Ok, so there was this discussion on the radio this morning about Grant Hill coming back to play for the Pistons. Apparently he is “ring shopping” and is interested in finding the team with the best chance at winning a championship. But the question seems to be one of whether or not Detroit wants him back as opposed to whether or not he wants to come back.
Now, not being a native Michigander, much less a native Detroit …uh…person, I personally don’t care. I think in the long run my husband doesn’t really care either, but he feels the need to start this debate with me nonetheless.
“Do you think it’s right to do that,” he says.
“Do what?” I ask.
“Shop around for a championship team.”
I rolled my eyes in that way that let him know that I was entirely too tired and not nearly caffeinated enough to start that debate. But, after I had my morning jolt, I gave it some thought.
Yeah, I think it’s kind of slimy. Rotten, as a matter of fact.
Basketball is a team sport with a team reward. Is there room for individual excellence and performance? Sure, after all a team is made up individuals. But a team isn’t really a team when they all have personal agendas.
Say you’re on the Pistons, and you’ve worked your behind off the past few years to help them get to the championship. You’re already a good team that is perfectly capable of winning, as has been demonstrated. So, some old guy wants to join your team just because it looks like you guys are going to win again next year. Oh, and he wants actual playing time, too.
Would you jump up off the bench and say, “Here, here……take my spot!! You deserve a ring just because you’ve played a long time and had a good career”?
I don’t think so. At least I wouldn’t. Doesn’t that sort of defeat the whole purpose of competition - being able to switch to a winning team just because you’re about to retire? Does a championship really mean anything if you didn’t labor and sweat and pour your life into the development of the team? Somewhere, deep down in your heart, don’t you know it’s the same as stacking the deck?
I mean, I’m nobody’s judge. That’s just how I thought I would feel about it.
Now, not being a native Michigander, much less a native Detroit …uh…person, I personally don’t care. I think in the long run my husband doesn’t really care either, but he feels the need to start this debate with me nonetheless.
“Do you think it’s right to do that,” he says.
“Do what?” I ask.
“Shop around for a championship team.”
I rolled my eyes in that way that let him know that I was entirely too tired and not nearly caffeinated enough to start that debate. But, after I had my morning jolt, I gave it some thought.
Yeah, I think it’s kind of slimy. Rotten, as a matter of fact.
Basketball is a team sport with a team reward. Is there room for individual excellence and performance? Sure, after all a team is made up individuals. But a team isn’t really a team when they all have personal agendas.
Say you’re on the Pistons, and you’ve worked your behind off the past few years to help them get to the championship. You’re already a good team that is perfectly capable of winning, as has been demonstrated. So, some old guy wants to join your team just because it looks like you guys are going to win again next year. Oh, and he wants actual playing time, too.
Would you jump up off the bench and say, “Here, here……take my spot!! You deserve a ring just because you’ve played a long time and had a good career”?
I don’t think so. At least I wouldn’t. Doesn’t that sort of defeat the whole purpose of competition - being able to switch to a winning team just because you’re about to retire? Does a championship really mean anything if you didn’t labor and sweat and pour your life into the development of the team? Somewhere, deep down in your heart, don’t you know it’s the same as stacking the deck?
I mean, I’m nobody’s judge. That’s just how I thought I would feel about it.
posted by Tiffany | 11:39 AM
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