 Minutes
(http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2009/11/05/60minutes/main5537569.shtml ), it became clear that being pushed to excel at tennis from a very young age led him to live a very atypical teenage existence, often requiring him to continue playing a sport he may have liked, but not loved (or at least we know he didn’t have the same passion for the sport as his dad did). Could it have been this intense lifestyle that started at a very young age that was the primary cause for his later drug usage?

Mike Tyson, someone who is not new to controversy, has also battled drug and alcohol problems, and has a history of out-of-the-ring violent behavior, too. Again, we see that Tyson was a superstar at a very young age, prompting him to learn about a lifestyle, with its own unique pressures and challenges, while at the same time fighting the best boxers in the world. Could all of this have been too much, too soon?

Theo Fleurry’s story is also concerning, but for a very different reason. Unfortunately, today we are learning about increasingly more coach-athlete sexual molestation stories, with Fleurry’s story perhaps being the most noteworthy yet. By his own account, Fleurry tells about how the sexual molestation caused havoc in his life, leading him down a road that included risky, unhealthy, unsafe, and illegal behaviors. The trust athletes put in their coaches is often the same as that with their parents, and when that trust is broken it can lead to terrible mental anguish and pain, often resulting in poor coping mechanisms that can include risky behaviors like the ones Fleurry engaged in while dealing with his pain.

While these stories are all unique, and the connections between them may not be visible at first, there are some common denominators that can be examined as we look to learn more about elite athletes, their unique lifestyles, and the potential problems they may face without appropriate social support and structure. A few of the commonalities include:


· For many young athletes who show great athletic talent at an early age, it is the people around them (i.e. parents, coaches, mentors, etc.) who assume that if a youngster is good at something, he/she must also love doing it. Sadly, this is simply not the case – and in Andre Agassi’s story it certainly appears that the push he felt from his father may have become unbearable at times, prompting him to want an escape (both physically from playing tennis, but also mentally from the pressure to be successful). In fact, Agassi is quoted as saying that at times he “hated tennis,” yet quitting was never an option.


· It is also important to remember that kids play sports to have fun (it’s routinely found to be the #1 reason they play sports according to most surveys), and when a sport becomes more like a job, it often loses the “fun” part. When kids feel as though their sport is a job, they often stress about the pressure to succeed, while at the same time experience the frustration of not being able to do many of the same things their friends who are not elite athletes are doing (i.e. going to the mall, swimming at the local pool, etc.). As this stress and frustration builds, it can lead to maladaptive and unhealthy coping as a means of an escape, including alcohol and drug usage.


· Most fans don’t think about it, but the life of an elite athlete can be very lonely and isolating. Hotels, road trips, flights across the country and around the world – all of it can take its toll and create a very unusual lifestyle for athletes. Loneliness and isolation are tough to deal with for most people, so it is easy to understand how risk-taking endeavors (like drug usage) can provide a quick respite from an otherwise mundane existence. As hard as it may be to believe, the athletes we watch on television, while seemingly surrounded by millions of people, often live a life that is very private and far different than what fans would suspect.


· Young athletes often begin to feel the pressure to succeed at a very early age, and as the pressure increases, the need for a break from the action increases as well. When athletes train full-time with very few breaks, it can lead to staleness, burnout, and even premature quitting of the sport. Drugs and alcohol provide quick “escapes” from pressure, even if it is not healthy to use these substances as coping tools.


· Most athletes, including female athletes, exhibit a “machismo” mindset when it comes to athletics, and as a result, often carry this way of thinking over to their personal life with a ‘do it alone” means of dealing with stress. While many athletes can (and do) address their own life issues in a positive and healthy way, other athletes do not, and when pressed to find answers and solutions to their problems resort to things like alcohol and drug abuse, risky sexual behaviors, gambling, and many other thrill-seeking behaviors. Obviously, these coping behaviors usually exacerbate the situation, but in the short-run they provide a means of diverting attention away from something painful and onto something fun and enjoyable.


· Perhaps the greatest, and most tragic, early student athlete – coach issue is when the trust between coach-athlete is broken, as in the case of Fleurry’s terrible sexual molestation story with his junior league coach. Sexual abuse can lead to many tragic consequences, including the inability to develop healthy future relationships, depression, anxiety, and low self-worth, to name a few. From reading Fleurry’s horrific story, one can only imagine the pain he felt throughout his career caused by his youth coach that was masked by his world-class hockey abilities on the ice. When young athletes unconditionally trust their coach (as is often the case), it is imperative that coaches act in adult, responsible ways. When coaches act unethically (or illegally), it can lead to terrible consequences for athletes as they grow into adulthood.

