Pat Riley locker room speech

[BadMofoPimp]

Didn't he have a quote where he walked into the locker room very tan one day and said "If you cannot stand the Heat, stay out of the sun?"

[Vertical Limit]

I can't seem to find the article, but when asked about it years later, Tim Hardaway sort of shrugged and admitted that the ice bucket speech didn't motivate him much -- in fact, he was practically derisive. And the reason why that's interesting to me is that I'd like to think that I'd get fired up over Riley's speech, but knowing how moody and apathetic and disillusioned I am, I'm afraid I'd probably react the same way as Hardaway.

It's still an awesome story, though.

It's an awesome story but yeah, I'll admit I would have reacted the same way.

[salqaddoumi]

I've decided to break my vow to not post here again this one time just for this speech. The quoted article is inadequate.

Here's the story: In the lockout shortened season, the NBA scrambled to fit as many games as possible into a tight time period, which lead to sets of 3 games in 3 nights. Brutal. At one point in the season the Heat found themselves about to play the 3rd game in one of those sets when nobody in the league had been able to win one yet. Before the game Riley told the team "why not us?" and then told them a story about a young football coach who coached his heart out but could not get the team to win. The previous coach who had been a legend would go sit by a nearby lake and watch the practices. One day the young coach goes to the legend and, exasperated, asks him, "how did you do it?". The old coach grabs him, shoves his face in the lake, and holds it there while the guy struggles and struggles and then finally let's him up for air. Gasping and coughing the young coach asks him why he did that and the old man says, "when it's as important as taking that next breath, then you'll win."

At half time, the Heat were down, so without really saying anything, Riley just takes a big bucket of ice water and sticks his head in it. Holds it there for a long time. When he finally comes up for air he nearly passes out, falling over, and Zo catches him. He tells the team: that's how important it has to be to you. Heat end up winning the game.

Ok bye

*edited to fix grammar. Also, thanks Timmy

If this post doesn't give you a boner then you're not a real Heat fan.

[GreenHat]

I can't seem to find the article, but when asked about it years later, Tim Hardaway sort of shrugged and admitted that the ice bucket speech didn't motivate him much -- in fact, he was practically derisive. And the reason why that's interesting to me is that I'd like to think that I'd get fired up over Riley's speech, but knowing how moody and apathetic and disillusioned I am, I'm afraid I'd probably react the same way as Hardaway.

It's still an awesome story, though.

I agree with you and (apparently) Timmy. Makes for a good story but in reality stunts like this don't really help much, if at all.

I'm sure Riley did some crazy **** before/during those big games that we lost too. Just doesn't make a good story if Riley does/says something motivational but then Houston's jumper trickles in anyway.

I love Riley for his brain but I put his motivational fluff in the same box as Phil Jackson's Zen stuff and River's Unbutu. Negligible effect that gets pumped up because it makes a good story.

There is no one I'd rather have had here all these years than Riley. But that would be the case if he did things like this or not.

[Scum Freezebag]

I agree with you and (apparently) Timmy. Makes for a good story but in reality stunts like this don't really help much, if at all.

And it's funny because, ironically and paradoxically, that was probably a big reason why Tim was such a good leader. He's the type of guy that would always remind you that it's players -- and not coaches -- who win games. And sometimes you need that. He was a little insubordinate, and not for the sake of making the trouble but for the sake of building team unity. I imagine a lot of his teammates appreciated this...and as much as I'm sure it made him want to pull his hair out, I'm sure Riley appreciated it too.

Sports sociology and locker room dynamics fascinate me.

I love Riley for his brain but I put his motivational fluff in the same box as Phil Jackson's Zen stuff

Here's what's weird: I could actually see myself responding well to Jackson's Zen gobbledygook. Jackson's schtick is built entirely upon narcissism. He's (supposedly) so smart, so if you buy into his system, you'll (supposedly) be so smart too. He gives each of his players a different book then tells them to read it and report to him how that relates to basketball...it's bullsh*t of course, but it would appeal to my pseudo-intelligence. Better that than someone screaming at me all the time.

and River's Unbutu.

Here's another weird thing: if I were a player, I'd be more inclined to listen to Rivers than many others, and it's because he's black.

At any rate, I have to admit that, yes, if there was a drill sergeant-ish coach that would be able to reach me, it'd have to be Riley. I'm immediately distrustful of authority, but his magnetism is just off the charts.