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Yours in Sport,
ISPA-Management
For the month of February The International Sports Professionals Association (ISPA) will be waiving its application fee ($25.00) for new credentialed professionals. Now is the time to apply and become part of this elite organization. Click the following link to download the ISPA application (Leave the payment field blank): Application
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It seems that us professionals, who serve athletes, come under much scrutiny when the teams (or individuals) we work with do not win. It is very popular these days to fire coaches when a team does not perform. Typically this process starts from the bottom up, a hitting coach may be the first to go and if the team keeps losing not even the head coach is safe. My hometown team the Chicago Bears is one such team where speculation is that coaches are going to start losing their jobs. This begs the question who is to blame? Is Lovie Smith, head coach of the Chicago Bears, to blame? Or are the players who have played less than inspired football to blame? Clearly a great coach can guide a team to victory and a bad coach can steer a team into troubled waters. Poor coaching decisions can hurt a teams chance to win (i.e. Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s decision to go for it on 4 and 2, this is purely an example of a poor decision not a bad coach). However, at the end of the day a coach is only as good as the talent that surrounds him/her and while a great coach can squeeze the most talent out of his/her players there is only so much that a coach can do with substandard talent.
Perhaps, we should not be so quick to blame the coaches and take a step back and evaluate the talent on the field and ask the following questions. 1) What is the talent of the players? 2) Are the players playing to their fullest capabilities? If the players are extremely talented and playing to their fullest capabilities and a team is still losing then it is time to stare at the coaches and say, “what the heck is going on here!”.
Even if the players are the problem the chances that they will get fired before the coaches are slim. More on this tomorrow!
Justin Mayer, Executive Director-ISPA
As a fan, I am guilty of openly criticizing players who do not meet my expectations. I have booed at games. When the performance is truly uninspiring I have been guilty of using unsavory language to describe players. As a fan, I am also guilty of putting sports stars on a pedestal. I view these great athletes not just as human beings but also as indestructible forces of nature. As a fan, I was reminded of just how fallible sports stars are, and no matter how great they are in the sports arena these athletes are just human beings. Athletes hear the boos we so easily dish out and are devastated when their performance is less than stellar. Most athletes are able to shrug these performances off and comeback recharged for the next contest. Some athletes are unable to accept defeat and internalize their failure allowing it to tear them apart inside. One such athlete, Robert Enke, was in the latter group.
Enke first sought professional help for depression after being blamed for his Soccer teams loss in a 2007 match. Enke was able to continue playing and became a great Soccer player, however, he was never able to get over his depression. Every defeat and every personal failure he internalized until he could handle no more and took his life on Tuesday, November 9th by jumping in front of a train.
Let’s step back and remind ourselves that while our passion for sports runs deep, at the end of the day sports are just games. As a fan I mourn the loss of a human being one whose life was cut tragically short.
Justin Mayer, Executive Director-ISPA
Back in July Lance Armstrong, then 37 years old, came in third at the Tour de France. The Tour de France is one on the toughest bike races in the world and boasts one of the most competitive fields in the sport of professional cycling. Armstrong was eleven years older than race winner Alberto Contador and thirteen years older than second place finisher Andy Schleck. Brett Favre, 40 year old quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings, finds himself ranked fourth (based purely on stats) among all NFL quarterbacks this season. Perhaps, even more important than numbers Favre has his team rolling along with a 7-1 record with their sights clearly set on the playoffs. The NFL is a tough league and even young players are chewed up and spit out by the dozen. Favre, who is 40 years old, excels even though he is many years older than the average NFL quarterback.
Science tells us that over time the body begins to slowly deteriorate. We lose muscle tone and our motor skills are not as sharp as they once were. How then can Armstrong and Favre compete at such a high level when they are many years older then their peers? Undoubtedly, both of these individuals are incredibly gifted athletes. One could make the argument that they are among the greatest to ever engage in their respective sports. Genetics play a large role, but I would like to think it is more than just winning the genetic lottery. I would like to think that it is heart that allows both of these athletes to continue to excel. Obviously, both athletes are still paid large sums of money; but they have already made their fortunes. I find it hard to believe that money is driving them to be so great at this stage of their lives. Ego? I am sure ego has something to do with their desire to compete, but is it enough to drive them to the pinnacle of their respective sports? No, I would like to believe that heart is what keeps them at the top. In an era when players only seem to rise to the occasion when their contracts are due it is refreshing to see two great athletes who have nothing to prove excel. What do I mean when I say “heart” keeps them at the top? Armstrong and Favre give their all to their sport. They play with a determination and passion rarely seen at any age. If only we could bottle their spirit and give it to all athletes. Armstrong and Favre show us that you are never too old to be great.
