Sure, there was plenty of activity on the court throughout the MLK Classic this past Monday at the Haas Pavilion. But to the keen eye, as much if not more enterprise took place away from the bouncing basketball.
It was a veritable swap meet of yarns spun and tales told (some of those containing elements of truth), hand-over-heart solemnly sweared declarations, arms-wide welcomes and turn-your-back snubs, player movement hinted with wink-of-the-eye responses -- all code of the coaching set and the talent suppliers.
That's because Berkeley was ground zero Monday for college head coaches and assistants. Plus, those who aspire to such positions, club team coaches and other basketball-connected individuals. In fact, a special section was set aside for these powers that be to self congregate.
Among the college affiliated present were USF's Rex Walters, Santa Clara's Kerry Keating, Gary Stewart of UC Davis, Georgia Tech's Paul Hewitt, representatives from San Jose State University, Nevada, Washington, Portland, UC Santa Barbara plus a number of others.
Now if for some reason Homeland Security had installed listening devices and video cameras in this and certainly other areas of the building, just imagine the conversations and the visuals.
* try talk loaded with such deserving labels as blatant, coy, bombastic and fey.
* purposeful and innocent mouthings chock full of names of fellow coaches as well as possible/probable recruits and transfers
* verbal jabs, plenty of feints and dance moves both well-practiced and amateurish
* the entire encyclopedia of body language as demonstrated by a rotation of imaginary and authentic friends, perceived and real foes
* A who sat next to who and who didn't or wouldn't sit next to who worthy of debate and discussion
* A bevy of "call mes" and "I'll get back to yous" banking on reps established or continuing or even faltering
* The glaring division between supplicants and throne-sitters, unapparent to those who see themselves as one while actually being the other
Wouldn't it be great to know which adults switched or solidified their positions as a result of conversations on Monday? The same goes for players presently in whatever level of school who will be moving in this direction or that because of these interactions.
Remember, there is always the story behind the story and it's usually the one that is never told but sometimes hinted at.
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