The Extreme Phronesis of Percy Cerutty: a Narrativized Life History of a Legendary Sports Coach David Turner University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK
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International Journal of Transpersonal Studies Volume 36 Article 8 Issue 1 VOL. 36, Iss. 1 (2017) 9-1-2017 The Extreme Phronesis of Percy Cerutty: A Narrativized Life History of a Legendary Sports Coach David Turner University of Hertfordshire, Hatfield, UK Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.ciis.edu/ijts-transpersonalstudies Part of the Philosophy Commons, Religion Commons, Sports Studies Commons, and the Transpersonal Psychology Commons Recommended Citation Turner, D. (2017). The extreme phronesis of Percy Cerutty: A narrativized life history of a legendary sports coach. International Journal of Transpersonal Studies, 36 (1). http://dx.doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2017.36.1.81 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Journals and Newsletters at Digital Commons @ CIIS. It has been accepted for inclusion in International Journal of Transpersonal Studies by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ CIIS. For more information, please contact [email protected]. The Extreme Phronesis of Percy Cerutty: A Narrativized Life History of a Legendary Sports Coach David Turner University of Hertfordshire Hatfield, UK This paper presents and interprets a narrativized coaching life history of the Australian athletics coach Percy Cerutty (1895-1975). Through a relational process of self-improvement and practical wisdom sometimes called phronesis, Cerutty exemplifies an intimate interconnectedness with his own and others’ experiences, with the natural environment, and with the transformative capacities of such influences, as often highlighted in transpersonal literature. Three potential themes are offered from the resultant meaning-making: a feel for the game, phronesis, and the coach as a paradoxical figure. Those themes are also interwoven with a consideration of how Cerutty’s story and practices might link to aspects of the transpersonal approach, using the motifs of redemption, transformation, and transcendence, as well as to elements of coaching theory. The paper concludes by evaluating Cerutty’s influence and legacy, and their broader implications. Keywords: Percy Cerutty, narrative, feel for the game, hysteresis, micropolitics, phronesis, coaching, athletic coaching, redemption, transformation, transcendence erry Cerutty’s coaching life narrative demonstrates emphases. Notwithstanding, in accordance with the life how it is possible to think and act powerfully at history method, I aspire to have produced an in-depth the cutting edge of intuitive and creative ideas. storied account of lived experience that adds anchor PThrough a relational process of self-improvement and points for potential understanding and meaning-making practical wisdom sometimes called phronesis (Wacks, (Behar, 1990; Hatch & Wisniewski, 1995; Shacklock & 2011), Cerutty exemplifies the form of mastery that can Thorp, 2005). Afterwards I offer three potential themes come from practical action that arises out of an intimate arising from this coaching life history, interwoven with interconnectedness with one’s own and others’ experience associated possible links to the transpersonal approach (in and with the natural environment—forms of intimacy particular motifs related to redemption, transformation, that are often highlighted in transpersonal literature and transcendence) and coaching-related theory; but, I (e.g., Hartelius, Rothe, & Roy, 2013). Phronesis involves also invite the readers to explore their own reactions and acquiring and using experiential knowledge, that is to thoughts, and hone personal interpretations, as a result say, practical wisdom comes from transformative doing of reading the featured tale. (cf. Flyvbjerg, Landman, & Schram, 2012). Phronesis is It was in Walton’s (1992) Beyond Winning: achieved not by following instructions, but by promoting The Timeless Wisdom of Great Philosopher Coaches that change within oneself (Frank, 2012). I initially encountered Percy Cerutty. The chapter on Thus, presented herein is a narrativized1 life Cerutty seemed somewhat at odds with the rest. First, history of Percy Cerutty. I have used the term legendary the other coaches profiled seemed better known, such as in the title to reflect that while his coaching achievements Vince Lombardi and John Wooden. Second, although all may be considered significant and impressive, he is also the featured coaches were innovative in their approaches, an almost mythical, half-forgotten character, rendered Cerutty stood out as a maverick practitioner. My interest insubstantial by the passage of time. The only entirely was provoked and driven