I saw an interview last week on the Today Show with the lawyer for Debra Lafave, the 23 school teacher in Florida accused of sexual assault of a 14 year old male student.  Her lawyer is seeking an insanity defense because what she did is obviously insane. He felt that because she’s so attractive, putting her in prison (a hell hole) would be like throwing raw meat to lions and he was not sure she would survive.

My first reaction was to agree with him. But then I thought that approach is mainly going to piss people off. When you look at her picture and hear the facts you immediately think, "That’s crazy".

Then you see another teacher in Tennessee, Pamela Turner, is accused of sexual assault of a 13 year old.

What could possibly cause these two women to show such poor judgment? Do they have a legitimate insanity defense? Recently Mary Kay Letourneau, the Washington teacher who was charged for sexual assault of a 13 year old student, got out of prison after 7 years and married her ex-student. They have 2 kids together, 7 and 8 years old. He’s now 22 and she’s 43. Can these relationships really work out?

I have spent the last few days researching the laws relating to age of consent for sex and the use of the insanity defense. I have also thought about the possible psychiatric disorders that could be involved and tried to understand how the biology of love could go so awry as it appears to have done. In the case of the 2 current teachers, their behavior is clearly crazy but not legally insane. They’re both toast. What a waste.

Two attractive young school teachers have come to national attention this year because they had sexual relationships with 13 and 14 year old boys in their classes. What is even crazier is that both of these women were married and neither would have any trouble finding sexual partners if they wanted to have sex outside their marriage. In both instances they knew that what they were doing constituted a felony offense and could easily result in prison time if caught. Neither of them was particularly careful. Both must have heard of the notorious case of Mary Kay Letourneau who served seven years in a Washington state prison (1998-2005) for having sex with an under aged male student.

The insanity defense

But were they insane? Unfortunately, no. Insanity is not a medical or even psychiatric term. It is a legal term meaning not sane or not rational. The concept of legal insanity was first introduced in England in 1843 when the courts decided that Daniel M’Naghten was not guilty of murder because he thought he was acting in self defense. He had paranoid delusions which if true would have put him in danger. More specifically insanity was defined as: because of a mental illness at the time of the criminal act the individual didn’t understand what they were doing or they didn’t understand that it was wrong.

Since Federal courts do not have jurisdiction over criminal behavior except in special instances, e.g., national defense or interstate commerce, almost all of these cases are handled according to the laws of their state. The age of consent for sex varies from 14 in Nevada to 18 in California. Many states also have age difference stipulations, in an attempt to prevent exploitation by adults.

In 1962 the American Law Institute expanded the definition of insanity. The first standard was basically the same - due to a mental defect the individual did not know that the act was wrong. They added that legal insanity could also be the inability to adhere to the right. This latter standard was interpreted as an “irresistible impulse” but was sometimes limited to acts that would have occurred even if a policeman was standing there. Now four states have completely eliminated the insanity defense. Most states don’t include “irresistible impulse” as a legal defense.

There has always been a public skepticism about the use of the insanity defense. It has been seen as a loophole for sociopaths to escape responsibility or a mechanism where psychiatrists could get people off because they had some mental problems or a difficult childhood.

In 1982 there was a national uproar when the insanity defense was used by John Hinckley after he attempted to assassinate President Reagan. He was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Since that time it has generally been more difficult to successfully use the insanity defense. There is a perception that the insanity defense is used frequently but the fact is that it is rarely used, maybe 1 in 2000 cases. When used it is usually not successful. When successful it is usually so obvious that the prosecutor agrees and it doesn’t even go to trial.

So, the legal question is easy to answer in the two prominent current cases involving teachers. They were both continuing to function in their teaching jobs. They undoubtedly knew that what they were doing was wrong. In fact Debra LaFave in Florida was quoted as saying that, “part of the arousal was because it was not allowed”. They couldn’t even use the defense of “irresistible impulse” since there were multiple separate instances. Both of these women may have bipolar symptoms with seriously impaired judgment and impulse control. Both may be genetically addiction prone and both may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder with impulsivity. Is it possible that they both have an Adderall or Concerta deficiency? As Dennis the Menace said, “by the time I realized the consequences of my action I had already done it”. But these psychiatric/emotional factors would only apply as possible mitigating factors in the determination of punishment - not the establishment of guilt.

