81
Saturday afternoon the unbeaten and #1 ranked Duke Blue Devils basketball team lost to the Georgetown Hoyas (don't bother asking what a Hoya is; it's so secret no one on earth actually knows). This was an unexpected loss, because Duke had been treating their opponents like chopped liver all season long. And their coach, Mike Krzyzewski, is probably the best college coach ever (sorry, Lute! but you know I still love ya!).
Then on Sunday, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. Wait! EIGHTY-ONE POINTS? No way! Way. That's the second-highest string of dunks, treys, gimmes, rolls, jumpers, faders, bombs, and charity-stripers EVER in the NBA. It's been over 50 years since anyone has scored more than he did (Wilt the Stilt once got a hundred. Yep, 100.).
Amazing. 81? That's more than a lot of teams score. The rest of Kobe's team only got 41. Combined. He was in the zone, en fuego, out of his head, ice, and every other sports cliche you can think of. And unlike Wilt Chamberlain, he did it from the same height as everyone else on the floor (Wilt towered over his opponents). It was a Hall-of-Fame performance from a guy who one day will certainly be in with the rest of the greats. Los Angeles is singing his praise, and everyone else (even his opponents) is giving him the respect he so richly earned. And speaking of "rich"... he's going to ask for and get whatever he wants the rest of his career.
So why would I rather be Coach K? He makes about a tenth of what Kobe makes. He aint got no bling. His house is much smaller, and his wife is much older. And no one can spell his name (but it's pronounced Shu-shev'-sky) But here's the difference: not only is Krzyzewski is great, he is beloved. He is universally respected as a teacher and a tactician. His teams win the right way, and they win a lot. He is honored for who he is, as well as what he does.
He will never score 81 points, but Coach K is known as a MAN. Bryant is only known as a player. There are many different kinds of honor in this world, but even in defeat Mike Krzyzewski's is much more valuable.
Then on Sunday, Kobe Bryant scored 81 points against the Toronto Raptors. Wait! EIGHTY-ONE POINTS? No way! Way. That's the second-highest string of dunks, treys, gimmes, rolls, jumpers, faders, bombs, and charity-stripers EVER in the NBA. It's been over 50 years since anyone has scored more than he did (Wilt the Stilt once got a hundred. Yep, 100.).
Amazing. 81? That's more than a lot of teams score. The rest of Kobe's team only got 41. Combined. He was in the zone, en fuego, out of his head, ice, and every other sports cliche you can think of. And unlike Wilt Chamberlain, he did it from the same height as everyone else on the floor (Wilt towered over his opponents). It was a Hall-of-Fame performance from a guy who one day will certainly be in with the rest of the greats. Los Angeles is singing his praise, and everyone else (even his opponents) is giving him the respect he so richly earned. And speaking of "rich"... he's going to ask for and get whatever he wants the rest of his career.
So why would I rather be Coach K? He makes about a tenth of what Kobe makes. He aint got no bling. His house is much smaller, and his wife is much older. And no one can spell his name (but it's pronounced Shu-shev'-sky) But here's the difference: not only is Krzyzewski is great, he is beloved. He is universally respected as a teacher and a tactician. His teams win the right way, and they win a lot. He is honored for who he is, as well as what he does.
He will never score 81 points, but Coach K is known as a MAN. Bryant is only known as a player. There are many different kinds of honor in this world, but even in defeat Mike Krzyzewski's is much more valuable.
posted by David Hardesty | 1:43 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home