On the same day, that Lebron's GQ interview comes out where it documents the days before and after his decision to go to Miami, there was an NBA player who today called it quits after 13 seasons. He has never been a star player but rather a serviceable or at times a bench warmer as was the case in his final years in Orlando playing behind Dwight Howard and Marcin Gortat. Yet, for Adonal Foyle it has been a serene dream that he has savored every day of his life.
He was born on March 9, 1975, in Canouan, St. Vincent and the Grenadines where he spent his childhood and early teenage years until he was 15. Foyle was adopted by Colgate professors Joan and Jay Mandle and eventually went to school at Colgate after leading Hamilton Central in Hamilton, NY to two State Championships.
During his four years, he was the leading shot blocker in NCAA history now third after Wojceich Marda and current Miami Heat draft pick, Jarvis Varnado. In addition, he was the school's leading rebounder all time and 2nd All-Time leading scorer within three years. He graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in History.
Foyle was drafted by the Golden State Warriors in the 1997 draft with the eighth pick. Yet, his biggest contribution has not been on the court but rather off the court. Adonal has been active in humanitarian issues and the founder of an organization Democracy Matters, a non-partisan campus-backed project. This organization has been working to help curb the effects of money on politics. His passionate vigor to make young people civic and politically minded has garnered him widespread praise.
In 2005, he founded Kerosene Lamp Foundation, which tries to bring education and health wellness to his native homeland. They currently assisted 2500 children in the Caribbean and USA alone. Last year, he was inducted for his great works to the World Sports Humanitarian Hall of Fame, which features NBA Hall of Famers such as Julius Erving, Tiny Archibald and David Robinson.
In addition, He is a well-read man who recommended in a recent blog "The Fountainhead" because he views it as a challenge to a person's mind. Foyle views Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen as one of his favorites. Looking at his choice of books makes him look like a Rhodes Scholar in shorts compared to his peers and myself as well.
He may not have been the greatest player in the NBA nor the most talented. In fact, he was yet another bad draft pick by the long suffering Golden State Warriors. Yet, here was a man who used his profession as a platform to help his fellow man not by giving money to some charity for good P.R. but by trying to change society for the better. Foyle is the poster child of what we should look up to as a human being.
Fittingly, he sums up his career with a poem that is both touching and sums up Adonal Foyle down to a T. You can find this poem and other poems on this link: http://www.adonalfoyle.com/poetry_corner.shtml
Love Song to a Game
How should I tell thee goodbye?
What can you say about a love affair
to rival that of Romeo & Juliet?
This is not just some melancholy ode
to a hackneyed love of mortals.
I found our love deep in the entrails
of the Caribbean Sea.
Love that swept me to a land
where our embrace became mythical.
You showed me a world
that few have dreamt of.
Colgate's golden steeple, a sojurn
where ancient teachings flooded my mind.
There in the Chenango Valley
where 13 sang my soul to flight,
basketball laid siege to my soul.
I do not cry for the passing of our love
for it stands radiant while my brittle bones
crumble through swift time.
I have known you by so many faces;
I will spend my end of days recalling.
You have infected so many with
the allure of riches and black gold.
But I am not angry with you my love.
For to a boy who was lost in the bosom of nothing
you gave hope and home.
Like the flickering of a light
we come and go without much fuss.
So I leave you to fend off seekers,
hoping they too will cherish
your unyielding countenance.
As for me,
I will forever live in the glare of your loving embrace.
From time to time I hope you will look in on this pitiful fool.
I will miss brothers of a quilt struggling with burning lights.
If I offer advice, pierce beyond the glaring lights
and see the faces behind the wall.
Don't be fooled by the magicians' nibble fingers.
For this is a life with mirrors and screens.
Its only truth lies in the understanding it will all end.
The sound I will take home
is the symphony of thousands of screaming friends.
Warriors, Magic and yes, Memphis too,
I sing you praise, hope, blessings,
Flowing from a boy's songs of thanks
to you and you and you,to all I knew.
Please stay my "immortal love."