The cases of Debra LaFave (Florida) and Pamela Turner (Tennessee) are dramatic if not shocking but not unusual. According to the U.S. Department of Education, between 6-10% of public school children have been sexually abused or harassed by school employees and teachers.

It’s in our genes

We are still left with the question “why”?

Remember, to understand any behavior you have to look at the immediate causality (motivation, dynamics, brain chemistry, etc.) but also the ultimate causality. Why does this behavior exist in the world?

One of the main functions of the highest level of functioning of the human brain is to control deeper primitive instinctual behavior. In certain conditions such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and hypomania there is a deficit in higher level functions and behavior is more at the mercy of our emotions and instincts.

So, the first answer to why is that “it’s in our genes”. The single most important reason we exist is to reproduce. The more we reproduce the greater the chance that we will be able to adapt to the ever changing world.

Age of consent

What about the question of age. At what age is it appropriate to begin having sex? According to Mother Nature it is when we are capable of producing offspring. That means in many cases younger then 13. In four states the legal age of consent for sex is 14 and all but Nevada have an age difference specification. As a medical student in 1966 working in the obstetrics department of Parkland Hospital it was not unusual to deliver 12 year old girls having their second baby. They were usually from very poor families and because of the financial aid provided for dependent children program this was a way for children to help support for their families.

What makes people act crazy?

So if it’s so natural why is it crazy? It’s crazy when it’s against the law and in fact a felony. The potential consequences are so severe that there must be powerful forces at work other than basic instinct. Is it hormones or pheromones? Is it brain chemistry? Is it a society where we hear a lot about sex but especially in the case of married couples we?re not having a lot of sex? Is it cultural with a lot of emphasis on doing what feels good? Yes to all of the above.

Personality determines some behavior. Personality is character plus temperament. Character includes maturity, self-sufficiency, lack of self-centeredness, and respect for others. Perpetrators of inappropriate sexual behavior usually have some deficits of character.

Temperament is mainly genetics and includes persistence, harm avoidance, need for approval, and novelty seeking. Risk taking is one of the traits for which specific genetic polymorphism has been identified. Risk takers have been found to have lower amounts of a particular enzyme in the brain (monoamine oxidase inhibitor, or MAO). Some risk takers are sky divers, some are pathological gamblers and some break rules or the law as a form of excitement. Personality traits tend to be fairly stable. To know the degree to which pathologic personality traits would explain the behavior of the two recent teachers in the news would require detailed personal history.

Is it a personality disorder?

Two particular personality disorders are commonly associated with sexually deviant behavior. They are borderline personality and narcissistic personality. (These do not include antisocial personality which is cool calculating manipulators without conscience that can be perpetrators.) The borderline personality lacks a clear sense of identity and is impulsive and engages in self-destructive behavior. They often but not always have a history of being abused. The borderline personality usually has elements of bipolar disorder and ADHD.

There are two types of narcissistic personality. One is a person who was treated as being better than other people and deep down truly believes it. They may be from wealthy families or be particularly attractive or gifted in sports, art, or music. Because they feel better than others they don’t believe the rules or laws should apply to them. They have a sense of entitlement - they should be able to have what they want. The more common type of narcissistic personality is a person who deep down feels inferior, inadequate, unlovable, but works hard to avoid these feelings by trying to convince themselves and others of their superiority. They may end up acting the same way as type one.

It is certainly possible that the two teachers recently in the news fit into one of these personality categories.

Could it be love?

Is it possible that a 13 or 14 year old boy could be “in love” with a 25-35 year old teacher? And if so, could it be morally wrong for them to engage in sexual intercourse? This is a harder question than the legal one. The fact that what’s legal depends on what state you live in reflects the subjectivity and arbitrariness of the issue. No matter how bizarre it may seem, Mary Kay Letourneau at age 35 began an intense emotional relationship with her 12 year old student. Their relationship became sexual shortly after he turned 13. Recently they were married. Their relationship survived unbelievable media scrutiny and her spending 7 years in prison. Along the way they have had 2 children. It certainly seems crazy but it’s hard to deny that their love for each other is real.

What is love?

A lot of times I’ll ask a patient, “are you in love with??” The answer I often get is “well I do love them”. I often push for a more definite commitment. I say something like, “you love your dog. You love chocolate”. What I’m asking is, “are you IN love with them, committed to them? Do you want to/like to have sex with them?” One of the most telling questions is “how would you feel if they had sex with someone else?” If you are in love with someone the idea of them having sex with someone else is devastating. But what is love? In the context of relationships there are 3 components, each with a unique biology and psychology.

