CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS ARE NOT A "MECHANIC" PROCESS

Most coaches I know spend a lot of time focusing on X's and O's.  I must admit that at times I've fallen in that trap myself.  But what fascinates most people about sports is not the endless chatter about strategy that fills the airwaves.  It's what I like to call the spiritual nature of the game.

I can't pretend to be an expert in leadership theory.  But what I do know is that the art of transforming a group of young, ambitious individuals into an integrated championship team is not a mechanic process.  It's a mysterious juggling act that requires not only a thorough knowledge of the time-honored laws of the game but also an open heart, a clear mind, and a deep curiosity about the ways of the human spirit.

From "Eleven Rings" by Phil Jackson