Justin Mayer, Executive Director-ISPA
The New York Times has been running a series of articles on marathon running in build up to the NYC Marathon this weekend. One article about slow marathon runners caught my eye. The article debated what place individuals who run slowly have in the marathon. The article cited studies showing how since the 1980s the average marathon time has drastically increased. To find out more about the article click here: Plodders Have a Place, but Is It in a Marathon? One of the reasons why this article interested me is I have been at both ends of the spectrum. I have run marathons both fast and slow. I have clocked in at Three hours and ten minutes and I have also clocked in at six plus hours (I forgot that you had to train for a marathon!). I can personally say that whether I run a marathon fast or slow it is still hard.
Covering 26.2 miles whether you are running or walking is still a great accomplishment! Everyone feels pain, no matter what the speed, at some point during the marathon. However, I still feel that there should be some time limits. Having no limits creates situations in which people feel they can stop for extended periods of time and in some cases stop for lunch or other such extended breaks. Clearly, stopping for lunch is not the spirit of the marathon. The marathon is not a stage race. There is nothing wrong with the occasional pit stop as long as they don’t turn into mini vacations. Always keep moving that is my motto!
Individuals who attack “slow” runners are doing more to damage the sport than to promote it. Marathons maintain sponsorships because of the mass appeal created by the diverse level of participants. Sponsorship is what allows these races to exist and thrive. Many races have now adapted corral systems that allow the faster runners to be upfront and not “hindered” by the slower runners who interfere with time goals. This eliminates the complaint that slower runners get in the way. Of course one reason why some so-called hardcore runners disapprove of slow runners is they feel that the image of the marathon is tarnished because Joe Public now runs marathons. The ego of these individuals has been deflated; no longer is the marathon T-shirt the ego trip it once was. Of course these individuals could run the Boston Marathon (a race with a qualifying standard) or even better yet they could run in the Olympic trials!
The culture of the marathon has changed. No longer is it composed of a small group of gifted athletes strutting their stuff. It is a mainstream event that has broad appeal. The marathon is an event that raises millions of dollars for charity and inspires people to get off the couch and go outside and run. In an era of increasing waistlines and an epidemic of obesity how can this be a bad thing. In the process a few egos may get damaged but as Bob Dylan stated “Your old road is Rapidly aging Please get out of the new one If you can’t lend your hand For the times they are a-changin” (The TImes They Are A-Changin’, 1964)
Justin Mayer, Executive Director-ISPA
In this day and age it is ridiculous that players still think it is okay to use homosexual slurs. Apparently, Kansas City Chiefs running back, Larry Johnson thinks using these type of derogatory terms is okay, as he has done it numerous times on his Twitter page and in public. Mr. Johnson further shows his immaturity by making several negative comments about his coach, Todd Haley, on Twitter. There is nothing wrong with disagreeing with you coach, but to do so on a public forum undermines the team. Intolerance and stupidity should not be tolerated in the NFL. Players who engage in activities unbecoming of an NFL player should face discipline.
When something like the above situation happens I always wonder where this type of behavior started. Several days ago, I blogged about Shiloh Keo the Idaho Vandals college football player who was involved in a misdemeanor battery. The team allowed him to play the very next game even though he was involved in this highly unbecoming behavior. This is yet another example of a player getting away with violent behavior and nothing being done to curb this behavior. My guess is players like Shiloh Keo and Larry Johnson were excused from many unbecoming activities throughout their lives. Why? Because come Saturday (or Sunday) they enhance their team’s chances to win and to some people victory is the most important thing. Never mind that the individuals whom are providing this victory grow to think they are invincible and conduct themselves as thugs. We all like winners, but at some point we must say enough and stop condoning (and in some cases glamorizing) these types of behaviors. Where do we start? We can start by guarding the ethical principles of sports. Organizations such as The International Sports Professionals Association (ISPA) are working to safeguard these principles. When you have a chance check out ISPA to see what they stand for and give them your support. Together we can keep the ethical standards of sports high.
