Monday, March 29, 2010

The Power Of Teamwork...

Great picture, huh?

I will admit, I wasn't fully inspired by this year's Duke team, until I saw them in person.

My passion and ethusiasm for Duke hoops, had slightly started to wane heading into this season.

I couldn't put my finger on why. I felt guilty. Was I bad fan? It's hard being named Dukie and not realizing the team was playing on certain nights. I stopped checking Dukebasketballreport (best fan site ever--- my homepage in college--- I think I was upset when they changed their layout). I still loved Coach K. I liked the players. But I wasn't surrounded by others who shared my passion. I'm living here in Miami. Whenever I'd talk Duke hoops to anybody, I'd get eye-rolls. So, I guess, I stopped trying.

Plus, to be perfectly honest, I was getting sick of Duke having the SAME season. The team was earning a 1 or 2 seed in the tournament, and then losing by the Sweet 16, to some team who was just bigger, tougher, and meaner.

I started to question Coach K's motives a bit. Was he too focused on the Olympics? Perhaps his heart wasn't in it like it used to be?

And then I saw them play in person.

It's like a loved one who you are in a little tift with, and then realize, I can't stay mad at you.

I loved the way they played.

In a word, together.

Coach K articulated it well himself after the Elite 8 Game "We're not a great team. We're a really good team, but we have great character."

He's on point.

Baylor was much more talented than Duke, player-to-player.

I saw several NBA-level players on Baylor.

But when things got tight, when it got late, when both teams couldn't score, it was Duke who found a way and then pulled away.

Part of it was simply Nolan Smith. He was playing basketball that could ONLY be described as inspired. A career-high 29 points for Nolan, and now, he leads Duke to the Final Four in the city where his late-father won HIS national title (Nolan's dad won with Louisville in 1980).

I always tell people I don't like sports movies, because real life is always better.

My brother called me during the second round of the tournament to tell me, your boys sure screen a lot, and well. I agreed.

Jay Bilas described Lance Thomas as one of the ONLY guys out there practicing screens during the layup line. Screening isn't the sexiest part of basketball. It's giving up your body so that your teammate can shine. But that's Lance Thomas.

Last night's game had the EXACT formula for what's knocked Duke out EVERY year since the title year in 2001. A top player has an off-night (Kyle Singler), a big man fouls out (Zoubek), and they face a fast, athletic opponent.

But *THIS* year's team didn't succomb. They withstood all of the adversity, and that's why they're marching on.

I have one favorite moment of the tournament so far, that I'd like to single out. If you're reading THIS far, you'll indulge me (the Maryland Folks and Tarheels probably gave up after the first sentence-- i tend to use a lot of big words--- i kid, i kid).

Jon Scheyer, who I love for many reasons (one of which is he's jewish---always a source of pride to see a member of the tribe do well in sports), has been having an awful tournament. At one point, he'd missed 15 straight shots. So when he was open for his 16th attempt, the ball came into his hands, and Jon BURIED IT. They showed a replay. Coach K went absolutely ballastic. He pumped his fists like someone who had just been told "come on down" on the 'price is right.'

That's what this team is about: Belief, trust, picking each other up.

Isn't that what you want in your sports teams? The whole to be greater than the collection of the parts? It's been a pleasure to watch a group of young athletes playing for each other, having each other's back, and achieving what others didn't think was possible (myself included).

Onto Indianapolis Blue Devils.

You've already made so many people, so proud. You've allowed me to rekindle a passion which is life-long, but every now and then, needs to be revived.

And you've shown me why I own not one, but TWO, Coach K Bobble-heads.

How about cutting down the nets one more time?

2 comments:

  1. I find your lack of faith...disturbing.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I did too, if only i had a friend who could post a link to this on dbr... hmmm

    ReplyDelete