No one was a better leader.....
I got there first but then eventually there were a horde of reporters who surrounded Derrick Gordon. It was in Walsh and the event was Seton Hall's Media Day.
I usually try and interview a player of (my) interest first as opposed to a star because it gives me the chance to form a relationship with the player. But not this time. I knew that Gordon, a gay basketball player, would be the first player the media wanted to talk to despite the team's star studded roster, and I was right. But getting there first ensured that I would be in position to hear everything he said.
As soon as the interview was about to begin Gordon, in a strong commanding but polite voice looked at us all and said something to the effect, gentleman, I will answer any question about being gay right now but I will not do that again during the season. Please respect that. I imm thought this young man is special, and I was right. Not many people, especially his age swarmed by media members he did not know and understanding the situation on such a delicate matter would be so comfortable but forthright under those circumstances.
During the season my initial impression proved true.
After every win and there were 25, Gordon deflected any praise. It got to the point most of the media knew not to ask questions about him, but to focus on his teammates.
Conversely when the team lost, regardless of how well or poorly he played he took ALL the blame. He never shied from any question but there was a fire in his voice, in his eyes that confirmed he and not any of his more talented teammates was the leader of the team.
Playing more sports than I can remember I had been in hundreds, maybe thousands of locker rooms and I have never seen a leader more respected, maybe even feared of disappointing a teammate than Gordon. His coach, whose biggest weakness was controlling the locker room didn't have that worry with Gordon. On the court, remember his involvement in the handshake line vs SJU? Or the many times there was a physical altercation during a game when Gordon was on the court? You did not mess with Derrick. He was a man's man and I cannot think of an SHU player I have ever respected more than he.
The following season I was talking to Tony Bozzella who I knew had a talented roster that same season but one that lacked discipline and I told him a shame you didn't have a female version of Gordon in your locker room. He said amen to that. Maybe the best I have ever seen.
I got there first but then eventually there were a horde of reporters who surrounded Derrick Gordon. It was in Walsh and the event was Seton Hall's Media Day.
I usually try and interview a player of (my) interest first as opposed to a star because it gives me the chance to form a relationship with the player. But not this time. I knew that Gordon, a gay basketball player, would be the first player the media wanted to talk to despite the team's star studded roster, and I was right. But getting there first ensured that I would be in position to hear everything he said.
As soon as the interview was about to begin Gordon, in a strong commanding but polite voice looked at us all and said something to the effect, gentleman, I will answer any question about being gay right now but I will not do that again during the season. Please respect that. I imm thought this young man is special, and I was right. Not many people, especially his age swarmed by media members he did not know and understanding the situation on such a delicate matter would be so comfortable but forthright under those circumstances.
During the season my initial impression proved true.
After every win and there were 25, Gordon deflected any praise. It got to the point most of the media knew not to ask questions about him, but to focus on his teammates.
Conversely when the team lost, regardless of how well or poorly he played he took ALL the blame. He never shied from any question but there was a fire in his voice, in his eyes that confirmed he and not any of his more talented teammates was the leader of the team.
Playing more sports than I can remember I had been in hundreds, maybe thousands of locker rooms and I have never seen a leader more respected, maybe even feared of disappointing a teammate than Gordon. His coach, whose biggest weakness was controlling the locker room didn't have that worry with Gordon. On the court, remember his involvement in the handshake line vs SJU? Or the many times there was a physical altercation during a game when Gordon was on the court? You did not mess with Derrick. He was a man's man and I cannot think of an SHU player I have ever respected more than he.
The following season I was talking to Tony Bozzella who I knew had a talented roster that same season but one that lacked discipline and I told him a shame you didn't have a female version of Gordon in your locker room. He said amen to that. Maybe the best I have ever seen.
