I’ve always hated it when someone has tried to tell me how I should feel. Even more, I’ve resented those who see fit to tell me that I have my priorities mixed up or that my mindset is way out of line. None the less, I’m going to take a walk down the Hypocrisy Highway and use this forum to offer up some thoughts and reminders on perspective for everyone in the basketball community…myself included.
I find it somewhat ironic that as we observe Veteran’s Day (November 11, 2013) it’s also the time of year that many of us tend to put on blinders to the real world around us. Folks in the deep end of the basketball pool including coaches, players, parents, evaluators or media and regardless of gender or level of play…gravitate towards having our broader point of view narrowed from November to March. We begin to see things filtered through a basketball lens. Bad games or practices influence our days. Injures or shooting slumps lead to frustrations that goes home with us. The long road of team or recruiting travel takes a toll on sleeping and eating habits while our obsession with the next opponent or the current status of our recruiting efforts constantly hangs over our heads.
Plenty of folks handle the influences of their basketball season with tremendous balance and a sound comprehension of its place in the bigger picture. However, there exists a tremendous block of basketball people that push the limits of common sense, rational thinking and logical choices to the extreme. Many reconcile this annual assent into neurotic behavior with being “committed”, “driven” or “ultra-competitive”. Yeah…keep telling yourself that. There’s a fine line between justification and self-delusion. Unfortunately, I know that one first hand.
Since I’ve been spending excessive time parked at my desk or on the couch trying to rehab a knee that has very different ideas about it’s immediate future, I’ve subjected myself to way too much of the quality (not!) programming that television offers these days. However, last week I watched a movie that I had been very moved by a few years back when it originally aired on HBO. It had no less of an impact the second time around. The 2009 HBO Films production of “Taking Chance” stirred some emotions and gave me cause to put the column I was writing at the time to the side and step up to this pulpit.
Starring Kevin Bacon, “Taking Chance” is adapted from the screenplay and experiences of Marine Lt. Colonel Michael Strobl (Ret.) when he served as a military escort accompanying Marine, PFC Chance Phelps on one final journey following his death in Ar Ramadi, Iraq. If you have not seen it, track it down. If you have, take another look. While the story line follows the journey itself, extensive focus is given to the individuals and groups who interacted with Strobl or bore witness to the respect and honor provided those helping to take Phelps home one last time.
Yes, my analogy is extraordinarily transparent, but if you’re missing the point you have much bigger issues to address anyway. I could just as easily dramatize tales of failed marriages, poor family relationships or the complete and utter oblivion to everything not basketball that seems to sneak up on us this time of year. That being said, if you’re looking for a reminder or a prompt to help you maintain perspective, looks to those in uniforms requiring boots rather than high-tops.
We all tend to get respectful, humbled and conveniently patriotic on Memorial Day, July 4th and Veteran’s Day and then continue on with our everyday lives. I don’t honestly believe anyone with an ounce of sense would ever minimize the active military, veterans and what their sacrifice and service has provided. Because it’s geographically or chronologically removed from us we put them in the back of our minds until it’s time to wave the flag again. It’s hard to deny that, to a degree, conscious and consistent appreciation gets lost in everyday life.
At the beginning of “Taking Chance”, Strobl (Bacon) is shown looking over the casualty lists nightly for Operation Iraqi Freedom. My last few years coaching I would take a name from that list to practice with me each day. I had hopes that it would remind me that a turnover just wasn’t quite as big of a deal as it seemed at the time or that an inability to execute an offensive set wasn’t a criminal act or conspiracy. It would be a lie on my part to tell you that a hero’s name in my pocket kept me from losing my cool and my perspective at times. Basketball will do that to you.
If you’re struggling to find perspective, think about the fact that a large percentage of our military represent the same age group as Odyssey Sims, Breanna Stewart, Chelsea Gray or Alyssa Thomas. Despite the basketball world being a coach’s job, a player’s career or a parent’s pride and joy, it’s still not life and death. Whatever cute phrase or theme a coach chooses to embrace this season, motivate their players with or use as a hash tag should always retain perspective about just where that “journey” lies in the bigger scheme of things. I’ve become uncomfortable when someone talks about “going to war” and “doing battle” when they’re speaking of just a game. It’s a disservice to those who actually risk their life 24 / 7 to equate 40 minutes of basketball with the world they serve and dwell in. And for the record, calling the jerseys Northwestern intends to wear for next week’s football game insensitive would be a gross understatement. (I’ll let you look that one up)
Let’s stop using military terminology in interviews, writings or pregame speeches. I know it’s innocent but nobody making a play on a basketball floor is a “warrior” and the opposition is hardly the “enemy”. Marketing departments have a “night” to honor many groups but most are an effort to fill up the stands. How about making sure that every night is military night and letting those in uniform know they are always welcome at home games…and on somebody else’s dime. Let’s go a step further this season and do more than just keep those serving in mind. As you’re on the road, pick up a tab at a restaurant or add their Starbucks order to your bill. If you’ve got the miles and score the upgrade offer the seat to someone in uniform. Simply take a moment to say “Thank you” as you pass them on the concourse.
Every day, we all need to be cognizant of those wearing and those who have worn the uniform of our country rather than just on occasions like Veteran’s day. We should never forget that player rankings and signing classes all pale in comparison to those who have voluntarily chosen to serve. Their Letter of Intent entails a whole different level of commitment. Literally thousands of high school players dream of waking up on campus as a college athlete but far fewer envision rolling out in Kandahar and going on patrol. Those individuals are the “real” All-Americans.
After all, they provide not only a blanket of security but a much needed perspective about what’s really important in our lives.
Reverend Lewis will pass the collection plate now.
