Q: Ryan Howard looks like he needs to lose a few pounds after being hobbled by an injury this offseason. You've lost a bunch of weight. Any tips?
- A Phils fan in Florida
A: He's an outstanding and dedicated professional athlete. Don't worry about Ryan. He'll work his way back into shape. My only tip would be to listen to his medical people and trainers for the best advice - and not callers to sports radio stations.
Q: I have to manage a bunch of people at work, which I imagine isn't all that different from coaching on some level. You've played on a lot of teams and observed a lot of coaches. Everybody has his own style, but what are the traits that the best coaches share?
- A boss in Drexel Hill
A: Dude, in my opinion the best coach is the one who can handle a team made up of individuals with all kinds of personalities. I measure success by how a team plays and responds to the coach and weathers challenges. Not every team can win a championship, but the best coached teams compete at a much higher level game after game. The "my way or the highway" coaches might have superior intellects and unsurpassed knowledge of the games they coach, but they are not great communicators and motivators. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the coach who wants to be one of the gang isn't good for the team, either. In my book, I think it really takes a special person who has the knowledge, communication skills, maturity and skill to lead a team, and at the same time be a motivator, teacher and guidance counselor. It's a hard job. That's why there are only a handful of real good coaches.