I am behind you - The power to achieve excellence

Author: Brad Gilbert, James Kaplan (USA)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-06-01
Features: Some call me a great coach. They say that after all, I've taught two outstanding players—one is Andre Agassi, but I believe Agassi didn't maintain objective judgment and didn't play the way he should have; the other is Andy Roddick, a passionate genius who wasn't short on discipline, especially in critical matches. Now, the whole world is speculating about how he will win those decisive points. Maybe my tennis bag has a magic wand! But I don't have a magic wand, so they call me a great coach. I would be grateful for this compliment, but I'd rather be respected. This isn't false modesty—I love my job and believe I'm qualified. If I have any special skills—beyond what everyone knows about the width of a tennis court (27 feet) and its length (78 feet)—I'd say my greatest strength is focus, and I've also had incredible good luck. In life, I had two great teachers who taught me to focus. One of them was Andre Agassi. What are you talking about? Shouldn't players learn from coaches, and can the relationship even be reversed? Can Agassi be your teacher? Yes, a coach who never listens to advice is likely to be a failure, and I can give you a small example. This is a true story—the coach who inspired me in the end. Dick Vermeil, the coach of the Kansas City Chiefs. One summer, Dick hosted a barbecue at his home for the entire team, not just the star players. Dick made every dish himself, and they were all exquisite, and they were all eaten clean. Dick had no assistants, no maids—he did it all himself—then he listened to the players' comments on the food and was delighted. Now, you should know how the Chiefs went on to win three consecutive championships after the barbecue. Therefore, buying coffee and sandwiches for Andy Roddick in the morning and then leaving together is also a very important part of my life. It makes Andy feel completely taken care of, makes me feel like a strong soldier, and makes us a more cohesive team. In fact, you could say I'm a team player in the individual sport of tennis. My idol is John Wooden, the basketball coach at the University of California, Los Angeles. This man, who is now 93, is still full of energy. I once saw Jamal Wilkers, who is in his 50s, on TV being interviewed. He spoke with great joy about Wooden, saying that he still practices tennis the way Wooden taught him, and he told the reporter, "Every day is like that." When John Wooden talks about that team and its formation, he's always filled with emotion. He never discusses individual players but encourages all of them to win. How does he do it? First, he forgets his age. I often tell Andre and Andy, "I'm behind you." Actually, it's meant for all of us. I'm behind you. If at 4 a.m., my children wake me up and say, "I need you," I won't ask why or overthink it—I'll just think: If they're calling me at this time, I must go. No matter the situation, that's how I think. That's my way, or at least that's the direction I strive to follow.