Why 96?

The NCAA in their infinite wisdom has set the stage to expand to 96 teams. Looking at the rationale behind this move, it is pretty clear that this decision is a money grab based on the ability to generate more dollars from television. As a former athletic director, I greatly appreciate the reality of generating more dollars for the member schools so that programs and student-athletes across the board will benefit. Will the leadership take some shots from this decision, of course. Yet this is a case where I believe they have looked at the cost-benefit analysis and determined if the dollars are there, then we need to make the move. I can assure you that some faculty will toss a few grenades at the NCAA for creating a scenario where there will be more missed class time for the players. I would encourage the NCAA then to take a leadership role in encouraging the faculty to create learning models where students can have instruction delivered to them at any time anywhere. Tenured faculty ought to learn these three words—University of Phoenix. Leadership is about developing solutions not about being an obstructionist.

March Madness Biggest Surprise

This year’s NCAA tournament surprise team West Eastern State University provides some great messages for all leaders.  Maybe the best message is that great leaders take adversity and figure out how to turn it into success.  Often the traditional or conventional way of doing things does not work when you are disadvantaged in regards to resources, tradition or talent.  Faced with almost certain failure Coach Holton found a way to be successful by looking for non-traditional recruits and then adapting his teaching style to allow those recruits to use their unique set of talents.  Then figuring out how to fit those skills into the team setting and having all the players buy-in with no jealousy toward the Ivan Brothers was the true test. Remember quite often the axiom of “big risk, big reward” is what makes great leaders great, West Eastern University took a big chance and it paid off with a huge return.  The attached video is a great lesson.

http://www.youtube.com/user/CapitalOne

NCAA expand field to 96???

The NCAA for the first time in a while is seriously considering changing the format of one of the most successful multi-week events in the world.  The growth in interest and revenue in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship has been nothing short of amazing.  Now the question for the leadership is, do you make a significant change and add 32 more teams?  Adding those teams would require another full week of competition.  The format would be the top 32 teams would receive a bye and the remaining 64 would play a first round game.  That change in itself would require 32 more games and probably 8 more sites.  Some folks would say, “Why mess with something that has been so successful?”  The other  school of thought would say, “we have to make change to maximize the revenue potential for not only the schools but our corporate partners.”  My guess is the final determination will be significantly influenced by the type of television (internet, mobile etc.) contract that can be negotiated.  When the NCAA inked their current $6.2 billion deal, the question arose as to would CBS be able to make it work financially.  Clearly the next television partner will look long and hard at the profitability of the numbers and I am sure the NCAA understands the importance of maximizing value to the television partner so they can hang on to the same type of revenue.  With that in mind the NCAA leadership may see a real need to create more value for their broadcast rights holder.  Additionally the NCAA spent a ton to buy the NIT so if the Championship were expanded,  there would be no possibility of anti-trust lawsuit. Understanding how the leadership of the NCAA works I would be surprised if we do not see the demise of the NIT and a much larger NCAA Men’s Basketball Championship.  Being a risk-taker, I would say go for it.  What are your thoughts?

Dooley Long-Term?

When the University of Tennessee hired Lane Kiffin they were very interested in “winning the press conference.”  Clearly Kiffin had the “wow factor”.  He was handsome, had the LA background, had been an NFL Coach, had the beautiful wife and brought a confident and charismatic personality.  Following Phil Fulmer, Kiffin could energize the entire Volunteer Nation.  He immediately created a great deal of enthusiasm.  Yet soon thereafter red flags started to surface.  NCAA violations, disdain for authority and a marginal won-lost record raised doubts as to was Kiffin really the answer.  When last week USC came calling, without much concern for UT, Kiffin bolted Knoxville for the bright lights of Hollywood.  This time the Vols learned their lesson and chose Derek Dooley who assuredly does not command the national spotlight like Kiffin.  His 17-20 record at Louisiana Tech would not immediately put him on the national radar screen.  Yet there is no doubt that Dooley will build a program over the long haul and will do it right.  Remember as a leader this is a marathon not a sprint, you need to make decisions that are congruent with your mission.

