Old black magic?

When a proven winner like Norman Black talks, one can’t help but listen. Having played at the highest level of basketball at the NBA before making the Philippines his home, Black’s record of winning is easily one of the most admirable as it goes from being a multi-awarded import and player to winning championships as a coach both in the pros and the collegiate ranks. So how does he do it? How does he win?

Thanks to the LH Foundation Inc, we had the chance to listen to Coach Norman and exchange notes with the man they once dubbed as the old “Black Magic,“ at the LH Leadership Conference 2011: “Aim High” which was held at the Oakridge Business Park.

Black’s topic was “Excellence Through Teamwork” (no surprise here).

While it will be impossible to summarize everything he said, I’d like to single out the success elements that he shared.

In building a winning team, Black said that it all starts with recruitment. There’s a need to get the best possible talents who can fit into the system used by Black. Thus, the first item that Black looks for is athletic ability. He looks for players who can naturally jump high, run fast and move fast and well. He said that while he can improve the running, jumping and moving skills of players, there’s that natural talent one can find in the best athletes which already given. He also looks at the skill level of blue chip prospects. It would be useless to bring in someone with inferior skills. They also look for people who are willing to study while in school. Then they look at one’s attitude. Some might find this strange since many look at attitude first before skills. But then again, if one has the right attitude but isn’t skilled enough for the task on hand, then it wouldn’t make sense. It isn’t thus surprising to see that Black has won three straight titles in the latter part of his stint as coach. Many of the players on these champion teams were those whom he handpicked and recruited.

One of the most interesting elements that he discussed was the need “to sell the program” to the players; there’s a need for everyone on the team to buy into the system. If one can’t understand and learn to love to the system, then they won’t last in Ateneo. Black then confessed that Ateneo’s system is more complicated than people think.

It includes a variation of 46 plays (I’m sure this is an

understatement to throw off scouts) that everyone has to study, understand and learn to execute. At this point, I couldn’t help but think about the case of Mark “Macmac” Tallo who lasted barely two months with Black’s program. Did he fall in this category? While skills won’t be an issue with Tallo, their disagreement had to be in this department of buying into the program. I’d rather not delve into it any further since I don’t have first hand info on the matter, but I have to admit it doesn’t look good when someone doesn’t last long in a respected program like Ateneo.

Goal setting was a key element that Black pushed, and he expanded this by setting goals for both the team and each player on the team. They set short and long term goals that were also realistic and never too low. Another thing that Black emphasized was the need to be organized. Being organized meant doing one’s homework and going into every practice and game well prepared with a game plan. Yes, even practice sessions must have a game plan. If this were a formal class in college, then Black would have a lesson plan and course outline for all his practice sessions, all aligned with the goals that the team set. In relation to this, there was a need to be always positive. Black talked about the “circle” that they treasured and maintained to keep a positive atmosphere. This circle of people would be the only source of critics and comments that they would listen to and respect, while all the comments from anyone outside the circle didn’t matter, no matter who they were. This way, all unwanted messages or thoughts are ignored while the ones that mattered were only those from within in circle. In Tallo’s case, was there someone outside the circle whose voice was too loud and impossible to ignore for the young prospect? Amidst adversity, there was a case of dealing with stress versus pressure. Pressure brings out the extraordinary results when one is prepared for it; and not stressed out. In the end, one learns from adversity and survives to become successful. It’s tough to argue against a Norman Black who has been a success in whatever he has gotten into. I’m sure he molded himself to become a better man throughout all these years, thanks to all the lessons learned from being a champion. I’m also sure all these came out of hard work, perseverance and the drive to succeed. And it wasn’t a case of black magic

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Time-out: You can watch the Sacred Heart School-Ateneo de Cebu go for the championship of the national finals of the NBTC Seaoil Elite League, 6pm today on BTV. >>> You can reach me at [email protected].