“There’s a strategy to being kicked out of a game,” Casey, coach of the Northpoint Diggers, told Bryce Smith, a rising rookie sensation. The two were in the locker room watching on TV as their team’s lead slipped away after Bryce argued with a ref, leading to an ejection.
“What’s the strategy coach? I was just so angry that the ref kept calling bad fouls on us,” Bryce said.
“Well, you’re weighing two things. Do you want to be right, or do you want to win?” Casey said.
“I am right. They were making the wrong calls,” Bryce said.
“Yes, but are we winning now?” Casey said, pointing to the TV as one of his players made another defensive mistake. “It’s not going to matter how right you were if we lose this game.”
“That’s true, coach,” Bryce said. “So, is there ever a reason that a player should get himself kicked out of a game?”
“For you, Bryce, I would say no. You’re a dominant scorer and a leader on the team. You make players better. Some players can drag a team down, and them getting kicked out could actually help the team.”
The TV replayed Coach Casey arguing with the ref.
“So what was the strategy here, coach?” Bryce asked. “Why’d you get thrown out of the game?”
“Oh, I did a terrible job here,” Casey said. “I wasn’t thinking about winning. I just needed the ref to know I was right.”