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Post by Respect for Scates on Apr 7, 2003 21:57:14 GMT -5
Aaron, you sound as though you have a personal issue with Coach Scates. Charlie points out a lot of things about him I too have come to realize in the last three years. He has a reputation for being standoffish, but that's mostly perpetuated by the coaches he competes against and therefore recruits against. People say a lot of untrue things about UCLA and their coaches when they're competing for talent. I found that to be true through personal interaction. Maybe he rubbed you the wrong way, but I've yet to meet anyone who feels otherwise. So, he didn't share something with you. I guess he hasn't written enough books on the subject for you. Go to any search engine and find them, maybe buy one. He's got a strut that someone with a chip on their shoulder might interpret as cocky, but I interpret it as confidence. I'd rather be around someone with confidence born from winning and winning often, than someone who hasn't. No one in the game has more reason to be more respected than Coach Scates. Sorry you have a problem with him, but I've found him to be genuine and highly personable.
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Post by H2O on Apr 8, 2003 1:55:27 GMT -5
If Scates's comments were a brand of humor, then it was a classless brand of humor. He should not have made those commnets, they show disrespect for Pepp, Marv (now that's a good coach) and his team. Of all the things he could have said, this was one of the worst. I think they show the arrogance that one poster talked about. Mr. Scates needs to learn to live with losses in the years ahead just like he's learned to live with wins for the last 30 years.
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Post by David on Apr 8, 2003 4:17:21 GMT -5
I have had to correct you:
Al Scates was not an "administrator with the Westwood School District". There is no such thing as "the Westwood School District". Westwood is part of Los Angeles, and as such, the schools in Westwood are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District.
Al Scates was a Physical Education teacher in the Beverly Hills Unified School District until his retirement a couple of years ago.
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Post by vballmom on Apr 8, 2003 8:52:45 GMT -5
Regarding LBSU having a lot of players - they currently only have 19 players - three of whom are red-shirting and another is a true walk on.
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Post by My 2 Sense on Apr 8, 2003 12:09:33 GMT -5
I have had to correct you: Al Scates was not an "administrator with the Westwood School District". There is no such thing as "the Westwood School District". Westwood is part of Los Angeles, and as such, the schools in Westwood are part of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Al Scates was a Physical Education teacher in the Beverly Hills Unified School District until his retirement a couple of years ago. There isn't a coach in the business that doesn't generate additonal income for themselves besides the salary they make for coaching. Men's VB coaches are not well paid in general. This argument is rediculous to categorize a guy with a second income source as in some way being negative. If anything it's a great tribute that he could work two jobs and still have more success, far more, than any other coach in the game. |
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Post by Rant Patrol on Apr 8, 2003 12:28:11 GMT -5
If Scates's comments were a brand of humor, then it was a classless brand of humor. He should not have made those commnets, they show disrespect for Pepp, Marv (now that's a good coach) and his team. Of all the things he could have said, this was one of the worst. I think they show the arrogance that one poster talked about. Mr. Scates needs to learn to live with losses in the years ahead just like he's learned to live with wins for the last 30 years. What a rediculous over-reacting post. And "...needs to learn to live with losses in the years ahead..." Give us a break. You sound like that Iraqi PR guy who spews his future predictions with no basis. |
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Post by David on Apr 9, 2003 3:12:07 GMT -5
You have to remember, that when Al Scates started coaching in the 60's, volleyball coaches made virtually nothing. You had to have a full-time job. Teaching was a job. Coaching volleyball was a hobby.
It wasn't until the late 70's or early 80's that you could start making a living coaching volleyball. By that time, Scates had already established his teaching career, and did not want to give it up.
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AsianThug
Freshman
"Everytime someone bites into a tofu burger, a soy bean screams in pain."-Etiquette For Outlaws
Posts: 50
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Post by AsianThug on Apr 9, 2003 16:28:33 GMT -5
*sigh*  everything is so political.. ;D |
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Post by Geez Buddy on Apr 9, 2003 22:26:23 GMT -5
All it sounds like to me is that Scates is the kid on the playground with low self-esteem... it makes him feel better to put other people down... and to take away the accolades of those that are doing well. Give Pepperdine some credit! Christian University or not, their Athletic program (especially in Volleyball) is great and the students are proud to support such an awesome team. THANK GOD FOR MARV DUNPHY!
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Post by Geez is right on Apr 10, 2003 0:54:55 GMT -5
All it sounds like to me is that Scates is the kid on the playground with low self-esteem... it makes him feel better to put other people down... and to take away the accolades of those that are doing well. Give Pepperdine some credit! Christian University or not, their Athletic program (especially in Volleyball) is great and the students are proud to support such an awesome team. THANK GOD FOR MARV DUNPHY! OVER REACTION. How you come to a conclussion like that without knowing the man is irresponsible. There are enough people who obviously know the man who have come on in strong support to expose the lack of any credibility in your comments. Give it a rest already. |
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Post by Charlie on Apr 10, 2003 12:22:26 GMT -5
5{ r=Guest-Geez Buddy link=board=menvb&thread=1049558867&start=23#1 date=1049945183]All it sounds like to me is that Scates is the kid on the playground with low self-esteem... it makes him feel better to put other people down... Give Pepperdine some credit! ... THANK GOD FOR MARV DUNPHY![/quote]
This one's actually pretty amusing. Al can't win here. One person says he is the epitome of arrogance, the next says he has low self esteem. Well, one thing I can tell you for sure is that he doesn't have low self esteem.
