On December 16 2010 22:03 shannn wrote:
This. No matter how many games you watch. Unless you are a pro gamer or a pro in any sport or an ex-pro you cannot discuss specific details about a strategy or anything relevant without being a pro yourself in one time.
Because of details which can not be seen from a spectator view but by a players point of view.
In other words, why don't you see an unknown gamer casting/commentating at a professional tournament?
This. No matter how many games you watch. Unless you are a pro gamer or a pro in any sport or an ex-pro you cannot discuss specific details about a strategy or anything relevant without being a pro yourself in one time.
Because of details which can not be seen from a spectator view but by a players point of view.
In other words, why don't you see an unknown gamer casting/commentating at a professional tournament?
By and large, every level of pro-sports coaching is close to 70% filled with former players that at least played at a reasonably high level ( though often times a good portion of that 70% were players that had shortened careers or weren't very good ). That said, At a certain level, there are definitely people who can perform and understand the game far beyond their own skill level. Though rare, they can coach pretty well despite their own inability to execute at a level equal to their understanding. There are also a lot of very high level people who have no idea what they're doing. The things they do and why they do them are just instinctual and they are, more often than not, wrong when they discuss things outside of their specific wheelhouse. I'd rather not give examples of each type of person in our community because I think that's just inviting a flame war.
In short, there are, undeniably, individuals that can discuss and teach things at a level higher than their own execution. However, the real problem is that the there are a number of individuals who believe they are one of those types of people when they are not. I think as long as you approach your specific situation, until otherwise proven, with a "Here's what works at my level" and are open to criticism from people who probably know more than you then I don't see a real issue.
As proof of my above point:
+ Show Spoiler +
Bill Belichick is pretty universally considered one of the best coaches in the NFL right now in terms of what he has managed to accomplish with the talent he's been given. The highest level of football he ever played was Division III in College. John Gruden won a super bowl with Tampa Bay and never played football above Division II. Mike Shanahan won two super bowls with Denver and didn't really even play much College ball at all ( due to an extremely serious injury that nearly killed him ). Jeff Van Gundy and Stan Van Gundy both got to the NBA Finals as coaches, but neither competed at any reasonable level of basketball, though both played. There are some examples in the NHL, too, but I'm kinda tired of looking this up.