Post by robbyt on Sept 4, 2009 20:21:25 GMT -5
People are probably familiar with the Myers Briggs personality thing. There is a guy Jon Niednagel who gets paid a load by Danny Ainge and the Celtics (previously the Suns and St. Louis Cardinals) to "type" prospects, he also has an outstanding book called "Brain Typing: Your Key to Sports Success". Basically each type has particular areas of the brain and body where they function best naturally, for Niednagel its much more than "personality." He also believes that certain types tend to be conducive to sports, although each has its strengths. Note you can have the best sports type and not be the best player (Brian Scalabrine), or have one of the least common type for sports but be an NBA player (PJ Brown), because so many other factors are involved, all the things that make you who you are. These are just types that tend to operate with certain general strengths, all other things being equal (which of course they are not). Also there a million other parts of the brain besides the four ones used in the types, so Brain Types is kind of a misnomer, but it can be useful as a rough guide.
Anyway, some people will undoubtedly say this is hocus pocus, but it is not, read the book it is fascinating and extremely useful no matter what type you are. Here is my assessment of some Hoya types with some of Niednagel's information and similar players. There are 16 types overall.
Freeman: ISTP "Athlete" - considered the #1 type for sports in general by Niednagel. Oddly, not always best or even good at first but over time emerge with lots of practice and experience like a mechanic gets better and better at fixing things (see the story of MJ getting cut in high school or Arenas getting no playing time). #1 Strengths are in the eyes/vision and fine motor abilities especially hand placement/positioning and dexterity. Have to make sure not to overuse their natural thinking ability (T is for the thinking function) so as to stay smooth and adaptable on the court. Have natural killer instict, aggression and intensity, perform best when they can keep it under control. Examples: Michael Jordan, TMac, Arenas (another example of not the best at first), Shaq, 'Zo, Iverson, Reggie Miller, Pat Ewing Sr., Bobby Knight list goes on. Also Mike Tyson, Norman Schwarzkopf.
Wright: ESTP "Opportunist" - #1 Vision/Fine motor similar to ISTP (positioning/dexterity) but more outward-directed energy. Examples: Amare Stoudamire, Steve Nash, Greg Anthony, Karl Malone, also Brett Favre, Deion Sanders, and action movie guys like Vin Diesel/Schwarzenegger/Stallone/Eastwood, and Madonna, President LBJ. Known to push the action, make things happen. Free spirits, sometimes need to listen to constructive criticism, but overall do best just going out and playing their high energy, up tempo game, avoid analyzing and introspecting too much. Steve Nash is a good example of high energy and tempo and within control.
Monroe: INFP "Idealist"- Language i.e. oral/aural/verbal (especially intonation) is #1 innate strength, but close #2 is combined coordination of gross and fine motor movements i.e. great balance, poise, fluidity. "Silky smooth." Examples: Dr. J, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Grant Hill, Tiger Woods (and Chris Martin from Coldplay and Michael Jackson - see moonwalk for silky smooth)
Clark: ISTJ "Investigator". Eye/Fine motor skills emphasis on dexterity in wrist, hands, fingers. Tenacious, competitors. Calculated and defensive minded, many top-notch defenders. Team players. Can develop dead eye shots, such as Steve Kerr. Like to square up and knock it down rather than take acrobatic off balance shots. Tough under pressure, though surprisingly sometimes lack confidence in new/challenging situations even when they have expert abilities. Also should be encouraged to exercise their leadership skills even though they are often reluctant (which is ironic since many among Hall of Fame coaches) Examples: Stacey Augmon, Steve Kerr, and Michael Cooper (showtime Lakers, 8 time NBA all-defensive team) Considered one of best types for coaches, including Kryziewksi, Roy Williams, John Wooden.
