From deep in the bowels of the USA Buzzerbeast disquiet rumbles. Late at night cryptic and mildy catchy text messages get passed between players and staff that show a discord underneath the glossy PR machine of the NT...."Weak Weeks", "Nix Nix", "Quitter Ritter", "Coco Loco". The pressure of facing a must-win game next Monday against Italy manifests itself in may ways. For example, PG Jamie Nix refusing to pass the jelly at breakfast on the grounds that no one's worthy enough to receive his passes, resulting in Paul Owens quietly crying while eating his dry toast. I asked coach Coco for his take on the enormous pressure of the upcoming game. He gave me another haiku:
Which tactic to do?
The data points to motion
Screw that...look inside!
A window into the tactical mind of the coach or clever misdirection? I looked for more clarity from Italian coach Jericho, and this was the wisdom imparted:
1. Italy is currently 1-1 here at the Worlds. What do you think your real chances are to win the season 20 gold at Worlds? Be honest. I Don't think have many chanche to win the gold medal. My goal is the semifinal and then.. We try to win!
2. Do you ever get bored running Look Inside every single game? What are the odds you'll pull out some Princeton this week?I don't like very much Pinceton, odds? 5%
3. Coco has said some interesting things about you. Really interesting things. What do you think of his coaching abilities? You can be candid, I won't print your response.I think the coaching abilites are very important. At this level the difference are very close. Pick a player with a good level of free thowns or use a right tattics can make the difference
4. How much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?A lot!
5. Gabriele Turbato is the most expensive player in the world, and been transferred 5 times since the beginning of season 19. Any hopes to get him on a nice stable Italian team that can tend to his game shape?No chanche.. Turbato, like all player with salary > 400k , are a bug of BB. It is impossible to maintain his salary and at the same time be competitive in their league
6. If you had the ability to remove one US player from Monday's game, who would it be, and why?Lorenzo Bland because have origin italians
7. Does your team have a player who is a favorite with the Italian community?No one, my player are a role player no stars
8. How many Italians does it take to change a lightbulb?200!