In response to either this site, or to other coaches possibly being unhappy about the post, one responded: "I'm mostly interested in the people who have the nuts to say what they think. There's a difference between those who complain and those who respond."
And from another commenter:
"I would like to thank you for a fantastic article... As I know many of these girls personally, I witnessed first hand there disillusionment with both the D Team program and in some cases with the sport itself...
"As far a the now legendary jacket incident is concerned... In sports and life I see the need for outside motivation. Sometimes a good 'kick in the pants' is what is needed to jump start an athlete. I have had lots of experience with women athletes and usually they don't respond well to that type of motivation. That being said (and my opinion) if the stripping of unis was going to be used as a motivation, as a coach wouldn't yours be the first one on the pile? To me the statement would be this: 'Ladies it is clear WE have a problem. WE are under performing as a TEAM. I don't feel WE are deserving of the uniform at this moment. Tomorrow WE are going out there without the pride of this uniform. I am personally going to do what I can to get this program back on it's feet. Until I do my staff and I will not wear OUR TEAM uniform either.' To me this instills team unity and pride in the fact you are on some small level representing The USST...
Thanks for a great article. I for one appreciate the candor."
Traffic on the site is way up, so clearly there's some interest in this issue. Let's hear from you.
Totalitarianism (or totalitarian rule) is a political system where the state recognizes no limits to its authority and strives to regulate every aspect of public and private life wherever feasible. (From wikipedia - for what that is worth)
ReplyDeleteSo yes, calling the U.S. Women's D-team totalitarian was certainly hyperbolic, but not totally incorrect in my view. We should keep in mind that there is not a particularly public application process for for USST and USSA staff positions, and no input from the greater USSA community on those hirings; no appeals process for team selection decisions (and no independent board to appeal to if there were); and little input solicited or given on other major decisions at USSA (race sites for one thing). So lets not be afraid to call a spade a (rather extreme) spade.
That said a closed system isn't necessarily a bad system (the Red Sox don't take a lot of input from the public either - there are some differences there too, but that may be for another time) and might be the best way to run it given the circumstances.