Former St. Louis Cardinals manager Tony La Russa said he was “intimidated” when he first met Patriots coach Bill Belichick.
“I had known Bill just from watching him on the sidelines and listening to his press conferences,” La Russa told Boston.com. “And I thought, ‘This guy is a tough guy. He doesn’t have any personality. He’s not very warm — probably boring to be around.'”
But, from a coaching perspective, La Russa was interested in spending time with Belichick because he figured he could learn a thing or two from the now seven-time Super Bowl champion. After the pair met through a mutual friend, “Friday Night Lights” author and Belichick’s high school classmate, Buzz Bissinger, La Russa soon realized he was mistaken on both accounts.