Can you tell me what has the draft for any pro sports league be such a big deal? Everybody will be analyzing and sharing opinions about what the order of selection should be. Who decided which of the pontificating media is an expert? Half of them never picked up a ball in their life. No one holds any of them to account after the draft is over.

The truth is nobody knows what will happen. There will be some œcant misses that flop and some suspects that turn out. This is true whether it is the NFL, NHL, NBA or MLB. There are no œcant miss players nor is there anyone drafted who cannot possibly play in the big leagues.

An example that comes to mind is a 54, 150 lb. (thats soaking wet) centerfielder back in the day named Albie Pearson. Albie could run, throw and hit for average and probably played 10 years in the major leagues. Of course, he had to start at the bottom which is where I had the good fortune to see him play. Playing for San Jose in the California League he out-performed the first $100,000 bonus baby Marty Keough who was signed by the Red Sox.

Then there is Mugsy Bogues, the Baltimore mighty mite who did the same in the NBA at 54 in height. Which might be a tougher thing to do than play baseball at the highest level. My wife had a hard time believing it when she was standing next to him in Nordstroms in downtown San Francisco. She was looking down at him.

There are many more examples, of course. There is also the guy with the perfect body (in baseball the 5 tool guy) who never shines in the Bigs. This is well chronicled in Michael Lewis best-seller, œMoney Ball. It is the saga of Billy Beane, Oakland As General Manager, and much more. A great read.

The important factors get left out or are not fully developed. Things like intelligence, heart, intentionality, commitment, etc. Hard to measure, yes. Impossible, no.
Work ethic and character are other big considerations.

If the athlete didnt have physical ability, no one would consider drafting him in the first place. You dont have to see him play a dozen times to figure that out. What has to happen is the evaluator needs to change the interpretation used to say this guy is a valid prospect. Or, not. Its who he is as a human being that has the most to say about any successes.

Every little action, body movement, facial expression and twitch will inform anyone who is paying attention regarding the œintangibles. People are always communicating something. The question is, always, œIs anybody listening?

If you watch peoples reactions they will tell you everything you need to know. The nature of a reaction is that it is always the same. The reaction can change but it is a function of catching oneself and choosing a different behavior. The reaction was there, as usual, it just wasnt acted on.

When someone reacts poorly and sustains it for a period of time they have a problem. They cant see what it is costing them so they persist.

œWhat cost?, you ask. Oh, things liked relationships, full self-expression (access to that talent you love), satisfaction, happiness, results, love, etc. If a person experiences life with those intact you are going to get their best. There is no guaranteed success but it gives you the best shot at it.

If you are drafting or recruiting or putting a team together you can improve their skills through repetition. If you identify for them the behavior that costs them you will get someone who consistently applies those skills. In some circles that person is known as a œwinner.

Checkout Coach Todds latest book œThe Art of Losing on Vervante.com or lulu.com. A list of his other books is available on the same sites.