Leaders Have to Step Up to the Plate

Challenge sets the stage for greatness. When Phil Jackson returned to coach the Lakers he had a big challenge. In his book he had indicated the Kobe was “uncoachable” and was not a good teammate. The year before the Lakers had won just 34 games and seemed to be a haven for selfish, underachieving big name players.

Enter Jackson with his unique style and nine world championship rings. Jackson, probably as well as anyone, understands the concept of role players and superstars. The trick was getting everyone to accept and relish their role. While Bryant clearly was the centerpiece, Jackson was able to convince ownership to acquire individuals who could work with the temperamental and sometimes difficult superstar. Derrick Fisher, Pau Gasol, and Trevor Ariza all fit perfectly into Jackson’s successful paradigm of “stars and their helpers”. Clearly the model while sometimes erratic proved to be the format for success. The challenge in the land of movie stars and acerbic media was one that many individuals with Jackson’s previous success would have not even considered. The intense scrutiny and critical fan base that had driven other successful coaches out of the LA sports scene, proved to be the perfect stage to crown Jackson’s leadership greatness. His nine world championship and previous success with Lakers bought him time while he cleverly positioned himself to have the control and resources necessary to succeed.

While the Zen Master was not afraid of the challenge, he also was insightful enough to make sure he had the support necessary to get the job done. GREAT LEADERS ACCEPT CHALLENGES AS OPPORTUNITIES.

They understand that being successful dealing with difficult situations is what makes a leader great and they relish the chance. How do you look at tough challenges? The big market teams are the biggest opportunities for any coach. They also are the biggest chance for failure.

Sosa: Another Cheater or Victim of Poor Leadership?

The revelation by the New York Times that Sammy Sosa was one of the 104 major league players who tested positive for drug use in 2003 came as no surprise to anyone. What this story does is bring to light the insidious lack of leadership demonstrated by Bud Selig and Donald Fehr. Anyone remotely connected to baseball knew for years that amphetamines were more accessible in major league clubhouses than skittles. On some teams the attitude was that if you were not using “greenies”, you were not really trying.

Everyone knew that Major League Baseball had a culture of steroid and amphetamine use and yet the leadership chose to ignore the potential problem. Without question performance enhancing drugs was a tough issue as the union clearly did not want any drug testing programs and had enough power to cause an ongoing confrontational relationship with Bud and his buddies. Major League baseball was not willing to engage in a major confrontation so the issue was totally ignored.

In 2005 (2 years after the drug screening that found 104 positive tests from major leaguers) Commissioner Selig penned a let to Fehr that said, “It’s time to put the whispers about amphetamine use to bed once and for all. To the extent that our culture has tolerated the use of these substances, the culture must change.” Talk about closing the barn door after the horses are out. The leadership clearly failed the players by not accepting the responsibility to see the future and understand the potential major train wrecks that could be on the horizon. Leadership must always be very cognizant of any issue that could derail the success of the organization. Clearly a major drug scandal can create havoc for any initiative but particularly for a sports organization.

Perez Attempts to Make Real Madrid Real

Florentino Perez might not be a household name in the United States but worldwide he may have proved to be the biggest visionary in the history of sport or the biggest foolhardy spendthrift.  As the president and leader of Real Madrid, Perez has just invested over $222 million for transfer fees for soccer superstars Kaka and Cristiano Ronaldo.   Those dollars do not include salaries for the two players which will probably amount to over $250 million over the next six years.  Will this move elevate Real Madrid to a level that will prove to be a wise investment or will it bankrupt the club?