They are:

• Sex
• Romance
• Attachment

Sexual attraction and arousal is most highly correlated with the hormone testosterone in men and women. Men are more aroused visually. Youthfulness, beauty, and cleavage are thought to be arousing because they are associated with fitness to reproduce. Men are competitive and hierarchical. Mother Nature wants the men with the best genes to have the most offspring. A man can impregnate many women during the same time period. This is not something women like to hear, but they need to understand that a man’s biology and physiology is different than theirs. When a man makes an exclusive commitment to a woman he will still notice other attractive women, but that will not take away from his committed love relationship.

Women are less sexually aroused visually. A woman can only be pregnant by one man at any given time. She will be more physically vulnerable during her pregnancy and it will be hard for her to attend to an infant and also provide for all her own and the babies needs. Women are more attracted to men who can be providers/protectors. They are more impressed by maturity and stability.

Since the availability of birth control men and women have more freedom to have sex for fun, but the underlying biology and instincts still play a major role. But one of the risks of sex for “fun” is that you may fall in love or get “attached”. This is a warning that Helen Fisher, PhD gives her students in her college classes. She has done years of research into the “biology of love” that she describes in her recent book, Why We Love: The Nature and Chemistry of Romantic Love.

When Dr. Fisher did functional MRI’s to measure brain activity she found dramatic differences in those who were “in love”. Their brains looked similar to people with major addictions. The reward area of the brain and the brain transmitter dopamine increase with romantic love. Norepinephrine also goes up and serotonin goes down. Does this mean that raising our serotonin levels with some antidepressants could interfere with our romantic feelings? Maybe. Does this mean that “being in love” with someone is like being hooked on them or addicted to them? Yes. Sorry if that seems unromantic. When you read how Mary Kay Letourneau after spending time in jail, going through a humiliating trial, sentenced to seven years of prison probated still sought out her under age lover does that not sound like addictive behavior? She was clearly out of control.

Probably the most important part of a relationship is attachment. Sex is great but it’s only a small percent of the time a couple spends together. Romantic feelings can come and go depending on many factors especially stress but the attachment can grow steadily for a lifetime. The biology of attachment is most related to the hormones oxytocin in women and vasopressin in men. Women who don’t bond to their babies have been found to have low oxytocin. Estrogen increases oxytocin. Studies using voles (rodents) show the importance of oxytocin to attachment. Mountain voles have low oxytocin and are polygamous but prairie voles have higher oxytocin and are monogamous. Orgasm causes the release of oxytocin (women) and vasopressin (men) and dopamine. Sex can increase attachment and romantic feelings. This is great in a committed relationship. It may not be so great in a forbidden relationship such as is usually the case between a teacher and student.

Self-control

So are we mainly at the mercy of our genes, brain transmitters, and hormones? Obviously not. But we are certainly under their influence. No testosterone, no libido. No dopamine, no interest. In mature adults control is in the highest level in the front of the brain - the prefrontal cortex. There are numerous cases of individuals who were high functioning, moral, responsible adults who after suffering damage to the front of their brain began acting impulsively and more under the influence of their primitive instincts. We know that certain psychiatric disorders are associated with reduced functioning of the highest brain levels.

Where does this leave us with our two school teachers accused of sexually assaulting their young male students? To understand their behavior is not to excuse it. In each of their cases we need a lot more information. They will be held responsible and will be punished. Hopefully, the punishment will fit the crime but with so much media attention and so much emotion involved there is no telling how it will turn out. The real issue is that this is a complex, common problem that deserves a lot of study and hopefully new national standards and programs to protect kids from determining their life course before they are mature enough to fully understand their options.

Probably the most common cause of carbohydrate craving is eating too many starches and sweets. Eating or drinking carbohydrates without much protein or fat causes blood sugar levels to go up. How fast sugar levels go up also depends on the Glycemic Index. In general the sweeter and more easily digested the carbohydrate is the more rapidly sugar levels go up and more insulin is released. Sudden surges of insulin cause the blood sugar to be taken up by muscle and liver cells and blood sugar rapidly falls, and oftentimes to low levels, which is known as reactive hypoglycemia.   The resulting low blood sugar causes craving for more sweets and starches.

