Claimed:Riga Adopts "Pyramid of Success"

[Phil 5,119]

Riga Adopts "Pyramid of Success" 

 

 

John Robert Wooden (1910-2010), as the vast majority of you should know, was an American basketball player and coach. Nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood". as head coach at UCLA he won 10 national championships in a 12-year period. Seven of these were consecutive - an unprecedented feat. Within this period, his teams won a record 88 straight games. He was named national coach of the year 6 times.  

 

One of the most revered coaches in the history of sports, Wooden was beloved by his former players. among them Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Bill Walton. Wooden was renowned for his short, simple inspirational message, including his "Pyramid of Success". These often were directed at how to be successful in life as well as in basketball.

 

Below is a diagram of his model. I would go into detail in discussing it but I do not have the length to do it here. If you want any more information on him, feel free to PM me.

 

"Success is peace of mind which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming"

 

 

Inspiring players is possibly, single-handedly, the most effective way to get your players to perform  By highlighting simple concepts such as faith, ambition, fight, or adaptability, Wooden was able to get his players to come together and play phenomenally.

 

Mike Szatkowski has seemingly adopted this type of model and coaching style to try to give Riga another few Continental Cups. The Reign have not won a Cup since Season 33 and then before that Season 16, and they only hold 3 Cups to their name. Coach Szatkowski is on the verge of something big here in Riga and it is the Wooden-esque things he is saying to make the fans and players believe in him and the city and, more importantly, in themselves.

 

During an open practice session, for example, where the media and fans could observe there team in training, Mike brought the lads together at center ice. This was after a few poor executions of drills and overall lethargic energy levels. They all took a knee, leaning on their sticks across their thigh. Szatkowski eyed them all, and then told them to get up. He told a deep breath, and spoke:

 

"We aren't where we should be right now - in the middle of the ice. *Pause* We should be battling for pucks in the corner, or darting from here to the hash marks to receive a cross-ice pass. So why are we here?"

 

The players, some hanging there head, said nothing. They've been through this before - a screaming lecture of laziness from a coach. Welcome to Junior hockey, welcome to Pro hockey.

 

"We are here together, because we've lost sight of our goal. Our goal, gentlemen, is improvement. Yea, so what if you f***ed up during a drill, or caught an edge during a game. So what if you got laid out because you forgot to keep your head up. That happens sometimes. Don't let that sh** get you down. As long as you try your best, you are never a failure. That is, unless you blame others. So we are struggling a bit in the standings at the moment. That's going to happen, we have a very young team. Young, but talented as hell. Remember men, goals achieved with little effort are seldom worthwhile  or lasting. We want that Cup and goddammit we are going to fight for it. And the best way to improve the team..... is to improve ourselves. So what are you going to do to improve the team? Are you going to half-heartedly perform a drill? Even if you happen to be the best on the team in a particular skill.. if you don't give it your all in the drills you do with your practice partner, they'll have a hard time improving, and you certainly won't. We are working together towards an individual and a collective goal. Let's not forget that. Okay boys let's go."

 

The impact those words had on the players was remarkable. In fact, they won the next 4 games and are back in the play-off race. A team that no one suspected of making the playoffs.

 

Szatowski has told me that he keeps a poster of Wooden's Pyramid of Success up in the lockerroom. Before a game or practice every player taps a different box and screams it out as they head for the ice. It keeps them in the right frame of mind.

 

How "Successful" this will turn out to be remains unclear, but I think what we witnessed on the ice in Riga is the most inspirational pep-talk since Tony D'Amato's - that's pretty impressive.

 

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_b7bgtu2O4E

Edited April 8, 2014 by ssdd911

[Mike 708]

I didnt know I was that good

[solas 1,951]

[Phil 5,119]

^^^^^ that is brilliant.

[sterling 1,997]

Unfortunately the pyramid doesnt include Phil

[BOOM 8,745]

 

                                                        THE BOOM PYRAMID

[Guest Svoboda_3]

Content: 3/3

795 words. Pretty awesome, motivating stuff here. I've never heard of Wooden before this or the pyramid. Kid of reminds me of the Herb Brooks famous speech. A slight deduction in the grammar area for missing periods and a few other smaller items.

Grammar: 1.75/2

and coach. Nicknamed "Wizard of Westwood". as = and coach, nicknamed the "Wizard of Westwood." As

players. among them = players, among them

success". = success."

perform By = perform. By

there head = their heads

happen, we = happen; we

worthwhile  or = worthwhile or

Appearance: 1/1

Nothing wrong.

Overall: 5.75/6

[Fire Tortorella 2,653]

Content: 3/3 - I feel as if I may have heard of this pyramid thing before, but I may just be giving too much credit to myself. Whatever Mike said, it must have pumped us up, as we're getting hot going into the playoffs. Hopefully we can get Riga another championship.

 

Grammar: 1..75/2 - Found one more.

 

play-off race. = playoff race.

 

Appearance: 1/1 - I like Boom's pyramid a little more.

 

Overall: 5.75/6

 

FINAL: 6/6

[Smarch 3,153]

Claimed