One thing for sure, Florentino believes in old axiom “big risk, big reward”.   For a leader to take this kind of chance, the upside better be tremendous.  Perez emphasizes, ”I want to recreate a Real Madrid that makes history.”  Without question these financial decisions are going to make history one way or another.  Vision and big picture results are critical pieces to the change that every leader tries to facilitate.  But every leader also has the responsibility to understand the potential pitfalls that can occur when major decisions are made.  In his previous stint as el presidente of Real, he approved the signings of Beckham, Ronaldo (the Brazilian, different from Cristiano Ronaldo), Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane.  Only time will tell whether Perez goes down as a great leader who positioned Real Madrid to be the preeminent global sports franchise or financially devastated a once proud organization.

Managing the Impact of Leadership Decisions

Don’t think that being in leadership positions is always easy or fun. Take the case of the Atlanta Braves and Tom Glavine. The Braves were faced with the difficult decision as to what to do with the a guy who has won 305 games and was a mainstay of the staff in the glory days of Atlanta Braves baseball. The Braves had already cut ties with another Hall of Famer and Atlanta sports icon, John Smoltz. Clearly the Braves were in a difficult position – suffer the negative public opinion of unloading Glavine or bring him back at a major financial cost with limited long-term contribution on the mound. Whichever decision John Schuerholz and his associates were going to make was going to anger and create some upheaval.

However, as the leader, Schuerholz could not make the comfortable or feel good decision, he had to do what was best for the organization. Leaders have to make difficult decisions that will serve the group the best over the future. While releasing Glavine and low-balling Smoltz’ contract offer were both unpopular at the time, the leadership had to feel for the success of the team over the long haul, the Braves needed young pitchers whose health would hold up. Throw in the big payroll expense of the future Hall of Famers and the decision was really a no-brainer. The bigger question was why even sign the 43 year old Glavine in the first place?

Apparently the handling of the release of Glavine was awkward at best and botched at the worst, yet the leadership showed they understood their responsibility to the team. I wonder if NFL teams are looking at the Glavine situation as a reference on how to deal with the Brett Favre .

Will Gives Leaders Ability to Focus

Vince Lombardi was credited with saying, “The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will.”  For leaders no quote has more credibility than this one.  Leaders have to be the driving force that set the course and then stand rock solid through the peaks and valleys.  Followers continually look for cues from their leaders and at the first sign of uncertainty or lack of will, the followers will lose confidence and focus.

Dr. Wood Selig, the very successful and highly respected athletic director at Western Kentucky University, has come up with a mantra for the Hilltoppers – “Championship Effort”.  Championship Effort is the slogan that has become the way of life for WKU coaches, student-athletes and administrators.  The strong commitment to Championship Effort by the leader, his inner circle of staff and coaches has manifested itself into 19 conference championships over the last two years, ranking the Tops as one of the most successful over that time period.

In talking to Selig there is no question that the focus to compete for championships and put forth that necessary effort is the only acceptable course of action for WKU Athletics.    The will of the leader is the common thread that holds the organization together, keeps everyone focused and ultimately provides the landscape for success.

Think about great coaches and how strong-willed they are…names like Donovan, Aueriemma, Williams, Summitt.  The belief in what they are doing builds the will necessary to navigate the course to the top.

Leadership Demands Responsibility…Do The Clippers Have It?

The Los Angeles Clippers received a huge chunk of good luck by winning the ping pong ball lottery of the NBA and winning the first pick in the draft. Their history of first picks with Mike Olowokandi and Benoit Benjamin have not been good. It would be kind to say the franchise has floundered. Now they have a chance but first they have to do something that all successful leaders do. They must accept total responsibility for the future.

They have gotten a huge break that could jumpstart their franchise, but they have to now realize with that good fortune comes the responsibility to make decisions which will set the future of the franchise. Another perceived “bad draft” and this leadership team will never recover. Blake Griffin should be the perfect centerpiece for the Clips. Coached not only in basketball at Oklahoma, but also in life skills by one of the best coaches in college basketball (Jeff Capel), Griffin gives the Clippers a guy who can relate to everyone.

Getting Griffin was just the first piece of the puzzle. Let’s see if the Clippers will take responsibility and make some of the hard and wise decisions that will shape their future. Remember, real leaders accept TOTAL responsibility.