It should be stated that I do not have any contact with the athletes discussed in this article, and I only know what I have read about with respect to each of their situations. My comments are designed to be broad-based in nature as I commonly see far too many athletes struggle with similar issues due in large part to the points I discussed in this article. The good news is that we are talking about these issues much more regularly today, creating a positive atmosphere for young athletes to learn and respond to things more openly than they might have in the past. Adults are also benefiting by learning about the stories of Agassi, Tyson, and Fleurry as they can now pay closer attention to potential pre-cursors to later problematic behaviors: the lack of “fun” in the sport, a potentially isolating lifestyle, suspicious coach – student athlete relationships, or unusual and atypical pressures to succeed that are unlike what ordinary kids experience. Unfortunately, like many things in life, we have to first learn of the terrible stories others have experienced before we learn about how to make things different and better for the future.

Pressure? What Pressure??!

As we head down the stretch with the 2009 football season, games begin to take more meaning, and seemingly "every play counts" as potential championships loom on the horizon. Most high school football teams across the country are already in post-season play, with college and NFL teams preparing to do battle in the coming weeks with conference championship games, bowl games, and playoffs. Yes, there is a very exciting time of year indeed, but as we look into the crystal ball and begin to prognosticate the winners and losers of upcoming games, there is that one particular variable that always seems to get in the way of our accuracy: pressure.

Football is no different than other sports when it comes to preparing for games/events that have seemingly have more importance (i.e. pressure) when compared to the regular season. And regardless whether you are a 12 year old amateur athlete or a 30 year old professional, there is a different feeling when getting ready for "the big game." The x-factor I am referring to - or the cause of that uneasy, unusual, and often unwanted feeling - is pressure.

So, you might ask, what exactly is pressure? Of course, pressure is not unique to football, or sports for that matter, as all human beings will from time-to-time be faced with feelings of uncertainty, loss of confidence, and in worst-case scenarios paralyzing fear that prohibits natural abilities and talents from taking over. Pressure is the cause for all of this, and mastering how to control and deal with pressure is often the variable needed to go from average to good, and good to great.

The following is a short offering of pressure, followed by a few pointers on how to minimize pressure (and maximize results):

• "Pressure" is a self-imposed construct, meaning it only exists if you let it. Nobody can make you feel pressure, and similarly, nobody can ease the pressure you feel in meaningful situations (other than you).


• The trigger for pressure is human perception. What this means is that two athletes can prepare for the same game, with one perceiving the game to be a challenge while the other sees it as a fearful threat. Can you see how these two athletes, who might be nearly equal in talent, will perform in very different ways?


• Although pressure is a mental experience (meaning you first deal with it while thinking about the upcoming event and conditions), it almost always results in physiological symptoms like rapid breathing, increased heart rate, and tighter muscles. Obviously, these conditions are more likely to make athletes fail, not succeed.


• One individuals pressure can, and often does, impact other members on a team. This is especially true of a team leader "chokes" and other team members begin to doubt their own abilities after seeing this occur. When this happens, upsets usually follow.


• Finally, dealing with pressure (or being unable to) will make or break an athlete and his or her athletic success. Athletes who learn ways to deal with pressure develop more self-confidence and "play to win," while athletes who succumb to self-induced pressure play hesitantly and "play to avoid losing"

So what can athletes do to address pressure? Here are a couple quick tips:

• Keep in mind how you perceive situations dramatically impacts how your body responds to them! If you look at important situations in life as challenges rather than threats, the experience you will have will be completely different - and better!


• Since our minds work faster than our bodies do, try learning an arousal-reducing technique for those times our brains have already decided we should be very nervous. For example, the next time you start feeling those nerves getting out of control (even though you don't want them to), take 2-3 very deep breaths into your stomach, while at the same time using positive self talk (i.e. "stay cool and level-headed") and maybe even add a little imagery (like thinking of a positive life experience). All of this can be done in just a few seconds, and will lead to dramatic positive results.


• Practice pressure situations. Rather than practice in comfortable, controlled conditions, try "in-vivo" experiences where you create game-like situations and try to make the experience as real as possible. This is a great way to minimize pressure as you will be developing muscle-memory skills needed for when the real game situations occur later.


• If you regularly get overly-nervous to the point where you literally "freeze" or play far below your ability, you may want to consider professional assistance. Sure, there may still be a stigma when it comes to athletes using mental health services, but ask yourself what would you rather do, get immediate help for your condition or continue to deal with the same negative anxiety over and over again?

So you say pressure? What pressure??! Now you know what to do with pressure and how to prevent it from stopping you from playing your best - good luck!

Variables Impacting Athletic Performance

Almost every day sports fans read about various professional teams doing everything they can to improve their team's athletic performance. Whether it’s a manager/coaching change, a trade for a new player, or the addition of a strength & conditioning training guru, trying to figure out the "right formula" for success is every General Managers goal. Some GM's believe there is a science to sport success that can be measured through various performance markers, like Yards per Game or a Batting Average, while others feel it is more of an art when putting together the right personaliities to work together on a team. And of course, there are others that feel it's a little bit of both science and art!