Many people spend the whole day in a yo-yo effect with blood sugar rising and falling.  Eating more complex carbohydrates like whole grains, including protein with meals and eating small healthy snacks slows down the uptake into the blood system preventing the yo-yo cycling. Going longer stretches without eating or not eating adequate amounts of carbohydrate can also result in low blood sugar resulting in possible carbohydrate craving. If a very low carbohydrate diet is maintained for several days the body will learn to burn more fat resulting in a build up of ketones that may suppress carbohydrate craving, but carbohydrates should be incorporated back into the diet eventually.

That is how the first stage of the Atkins diet works. The South Beach diet replaces very low carbs with “good carbs” and “good fats”, but the first stage of the South Beach diet also restricts carbohydrates such as fruit - in order to force an increase in the use of body fat for energy.  Another cause of carbohydrate craving is using certain medications such as SSRI’s and certain mood stabilizers.  See Part Six Medication and Weight Control  Diabetes also causes carbohydrate craving even though blood sugar is elevated. The problem in diabetes is that there is either a lack of insulin or a resistance to insulin.

Chromium is a mineral present in our diet and in trace amounts in our body.  Diets lacking in adequate fruits and vegetables may result in low levels of chromium in our system.  Controlled studies done in multiple major medical centers found that chromium supplements aid in fat loss and weight control.

It is thought to work by increasing the efficiency of insulin both increasing insulin sensitivity and lowering high insulin.  Additionally, it helps decrease carbohydrate cravings and it helps maintain muscle mass even when caloric intake is low.  Even when not restricting calories, chromium can help increase lean mass, which results in and increase in metabolism and the body’s ability to burn fat. 

When using chromium supplements, it is important to use the piccolinate form, which can be purchased over-the-counter at most pharmacies, grocery stores and health food stores.  The recommended dosage is 400 to 600 micrograms taken in the morning every day. 

For prescription medications that can help with weight control see: Part Six of Medication and Weight Control

Metabolic Syndrome was the headline issue at last week’s annual meeting of psychiatrists (APA). What is it? Do you fit the criteria? What can you do about it?

What Is It?

Metabolic Syndrome, which is also coined Syndrome X, is a common chronic condition that disables the body from being able to efficiently burn the food you eat.  People with Metabolic syndrome have some insulin resistance leading to high concentrations of glucose and insulin within their bodies.  Many people are not aware that they even have this condition and even fewer are aware of the implications and seriousness of the disease, but individuals with this condition have increased risk of:

• Stroke
• Peripheral Vascular Disease
• Nervous System Disorders
• Eye Disease
• Diabetes
• Cardiovascular Disease
• Premature Aging
• Cancer
• Alzheimer’s

In addition to increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, your risk of actually dying from a heart attack is 3 1/2 times greater.  The good news about Metabolic Syndrome is that it is treatable and preventable, since it is largely a product of lifestyle. 

I’m sure I have been embarrassing people lately when I whip out my tape measure and measure their waist at the level of the umbilicus, but since it turns out that abdominal fat is much more of a health problem (the apples) as opposed to hips and butt fat (pears), it is necessary for diagnosing Metabolic Syndrome.  Recently the big “booty” has been in fashion, and interestingly butt fat poses no increased heart risk.  However, a waistline of 35” or more in women or 40” or more in men is one of the 5 criteria for Metabolic Syndrome. If you have any 3 of the 5 criteria you get the diagnosis.

What are the Determining Factors for Metabolic Syndrome?  (You must meet 3 out of 5)?

1. Waist Circumference greater than 35 inches in women and 40 inches in men.
2.  Blood Pressure) must be greater than or equal to 130/80.  Only 1 of the 2 values needs to be elevated to be considered a risk.
3. Fasting Glucose greater than 100. 
4. Triglycerides greater than 150. 
5. Good Cholesterol (HDL) greater than 50 in women and 40 in men.

You can measure your own waist circumference and blood pressure easily, but for the other values you must get a fasting blood test done.  This means no food or drink, other than water, at least 8 hours prior to testing.  These tests are simple and inexpensive and everyone should know where they stand, so if you have never had your labs done or have not had them within the past year, you should ask your doctor about having them done.  