Sims: ENTP (same as me) Strategizer. #1 strength is logical reasoning and abstraction, emphasizing planning and exploring options. In sports utilize eye and fine motor skills highly, can have quick feet and high body flexibility. Think its better to play smarter rather than harder, get the big picture and like to innovate and improve themselves and the team. Have to work hardest at gross motor (need running and lifting for legs, torso and upper arms). Examples: Vince Carter, Shane Battier, Michael Finley, Bill Russell, Pete Carril (inventor of the Princeton offense and JTIII's mentor) long list of well-known people from all walks, very versatile type: comedians (Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Letterman and Leno) singers (Hendrix, Jagger) actors (Pitt, Connery, Whoopi Goldberg), Lance Armstrong, Ben Franklin, Obama (first ENTP president in many decades; Clinton and GW Bush were ENTJ, Bush Sr. ENFJ, Carter INTJ).
Hollis Thompson: ENFJ "Educator". Like the INFP, #1 is language i.e. oral/aural/verbal (all NFs this way) especially word choice and spoken communication. Combined fine and gross motor coordination #2. Known as spark plugs, bringing infectious determination and hustle. Want to out-hustle you, put finesse aside. Defensive minded, but potentially excellent shooters. Examples: Pat Riley, Randy Ayers, Stu Jackson (coaches) Marques Johnson, Buck Williams, Rony Seikaly (old school Big East), Rasho Nesterovic. Also Tom Cruise, the elder George H. Bush, and Paul Abdul, lots of announcers and newscasters like Pat Summerall and Tom Brokaw.
Julian Vaghan: ISFJ #1 Gross motor (legs and upper arms, torso), more controlled vs. acrobatic. Defensive minded, unselfish, dependable, hard-working. Good at assisting. Legs among best strength. Sometimes need to be more aggressive, not worry about making mistakes, realize they are part of the game. Tend to contribute first as defensive mainstays, other aspects follow. Example: PJ Brown, Dale Davis, JR Henderson. #1 Type for bowling and horseshoes! (seriously, due to gross motor control)
Don't know about Sanford or Nikita yet.
JT Jr. "Pops" - ESTJ "Supervisor". Vision/Fine motor #1, esp. wrist/hand/finger dexterity like ISTJ. Frequent coaching type. Excels at organizing and running procedures. Matter-of-fact, consistent, values tradition, rules and laws. Examples: Jim Boeheim, Rudy Tomjanovich, also Kurt Thomas, Walter McCarty, Eric Montross, Pres. Harry Truman.
JTIII ESFJ "Facilitator". Gross motor #1, controlled. Known for nurturing and realistic nature, conscientious and focused on usefulness. Examples: Rasheed Wallace, David Wingate, Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough. And Princess Di.
Summers was ISFP, one of the best shooting and overall sports types. Graceful, humble. Paul Pierce, Kobe, Tim Duncan, Scotty Pippen, Clyde Drexler, many others. Janet Jackson, PDiddy, Gross motor #1, fluid.
Ewing Jr. was ENFP like Kevin Garnett, Jerome Williams, Chris Webber, Marcus Camby, Antawn Jamison, Stackhouse. Language i.e. Oral/aural/verbal #1 but graceful fine-gross motor coordination, make great divers and gymnasts, figure skaters (and dunkers). Notice several are announcers (Webber, Stackhouse) or are known for talking (Garnett) or public speaking (Jerome). That's the language skill.
Hibbert - ESFJ, same as JTIII.
Jeff Green - under revision.
Wallace - Definitely _NT_, probably _NTJ, likely INTJ a very scholarly type, #1 skill logical abstraction, often scientists, lawyers, academics. Example: Phil Jackson, Thomas Edison. Probably learning a ton being overseas, more than he would in the NBA.
Also, Hoyas claim one of the very very few INTP "logicicans" to play in any high profile sports: Dikembe Mutombo. This type usually ends up in intellectual fields like academia, science, law, etc. Oddly, one of the handful of others is Art Monk, who also played in the area. Examples: Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Da Vinci.
btw, for more background you might want to check out Niednagel's site
www.braintypes.com/
one other thing, a word of warning: all over the internet there are sites that try to type famous people without understanding anything about the innate brain functions, many of these are way, way off--you should not get an image of examples of the types from these because they will give a totally wrong impression.