Justin Mayer, Executive Director-ISPA
$4,400,000, 4,2,00,000, 4,000,000… No, these are not salaries of CEO’s. These are the salaries of the top paid college football coaches. Today, in Miami, the presidents of top level NCAA schools met to discuss reform in intercollegiate athletics. The presidents of these schools expressed that they feel powerless when it comes to controlling the athletic departments of their schools. The powerlessness is a result of the outside influence of sponsors and television networks. These outside influences provide the millions of dollars that sustain many of these programs. The figures above, indicting the top paid college football coaches, are telling as to the extent of money that is involved in college sports. Over 75 college football coaches make a million dollars or more. Many coaches, along with the large sums of money they receive, also get other perks such as access to private planes and lavish houses. There is no doubt that these coaches work hard and dedicate their life to their craft. Certainly, a great coach enhances a teams chance to win and a winning team has more potential to generate revenue for a school. The question becomes how much is a school willing to pay to win? Does the cost of winning come with the price of giving control over to corporations and not the administration of the school? At the end of the day the intended purpose of a college is to educate. College athletics are meant to enhance the college environment not dictate the environment. Stay tuned for more thoughts on this complicated matter.
Justin Mayer, Executive Director-ISPA
News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Dr. John Mayer, President
The International Association of Sports Professionals
JMayer2@aol.com
312-920-9522
www.TheSportsProfessionals.com
International Sports Association Locates in Chicago, IL USA
~Would Welcome Helping with the Chicago 2016 Bid~
……………………………………
Chicago, IL—April 24, 2009— Dr. John E. Mayer (Chicago, IL) president, announced the location of the International Association of Sports Professionals ~ ISPA in Chicago, IL. (USA) effective immediately.
The world of sports exudes controversy and the professionals who serve sports and athletes are often in an insightful position to comment on the social, physical and behavioral issues surrounding sports and athletes at all levels.
Dr. Mayer brings over 25 years of experience as a clinical and sports psychologist to the organization; Mayer specializes in teenagers and families, and is a noted author of several books, and a national lecturer and consultant. He has been featured in the media frequently and is an outspoken commentator. His most recent appearance will be on the Discovery Investigative Channel appearing in the series, Escaped! His first show in this series airs April 27, 2009 at 10:00 PM EST. Next, he will appear on that same series, May 18, 2009, at the same time and same channel.
Mayer remarks, “This is a turbulent time for sports. The problems within the world of sports should be addressed from within. More than ever, we professionals who serve athletes, coaches, the sports industry, families of athletes, schools and sports organizations should have the highest credentials and we need to speak out on the issues to ensure that sports participation is safe, drug free, and healthy physically, emotionally, and educationally.”
The ISPA is instituting an aggressive membership drive to review credentials of professionals who serve sports. It is particularly interested in expanding its credentialing of coaches, citing the critical need for coaches at all levels to be credentialed to train athletes.
The International Association of Sports Professionals (ISPA) is the largest credentialing service for professionals in sports. The ISPA sets standards for its membership by providing professional services to the sports world spanning children’s sports to professional athletes. The ISPA includes a wide variety of professional occupations from coaches, sport psychologists, physicians, accountants, agents, physical therapists, chiropractors, nutritionists, sport physiologists, trainers, and more. ISPA designates that member professionals adhere to a strict code of ethics and have met the highest standards in their fields to provide professional services to athletes and to sports. ISPA maintains a National Register of sports professionals; professionals listed in the register are the top professionals serving all domestic sports at all levels.
For more information, please contact Dr. John E. Mayer at 312-920-9522 or write to JMayer2@aol.com, or 55 East Washington Street, 38th Floor, Chicago, IL 60602. More information regarding ISPA can be found at www.TheSportsProfessionals.com.
