The difference between swagger and cockiness

A few people, including one commentator to this blog, felt Omar Bolden's TV tactics were over the top. Perhaps it didn't speak well of Bolden's character to play shuffle with team hats while holding back on the ASU hat.

In defense of Bolden, the same scene was taking place on local and regional television stations all over the country, and has become par for the course since the first high school player who ever suckered a TV station to show up at his press conference. It's just the thing to do. Bolden was simply following form.

But Bolden is no doubt sure of himself, which brings us to an important time when we need to learn the difference between swagger and cockiness:

Cockiness: Brash player for another team, especially a rival.

Swagger: Brash player for our own team.

Glad I could settle that. Now we can go about seeing what kind of swagger Erickson will bring to the rest of the team. It typically takes Erickson a full year before his teams start showing that kind of hotdogging arrogance hubrism individual resolve, but perhaps some of the new recruits will lead the way. We're sure to be popular with the other fans. ;)