So what are the most salient variables that impact athletic performance? Based on my experiences in sports, I offer the following list of the most important features for teams to consider when looking to improve athletic performance:

Athletic Skills
This is an easy one – like the saying goes “ya gotta have the horses to win.” Having talent, of course, is always going to help a team find success, but is having talent alone enough? Think about how many teams at the start of each season look great “on paper,” yet finish the season far below expectations? We see this all the time, from the pros all the way down to youth sports!

Coaching
How much does coaching play into team success (or lack thereof)? This is a question of great debate, frankly. Some people feel that getting the “right” coach is often the missing link, while others feel as though coaches often get too much credit for winning, and too much blame for losing. To the degree that the coach impacts a team’s success can certainly be debated, but most would agree that finding the right coach for a program can - and often does - make a big difference. In my opinion the fit of a coach to a team is probably more important than how successful a coach has previously been.

Mood State and Confidence
A player’s mood state and level of confidence are major factors when it comes to athletic success. An athlete may have all the skills in the world, but if he is constantly worried, nervous, and afraid to play all-out (and instead plays to avoid losing), then it really doesn’t matter how good he is "on paper." Unfortunately, not enough General Managers and front office personnel look at these factors, and instead spend a disproportionate amount of time looking for better players, rather than spending resources on developing what they already have. When players regularly feel good about the team culture, and are confident in their own abilities (as well as their teammates), then it is quite likely the team will play at a high level.

Incentives
What does the athlete have to play for when it comes to competition? Pro athletes play for lucrative salaries, college athletes play for a chance to get drafted by the pros, and kids play for, well, they actually play for a number of reasons, including simply pleasing their parents. My point is that the more incentive an athlete has to play hard, the more likely the athlete will be motivated, resulting in the athlete playing above what she is supposedly capable of doing. When teams have a true incentive to improve and succeed, this often allows them to over-achieve, usually leading to a successful season.

Resiliency
How quickly do athletes bounce back from bad plays, terrible games, or even forgettable seasons?! Defeated athletes will lose motivation, confidence, and interest in playing hard, resulting in under-achievement. Conversely, motivated athletes play “over their head” and harness positive adrenaline to help them bounce back from tough days. In sports, resiliency is mandatory if success is to occur. Teams that quickly bounce back from adversity win more games, resulting in stronger team climate and culture.

Of course, there are many more variables that mediate athletic success, but in my experience the ones I have listed here are vitally important for teams to play at their highest levels. Saavy GM's realize these "intangibles" I have listed here are vitally important to team success, and they often bring in outside resources and personnel so they can create a positive, winning culutre for their franchise.

Take a closer look at your favorite team and see how they stack up ---- if nothing else, perhaps my article today will help you at that next fantasy sports draft when sizing up your players on watch!

Sports: The Universal Common Denominator!

These days, there are plenty of reasons to look at our country with pessimism and despair. Whether it’s the current recession, the ongoing wars, or the daily fighting between politicians, just about every day can turn into a bummer and quickly begin to look very bleak. Add in racism, gender inequalities, and differences over global warming and healthcare options, you can easily see how divided we have become.

Still, there is one common thread that holds us together: sports.

I cannot think of too many things in life that bring people, who are otherwise completely different, together. Fans cheering in the stands are from different races, religions, and political parties. Athletes playing on the court come from different backgrounds. Yet, during sporting events, all these boundaries and differences disappear, and everyone unites. Racists cheer the opposite race, heterosexuals cheer homosexuals, and Republicans cheer Democrats. Fans unite and jump from their seats together, regardless of who is sitting next to them, and athletes from different backgrounds work together as committed teammates fighting for the same goal. At least for a couple hours, we are all one.

Everything goes out the window when we become intoxicated with excitement from our love of sports. We do not “qualify” who we are high-fiving, and we go nuts when we win – regardless of the makeup of the players that got us the victory. Our pride and overall outlook on life often ebbs and flows with respect to how our team is doing in the standings. When it comes to sports, we don’t care about being different, but we instead pull together as one for a common goal - victory.

Not only do we win together, but we commensurate over losses together as well. When our team loses, it doesn’t matter who it is that extends their condolences; we genuinely appreciate the gesture. While a liberal Democrat might not have anything in common with a conservative Republican, the two will join together in synchrony in a “we’ll get ‘em next year” afterthought following a heartbreaking loss.

It’s really quite amazing when you think about how sport brings people together. The same people who use words like “hate” and “despise” to describe certain types of people outside of the stadium are, ironically, the very same people who pay big money to cheer these people on when they’re competing as athletes. The players we watch somehow magically lose their skin color, their religious beliefs, and even their sexuality as fans emotionally cling to them and pay no attention to the differences that exist. What endeavor other than sports wipes away our differences and allows us – albeit for a brief moment in time - to unite as one?

Sports are the universal common denominator that brings us together!