Leaders On The Court - Sparked by VBCruisin

[WaveRider]

I wanted to respond to an earlier post by VBCruisin, but decided to start a new thread instead... earlier he mentioned that Van Reusen was not only a great contribution to a team, but also was an on-court leader.

I think a lot of young teams lack the leadership and the emotion that other teams do. For instance, the Waves this year really don't seem to get fired-up in comparison to the Van Reusen/Walker combination last year.

Can a team win/lose on "The Fire" alone... how important are these emotional contributors?

How do this year's teams seem to be in that department... do I dare ask Hawaii who will replace Dejan?

[LOL]

WaveRider said:

How do this year's teams seem to be in that department... do I dare ask Hawaii who will replace Dejan?

From what I gathered so far for UH is, Kimo, Costas, Tony, and now Pedro. But when Kimo and Tony is playing flat, Costas tries to fire up the team. Pedro, during the Stanford match when Hawaii was losing was the one trying to fire up the team.

[politburo]

You need the latin fire of the South American (like Brazil), Cuban, and Puerto Rican players. Strictly white caucasian types from southern california have long been bred to be champion bores and stiffs.

[VBCrusin]

Thanks WaveRider for bringing up a subject that is near & dear to my heart...Player's intense, emotional play. The "Fire" mentioned by several people in their posts, refer to these impact players who POSITIVELY affect the rest of the team.

Nothing is more powerful than a "roof block" or a "thunderous kill" to lift the spirits of an entire team. It could change the momentum of the match. I'm NOT talking about "trash-talking" or an "unlimited celebration" after a good play...the self-celebrating "fist pump" and "yelling encouragement" to the rest of the team, helps everyone to get involved. A GREAT player not only leads his team with his play & example, but he helps lift up his teammates to play on a higher level with his "yelling words of motivation" (not criticism).

My comments on Pepperdine's Chris Van Reusen, as well as Lance Walker (he got pyscho at times), and don't forget setter Beau Daniels made up an impressive emotional nucleus to draw from. Everyone needs encouragement and positive reinforcement during close, heated matches. I'm not talking tennis star, John Mac Enroe type outbursts, but the positive celebration toward teammates...not their opponents. That's the classy way to lead a team.

As I look around at the various teams, there are some pretty good emotional players. Hawaii's Costas Theocharidis is a classic example who helps lifts his team. I saw Delano Thomas do the same thing at times (note: I would have included last year's Dejan but he got too nasty with his trash-talking and middle finger presentations); BYU's Rafael Paal, Luka Slabe & Carlos Moreno also play with heated emotion; and what about UCLA's Jonathan Acosta, and Chris Pena; Stanford's Curt Toppel and USC's "fist-pumping" Mark Dusharme after some of his kills.

Emotional leaders are essential to instill "excitement & emotion" to help lift the entire team play. Look at any WINNING team in the NCAA finals and you'll see a group "adrenaline rush" effort. It's the ultimate turn on.

Sorry if I went overboard, but as an old athlete, I miss the intense competitive play...it always brings out the BEST in any winner. I've coached all my sons and daughter, as well as the many kids in my life to "outplay your opponent...then help your teammate to outplay his man." BUT win or lose...always do your best!

I haven't seen UCI yet, but plan on seeing them play this weekend. It sounds like their whole team plays with emotion. Go AntEaters.

[VBCrusin]

Enough said about "Fire & Intense emotion"...As I look at Pepperdine this year, they are a different team from last year. A team made up of what I call "Quiet Killers" (Assassins would be a better word).

Volleyball punishing Fred Winters, Twin Towers Brad Keenan and Sean Rooney make up this potent "hit squad." As I see each of them silently but viciously attack the net with their thunderous kills, I'm just glad I'm sitting up in the safe stands and NOT facing them on the floor. These three never really celebrate nor do they display any emotion, but nevertheless, they'll take you apart...quietly.

It should be very interesting to see what happens this year with Pep, but I promise you, barring any major injuries, they will be there in the end fighting for the Finals. BEWARE...if these three silent killers start playing with emotion, NO ONE will stand a chance.

[Roofan]

VB Cruisin

While I can agree with much of what you are saying, I don't agree with all of it.

While emotion is a very valuable tool when used correctly, it isn't the end all when it comes to the main purpose...WINNING.

Personally, I love when I am involved with a team that systematically picks an opponent apart...especially when the opponent is emotinally hyped for a match. There is nothing better than seeing a team that screams and yells at the 1st point of the match...only to get destroyed by the team that executes their game plan better.

I guess what I am trying to say is this...every great UPSET in the history of any sport came from a team that was emotionaly charged AND executed a game plan to perfection. However, when many other championships teams won their titles...when they were expected too, it was usually due to cold blooded execution of their opponent.

So maybe the Waves don't need to be emotionally charged to take the title this year...they only need to be the same cold blooded assasins they have been over the last 2 years to get it done this May.

Just my take!

[VBCrusin]

Hey Roofan... I like what you said.

"Cold blooded execution of their opponent'...I can live with that.

[cz]

It sounds like a description of a lot of UCLA teams in the past.

[Psychopotamus]

I believe in the end, players live and die by emotion. If you're playing well you play very well, if you're playing badly you play very badly. I think with rally scoring, it does help to play with emotion, because you need to control the momentum in order to win.

The difference is that the good teams have played with positive emotion (getting fired up after kills/blocks) and not negative emotion (getting upset/inciting teammates). Positive emotion allows them to run off strings of points while "in the zone", continuing your momentum and good play. Negative emotion causes you to try irrational things. Sometimes they can work in getting back momentumn, but overall they are low percentage and counterproductive to the philosophy of point per play scoring.

[VBCrusin]

WaveRider, Not Richee, Roofan,

I enjoy your insightful posts. We may not always agree in everything, but I value your opinions on this great sport. I look forward to "volleying" with you all in the future...especially in my "killer" posts. I really "dig" the many subjects on this site, but I'll "pass" on some of the negative & idiotic posts by some of these antagonists (Hawaii-haters, UCLA-haters, etc.).

I like this site made up of volleyball players, former players and FANS. I look forward to debating and having fun repartee' . Besides...I enjoying "roofing" you! ;D