Truth is hard. The pitcher allowed a leadoff homer. A celebratory cannon fired. The next hitter went yard. Boom! The third hitter followed by leaving earth. Ka-Boom! The pitching coach came out to talk to the pitcher. "Look, I'm fine, there's nothing wrong with me." The coach answered, "I didn't say there was. I'm giving the guy time to reload."
Defense mechanisms protect us from harmful "events, actions, or thoughts." Rather than accept reality, we fabricate a fiction of stolen victory. "The refs took it away from us."
- Denial
- Repression
- Projection
- Displacement
- Regression
- Rationalization
- Sublimation
- Reaction formation
- Compartmentalization
- Intellectualization
Denial is the clubhouse leader among defense mechanisms. Artificial reality avoids discomfort. We deflect to avoid the pain of loss or mediocrity. Instead of recognizing our limitations, we blame the weather, field conditions, the officiating, bad luck.
Former NFL championship coach Bill Parcells says, "You are what your record says you are." Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden said it another way, "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses."
Athletes deny injury. We cared for a severely injured player who wanted to play in a traditional college football rivalry game. He said he would get a waiver from his coach or family. We explained that as gatekeepers of health and his subsequent military career, we wouldn't release him to play. He sat.
Coaches and players may not have a shared reality. "It's the scoreboard, not the scorebook." As parents, learn to accept the reality of our child's athletic prowess. Loving him more doesn't make a more accomplished player.
"Coach picked Susie over me. I'm better." Coaches make mistakes. But we often make decisions to make ourselves look better by putting the player we believe will help us win on the court.
Athletes deny personal problems. Hack Wilson, National League single-season RBI leader (193) had a drinking problem. His coach provided a lesson, "dropping a worm in a wine glass filled with vodka." The worm shriveled and died within seconds. "Hack, what does that teach you?" "Coach, I'm never going to have to worry about worms."
Teams won't cut or trade an overpaid player or failed high draft choice. Sometimes it's denial ("we made the right choice") and sometimes it's loss aversion via "sunk costs." They already spent the draft choice and the money.
Projection displaces our thoughts or feelings upon another. Instead of recognizing negative feelings within ourselves - arrogance, envy, laziness, selfishness - we attribute them to others. "Crooked Calipari?"
Rationalization justifies thoughts or actions with facts supporting our benefit. We vacate disciplinary actions against a player because we need him to help us win. We deplore "one-and-done" recruiting and then do so because it works. Coaches "protect" players from academic scrutiny or accused of criminal actions. We cheat because "everyone does."
Reaction formation. We behave in a manner opposite to how we feel. We're upset and negative but respond with positivity and optimism. Ted Lasso fans note the struggles he undergoes both in his personal and professional life. We could argue whether it's reaction formation or just authentic incurable optimism. "It's a beautiful Navy day."
Honest self-assessment of strengths, weaknesses, and reality is tough. But finding solutions comes with the cost of objectivity.
Lagniappe. Explosive separation is a must for stardom.