The hallmark behaviors of NPD include 1) controlling 2) coldness 3) calculating 4) manipulating 5) lack of empathy 6) egocentrity 7) blaming (scapegoating, minimizing responsibility, deflecting), 7) superiority (sometimes masked by faux modesty), 8) grandiosity (inflated self assessment), 9) ego defenses (eg: hypersensitivity to criticism, devaluing), and 10) a focus on one`s public image (False Self)
The story of Wally Buono is well known. He overcame a very difficult and challenging childhood to attend university, had a long and successful career as a pro football linebacker/kicker and Head Coach/GM. It’s a story of overcoming adversity to achieve a high level of career success. His career story is inspirational.NPD is most often created due to a childhood characterized by a lack of love, self-esteem, and worthiness, or neglect.
Andrew Harris’s story is also inspirational. He overcame a very difficult youth in Winnipeg, played Junior football while working in Nanaimo, turning his life around with guidance and dedication, became a territorial protection of our Leos, was initially slotted onto our Leos as a safety, and got his chance to start as a tailback, following Jamal Robertson’s injury in 2011. Our Leos team, then 1-7, after three previous seasons of demise under Buono, went on to win the Grey Cup. Harris was named the top Canadian in that game. Since that time Harris has been one of the key faces of the franchise, a very popular player who has done a ton of community work, as well as being one of the top tailbacks in the CFL.
This is a sad story. Both have not dealt with things as they should have. Buono has been very skillful in using the media in the past to tell a story that suits him. Harris has been one of the few Leo players over time to also use the media to tell his story.
Buono does not appreciate anyone to use the same tactics he uses. The only story is Buono’s story - he always controls the message, he is the primary voice of our Leos, whether he is HC or GM.
Andrew Harris made a big mistake by going to the media to complain about the offence, following a game in 2013. He was applauded for doing so by a lot of posters on Lionbackers at the time for doing so. I felt Harris should not have complained publically and said so. I knew it would leads to problems and especially lead to Harris having problems with Buono. Benevedes listened to Harris`s concerns but Buono brought in Stefan Logan to send a message to Harris at aa cost of two starting tailback salaries and the duties at tailback were split for the remainder of that season.
Harris complained once again about the offence in 2014 and once again this season. Harris complained to Tedford and he also walked out of the dressing room following a game and didn’t talk to the media, upset about his role in the offence as well as its direction. While I agreed with Harris wanting our offence to ‘attack a defense more’, as well as for a different approach to making our running game successful and for Harris role in it, I believed, once again, it should have been handled privately.
I also believe that Buono should not have used the media to publically state that Andrew Harris needed to prove himself over the last 6 games, as Harris and Buono tried to work out a new contract. It was like firing a scud missile at Harris and it was not wise on Buono’s part.
Harris was sat after one quarter in our final league game and did not win the rushing title, something he really wanted. Jerome Messam played three quarters for Calgary to get his 1,000 yd season and Calgary players mobbed him when he accomplished his goal.
Harris was questioned by the media on locker clean out day and he basically stated that he felt the Leos were not reflecting back to him what he had put into the organization…that he didn’t know if he would be back..that he wanted to be back but he needed to be happy. Buono was upset by the comments and has responded even more strongly, with bank comments and body language comments and lack of leadership comments about Harris role in the locker room (interesting)
Neither should have made the types of comments they have made and kept the contract matter quiet. Harris comments about our offence and his role in it should have been kept inside. Buono’s comment that Harris needed to prove himself should not have been said.
Harris should have realized, with a 7-11 season and a lot of heat on Buono, that this was a bad time to say anything about his contract at this point in time. Buono needs deflections and scape goats for a team that continues to slide under his watch as a GM. Right now Tedford and Harris are in the line of fire.
Tedford, by stating that he had deferred a lot to Wally’s experience this season was also not wise, even if true. It makes Buono even more responsible for our lack of success this season. Buono has responded by not endorsing Tedford.
It’s a joke when Buono says that Tedford is being assessed, just like Buono himself. Buono has already said he is coming back and honoring his contract. He has a life time job with Braley, as long as he wants it. Who is going to assess Buono, except himself. It certainly won’t be Sulsky.
Tedford could become a scapegoat. He may not even want to come back himself. Who knows for sure. A the end of 2013 the scape goats were Stubler and Chapdelaine. Last season Benevedes, who had been mentored by Buono for the HC job for many seasons before and whom Buono had advised and mentored constantly during the time Benevedes was a HC was let go. Tedford has deferred to Buono this season, like Benevedes before him and the results have not turned out well.
Buono may also be contemplating a return to coaching. He obviously has struggled with the sole GM role and leaving the sidelines and prefers to be in the cherry picker, writing coaching notes, being at the practice field, and `mentoring coaches`than doing his GM duties. But if Buono is contemplating a return to the sidelines he needs to remember 2008, 2009, 2010, and early 2011 and not just the remainder of the 2011 season. Fans and media were calling for Buono to step down as HC in 2010 and only that miraculous season allowed Buono to leave the game on a high note.
The biggest message to me is if you want to coach this Leos team, you have to coach this team in the ways Buono advises as the great mentor (to your demise) and if you don`t coach this team the way Buono advises, it will also be your demise. How is that for a no win situation.
The message to veteran players is not a good one and has not been here for a long time. I believe both Buono and Harris are both at fault. Both Buono and Harris have a lot of pride. In order to overcome their challenges in life, both have needed it.
But Buono is a very experienced former HC and has a ton of experience as a GM and life experience. Buono`s comments have been much more disparaging and personal that any comments Harris had made. Buono should be mature and wise and certainly more mature and wiser than Harris. He is not acting like it.