You can find this poem and his other poems on this link: http://www.adonalfoyle.com/poetry_corner.shtml
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Monday, August 16, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
USC Trojans; A New Era of Uncertainty
In January of 2005, the University of Southern California was on top of the world following a thrashing of Big 12 power, Oklahoma University. They were at the peak of their powers with players such as Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, Lendale White, Lawrence Jackson, Sedrick Ellis, Rey Maualuga, and Brian Cushing. It was a great day for a team led by the charismatic Pete Carroll who resurrected a once proud tradition in just three short years.
Flash forward five years later, the memories of glory that USC enjoyed is now all but forgotten following the sanctions leveled by the NCAA just last month. The findings were mostly about Reggie Bush taking money, cars, accessories and such from Lloyd Lake while at USC. His refusal to pay the booster has led to years of investigations by NCAA towards the University and its failures from the staff to root out the problem. This has led to the resignations of Athletic Director Mike Garrett, football coordinators, loss of scholarships, and a bowl ban for the upcoming season.
The resignation of Mike Garrett ends a 17 year run that oversaw success in football,tennis, baseball, water polo and a high graduation rate. Unfortunately, his legacy takes a beating for his aloofness to the media and inability to answer any questions during the investigation of the football as well as the basketball team. His speech to boosters in San Francisco following the punishment basically described the USC football program best during its 8 year run: Arrogance.
Prior to his resignation, the men's basketball team was also being investigated due to then coach Tim Floyd allegedly providing money to an L.A. events promoter to lure OJ Mayo, currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, to USC. Garrett then filed a self-imposed postseason ban and vacating of 21 wins from the 2007-08 season that one writer called as an effort to protect the football team aka money cow. Alas, it did not.
Currently, the University is appealing the ruling by the NCAA. Yesterday, was also the hiring of Pat Haden as the new Athletic Director. Pat Haden was a former Trojan great, Rhodes Scholar and recently an announcer for Notre Dame football games. He is viewed as a good choice and someone with good media skills to handle the finicky nature of the media such as Los Angeles. Haden hired JK Mckay, son of USC coaching great John McKay and former college teammate. They go way back as far as their high school days and at one time playing for a long forgotten Southern California Sun of the World Football League .
Later in the day, the USC president has ordered the removal of murals depicting fallen heroes, Reggie Bush, and OJ Mayo. The University has taken down his retired jersey from the Coliseum as well as any pictures depicting them as well. They have also sent the 2005 Heisman Trophy won by Reggie Bush to the Heisman Trophy Trust, which is an unprecedented move in collegiate athletics.
Yet, it begs the question whether it can help in its appeals process. It certainly is a step in the right direction as the report stated the University distance itself from Reggie Bush. Can they win an appeal against the NCAA? It's a long shot that may take 1-2 years at best. All that is certain is that the University, Haden and McKay have a big mess to clean up. It will take years to clean up even if they win because as history has shown few colleges or universities ever came away from this unscathed. Just ask Miami in the mid-90s.
Flash forward five years later, the memories of glory that USC enjoyed is now all but forgotten following the sanctions leveled by the NCAA just last month. The findings were mostly about Reggie Bush taking money, cars, accessories and such from Lloyd Lake while at USC. His refusal to pay the booster has led to years of investigations by NCAA towards the University and its failures from the staff to root out the problem. This has led to the resignations of Athletic Director Mike Garrett, football coordinators, loss of scholarships, and a bowl ban for the upcoming season.
The resignation of Mike Garrett ends a 17 year run that oversaw success in football,tennis, baseball, water polo and a high graduation rate. Unfortunately, his legacy takes a beating for his aloofness to the media and inability to answer any questions during the investigation of the football as well as the basketball team. His speech to boosters in San Francisco following the punishment basically described the USC football program best during its 8 year run: Arrogance.
Prior to his resignation, the men's basketball team was also being investigated due to then coach Tim Floyd allegedly providing money to an L.A. events promoter to lure OJ Mayo, currently playing for the Memphis Grizzlies, to USC. Garrett then filed a self-imposed postseason ban and vacating of 21 wins from the 2007-08 season that one writer called as an effort to protect the football team aka money cow. Alas, it did not.
Currently, the University is appealing the ruling by the NCAA. Yesterday, was also the hiring of Pat Haden as the new Athletic Director. Pat Haden was a former Trojan great, Rhodes Scholar and recently an announcer for Notre Dame football games. He is viewed as a good choice and someone with good media skills to handle the finicky nature of the media such as Los Angeles. Haden hired JK Mckay, son of USC coaching great John McKay and former college teammate. They go way back as far as their high school days and at one time playing for a long forgotten Southern California Sun of the World Football League .