Al Scates thinks highly of Marv Dunphy and the Pepperdine program. Al knows full well how good a coach Marv is. And one thing that shows that Scates is not a petty person is that he allowed his backup setter to transfer to Pepperdine one year (when the kid had no chance of beating out Brandon Taliafero), and that guy started for Pepp and Pepp was very competitive with UCLA that year (I can picture his face, but I'm just not remembering his name right now).
As for arrogance, my son spent five years in the UCLA program, but I never felt that they walked around exuding arrogance. Having confidence that you can be competitive is not arrogance. This year's team has not been very competitive - I don't hear people saying that they are walking around acting arrogant.
Scates is a very straight-forward guy, not arrogant. He does intend to win the National Championship every year and makes no bones about it. But that's a goal, not arrogance.
I remember once after a pathetic loss to a lower-level team that was quite unexpected, I asked if the other team was stronger than everyone thought. He just said, 'the way we played, we would have lost to anyone'. Very matter of fact about it, telling it like it was.
I understand people not "liking" UCLA because they have been a dominant program. I understand people rooting for teams playing against UCLA. Nothing wrong with that at all. But I really can't stomach the uncalled for attacks on Al Scates, the person.
I wish everyone could get to know him. I am glad that I have had the opportunity to do just that. It has been fun watching him do his thing. He is, without a doubt, the best game coach in the US. That is widely acknowledged in the volleyball community.
He also is a master at analyzing other teams. I personally witnessed this in 1998. I was in Hawaii for the NCAA Final Four. I had followed the team closely as it was my son's final season and I was videotaping all season to create a highlight tape at the end. UCLA lost to Pepperdine in the MPSF final because they didn't have to win it and Scates put in a simple game plan that did not show everything he had, while he got to see what Pepperdine would do (they had to win it to advance). I was allowed to sit in on the final preparations for the National Championship match, including all the video sessions where they went over their scouting report and then laid out the game plan. It was brilliant, and it worked really well, as UCLA slowed down George Roumain and swept Pepperdine. Nobody could 'stop' George, which was readily acknowledged - but Scates had spent hours and hours pouring through the videotape he had from previous matches and he had figured out the tendencies to a T.
It is these kinds of experiences that allow me to say that I know Scates well. And because I know him so well, and respect him so much, I will not sit idly by and let people spew BS about him without responding, when it is clearly BS. There's lots of other stuff on this board that I ignore, but I will always speak up to tell everyone what kind of person Al Scates really is.
Finally, when I say some stuff is BS, I'm referring to stuff like the quote above, not comments like those from Aaron, which are simply his opinion. I don't know if I can persuade people that Scates isn't all about arrogance, but if that is Aaron's perception, well, then it is his perception and it's fine for him to tell us that.
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Post by VBCrusin on Apr 11, 2003 1:34:23 GMT -5
Hey Charlie, I appreciated your comments on Al Scates, because I feel many can't stand a consistent winner. He DOES "tell it like it is" many times, which adds to the irritation of others.  UCLA has been a leader in many sports over the years, and I guess many people dislike dominant teams...especially when Coach Scates explains to recruits that since the Bruins win a Championship every other year, chances are that they will get a Championship ring, maybe two if they attend UCLA (incidentally, I've heard this same story from several recruited players, so I'm not making it up). You can't refute that fact since he was probably telling the truth. When I heard the so called Scates remark concerning "Pep's students Chapel attendance," attending volleyball matches, etc., I was amused. I feel now that it was a remark illustrating his wry sense of humor. Hey...over the years, many people have razzed BYU and the Mormon culture as well, so it was funny to hear someone kid about another Christian College.  In his illustrious career, Coach Scates has brought a lot to the game, and I applaud him...and also the many great coaches throughout the nation who bring out the best in these great volleyball athletes. I owe Coach Marv Dunphy my undying gratitude for being the great example to my son, and teaching him the finer points of the game. I believe Coach Scates has the same respect of ALL his players as well. On another point, I hate to "rain on your parade," but when you posted: "I was allowed to sit in on the final preparations for the National Championship match, including all the video sessions where they went over their scouting report and then laid out the game plan. It was brilliant, and it worked really well, as UCLA slowed down George Roumain and swept Pepperdine. Nobody could 'stop' George, which was readily acknowledged - but Scates had spent hours and hours pouring through the videotape he had from previous matches and he had figured out the tendencies to a T." I'm sure that Coach Scates did a great job preparing for Big George Romaine, BUT the only reason UCLA swept Pep in the finals was due to the fact that George sprained his ankle just prior to the Final match...he could barely walk on it let alone practice, but as in all great athletes, nothing has going to stop him from playing in the NCAA Final. It just goes to prove that anything can happen in this fabulous sport...it's Al's turn now to suffer this season....however, I'm sure the Bruins will be back next year.  It'll be a GREAT MPSF Tournament whether UCLA will be there or not (probably not!) |
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Post by fio on Apr 11, 2003 1:44:16 GMT -5
I bet the media love Al with all of his great quotes!
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bruno
Junior High
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Post by bruno on Apr 11, 2003 1:47:06 GMT -5
I'm sure that Coach Scates did a great job preparing for Big George Romaine, BUT the only reason UCLA swept Pep in the finals was due to the fact that George sprained his ankle just prior to the Final match...he could barely walk on it let alone practice, but as in all great athletes, nothing has going to stop him from playing in the NCAA Final. Which ankle did he sprain? |
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Post by David on Apr 12, 2003 1:15:38 GMT -5
was Kurt Nelson.
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everything is so political.. ;D
