Someone once shared with me their observation that runners don’t look happy. When you see a jogger out for a long training run along the side of a road, they tend to have a pained, tortured look- appearing miserable, like they may be wishing they were doing anything but running. As a runner myself, that observation struck me first as an insult. But upon reflection, I can buy it. The key to the observation, though, is that it’s an “appearance” of pain, when in truth there is great joy to the runner lost in the euphoria of exercise (that’s usually the case for me, anyway). I love to run- no matter how I may look.I bring that up in light of the observation that Maryland basketball coach Gary Williams looks like an angry, miserable maniac during games- flailing and shouting, screaming instructions, clenching and pumping his fists, sweating profusely. He’s angst-ridden and on the brink of a breakdown, it’s often stated. Just like with the runner, with Gary looks are deceiving.I visited with Gary Williams after a recent Terps game in College Park (a victory over North Carolina State). He was an absolute dervish during the game, in his classic frenetic form on the sidelines. But you have to know: Gary loves what he does, and what you see as angst is his love of basketball and his care that his players play the game correctly. He said that to me with a stern, serious look. When most people speak of love or joy, they crack a smile or get that far-away look in their eyes. Not Gary. His demeanor in post-game discussion further exhibited his intensity, his intense love and care for his job and his players.Does he ever smile? He certainly does (I’ve seen it with my own eyes). Williams laughs with his players at practice (once the work is done, of course). He chides them with playful jibes in the locker room after a victory. He smiled when I greeted him following the game (we hadn’t spoken face-to-face in awhile). And Gary smiled when he saw one of his in-coming recruits after the game. Gary loves young people and you could see the genuine care he had for the high school senior that will be one of his students on the court later this year. Yes, Gary loves what he does…it just doesn’t always show on the sidelines.

Posted on Thursday, February 14th, 2008 at 10:56 pm.
Categories: Opinion.
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