Poker through the ages

I was up playing poker the other night, a past time I love but probably shouldn't, and ended up next to a player whose years of playing poker far exceeded my years of life. It became immediately prevalant that Terry was a talker and that he loved being around the tables and the chatter of people far more interested in life than his neighbors in the McMinnville retirement community he calls home. I love sitting next to people older than myself because I find that they have far more wisdom than most of their younger counterparts, especially when the experiences that guided their wisdom didn't leave the individuals bitter.

With so many hands watched instead of played, conversation often becomes the norm and, in chatting with Terry, it came to light that he was an ex-Corvallis native (me being of the current variety). Talk Corvallis, especially recently after the resurgence of "Beaver Nation" thanks to leadership and belief in the athletic programs started by Mitch Barnhart and increased with the tenacity of Bob DeCarolis, and OSU athletics becomes a quick and expansive topic. Throw in that Terry played for the legendary Slats Gill and the painful decline of a once proud Men's Basketball program, the conversation quickly becomes a passionate discussion.

What makes a coach a great coach? How does a coach mold together a group of individuals into a team that believes in something more than individuality, to see that the whole is only as strong as it's weakest link? Connection. The honest understanding that the coach actually cares as much about their players off the court as they do on.

In watching the Beavers over the course of the past six seasons it isn't difficult to see where it all went south. John's first year, 2002, he won 6 Pac-10 games, winning at both USC and UCLA, as the Beavers finished with their highest conference finish since the wave of love last seen when the "Glove" roamed the hard court of Gill Coliseum. 2005 brought 8 Pac-10 victories and the first winning season in 15 years. A belief was beginning to circulate, "could the Beavers basketball be as real as the football team was becoming", but throughout it all you could sense a disbelief permeating the band wagoners; over time this disbelief turned to disgruntlement.

I hear talk from various athletes that John has lost his players respect, that they no longer listen to his message because it has become old. I have never met Jay but in reading about him (though the writers often jump between love and hate just as often as the band wagoners do) I hear that John loves coaching, loves to instill work rate, belief and passion. It seems he forgot one thing important thing along the way, you must have the trust of all those around you in order to have them believe in you. Be honest, at all times. What ever is happening, tell it like it is. Very few players are actually self involved enough to not see what is going on. Honesty breeds honesty and an open, honest environment is an environment most suited toward growth.

It is a matter of time before John is let go, he knows this and so do most if not all of his players. This probably makes his job even tougher as it seems, from what I have heard, that his players don't really want him around any more. This leaves John with a choice. Here's hoping that John can still go out fighting as seems to be his nature, I just hope his is an honest battle.

Bob DeCarolis has a tough task ahead of him, not so much in the firing of John, but more in the finding of the right fit for the current Beaver Nation, a nation that has become more accustomed to winning than ever before. No longer are the Beavs the doormat of the Pac-10. Wrestling, Gymnastics, Baseball, Softball, Football.... The Beavs are now competitive in almost every sport. Can basketball retrace its roots back to its glory and place in the current lore being written in the annals of OSU lore?

I know many people who can forsee these days, who wait in hope every year. I can think of one who will chat your ear off about it, so long as you'll let him win a few hands along the way.