Later in the day, the USC president has ordered the removal of murals depicting fallen heroes, Reggie Bush, and OJ Mayo. The University has taken down his retired jersey from the Coliseum as well as any pictures depicting them as well. They have also sent the 2005 Heisman Trophy won by Reggie Bush to the Heisman Trophy Trust, which is an unprecedented move in collegiate athletics.
Yet, it begs the question whether it can help in its appeals process. It certainly is a step in the right direction as the report stated the University distance itself from Reggie Bush. Can they win an appeal against the NCAA? It's a long shot that may take 1-2 years at best. All that is certain is that the University, Haden and McKay have a big mess to clean up. It will take years to clean up even if they win because as history has shown few colleges or universities ever came away from this unscathed. Just ask Miami in the mid-90s.
Friday, July 16, 2010
NBA Summer League: Where Hope either lives or dies.
Every searing hot Vegas or humid Orlando summer, we see a lot of rookies, journeymen and vice versa converge for a spot on an NBA roster. They each were stars in their respective college programs in one form or another. Some of them, will get a training invite while others will continue their dream overseas probably in Europe or the NBA Developmental League aka NBDL.
In this case, there is one player from the St. Mary's College in Northern California who is an interesting example of someone trying to make a roster. His name is Omar Samhan and he currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks Summer League team.
He played for four years but did not get notoriety until this past year's NCAA tournament where he scored 32 points in an upset over Big East power Villanova. Yet, he was never drafted in the 2010 draft. Throughout the Summer league, he has shown a nice back to the basket game and range as he once shot two 3s within 5 minutes of the game. Samhan has some problems with defensive technique but that can be corrected with coaching.
His chances of finding a spot in Dallas are next to nil because of the recent trade for Ty Chandler and signing of Brendan Haywood. He has shown great footwork that he claims in a recent You Tube video: see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0iNuY4xRTI&feature=popular.
In the brief video, he is engaging, funny, a good chemistry guy you need on a team. In addition, he was someone who would find a home as 11-12th man in an NBA roster for a team in need of height i.e. Miami. Yet, today he was signed for 2 years for BC Žalgiris in the Lithuanian Basketball League, which is one of the oldest Euroleague Basketball teams . They signed him where hopefully his talents can be developed rather than languish on the bench. He may never see an NBA roster for a while but his chance may come eventually.
Although, the league is where players have glorified games (See Anthony Randolph). They do not translate under the bright lights of the NBA season but there are gems to be found that can crack a team and maybe become a key contributor. For example, Wes Matthews son of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Wes Matthews. He was undrafted out of Marquette but he impressed the Jazz scouts so much that he became a key contributor for the Utah. Today, he signed for an exorbitant sum of 5 years 34 million to the Portland Trail Blazers. Not bad for a guy making at least 450 grand.
In addition, we see other players who were drafted yet never fully developed their talents as was the case with Gerald Green. He played for the Lakers summer league team after spending a year with CSKA Moscow in Russia. Coming out of High School, he was regarded as the next T-Mac but never panned out other than for his athleticism and dunking. Green has been a contestant in the NBA dunk contest where he won just three years before. Unfortunately, he has been discarded by three teams (Boston, Minnesota, and Dallas) due to lack of improvement on a year to year basis.
In this year's Summer League, his play demonstrated both why he has such potential as well as how he burned out of the NBA so quickly. For example, he would make a sublime jumper or jaw dropping hammer slam. Yet, for ever great play, he would then get picked off while dribbling the ball or taking an ill-advised pass and/or shot. He's only 24 but it appears that his time may be running out on his NBA hopes.
As Summer League draws to a close this coming Sunday, it may be the last one to date as the NBA apocalypse looms (NBA lockout) on June 1, 2011. The latest news in the CBA negotiations does not bring any comfort with the Players Union disagreeing with the Owners about the league losing $370 million. Perhaps, for these players it is their last chance to make an NBA roster or spend an uncertain amount of time overseas hoping for a call that may never come. For now, it's in the back of the NBA hopefuls minds, as it's a battle to catch the eye of a team and hopefully a home.
