If you haven't seen it yet, on Thursday night following a 73-65 victory, Vanderbilt guard Wade Baldwin began to clap in the face of a Tennessee player. Coach Kevin Stallings was informed of this by a low-level assistant on Tennessee's staff on Baldwin's actions which lead to Stallings addressing the situation.
Stallings is caught on camera using multiple expletives directed at Baldwin including the phrase "I'll (expletive) kill you". Stallings acknowledged the incident immediately following the game and went into further detail in a media session on Friday. Stallings said, "What didn't I do wrong? I probably did about everything wrong that you can do. "I used the wrong language, used the wrong words, (at the) wrong time. I haven't found anything right about it yet" (The Tennessean, 2015, para 2).
I believe this is another incident that is becoming bigger because it is caught on camera. Anyone who has ever sat near or around a sideline in any sport hears their share of colorful language and expressions being used. I find it hard to believe that anyone actually thought the coach was going to murder his point guard for the way he acted following the game. I, like many others in this class, have probably had their fair share of intense coaches and have heard similar if not worse. That is why I, like Baldwin don't have no problem with it.
My questions are: How offended were you by Coach Stallings actions? Have you heard worse from a head or assistant coach? Do you agree with Coach Stallings not being suspended? Do you have a problem with coaches using profanity?
References:
Sparks, Adam. (2015, February 27). Vandy's Kevin Stallings: 'I am disappointed in me'. The Tennessean. Retrieved from http://www.tennessean.com/story/sports/2015/02/27/vandy-kevin-stallings-reacts-ut-game/24132791/
I do not think that Coach Stallings' actions are offensive. He was caught up in the heat of the game, and then found out that his player was acting with poor sportsmanship. His outcry of emotion was wrongly expressed, but the intent behind his emotions were justified. As a coach, he expects his players to act with respect and dignity at all times. When Baldwin taunted his opponent by clapping in his face, he is demonstrating a poor representation of the Vanderbilt basketball team. I do not think Stallings deserves to be suspended. In this situation, he deserves a firm warning that this type of behavior is not acceptable. I am positive that coaches use profanity with their teams in private on a regular basis. They get caught up in the heat of the moment and cannot control their emotions. While swearing is not the best method for emphasis, it is hard to control how coaches carry themselves when others are not around to witness their behavior. Overall, while Stallings may have acted out of line, his behavior in private, as well as the behavior of all coaches in private, cannot be controlled and regulated.
ReplyDeleteKali Morgenstern
While playing basketball in Austria, I had a lot of coaches who would yell at their players during (or after) games and practices. Some might argue that they, as Kali put it, would do it “in the heat of the moment”, others say that they yell at their players to motivate them. I personally never had a problem with coaches yelling at me, however, I also do not think that it motivated me or helped me improve my performance. I also know that some players, especially the younger ones, suffered by some coaches’ ferocity and they lost their confidence.
ReplyDeleteWith regard to Coach Stallings situation, I think I would have confronted the player in the locker room or even the next day in practice. However, it might not always be able for coaches to remain their composure and in certain situations emotions may simply prevail over rationality.
Andreas Khuny
DeleteWhen I saw these highlights on a couple of websites the day after it happened, I kind of laughed to myself because I feel as though I have been in a similar situation. I was not being chastised for disrespectful behavior, but I have definitely been yelled at by a coach because I did not run a play how she wanted. I agree with Eric in saying that I was not very offended by this statement because no one could honestly believe that Stallings was serious about actually killing his player. I almost applaud his anger and frustration because to me, that means he cares about his players and the image and attitude they portray to their opponents. He did not handle his own conduct very well but he was ensuring that his players do not act in a way that is disrespectful towards others. Personally, as a former Division 1 athlete I have heard things pretty equivalent to what Coach Stallings said to Baldwin and I think this kind of tough love is much needed in athletics because in many cases student-athletes may not have a parental figure close enough to really keep the kids in line and make sure they are acting with dignity and respect. From these experiences I do not have a problem with profanity at all from coaches and I almost appreciate the intensity and passion.
