We’re Just Crazy
One discovery I made through 25 years of high school basketball coaching was that each team had a different and collective personality: the players blended together uniquely and distinctly. In the world of athletics this is called chemistry. As a coach, my desire and obligation was to discern the personality and then adapt to it, or so was my style.
During the early-90’s we had a very talented group lead by several strong-willed seniors. My assistant coach, Doug and I knew that we had the potential to win the conference title. Knowing that the group dynamic lent toward silliness; we were very serious and were a bit more disciplined in our approach than we had been with some other squads.
We won a few games early in the season and all seemed to be going according to plan. The players were confident in their ability, we coaches knew were properly prepared, but there was something missing.
The team struggled; we won games but did not prevail against the better teams. Something was missing that “chemistry”. Doug and I tried various schemes but nothing seemed to work.
Toward the end of the season we were scheduled to face our arch-rival Princeton Christian. The game was to on their home court; the stands were packed to overflowing. Before the game in the locker room during the obligatory “pep-talk”, I searched for a way to communicate our need to just have fun, be loose, play our game. I could see how tense the fellows were; here our season was winding down, our goals were no longer obtainable and they had “the deer in the headlight look” of a team that was playing not to lose rather than playing to win.
Several of the team leaders were really into their music. Personal CD players had recently come out and now after Christmas everyone had one. From my memory I gave this “inspired” speech about playing with a song on their heart and lips. Taking me literally, someone asked, “You mean, I can sing … while I am playing. I don’t recall the song – though surely not on the approved Christian school play list – I said, “Sure…
Several others asked and became animated and joking as I agreed to all of their songs. The clowning around continued into our warm-ups. Anyway, the fellows played loose, won the game easily, much to the crowds chagrin and our delight. Somehow victories on the other school’s court have always been special.
Leaving the parking lot in the van were nine joyful players. One player David had been singing “Achy Breaky Heart by Billy Ray Cyrus and had changed the words to reflect our win and Princeton’s broken heart. The parody cracked everyone up, I can still hear the players singing at the top of their lungs as we pulled away from the school. Doug told David and the rest of the team, “You’re just crazy!” Somehow that caught their fancy and it became the catchphrase of the night and the source of many jokes as we went to a restaurant to eat.
A few days later we were scheduled for our last home game against an undefeated Horeb Christian who had already clinched the conference title that we had claimed for ourselves many weeks earlier.
Horeb had not lost a game to anyone that season! This was their last game before the state tournament. They were a quick fast breaking Hispanic team from Dade County who played excellent defense. Earlier in the season they had blown us out by 20 points. For the Bulls of Horeb we were just a tune up match before the tournament.
Doug and I had decided that we had been wrong in our analysis of the team’s personality and need of discipline and structure from us, the coaches. During the three days of practice between the Princeton win and the Horeb match up we emphasized and cultivated the “We’re Just Crazy” persona. Additionally, we decided to use that as our strategy for the entire game.
The fellows had really enjoyed practices – believe me – they needed little encouragement to be raucous. However, they did not really believe that we would allow that to carry over into a game. I don’t recall what I said in my pre-game speech but I encouraged them to fulfill their destiny of being “just crazy”. Actually the speech became more like a celebrity roast highlighting and charactering each player’s unique brand of craziness.
Our warm-ups, to say the least, were unique. I believe that the players were testing Doug and me to see if we really meant – “Go Be Crazy”.
I really got into the role of directing the craziness as the game progressed. Horeb seemed a little bewildered early but were well coached and disciplined so they just played hardnosed basketball. It is probably is not possible to accurately describe the flow of the game and how Doug and I orchestrated the craziness.
The lead changed hands minute by minute. Much to Horeb’s surprise, and perhaps our own, we were matching them basket for basket – defense play to defensive play.
Half time, for us, was spent making jokes about the Bulls. (
Imagine a school named Horeb with the mascot of Bulls – Horebbulls, how easy it was.) If you have not been around teenage jocks then this may shock you but the name Horeb, their cheerleaders, the players themselves all become fodder for “humor”.
Midway through the third quarter Horeb went on a run and established a 7 or 8 point lead. Of course, I called a time-out. Good coaching move, basketball purists might say, break the momentum, inspire the troops … However, I called this timeout to have a towel fight between he bench player and the starters. The bench won; we had the towels.
It was about this time that I saw the “look” in the Horeb players eyes – they knew we were crazy and were baffled and beginning to have a small dose of fear.
Another “highlight” was the timeout with about three minutes left in the game. We had a 3 or 4 point lead. I used this T/O to perform a juggling demonstration with three basketballs. They had never seen me juggle – a talent I had kept hidden – and the T/O turned into a one-up-man-ship showcase of strange and unusual talents. The officials who were equally baffled at this point had to come break it up so the game could be finished.
However, the coup de grace occurred during the final minute when the Horeb squad began to foul stopping the clock hoping we would miss free-throws giving them the opportunity to save their unblemished season. Usually this is a time when high-schoolers tense up and only total concentration allowing the muscle memory of making hundreds of shots in practice wins the day.
Often, as hard as this is to believe about the fine Christian young men of our conference schools, taunts will be spoken to rattle the shooter. Horeb never got the chance; we were trash-talking to our own shooters. The expression of bewilderment on the Horeb faces was priceless.
Tony was on the line for us, and Jason was taking bets with odds that he would miss. Tony was giving as much as he took. He missed the shots. Horeb quickly took the ball down court and cut our lead by two.
We were still up by two when Jason was fouled. Tony was really into his trashing routine. The razzing continued as Tony bet $5.00 with Jason. He began his routine, two dribbles, bent knees, lifted the ball to his shoulder …and stopped, “Double or nothing, left-handed.”
Tony agreed, Jason laughed, quickly shot with is left hand and …swish, a three point lead. Horeb called, “Time out”.
We were now up three and only 20 seconds or so to a major upset. I watched as the Horeb staff attempted to focus and motivate their players. I no longer needed to encourage anymore “craziness”, they were in the “zone” as in Comedy or Twilight Zone. The bench player‘s had come up with a cheer – probably mocking the other teams cheerleaders. I know, I know, chill, take a deep breath – I’ve repented, recited John Wooden Pyramid of Success, watched Hoosiers three times, and genuflexed to the shrine of Naismith.
The bet was increased to $20.00 but with Jason’s eyes closed. I am not certain and perhaps I imagined it, but I thought I saw the Horeb captain tell his coach, “It doesn’t matter, they’re just crazy…”
We went out; Jason covered his eyes with his left forearm and sank another free-throw.
For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God…. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong….
I wonder if we sometimes have the wrong strategy for evangelism, too many rules, and structured programs, not to mention “Chic Tracks”. And in our meetings, are we so structured with our “order of service” and production notes, like the coach with perfectly designed plays. Maybe we could simply go out and meet people, pray for them, meet a physical need, laugh or grieve. Have a party or hang out were one was happening; you know like do the stuff Jesus did. Ah, but that would just be crazy.