In this case, there is one player from the St. Mary's College in Northern California who is an interesting example of someone trying to make a roster. His name is Omar Samhan and he currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks Summer League team.
He played for four years but did not get notoriety until this past year's NCAA tournament where he scored 32 points in an upset over Big East power Villanova. Yet, he was never drafted in the 2010 draft. Throughout the Summer league, he has shown a nice back to the basket game and range as he once shot two 3s within 5 minutes of the game. Samhan has some problems with defensive technique but that can be corrected with coaching.
His chances of finding a spot in Dallas are next to nil because of the recent trade for Ty Chandler and signing of Brendan Haywood. He has shown great footwork that he claims in a recent You Tube video: see here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0iNuY4xRTI&feature=popular.
In the brief video, he is engaging, funny, a good chemistry guy you need on a team. In addition, he was someone who would find a home as 11-12th man in an NBA roster for a team in need of height i.e. Miami. Yet, today he was signed for 2 years for BC Žalgiris in the Lithuanian Basketball League, which is one of the oldest Euroleague Basketball teams . They signed him where hopefully his talents can be developed rather than languish on the bench. He may never see an NBA roster for a while but his chance may come eventually.
Although, the league is where players have glorified games (See Anthony Randolph). They do not translate under the bright lights of the NBA season but there are gems to be found that can crack a team and maybe become a key contributor. For example, Wes Matthews son of former Los Angeles Lakers guard Wes Matthews. He was undrafted out of Marquette but he impressed the Jazz scouts so much that he became a key contributor for the Utah. Today, he signed for an exorbitant sum of 5 years 34 million to the Portland Trail Blazers. Not bad for a guy making at least 450 grand.
In addition, we see other players who were drafted yet never fully developed their talents as was the case with Gerald Green. He played for the Lakers summer league team after spending a year with CSKA Moscow in Russia. Coming out of High School, he was regarded as the next T-Mac but never panned out other than for his athleticism and dunking. Green has been a contestant in the NBA dunk contest where he won just three years before. Unfortunately, he has been discarded by three teams (Boston, Minnesota, and Dallas) due to lack of improvement on a year to year basis.
In this year's Summer League, his play demonstrated both why he has such potential as well as how he burned out of the NBA so quickly. For example, he would make a sublime jumper or jaw dropping hammer slam. Yet, for ever great play, he would then get picked off while dribbling the ball or taking an ill-advised pass and/or shot. He's only 24 but it appears that his time may be running out on his NBA hopes.
As Summer League draws to a close this coming Sunday, it may be the last one to date as the NBA apocalypse looms (NBA lockout) on June 1, 2011. The latest news in the CBA negotiations does not bring any comfort with the Players Union disagreeing with the Owners about the league losing $370 million. Perhaps, for these players it is their last chance to make an NBA roster or spend an uncertain amount of time overseas hoping for a call that may never come. For now, it's in the back of the NBA hopefuls minds, as it's a battle to catch the eye of a team and hopefully a home.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
George Steinbrenner: Hero, Villain, and Icon
Today, was a day where baseball's collection of great talents were to converge on Anaheim for another edition of the Mid-Summer classic. It was a day where we would see players like Derek Jeter, David Price, Umbaldo Jimenez play right across from Disneyland. Unfortunately, the day has becomea solemn one with the unfortunate passing of George Steinbrenner who died of a heart attack at the age of 80.
On Jan. 3, 1973, George Steinbrenner a shipping magnate from Ohio bought the Yankees for a then whopping 8.7 million dollars from the Columbia Broadcasting Company (CBS) who were fed up with owning the team. In 2010 money, that would be 44.3 milion dollars. Today, the Yankees are worth over a billion dollars. He was innovatinve by having a network devoted to the Yankees and New Jersey Nets called the YES network. This network allows a team like the Yankees another revenue stream to make the pricey acquistions possible.
During his reign, he was a controversial figure yet as long as he was your owner, Steinbrenner would do almost anything to win. Steinbrenner paid a lot of money to get great talent. Sometimes, he would pay huge amounts that most people thought were absolutely insane. It stems from his father telling him that second place was just as bad as losing. This fueled his desire to make his team better and in business where he revived his father's shipping business before he was owner of the Yankees.