Metabolic Syndrome and Psychiatry

Why are psychiatrists taking a lead role in expanding public awareness? It turns out that some of the medications we commonly use can increase the risk of any or all of these factors. Three commonly used antidepressants used long term can cause weight gain. Some antidepressants can increase blood pressure but most striking is the group of mood stabilizers called Atypicals. Some of these medications can seriously increase risk of weight gain, increase fasting sugar, increase triglycerides and increase bad cholesterol.  A consensus panel including members from the American Psychiatric Association and Endocrinologists convened in November of 2004. They concluded that the atypical medications Clozaril and Zyprexa have a particularly significant risk of causing Metabolic Syndrome. Seroquel and Risperdal have a lesser risk and Geodon and Abilify have the lowest risk of all the atypicals.

The FDA is cautioning doctors to screen for these problems and to monitor patients that are on any of the medications from this category. Doctors should consider the benefits vs. risks of all the medications that we prescribe, and ironically the “Atypicals” are among our most useful medications. At higher doses they treat the most severe symptoms of mania and schizophrenia, but they are also useful for treating refractory depression and anxiety disorders, including hair pulling and skin picking. In fact, they are the most versatile of any group of medications used for stress disorders. Although we can’t say with absolute certainty that some of these medications are a lot safer than others, the consensus panel and clinical experience strongly suggest that this is the case, but it will take large comparison studies to prove it.

What Can You Do About Metabolic Syndrome? If you meet criteria for Metabolic Syndrome and you are on one or more of these medications you shouldn’t just stop them.

You may want to consider changing if you are on the higher risk medications. Or you may discuss with your physician some of the behavioral and medical options to help reduce your risk. Of course, it is important to point out the main cause of Metabolic Syndrome related to lifestyle and our world of fast food and sedentary lifestyles contributes to the problem.  Heart disease is by far the most common cause of premature death in men and women. Even if it doesn’t kill you it will lower your quality of life. Don’t wait for your doctor to pull out his blood pressure cuff and measuring tape. Be proactive! Take action now to find out where you stand on all 5 criteria, and consider lifestyle intervention if you qualify.   

Our office now offers weight loss and health coaching by providing fitness and nutrition guidance.  For more information about lifestyle coaching, contact our office or go to the PATH link.  

 For solid dietary guidance for individuals with Metabolic Synrome, order Syndrome X from Amazon with just one click!

You would think that I would be sick of the seven habits of highly effective - you can finish the sentence with people, dieters, psychopharmacologists, zoo keepers. (I’m kidding about the zoo keepers).  Now comes doctors Hallowell and Ratey with their new book Delivered from Distraction.  They include a chapter called “The Seven Habits of Highly Effective ADDers.”  As in their first book called Driven to Distraction, they have broken new ground. 

From their perspective of being ADD and treating ADD they are able to put into a few words principles that instantly ring true with those of us who live in an ADD world.  It helps to have at least a modicum of mindfulness tuned into self and others to intuitively know they are on target. 

THE SEVEN HABITS OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE ADD ADULTS By Edward M. Hallowell, M.D., and John Ratey, M.D.

1. Do what you’re good at. Don’t spend too much time trying to get good at what you’re bad at. (you did enough of that in school).

2. Delegate what you’re bad at to others, as often as possible.

3. Connect your energy to a creative outlet.

4. Get well enough organized to achieve your goals. The key here is “well enough”. That doesn’t mean you have to be very well organized at all - just well enough organized to achieve your goals.

5. Ask for and heed advice from people you trust - and ignore, as best you can, the dream-breakers and finger-waggers.

6. Make sure you keep up regular contact with a few close friends.

7. Go with your positive side. Even though you have a negative side, make decisions and run your life with your positive side.

I appreciate that they have organized these important principles into a simple prescription for improving the quality of life not just for people who are ADD, but secondarily for their families. It is hard being ADD - it’s harder living with someone who is ADD.  Change starts with awareness of a problem or alternative course of action.  The next step is a decision to change - in behavioral terms like - I’m going to get certified in a particular skill to expand my career options.  The last step is the hardest - the process of change - you have to do it.  With new insights from Dr. Hallowell and Dr. Ratey we are better equipped to evaluate our current life course and make adjustments where appropriate. “It’s great being ADD!”

Recommended Resources

ADHD Newsletter

Kenny Rogers of the Texas Rangers joined a growing list of sports heroes who become infamous after public displays of totally inappropriate aggression. What is it about our nature and especially professional sports that causes this behavior? What lessons are we not learning or at least not applying to reduce or ideally eliminate this kind of behavior?

