The Big Chill: LeBron

4 thoughts on “The Big Chill: LeBron”

1. Dear Drew,

   First of all thank you so much for your comments to me yesterday. After the day I had most of yesterday, my ego had taken a Mike Tyson size beating. I definatly needed the ego boost you gave me.

   I’m not sure if what I’m about to say will come across clearly. Blame it on lack of sleep and my sleep medication not kicking in yet. What the Miami Heat is suffering from is what I’d like to call “Dream Team Syndrome”. Let me explain this concept. Remember the first Olympic Dream Team? Bird, Magic, Jordan, et al.? Remember how other Olympic Teams were so in awe of the talent they were giddy just to be on the same court as our Dream Team? Well after that Goliath beating David run the other USA teams started struggling. The other teams weren’t so in awe anymore and we not only had trouble trying to win games but we lost a lot too.

   I feel certain that the Miami Heat had the idea that other teams would be looking at them like the original “Dream Team” One big difference. The other teams in the NBA are not like the Angola national team that the original “Dream Team” faced (though some might wonder about the LeBron-less Cav’s).. They were facing teams with proud players. Professionals in their own right. Game by game you are seeing teams destroying the myth of Miami being a “Dream Team”and the Heat seem befuddled by the fact that other teams won’t simply admit they’re better and give them the NBA title by acclimation.

   As I said earlier. I hope this made sense. I may revise my comments later if need be but only after I get some real sleep. Heading back to bed now.

   All the best

   Louis

2. Good Morning from Omaha,

   playing like a team, what a concept! It seems like the melo-=less nuggets have been playing like a team..last I heard theyhad won four out of five games and they were playing well together. HMMMM do you suppose that idea might catch on around the NBA? It will until the ego that comes with big money destroys it all.

   In other news I read where Melo and lala can’t afford to live in new york and are looking for a place in new jersey..ok I put a little bit of my spin on that one…they can afford to live in New York but don’t want to pay the rents that are being charged for the type of condo/apartment that they want to live in. Maybe Melo isn’t so foolish after all. sign a 65 million dollar contract and he doesn’t want to spend all of his money in the here and now.

   as for lebron and company…they get what they deserve….and for that matter so does Pat riley, who thought he had purchased the goose and the golden egg in one fell swoop.

   Strive for excellence, nothing but your best.

   Gene

3. Drew,

   Amen! There is something lacking in teams like the Heat: they don’t play like a team. They are a bunch of over-paid basketball players, who let their agents negotiate for multi-million dollar contracts – just to feed their egos. They need to get back to schoolyard pick-up games, just as the Avs need to get back to good ol’ pond hockey…and find their “heart,” the reason they love their respective sports.

   I spent my junior high/high school years, and 20s through mid-30s, growing up in St. Cloud, MN. I remember when the president of St. Cloud State University hired Coach Herb Brooks. The university wanted to grow its hockey program and build a new arena…what is now the National Hockey Sports Arena. An Olympic-sized sheet of ice that Olympic-bound youth and young adults would train on, and the St. Cloud State Huskies would call “home.” They brought Coach Brooks in to lead the fund-raising band wagon. For grade school youth hockey players, that sheet of ice is like Mecca. My brother has coached his son and daughter on that ice. This weekend, my boss coached his six-year old son’s Pee-Wee hockey team in a tournament on that sheet of ice. Every team who has ever skated that ice, came their with heart and left everything they had on that rink – for the love of the game.

   I know I’m rambling a bit, and I apologize. I guess I’m just trying to make the point that there is no room for arrogance (assertiveness and appropriate agression is fine) in team sports. There is room for heart; and there are several rosters of individuals in professional basketball and hockey who are lacking the heart for the sport and commitment to their team. “You’ve got to have heart. Miles and miles of heart.” (lyrics from a song in the musical “Damn Yankees.”) When individuals play with heart, they become a team – a cohesive unit with determination, dedication and the skills – with the common goal of winning within their reach.

   As a fan, that is all I ask of my favorite teams…play with heart. I don’t think it is asking for too much. Do you? (Hmmm, the Avs are playing the Wild tonight – just four miles down the road from me – and I am hoping that they are channeling my thoughts. Play with heart, boys. Play with heart.)

   peg

4. Happy mid-day from da Bayou,

   At the risk of sounding like a “hater” my favorite team(s) these days seem to be whoever can beat Miami. This is really just an extension of the dislike I have for the teams that employ the win at any cost attitude and players that chase the money train. Not surprisingly I have not been much of a Yankees fan either.

   I guess I should not hold it against any professional athlete to seek the highest pay he can, but for years now that seems to have eroded any sense of loyalty. In the case with LeBron he decided to openly turn against the team and city after receiving criticism for his departure. An extremely talented young man no doubt, but the manner in which he went after the big money will always leave a bad taste in my mouth.

   I’ll always take the less talented players that want to play together and play with heart over the individual superstars that never figure it out. The example of Herb Brooks and Team USA is spot on. I frequently catch myself wondering what some of the superstars today would do with coaches like Lombardi and Wooden.