Quote of the Day: Justin Bourne

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 2, 2009 10:41 AM MDT

Justin, actually, not Jason.

Justin Bourne played four years at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, and he's bounced around the AHL and ECHL over the last couple of seasons. The last little while, he's also been writing a blog over at THN.com. He's got a nice quote in today's edition, about the value of confidence:

Talent is what it is, you’re either good or you aren’t. When you get the puck, you make good plays or you don’t. Confidence plays a small part in these decisions, but it comes from successes and failures. False confidence, like your Mom’s "great game" after playing like a donkey for 60 minutes, means as much as "Mission Accomplished" from George W. Bush.

Confidence is a tricky thing; its presence is frequently cited as the reason players perform well, and its absence blamed for their failures. I think that Bourne has it right here: confidence comes from success, not the other way around. You can be more successful because you're confident, but the success has to be there first. The same holds true for the absence of confidence and failure.

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Oh shush. Playing confident and loose results in the greatest players ever. Do not argue with cliche.

by Coach pb9617 on Apr 2, 2009 11:17 PM MDT reply actions

The cliche is borne of a misunderstanding of the fundamental psychological phenomenon. Considering how many ex-players broadcast, most of whom have only the faintest understanding of their own internal processes, having grown up before the advent of modern pro sports' use of sport psychologists, colour me real surprised.

by Doogie2K on Apr 2, 2009 11:33 PM MDT reply actions

Doogie2K: I'm not arguing that confidence has an effect, but I am curious about what your take on things is. Do you agree with Bourne's statement?

by Jonathan Willis on Apr 3, 2009 12:11 AM MDT reply actions

If you could get a player to play with confidence, play loose, have nothing to lose, not grip the stick too tightly, just grip it and rip it, simply read and react, forget about the situation and take it all one game at a time, that player would be Waybe "Tiger" Jorduthmieuxntana without trying.

by Coach pb9617 on Apr 3, 2009 12:39 AM MDT reply actions

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