A fascinating event begins this evening, and while the event actually takes place on basketball’s hardwood, I promise that this post is not about sports. As in the recent stories of Donald Sterling and Michael Sam, sports often serves as a societal microcosm. So many pay attention, and the lessons and learning often surpass the arena or the game.
Tonight begins “The Finals,” the annual championship series between the best of the NBA. The winner of the best of 7 series will receive the coveted Walter A. Brown Trophy and be crowned the year’s victor. It is the event that made Bird and Boston and Magic and Michael household names. Tonight, however, is unique for a far different reason.
The 2014 Finals features the Miami Heat vs. the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs are considered the nation’s best team. As written in USA Today’s analysis: “The Spurs have been the best team in the NBA all season. They have unprecedented depth, with no one averaging 30 minutes a game in the regular season, and they play with a natural grace through ball movement that makes them one of the most beautiful-to-watch teams in the NBA.”
The Heat are considered as having the best player. Also as written by USA Today: “LeBron James is LeBron James, still the best player in the world…”
The Spurs vs. Heat. The best team vs. the best player. More than one vs. one. Team vs. individual. Therein lies the observation: which is the more successful, profitable approach? Which is more efficient? Which rallies people behind you? … accomplishments that are attributed most to a team — where many contribute relatively equal but different efforts in leadership, performance, and decision-making? … or when the leadership, performance, and decision-making is attributed to a single individual?
It’s hard to ignore the parallels with American leadership. Many also prefer to “go it alone” as opposed to work together. Now granted, it’s no secret that our often visibly dysfunctional government refuses to work together — preferring to find both convenience and comfort in either arrogance or opposition. Yet this country was established with a system of checks and balances that created three equal levels of government — not one level that’s superior or a single level that’s wisest and best. The checks and balances are intentional.
Hence, on a day when the lead story continues to center around the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl in exchange for 5 high-ranking Taliban detainees — when many suggest Bergdahl was a deserter and the price was thus too high to pay — when the White House bypassed Congress — when both Republicans and Democrats complain about not being informed, which may or may not be illegal — when the White House apologizes for an oversight — when it’s hard to discern what’s right, wrong, or somewhere in between — on this day, the Intramuralist makes two primary observations:
First, we don’t have all the information. We don’t need all the information. And thus, we are incapable of discerning from the convenience of our living room couch whether the release of a single soldier for five terrorists was foolish or wise.
And second, some people still prefer to “go it alone.”
Please don’t read into the Intramuralist’s observations that I believe it’s foolish to go it alone. I didn’t say that. Note that by “going it alone” so-to-speak, LeBron James has won the last two titles; he’s been victorious and successful. Granted, by utilizing the entire team, the Spurs had the best record all season long. The Spurs have been successful by tapping into the talents, utilizing the efforts, and including the insight and expetise of far more than a few.
So who wins? Who will be most successful — the team or the individual? At least on the hardwood, we’ll find out soon.
Respectfully…
AR