YOU KNOW this guy. You might not know his name, or exactly why he always seems to be around the local pro teams, but you know the face: those kind, sad eyes that ooze empathy, that wide, caring smile. He is Joel Fish, director of Philadelphia's Center for Sport Psychology, and, during the last two decades, a consulting sports psychologist for the Sixers, Flyers and Phillies - all of whom seem intent on driving their fans mad.

So while Larry Brown, Charlie Manuel and Peter Laviolette may have been tasked with getting athletes to execute physically during the era of Iverson, J-Roll and Bryzgalov, "Dr. Joel" was on hand to help with players' psyches.

Understandably, he refuses to divulge which individuals he's worked with and to what extent. Of the three teams, he's currently advising just the Sixers. Marcus Hayes caught up with him as the team ended its second straight March to the Lottery.

Q How did you become connected with the local teams?

[Farm director] Del Unser and the Phillies in 1994 were interested in somebody working with their team.

In the mid-'90s the Sixers used to practice at Saint Joseph's University, where I was teaching a course in sports psychology. That led to me doing the personality assessments for their potential draft picks, which began with the 1996 draft. Pat Croce was the owner at that point. I still do their pre-draft assessments, to this day.

That led to an affiliation with the Flyers.

Q Have you ever been a part of a big celebration? Have you been thanked, even as confetti flew?

Oh, yes. I've been in the arena when the Sixers went to the finals in 2001. I was in the arena when the Flyers went a bunch of different years. I was involved in that terrific St. Joe's undefeated team (2003-04). I've had some amazing moments.

In confidence - have to be careful, here - but I've had that hug from a couple of people, who have said, "You really helped me improve the mental part of the game."

I believe you can improve the mental part of every athlete's game 3 to 5 percent to give the athlete a better chance to make that last-minute free throw. You can approach those moments with, "Bring it on!" as opposed to "Oh, boy . . . "

Q So, are you a psychologist or a sports psychologist? Are they mutually inclusive?

The entree is sports and performance, but it's more, isn't it? I was talking to a high-level athlete the other day, and he comes in and says, "I'm in a slump." In 5 minutes we're talking about mother, father, sister, brother.

We're not dealing with machines and robots here. As a licensed psychologist, the art of what I do is figuring out what percentage is "sport" and what percentage is "psychology."

For instance, does the player we're talking about now need to learn how to relax when it's 0-2 with runners in scoring position? Then let's develop a routine, some breathing exercises, things he can say or do in that moment.

Or is there an underlying issue that surfaces in those moments when he's 0-2?

Q What is it like to deal with teams facing almost certain failure over long periods of time, like recent Sixers and Phillies teams?

To be clear, right now I am working just with the Sixers. But having a chance to see the Sixers' practice environment this year, I was amazed at how positive and how consistent and enthusiastic the environment was.

Brett Brown has done a masterful job of setting goals to define what is moving in the right direction. The enthusiasm from beginning to middle to end of the season, and the teaching environment and the teamwork environment - that's unusual to find at the high school or the college level, when you have a lot of losses adding up, let alone at the pro level.

Actually, it was a terrific environment to be a part of, not always people with their heads down.

Q Have you ever had an athlete walk out on you?

Yeah. I have. But the field has changed in the last 15 years. Most Olympic and professional athletes now have had some exposure to sports psychology, so I'm walking into situations where I don't have to educate people the way I used to.

But everybody's wired differently. Some people aren't ready to talk about themselves, what they're feeling and thinking, to listen . . .

Less frequently now, but yeah. Some of those guys who have walked out my door have come back in two, three years later. Some, I'm still waiting for them to come back.

Q On the other hand: Who is the most, er, entertaining person you have encountered?

Well, I can only speak about normal interactions. But the most entertaining has been Charles Barkley. What you see is what you get.

He's a guy who has charisma - a guy who has a terrific sense of humor and also a guy with terrific depth. I appreciate that combination of traits. He's a very genuine guy.