by a frustration that the chapter original aspect in what follows is my speculation upon a focused more on Cerutty’s athletes, and especially Herb possible causative factor related to Cerutty’s death. The Elliot, rather than the coach himself; I felt motivated to rest is essentially a collage of existing factual information, research further. sculpted into my own retelling of Cerutty’s story, Subsequently, references to Cerutty began to and inevitably featuring my own particular selected appear in my lectures as a coach educator in Higher TheInternational Extreme JournalPhronesis of Transpersonal of Percy Cerutty Studies, 36(1), 2017,International pp. 81–97 Journal of Transpersonal Studies 81 https://doi.org/10.24972/ijts.2017.36.1.81 Education and in Learning From Legendary Coaches, a As societal expectations to make his way in series of public talks I developed. As a result, it became the world came to bear on Cerutty, his motivation for apparent to me that tales of Cerutty often seemed to athletics waned, and he turned his back on exercise provoke a polarized reaction; some dismissed him as a (Bascomb, 2005). Having entered a courtship with a ridiculous figure, and others found themselves inspired woman several years older, from a devoutly religious by this unorthodox and independent-minded coach. family of successful merchants (Sims, 2003), Cerutty When I later explored life history as a method in my own would be unable to realise his matrimonial ambitions research, it occurred to me that a coaching life history of until his circumstances improved (Kelly, 1964). Thus, Cerutty could be a story of redemption, transformation, the importance of athletics in his life was relegated, and transcendence worth telling. especially as his prospective wife, and those in her social scene, considered it an inconsequential recreation Percy’s Story (Sims, 2003). Already bookish, Cerutty became more he unlikely birth of Percy Cerutty as a sports coach involved in intellectual pursuits as he sought middle class Thappened midway through his life. In 1939, at respectability (Sims, 2003). He attended cultural and the age of 43, he suffered a complete physical, mental, social events, secured employment with the Post Office, and emotional breakdown, following a long history and was able to wed, but he was perpetually seeking of deteriorating health (Sims, 2003). By this point he more lucrative employment opportunities or get rich suffered from debilitating digestion problems that did quick schemes (Sims, 2003). Cerutty was under pressure not allow him to eat solid foods; endured rheumatism to better himself and provide for his wife’s ambitions for and arthritis so dreadful that he could not stand social standing and material comforts (Sims, 2003), a unsupported; was plagued by migraines and visions; strain that inexorably took its toll on his already fragile and weighed only 45kg (Sims, 2003). Medics advised health (Bascomb, 2005). that he should avoid physical exertion (Hargreaves, In the midst of a family involved in the retail 2009), would never work again, and probably had two trade, Cerutty found himself desperate to cultivate years to live (Kelly, 1964). Another doctor cast doubt on and demonstrate his own business acumen while reliance on traditional medicine, advising: “You have to simultaneously feeling nauseated by the pettiness of save yourself. If you want to do anything about yourself, material greed (Sims, 2003). A series of failed business you’ll get off that bed under your own will and spirit” ventures, exacerbated by the 1930s Depression, eroded his (Bascomb, 2005, p. 37). Cerutty was granted six months self-confidence (Kelly, 1964). Nonetheless, he remained leave for convalescence, during which he reflected upon possessed by ambition and driven by an obsessive nature his life and condition (Gordon, 1993). so extreme it occasionally made him doubt his own sanity Born in 1895 in Melbourne, Australia, into a (Sims, 2003). Cerutty had always had the propensity poor working class background and soon to be broken to think differently and possessed a fierce curiosity, home (his mother left his alcoholic father when he was a but now his mind went into overdrive; he sought a toddler), Cerutty was a weak and sickly child (Gordon, deeper meaning of life through studying philosophy, 1993). He nearly died from blood poisoning before his religions, and mysticism—all without satisfaction (Sims, first birthday, later contracting double pneumonia that 2003). His self esteem plummeted, and he came to feel caused lasting damage to his lungs, and experienced the insignificant, even contemplating suicide at his lowest effects of malnourishment, not tasting fruit until the ebb (Sims, 2003). To make matters worse, potent drugs age of 15 (Sims, 2003). Nonetheless, he took up middle prescribed by doctors