At times, it would work such as the signings of Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter. It led to two World Series victories. Other times, it would absolutely backfire as it was evident when the Yankees did not win a single World Series for the rest of the 1980s and mid-1990s nor make the playoffs. This era came at the expense of Don Mattingly who coincedentally played his whole career during that same period. Eventually, Yankee fans were fed up with Steinbrenner's hands-on approach because of the long drought. He was parodied on Seinfeld because of it along with firing seventeen managers, which led to the NY tabloids annointing him" The Boss."
In the mid-70s, he was nailed by the FBI for illegally giving campaign contributions to the Nixon presidency which forced him out of baseball for two years. He was banned from baseball for betting forty grand to a gambler to find dirt on his own player. This resulted in a liftetime ban but he would be back in just three years. Yet, the three year ban from baseball for the Yankees allowed it to develop their farm system, which gave rise to the Yankee dynasty of late 1990s and early 2000s. It gave rise to players such as Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.
Yet, through his reign, the Yankees have won 7 World Series Championship and have become the envy of every baseball fan across America. In 2008, he paid close to $500 million for CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Texiera which paid off with a World Series title just last year. In addition, he was vital to the new billion dollar Yankee Stadium which stand across the street from the old Yankee Stadium currently being torn down for a new recreational park.
He was larger than life and an icon not just in New York but for baseball itself. For better of for worse, George Steinbrenner changed free agency in baseball and set a precedent for future owners in different sports such as Mark Cuban, Ted Leonis, Daniel Snyder, Micky Arison, James Dolan and Mikahi Prokhorovs of the world. He said it best during his thirty-seven year reign as owner of the New York Yankees: "I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been successful - but I know that I have tried."
On Jan. 3, 1973, George Steinbrenner a shipping magnate from Ohio bought the Yankees for a then whopping 8.7 million dollars from the Columbia Broadcasting Company (CBS) who were fed up with owning the team. In 2010 money, that would be 44.3 milion dollars. Today, the Yankees are worth over a billion dollars. He was innovatinve by having a network devoted to the Yankees and New Jersey Nets called the YES network. This network allows a team like the Yankees another revenue stream to make the pricey acquistions possible.
During his reign, he was a controversial figure yet as long as he was your owner, Steinbrenner would do almost anything to win. Steinbrenner paid a lot of money to get great talent. Sometimes, he would pay huge amounts that most people thought were absolutely insane. It stems from his father telling him that second place was just as bad as losing. This fueled his desire to make his team better and in business where he revived his father's shipping business before he was owner of the Yankees.
At times, it would work such as the signings of Reggie Jackson and Catfish Hunter. It led to two World Series victories. Other times, it would absolutely backfire as it was evident when the Yankees did not win a single World Series for the rest of the 1980s and mid-1990s nor make the playoffs. This era came at the expense of Don Mattingly who coincedentally played his whole career during that same period. Eventually, Yankee fans were fed up with Steinbrenner's hands-on approach because of the long drought. He was parodied on Seinfeld because of it along with firing seventeen managers, which led to the NY tabloids annointing him" The Boss."
In the mid-70s, he was nailed by the FBI for illegally giving campaign contributions to the Nixon presidency which forced him out of baseball for two years. He was banned from baseball for betting forty grand to a gambler to find dirt on his own player. This resulted in a liftetime ban but he would be back in just three years. Yet, the three year ban from baseball for the Yankees allowed it to develop their farm system, which gave rise to the Yankee dynasty of late 1990s and early 2000s. It gave rise to players such as Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams, Jorge Posada and Mariano Rivera.
Yet, through his reign, the Yankees have won 7 World Series Championship and have become the envy of every baseball fan across America. In 2008, he paid close to $500 million for CC Sabathia, AJ Burnett, Mark Texiera which paid off with a World Series title just last year. In addition, he was vital to the new billion dollar Yankee Stadium which stand across the street from the old Yankee Stadium currently being torn down for a new recreational park.
He was larger than life and an icon not just in New York but for baseball itself. For better of for worse, George Steinbrenner changed free agency in baseball and set a precedent for future owners in different sports such as Mark Cuban, Ted Leonis, Daniel Snyder, Micky Arison, James Dolan and Mikahi Prokhorovs of the world. He said it best during his thirty-seven year reign as owner of the New York Yankees: "I haven't always done a good job, and I haven't always been successful - but I know that I have tried."