John Wooden was named by ESPN as Coach of the Century for the twentieth century. At age 94 this week he released a new book, Wooden on Leadership. He stands in apparent sharp contrast to sports heroes “out of control.” In his book he describes 15 principles of leadership in his “Pyramid of Success.” They include: poise, confidence, skill, self-control, initiative, loyalty, and enthusiasm. Emotionalism of any kind, he notes, is our enemy. It interferes with the positive traits that lead to success.

John Wooden’s 41 year coaching record has never been equaled. He won ten national college basketball championships in 12 years - with 3 completely different teams. We visualize him as the paragon of class. But he admits that his self-control came gradually. Beneath great success usually burns high intensity. He recalls as a young coach being cursed and belittled by an opposing coach whose team they had just beaten. “I saw red and without thinking, knocked him down to the court.”

As we seek to understand why our sports heroes are increasingly losing their composure it’s especially helpful to read what Wooden says lead him to quit sports at the height of his success 30 years ago. He describes the feeling of living under a magnifying glass, and the “never ending speculation.” He says the “overwhelming attention, inspection, and curiosity become more of an irritant.” It was deeply disturbing when I read how he lost control as a young coach and then later quit because of all the pressure of media scrutiny. I feel more compassion toward our current “fallen heroes.”

So we begin to better understand the psychology of striving for perfection and risking your self-esteem in front of thousands if not millions of people over and over again. Our culture puts athletes on a pedestal. They are paid millions of dollars and lead life styles most of us will never know. With success comes a certain inevitable narcissism. Then with failure - losses, trades, comes disappointment and frustration and increased media scrutiny. We should all try to imagine being at one of our lowest points and having TV cameras in our face and sports journalists speculating about what’s really going on with us. Are we being sincere and doing our best or are we faking and manipulating? But why violence?

Sports is mostly a civilized competition that is at the foundation a sublimation of combat. The instinct to wage war is deeply rooted in our genes. Men especially are hard wired as protectors and providers. The amount of hormone testosterone is related to aggression. Jane Goodall discovered that male Chimpanzees would band together to wage war against other Chimpanzee groups. One interesting outcome of battle is that the testosterone level in the victors goes up but it goes down in the losers. Perhaps these hormone changes help to establish power hierarchies and establish some form of social order.

Even more basic to the biology of aggression are the brain transmitters, especially serotonin and norepinephrine. Serotonin is the oldest and most primitive brain system. It is primarily responsible for homeostasis (balance) and control. Studies have found that the more violent behavior is, the lower the serotonin levels in the brain. Conversely, norepinephrine, the brain transmitter system associated with arousal and “fight or flight,” is elevated in impulsive or angry aggression. None of this physiology applies to cold-blooded, premeditated aggression.

There are several polymorphic genes that increase the tendency to be aggressive or violent. In one study of violent delinquent teens it was only the combination of certain gene types plus a history of childhood abuse that resulted in violent criminal behavior. There is overlap between intensity, extreme competitiveness, and aggressiveness. A famous coach once said, “you show me a good loser, and I’ll show you a loser.”

Does all this mean that violent acts by professional athletes are inevitable? Given that, even John Wooden punched an opposing coach. It’s in their genes and cameras are in their face so shouldn’t we accept it as unavoidable? I don’t believe that we can prevent all future episodes but there are major changes that could be made to markedly reduce these incidents.

We need to educate people about the nature of aggression and make them aware of the many available treatment approaches. Hypnosis works for some. In my 39 years of clinical experience I have seen many people who could not control their “short fuse” temper without taking medication. There are several mood stabilizers (see Best Meds) that have been found to be very effective. There are also certain blood pressure medications that have been found to be useful (Propranolol, Clonodine, Guanfacine). Others do well on antidepressants or ADHD medications. Having mandatory severe punishment - stated in advance would help with self-control in the “heat of battle.”

In the case of Kenny Rogers many factors contributed to his “blow up.” He had been showing increasing inappropriate behavior - but apparently nothing was said or done. He was maligned in the media. There is some evidence that team officials were leaking information to the media in an apparent attempt to provoke him in some way that’s not clear. Were they trying to inspire an increase in his competitive intensity? Were they trying to manipulate him to ask for a trade? I’m sure there are factors that we don’t understand. If the constant in your face media drove John Wooden out of coaching maybe we need to reexamine the degree of access the media has to the players.

On the other hand doesn’t all this make for good gossip? Don’t we need escapism from day to day pressure and stress? So is the system really “broke?” If it is “broke” do we really want to fix it?

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