The Importance of Being Reasonable

In Coaching by Brock Bourgase

During the first half of last night’s contest on Football Night in America, Mark Sanchez called an unnecessary timeout as his team approached the goal line within the two-minute warning. The Jets scored but left enough time for Tom Brady and the Patriots to answer back with seconds remaining in the half. Interviewed at half-time, Rex Ryan called Sanchez’s actions “the stupidest play in football history.” Obviously hyperbole, Ryan’s remarks suit his intense personality. It seems to suit the New York defense perfectly and feeds their aggressive personalities. With a young quarterback, such comments may have the opposite effect.

Cito Gaston

In Coaching by Brock Bourgase

Cito Gaston managed his last home game as manager of the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, a 8-4 victory over the New York Yankees. Praised and criticized throughout his tenure, Gaston remained true to his low-key nature and flourished. Over the years, basketball coaches have become much more active, no longer sitting on the bench but walking the sideline and calling plays. Much like this action is often confused with effectiveness, Gaston’s laid-back attitude was frequently mistaken for a combination of meekness and ignorance. The calm persona was paired with exceptional discretion, making him an excellent manager for all sorts of …

1993 Is a Long Time Ago

In Leadership by Brock Bourgase

The Toronto Blue Jays organization is certainly a wicked problem to which there is no clear solution. The problem has many symptoms: inconsistent performance, poor performance under pressure, and high rates of injury. Rumours suggest that some workout habits that leave a lot to be desired. On-field results appear to have impacted the balance sheet and the team suffers from low attendance and a budget where revenues hardly approach expenses. This all stemmed of a leadership failure, endemic throughout the entire chain of command. Perhaps the best case scenario for the team was a .500 season, but the Blue Jays …