(Written and posted on Facebook on February 21, 2013 at 2:05pm.)
Trust, understanding, comfort - in essence, chemistry - is a huge part of any team sport. With all these trades going on in all of the professional sports, there is more at play than simply a business decision and many more factors than purely business considerations.
There is the gambling component that owners and management take on. How much are they willing to gamble that "new" team will developing the trust and dedication to one another to make up for breaking up the previous chemistry? How much are they willing to gamble that the fans will embrace the new players, the new team, and purchase the new memorabilia and jerseys to replace the now-no-longer-with-us? How much are they willing to gamble that new fans will replenish the ranks in the event that other fans leave? How much time are management and fans willing to give to players and coaching staffs to develop the types of relationships (that do not necessarily mean best friends) that are needed to be successful on the court? The answer to both questions is certainly hundreds of millions, and certainly considerably more across the individual sport. Instant monetary business gratification is certainly at play, even, in my opinion, with the invocation of the "long-term vision" PR quote that involves trading away teams' vital players for visions of an idyllic future . Money will always be in power; somebody has to write the checks.
But the real concern I have relates to the players and coaching staffs on the individual level.
For me, the implications, ramifications, and reality of the personal questions that are the most important and potentially most dangerous. How much time, consideration, and support are given to players and coaching staffs to recover from and move forward with news that their trusted friends and teammates are being sent elsewhere? How much time, consideration, and support are given to the new players who come in? Not only do they have to work through leaving trusted friends and teammates, they must also work through developing trust and understanding with their new teams. Owners and management pay what has become lip-service to these questions of time, support, and understanding.
It's quite apparent that "times have changed." There is the Machiavellian rationalization that "the ends justify the means." And we are certainly not allowed to forget the admonishment that "it's just business." But the difficult reality that is often minimized and at worst dismissed the very real fact that "the business" is in the business of human beings. I doubt even the contract fine print includes a clause stating what many take for granted, if they even think about it all: your profession requires that you immediately develop trust, friendship, and understanding with your teammates, whoever they may be, whenever they arrive, whatever your position is, but you must be willing and able to suspend all of that, largely (with a few notable exceptions *coughDwightHowardRayAllen*) at the discretion of the owners and management. It's bad enough being a fan watching your favorite player being shipped elsewhere, watching friendships fall apart (e.g. KG and Ray Allen), and knowing that there is so much more behind the scenes in the locker room, at home, and in their heads.
I'm sure players and coaching staffs on all sides struggle with the reality that the individual with whom they are expected to rapidly (preferably instantaneously) develop strong ties of trust and chemistry may not be by their side next season, next month, next week, or even at the game that night (*coughGSWarriorsMontaeEllisEkpeUdohToMilwaukeeBucks*). I do not envy the uncertainty. I do not envy the trade rumors or the trade mullings of the management. I do not envy the feelings of betrayal that you do not fit, are not sufficient, are not wanted, of non-communication. I do not envy subjects of secretive trades, even if the owner or manager thinks to call you afterwards to inform post-facto. I do not envy the resulting and associated emotional rollercoasters of the players, their families, the coaching and training staff, and their non-teammate friends. And I certainly do not envy the the sad and painful moments when they turn to share and the buddy isn't there.
"It's just business. It's a competition. Be professional. Pick up. Move on." I get the distinct impression that it is far easier said than done.
Trust, understanding, comfort - in essence, chemistry - is a huge part of any team sport. With all these trades going on in all of the professional sports, there is more at play than simply a business decision and many more factors than purely business considerations.
There is the gambling component that owners and management take on. How much are they willing to gamble that "new" team will developing the trust and dedication to one another to make up for breaking up the previous chemistry? How much are they willing to gamble that the fans will embrace the new players, the new team, and purchase the new memorabilia and jerseys to replace the now-no-longer-with-us? How much are they willing to gamble that new fans will replenish the ranks in the event that other fans leave? How much time are management and fans willing to give to players and coaching staffs to develop the types of relationships (that do not necessarily mean best friends) that are needed to be successful on the court? The answer to both questions is certainly hundreds of millions, and certainly considerably more across the individual sport. Instant monetary business gratification is certainly at play, even, in my opinion, with the invocation of the "long-term vision" PR quote that involves trading away teams' vital players for visions of an idyllic future . Money will always be in power; somebody has to write the checks.
But the real concern I have relates to the players and coaching staffs on the individual level.
For me, the implications, ramifications, and reality of the personal questions that are the most important and potentially most dangerous. How much time, consideration, and support are given to players and coaching staffs to recover from and move forward with news that their trusted friends and teammates are being sent elsewhere? How much time, consideration, and support are given to the new players who come in? Not only do they have to work through leaving trusted friends and teammates, they must also work through developing trust and understanding with their new teams. Owners and management pay what has become lip-service to these questions of time, support, and understanding.
It's quite apparent that "times have changed." There is the Machiavellian rationalization that "the ends justify the means." And we are certainly not allowed to forget the admonishment that "it's just business." But the difficult reality that is often minimized and at worst dismissed the very real fact that "the business" is in the business of human beings. I doubt even the contract fine print includes a clause stating what many take for granted, if they even think about it all: your profession requires that you immediately develop trust, friendship, and understanding with your teammates, whoever they may be, whenever they arrive, whatever your position is, but you must be willing and able to suspend all of that, largely (with a few notable exceptions *coughDwightHowardRayAllen*) at the discretion of the owners and management. It's bad enough being a fan watching your favorite player being shipped elsewhere, watching friendships fall apart (e.g. KG and Ray Allen), and knowing that there is so much more behind the scenes in the locker room, at home, and in their heads.
I'm sure players and coaching staffs on all sides struggle with the reality that the individual with whom they are expected to rapidly (preferably instantaneously) develop strong ties of trust and chemistry may not be by their side next season, next month, next week, or even at the game that night (*coughGSWarriorsMontaeEllisEkpeUdohToMilwaukeeBucks*). I do not envy the uncertainty. I do not envy the trade rumors or the trade mullings of the management. I do not envy the feelings of betrayal that you do not fit, are not sufficient, are not wanted, of non-communication. I do not envy subjects of secretive trades, even if the owner or manager thinks to call you afterwards to inform post-facto. I do not envy the resulting and associated emotional rollercoasters of the players, their families, the coaching and training staff, and their non-teammate friends. And I certainly do not envy the the sad and painful moments when they turn to share and the buddy isn't there.
"It's just business. It's a competition. Be professional. Pick up. Move on." I get the distinct impression that it is far easier said than done.
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