One potential outgrowth of the Master-Disciple relationship is the ascension of the Disciple to Master status. This can occur with the Master's consent as an outgrowth and consummation of the original rubric of the arrangement, or it can occur when a Disciple breaks away from his Master, perhaps before the Master believes the Disciple is ready, as a rebellious act. When the Disciple graduates with the certification of the Master, there is mutual respect, and while the Disciple may have mastered the craft to such a degree that even the Master can learn from the Disciple, it is always done with respect, and comity, even while the two compete, even when it appears as if the two are enemies, pacing opposite sidelines, wearing different colors, representing different interests. But when a Disciple is perceived to have betrayed the Master, or perhaps by way of open rebellion he has defected and switched allegiances, the natural comity that exists when a Disciple graduates to the level of "peerdom", even the hand of friendship {see the postgame handshake} extended by the Master is completely absent, and enmity, and disrespect take their place. In the eyes of the Master, because the original covenant that existed in the relationship was never consummated -- which was that the Disciple was to be processed through an educational regimen, an apprenticeship that would end at a time known and recognized only by the Master, because the Disciple became an authority prematurely, obviating the rubric set by the orginal arrangement -- the Master never recognizes or respects the Disciple's authority. The Disciple will forever be, in the eyes of the Master, a False Master, as well as a treasonous Disciple. He will forever endeavor to teach this disciple this harshest of lessons, the original understanding, the intitial lesson of hierarchy, authority, and the protocols and procedures that governed the relationship. In addition, the Master will forever endeavor to teach the Disciple lessons, not in a direct manner, eg via direct access to the Master's body of knowledge, by way of the teacher-student paradigm, but in a manner enclothed within direct competition. The lessons are not taught in a manner of practice, nor are they learned by appenticeship. Now let me present to you Bellichik and Mangini; Jets versus Patriots week 2, and the hidden message that was conveyed to Mangini by his former Master in the harshest of ways that the Master can teach the Disciple. Not only this, but also relevent, is the ultimate kindness that is revealed by Bellichik in this whole endeavor. The Patriots could have come out and defeated the Jets using primarily a 3-4 defense. But they didn't. They came out and played a 4-3, almost primarily a 4-3 base defense, but could have achieved the same result with a 3-4 defense, one that is a more comfortable fit for the Pats. Even though playing the 4-3 was a strategic consideration, being that Mangini was familiar with the Pats 3-4, and this was perhaps unexpected, for the reason that the same result could have been achieved using the standard 3-4, we can see the hidden message, the lesson Eric was supposed to take from the interaction, and that we all see clearly today: Eric: don't be uxoriously married to the 3-4. Bellichik knew that the Jets didn't have the personnel to run the 3-4 successfully, and that the Jets strength was in the 4-3. The 3-4 defense has used Mangini, rather than the other way around. Eric should have perceived this hidden message from his former Master during the game, and at least when reviewing film. Bellichik used his own system that he carefully taught his disciple as the ultimate weapon against his disciple. In a stroke of genius, Bellichik switched styles and morphed into a different posture. Bellichik isn't as objectively cold as we all think. All Master-Disciple relationships work in this manner. There was a message the Master was trying to teach the Disciple in there: Think outside the box. What worked for us won't necessarily work for you. Be flexible. Or it will be your undoing. Which it has.
You have learned well, grasshoppa. Come, try and snatch these marbles from my hand. Too late.....beeotch! Come on, who was switching off to watch Kung Fu on Cablevision channel 3 during yesterdays Jets game?
it means when a husband is the beeotch wearing gimp clothes and the wife is da Master displaying beeotch slapping tendency
nice post. are you a Creative Writing Major, or something? i ask because i am, and this is the type of thought/language/connection i'd expect from someone who studies CRW. cheers
You bring up an interesting thought, but I think the 4-3 was nothing more than the element of surprise for the sake of a surprise, which Belichick continually uses to his advantage. I don't think ego factors into his game planning. SI wrote this about the Pats' offense two years ago: "It is much more, of course, and as I've watched this team for a number of years, I've become increasingly fascinated with the workings of their attack, an aspect of their operation that's been overshadowed by the complexities of the defense. I've tried to guess along with it, with Weis, actually. Which is a kind of silly thing to do, since, as Miami middle linebacker Zach Thomas says, "Don't even try to type him. It's a waste of time. He'll never repeat tendencies." Any thoughts on how Belichick's ties to the Naval Academy in Annapolis may be an influence on his coaching/strategy.
I agree there was a definite strategic element. But there was also for sure an attempt to upstage his Disciple. It isn't enough that BB played a 4-3. Mangini would eventually figure out how to retool and adjust his offensive attack against it. IMO, there was a definite undercurrent of "class is in session".
Fantastic post, whether or not it is close to the mark. I appreciate all of the thought that went into it. I don't disagree with the lesson implied in your hypothesis.
I'm sure he had considered doig it in crayon, jonny, but you can't please all the people all the time.
I'm with Johnny. Master.......Disciple. Aren't most coaches hired as coordinators from another team? Yet you don't hear all this master and disciple crap in other coaching situations. Holmgren came from Walshs Niners. How come we didn't see this stuff with him?. Did he have to walk on hot coals in a temple with hundreds of candles high in the himilayas until he graduated the school of 1000 footballs? He's a freaken football coach. Like Mangini. Walsh won 4 Super Bowls. So did Noll. Parcells won 2. So did Flores, Shanahan.....Belichick won 3. Impressive, but lets take it easy here. If they had Super Bowls back in the 50's and 60's Paul Brown and Lombardi would have won 6 or 7. God, this Belichick stuff. It's only because he's the last guy to it. As they say, he's not the greatest, just the latest.
Like I said originally, interesting point you brought up. Thought provoking. For the sake of the Jets, let's hope that the master-disciple dynamic at play with Mangini and Belichick mirrors the outcome of the Belichick-Parcells interplay. Parcells hasn't done much without Belichick (the early years with the Pats, Cowboys); there's always hope Belichick's run is now over!
and football isn't a craft and a trade? It doesn't have authorities and neophytes learning from the authorities? All of the coaching lineages that you pointed out just go to prove my point. But many of these guys were guys that were certified and approved by the guys they learned under. Mangini defected to the enemy. He did it amidst a playoff run. He was the youngest and least accomplished to do it. He was barred entrance to the Patriot Compound. His stuff, playbooks and the like -- is being held captive -- still, in New England. Then there's the strange utilization of the 4-3 by Bellichik, and then there's the handshake. One would seriously have to be blind not to see it.
Mangini went to the one team Belichick has a major problem with, going back to his one hour tenure as coach. Belichick probably told him he doesn't approve. Mangini went anyway. Belichick was pissed at him for it and probably told him off. Mangini told him to fuck off then tampered with Branch. That's why they didn't shake hands. It doesn't have to do with Mangini leaving Belichick too soon. It has to do with the Jets in particular. Belichick has a little history here, or have you forgotten that part, Master Sensei?