ReplyDeleteMarissa Tashenberg
After watching the clip, I do not think Stallings’ words offend the player. On the contrary, I think it is proper for coaches to yell at players if players really do something wrong, but they should use proper behaviors and words. However, when games become intense, it is hard for the coach to control their emotions when players make mistakes. In China, it is common for the coach to yell at players when players do not perform well with dirty words. I used to be a teacher to teach little Olympic gymnasts to learn simple English in China. Every time I went to the gym, there were always one or two little gymnasts who performed worse in the team, so they stood at the corner, and their coach rebuked them strictly. But after rebuking, the gymnasts continued training. I agree with Kali’s comment on this blog, behind the yelling, coaches’ purpose is hoping the team to be better. In addition, I think Stallings’ behavior did show his responsibility to players. Caring players does not mean only giving praise or encouraging them without any critical words when players make mistakes. So I do not think Stallings deserves a suspension. From my personal experience, I do not have a problem with coaches using profanity.
ReplyDelete--Veeco Zheng
After watching this replay, I couldn't believe what Stallings said to the player. Was the player in the wrong? Absolutely. But, there is no reason the coach should have said what he said. I have been around coaches at all levels whether it be high school or Division 1, and i have never heard a coach tell a player he was going to kill him.
ReplyDeleteObviously, Stallings did not mean the comment in a literal way, but there is still no reason for it. At a very conservative institution like Vanderbilt, I am surprised he was not suspended.
Derek Shay
Derek,
DeleteI tend to agree with your take on this incident. I have not been around coaches who use profuse profanity. And I agree that doing this at a conservative institution like Vanderbilt needs to be taken into consideration. I too was surprised he was not suspended.
Dr. Spencer
I wasnt very offended by his actions. I did think it was over the top but his intentions were in the right place. That doesn't make him right but its controversial to say he was completely wrong. I have never heard worse from a coach , I think what really took his actions over the top was when he said he would kill him. That was completely ridiculous. I don't agree with emotionally charged reactions or emotionally charged punishment. I also don't agree with his leadership and discipline style but he has the respect of his team and it works for him so I'm not knocking it. I dont have an issue with him not being suspended, I think part of their reasoning for not suspended him was because he his intentions were to fix the altercation with his player and the opposing teams player. Ive had coaches that use profanity, that's everywhere and it likely won't change. I have no issue with that either.
ReplyDeleteJonathan Robinson
Although I wasn’t offended by his actions, a Division 1 basketball coach needs to carry himself to a higher regard. Stallings cannot allow himself get caught up in the moment and lose his temper. What would Stallings have done if his player told another player that “He is going to F***** kill him”? What is Stallings’ player told him that same thing? When a coach lowers himself to this level he opens himself up. He shows his players that it is alright to use this language towards other and it is alright to lose their temper. If Stallings would have grabbed his player, walked him into the locker room and discussed the matter with him there, then there would be no issue. We ask players to be held to a high regard, but coaches need to be held to an even higher regard.
ReplyDeleteBen,
DeleteI think you hit on the key thing that struck me about this encounter - i.e., how is it that it was all right for the coach to confront his player (who showed poor sportsmanship) in a disrespectful way? It seems like a double-standard to me. And it also seems to me that as teachers and coaches, we ought to be held to a higher standard. So I definitely agree with what you have written in this comment.
Dr. Spencer
The coach is defiantly in the wrong in this situation. To say “I am going to kill you” is a little dramatic for this situation. I am the type of person that would hold my emotions until the locker room and then pull the athlete to the side and rip into them. To do that in front of that many people is disrespectful to the athlete and is just plain dumb on his part from a political standpoint. I do not have a problem with coaches using profanity, but there is a time and a place for it. Furthermore, if a coach uses profanity it doesn’t ever surprise me. There are some sports in which the intensity is very high and emotions rise, it doesn’t bother me to hear explicit comments in those situations. How you choose to use them and the direction of the comments is what matters. I do not think that Coach Stallings should be suspended. There should be an apology of some sort, but I believe that a suspension is a bit over the top.
ReplyDeleteMatthias E. Reiber ATC