Zen Master Phil, meet Zen Master Bill

By Os Davis  |   Tuesday, October 31, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

New England Patriots
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Maybe Bill Belichick couldn't tell satori from sushi; on the other hand, perhaps he's packing a paperback of Baizhang's teachings somewhere in those baggy ensembles he sports. In either case, the "Zen Master" title has been firmly applied to basketball's Phil Jackson to the exclusion of all other sports world minds, a disservice to the New England Patriots' main man.

Need proof? From the teachings, then:

The disciple went to the great Master Belichick, visibly agitated at something.

"What is troubling you?" asked the Master.

"Great One, it is these Minnesota Vikings. They possess the No. 1 defense in the NFL against the run."

"So," responded the Master, "don't run."

And millions were Enlightened.

Seriously, folks, how was it that, in all the debate about how the Patriots might respond to the Purple Marauders' stifling run defense, every speculator on the planet simply missed the answer staring us right in the face: Don't run. Belichick is most known for his complex defensive schemes, but he also has a way of answering a question simply when need be.

A handful of accompanying lessons in Zen were learned on Monday night as well. Further chapters in Belichick's book run as follows.

Patience is everything. While Brad Johnson carries a reputation for his economical, mistake-free play selection, one key stat the "MNF" guys picked up on had, yes, zen-like simplicity. That line read: "TD passes, 4. Interceptions thrown, 4." Belichick let his 'D' adjust to Johnson's game for a long first-quarter drive, played a single down of roughly goal-line defense against one of the statistically worst red-zone offenses in the league, and calmly picked off an errant throw. The Vikes never got close again.

The ego must be eliminated. You won't hear Laurence Maroney or Corey Dillon calling for more play in the first half a la T.O.; nor is there anything out of Foxborough regarding lack of touches a la Edgerrin James. Maroney again put on a fantastic thrill show that must have made Vikings backers whimper, but only put together 34 yards on the ground. Meanwhile, check out Tom Brady's unbelievable distribution: Ten different receivers grabbed at least one of his 29 passes (Only 29? It looked like about 70), with Ben Watson and Reche Caldwell somehow still both getting hit seven times. Four different receivers scored. This team has gone from an approximately Branch-less zero options to a full-on catalogue of opportunity.

Life is suffering. Indeed, if you are a Patriots opponent with playoff aspirations. This, proclaimed the navy blue-and-silver is what it takes to make the next round.

With this seemingly transfinitely flexible team, here's a great zen parable that sums up how things work Belichick's way.

Two Zen pupils from two different temples meet each morning on the way to the marketplace.

"Where are you going?" the first asked.

"I am going wherever my feet go," answered the second.

The answer bothered the first and so he went to his teacher for help. "When you meet him tomorrow," the teacher advised, "ask him the same question. He will give you the same answer, and then ask him, 'Suppose you have no feet, then where are you going?'"

The pupils met the next day.

"Where are you going?" the first asked.

"I am going wherever the wind blows," answered the second.

The answer bothered the first and so he went to his teacher for help. "Ask him," the teacher advised, "where he is going if there is no wind."

The pupils met the next day.

"Where are you going?" the first asked.

"I am going to the market to buy vegetables," answered the second.

Go ahead, try and guess what the Patriots will do next week.

New England Patriots insight on RealFootball365.com: More enlightening than the sound of one hand clapping.
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About Os Davis

Os Davis has taken a twisted route to get to RealFootball365.com in his nearly 17 years in professional writing, working in any number of capacities in the sportswriting, news reporting and film criticism worlds. In print media, Os has served as editor at a few publications, including Albuquerque's ...
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