Socionics.com is a great example of blatantly wrong types on a respectable-looking site. They have
-Winston Churchill, Colin Powell, GW Bush, and Mike Tyson all as ESTPs when actually none are, they are really ENTP, ENTJ, ENTJ, and ISTP respectively. Almost every oen of the 36 ESTPs on that page is wrong, in fact, except Steven Seagal and Britney Spears. Many other pages have similar mistaken examples throughout.
Anyway, some people will undoubtedly say this is hocus pocus, but it is not, read the book it is fascinating and extremely useful no matter what type you are. Here is my assessment of some Hoya types with some of Niednagel's information and similar players. There are 16 types overall.
Freeman: ISTP "Athlete" - considered the #1 type for sports in general by Niednagel. Oddly, not always best or even good at first but over time emerge with lots of practice and experience like a mechanic gets better and better at fixing things (see the story of MJ getting cut in high school or Arenas getting no playing time). #1 Strengths are in the eyes/vision and fine motor abilities especially hand placement/positioning and dexterity. Have to make sure not to overuse their natural thinking ability (T is for the thinking function) so as to stay smooth and adaptable on the court. Have natural killer instict, aggression and intensity, perform best when they can keep it under control. Examples: Michael Jordan, TMac, Arenas (another example of not the best at first), Shaq, 'Zo, Iverson, Reggie Miller, Pat Ewing Sr., Bobby Knight list goes on. Also Mike Tyson, Norman Schwarzkopf.
Wright: ESTP "Opportunist" - #1 Vision/Fine motor similar to ISTP (positioning/dexterity) but more outward-directed energy. Examples: Amare Stoudamire, Steve Nash, Greg Anthony, Karl Malone, also Brett Favre, Deion Sanders, and action movie guys like Vin Diesel/Schwarzenegger/Stallone/Eastwood, and Madonna, President LBJ. Known to push the action, make things happen. Free spirits, sometimes need to listen to constructive criticism, but overall do best just going out and playing their high energy, up tempo game, avoid analyzing and introspecting too much. Steve Nash is a good example of high energy and tempo and within control.
Monroe: INFP "Idealist"- Language i.e. oral/aural/verbal (especially intonation) is #1 innate strength, but close #2 is combined coordination of gross and fine motor movements i.e. great balance, poise, fluidity. "Silky smooth." Examples: Dr. J, Stephen Curry, Dirk Nowitzki, Kareem Abdul Jabaar, Grant Hill, Tiger Woods (and Chris Martin from Coldplay and Michael Jackson - see moonwalk for silky smooth)
Clark: ISTJ "Investigator". Eye/Fine motor skills emphasis on dexterity in wrist, hands, fingers. Tenacious, competitors. Calculated and defensive minded, many top-notch defenders. Team players. Can develop dead eye shots, such as Steve Kerr. Like to square up and knock it down rather than take acrobatic off balance shots. Tough under pressure, though surprisingly sometimes lack confidence in new/challenging situations even when they have expert abilities. Also should be encouraged to exercise their leadership skills even though they are often reluctant (which is ironic since many among Hall of Fame coaches) Examples: Stacey Augmon, Steve Kerr, and Michael Cooper (showtime Lakers, 8 time NBA all-defensive team) Considered one of best types for coaches, including Kryziewksi, Roy Williams, John Wooden.
Sims: ENTP (same as me) Strategizer. #1 strength is logical reasoning and abstraction, emphasizing planning and exploring options. In sports utilize eye and fine motor skills highly, can have quick feet and high body flexibility. Think its better to play smarter rather than harder, get the big picture and like to innovate and improve themselves and the team. Have to work hardest at gross motor (need running and lifting for legs, torso and upper arms). Examples: Vince Carter, Shane Battier, Michael Finley, Bill Russell, Pete Carril (inventor of the Princeton offense and JTIII's mentor) long list of well-known people from all walks, very versatile type: comedians (Bill Cosby, Chris Rock, Letterman and Leno) singers (Hendrix, Jagger) actors (Pitt, Connery, Whoopi Goldberg), Lance Armstrong, Ben Franklin, Obama (first ENTP president in many decades; Clinton and GW Bush were ENTJ, Bush Sr. ENFJ, Carter INTJ).
