Star Player's Absence
By Kris Lazaro (8/15/2006)
Contrary to public perception, teams who play
games after their star player sits out a game (either due to injury, suspension,
or the like) usually fare best during the first game after the absence. Several
reasons exist as to why this situation exist.
Primarily, teams must compensate for the loss of their star player. Other
players need to step up to show their coach that they are indeed a team, not
just a one-man show. Role players play better to impress their coach, and the
bench does their best to support the players remaining. When such a situation
arises, teammates feed off the energy of playing with a man down, and sometimes
play over their heads.
Another reason why teams play better the first game after a star player sits out
is the emotional factor. If that star player is suspended, warranted or not,
his/her teammates feel the need to support their fallen comrade by winning their
next game. Even still, if that star player is injured most teams dedicate their
next game to their injured team member. Sports gamblers must take the
psychological and sociological aspects of teams when making bets. Teams who
undergo stress and lose a fellow teammate usually play very well in their first
game.
After the first game, though, teams usually suffer the effects of not having
their star player on the field/court. In the first game, teammates run off of
adrenaline; in their second game, these same teammates run out of adrenaline and
usually fall flat on their face (although the very best teams rally around this
situation and string off a couple of wins for their fallen comrade).
One example of compensation for a fallen comrade is seen in Major League
Baseball. When a starting pitcher is put on the disabled list, and a reliever or
rookie pitcher is sent in his place, the team usually rallies around the pitcher
and gives him great run support. The team wants to show respect for not only the
new pitcher, but also gives a subtle message to the coach that even though the
injured pitcher is not playing, they can still win a game without him.
In closing, teams rally around a fallen teammate. Do not be duped into thinking
that just because a star player is missing that such a team will automatically
lose all their games. Organized sports is based on teams, not on individual
players.
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