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Kevin Durant: The Silent Superstar
You do not hear stories about Kevin Durant the same way we currently hear about Wade, Bosh and Lebron this summer. We always hear about where they were going, which leaves every fans hanging at their every word along with me included. Yet, where is Durant? He is someone who would have been available in 2011 Free Agency along with Chris Paul, Carmelo Anthony and Tony Parker that is unless we have a lockout but that is a story for another year.
This morning, Kevin Durant signed a 5 year 86 million dollar deal to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It would have been big news that he would stay with a team that will no doubt dominate the West after the Lakers reign is over within 1-2 years maybe three. Yet, his signing was unfortunately sent to the back pages as Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh agreed to join forces in Miami along with Carlos Boozer going to Chicago. It's not surprising that Kevin Durant's signing has been overshadowed but that has been part of his whole career from day one partly due to playing in a market like Oklahoma City. In addition, a city who received a team that was literally hijacked from Seattle just two years before.
Anyway I digress, what makes Durant different from his peers is that he shares similar special traits that Tim Duncan currently displays with the San Antonio Spurs. He has become their big brother who always treats his teammates as well as rookies or journeymen trying to make the team as equals. In fact, he is currently in Orlando coaching the OKC summer league that looks like an elite academy team for a major soccer club. He cheers and encourages them during the game. What kind of Superstar in the NBA does that anymore?
Does Bosh do it? Does Lebron do it? Does Kobe do it or even Michael Jordan AKA G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)? No!!!. This is unheard of in the 21st Century of sports athletes. You would think it went extinct the way of players doubling the coach of the team or riding the bus for a 18-32 hour bus ride to the next game and even sleeping in a run of the mill motel rather than a posh hotel.
Today, we hear about players becoming brands but not Kevin Durant. He will get endorsements but probably will be in the background of a commercial starring a Lebron, or Wade. Yet, Durant is all about winning which is what great players are all about going back to Jerry West, Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, and etc. This is a superstar that basketball aficionados will enjoy and revere long after his career much like they do with John Stockton has been set in stone.
Al Davis said it best and it is Kevin Durant's mantra for the next six years he is in Oklahoma City: Just Win Baby.
This morning, Kevin Durant signed a 5 year 86 million dollar deal to stay with the Oklahoma City Thunder. It would have been big news that he would stay with a team that will no doubt dominate the West after the Lakers reign is over within 1-2 years maybe three. Yet, his signing was unfortunately sent to the back pages as Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh agreed to join forces in Miami along with Carlos Boozer going to Chicago. It's not surprising that Kevin Durant's signing has been overshadowed but that has been part of his whole career from day one partly due to playing in a market like Oklahoma City. In addition, a city who received a team that was literally hijacked from Seattle just two years before.
Anyway I digress, what makes Durant different from his peers is that he shares similar special traits that Tim Duncan currently displays with the San Antonio Spurs. He has become their big brother who always treats his teammates as well as rookies or journeymen trying to make the team as equals. In fact, he is currently in Orlando coaching the OKC summer league that looks like an elite academy team for a major soccer club. He cheers and encourages them during the game. What kind of Superstar in the NBA does that anymore?
Does Bosh do it? Does Lebron do it? Does Kobe do it or even Michael Jordan AKA G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)? No!!!. This is unheard of in the 21st Century of sports athletes. You would think it went extinct the way of players doubling the coach of the team or riding the bus for a 18-32 hour bus ride to the next game and even sleeping in a run of the mill motel rather than a posh hotel.
Today, we hear about players becoming brands but not Kevin Durant. He will get endorsements but probably will be in the background of a commercial starring a Lebron, or Wade. Yet, Durant is all about winning which is what great players are all about going back to Jerry West, Bill Russell, Willis Reed, Larry Bird, Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Isiah Thomas, Michael Jordan, and etc. This is a superstar that basketball aficionados will enjoy and revere long after his career much like they do with John Stockton has been set in stone.
Al Davis said it best and it is Kevin Durant's mantra for the next six years he is in Oklahoma City: Just Win Baby.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)