Hollis Thompson: ENFJ "Educator". Like the INFP, #1 is language i.e. oral/aural/verbal (all NFs this way) especially word choice and spoken communication. Combined fine and gross motor coordination #2. Known as spark plugs, bringing infectious determination and hustle. Want to out-hustle you, put finesse aside. Defensive minded, but potentially excellent shooters. Examples: Pat Riley, Randy Ayers, Stu Jackson (coaches) Marques Johnson, Buck Williams, Rony Seikaly (old school Big East), Rasho Nesterovic. Also Tom Cruise, the elder George H. Bush, and Paul Abdul, lots of announcers and newscasters like Pat Summerall and Tom Brokaw.
Julian Vaghan: ISFJ #1 Gross motor (legs and upper arms, torso), more controlled vs. acrobatic. Defensive minded, unselfish, dependable, hard-working. Good at assisting. Legs among best strength. Sometimes need to be more aggressive, not worry about making mistakes, realize they are part of the game. Tend to contribute first as defensive mainstays, other aspects follow. Example: PJ Brown, Dale Davis, JR Henderson. #1 Type for bowling and horseshoes! (seriously, due to gross motor control)
Don't know about Sanford or Nikita yet.
JT Jr. "Pops" - ESTJ "Supervisor". Vision/Fine motor #1, esp. wrist/hand/finger dexterity like ISTJ. Frequent coaching type. Excels at organizing and running procedures. Matter-of-fact, consistent, values tradition, rules and laws. Examples: Jim Boeheim, Rudy Tomjanovich, also Kurt Thomas, Walter McCarty, Eric Montross, Pres. Harry Truman.
JTIII ESFJ "Facilitator". Gross motor #1, controlled. Known for nurturing and realistic nature, conscientious and focused on usefulness. Examples: Rasheed Wallace, David Wingate, Hibbert, Tyler Hansbrough. And Princess Di.
Summers was ISFP, one of the best shooting and overall sports types. Graceful, humble. Paul Pierce, Kobe, Tim Duncan, Scotty Pippen, Clyde Drexler, many others. Janet Jackson, PDiddy, Gross motor #1, fluid.
Ewing Jr. was ENFP like Kevin Garnett, Jerome Williams, Chris Webber, Marcus Camby, Antawn Jamison, Stackhouse. Language i.e. Oral/aural/verbal #1 but graceful fine-gross motor coordination, make great divers and gymnasts, figure skaters (and dunkers). Notice several are announcers (Webber, Stackhouse) or are known for talking (Garnett) or public speaking (Jerome). That's the language skill.
Hibbert - ESFJ, same as JTIII.
Jeff Green - under revision.
Wallace - Definitely _NT_, probably _NTJ, likely INTJ a very scholarly type, #1 skill logical abstraction, often scientists, lawyers, academics. Example: Phil Jackson, Thomas Edison. Probably learning a ton being overseas, more than he would in the NBA.
Also, Hoyas claim one of the very very few INTP "logicicans" to play in any high profile sports: Dikembe Mutombo. This type usually ends up in intellectual fields like academia, science, law, etc. Oddly, one of the handful of others is Art Monk, who also played in the area. Examples: Einstein, Nelson Mandela, Da Vinci.
btw, for more background you might want to check out Niednagel's site
www.braintypes.com/
one other thing, a word of warning: all over the internet there are sites that try to type famous people without understanding anything about the innate brain functions, many of these are way, way off--you should not get an image of examples of the types from these because they will give a totally wrong impression.
Socionics.com is a great example of blatantly wrong types on a respectable-looking site. They have
-Winston Churchill, Colin Powell, GW Bush, and Mike Tyson all as ESTPs when actually none are, they are really ENTP, ENTJ, ENTJ, and ISTP respectively. Almost every oen of the 36 ESTPs on that page is wrong, in fact, except Steven Seagal and Britney Spears. Many other pages have similar mistaken examples throughout.
