Blinded by what exactly?

[Ryan, Patrick S Maj RES USAFR 439 MSG]

When did competitive drive end in pro sports?

 

Based on the latest "I ain't playing there" missive issued by Andy Miller,
Agent to Kevin Garnett (presumably speaking with his client's knowledge);
I'm just wondering if there's an ounce of competitive fire left in players
today? In another ode to the wonders of an ADD, MTV quick cut, instant
gratification society no one is willing to place themselves in any situation
even the least bit of a challenge.

 

Want a championship? Don't go anywhere but where it's "virtually
guaranteed".

 

Don't want to play where it's cold? Heck, it's not like you can't buy your
own private jet as a pro athlete, much less live in warmth in the offseason,
but that's too "inconvenient" (the "Snow Birds" of New England have been
doing for over a century now -- summer up North, winter down South -- and
they don't seem any worse for the wear).

 

It was always said whichever free agent bucked the "I don't want to play in
Boston" trend for the Red Sox and contributed to breaking the curse would be
considered a God in New England. I would say that pretty much came true for
Schilling - heck even for Dave Roberts (whose wish to be a full-time player
elsewhere was at least kept under wraps until after the season ended). Yet
over and over again it's the rarity that a player in any pro sports these
days actually takes the riskier road, confident in their own capabilities to
propel their new team to glory. Instead they want to be paired with the
front runner - take the easy way out.  Telling that KGs agent didn't just
come out and say "It's Phoenix or nothing" even though everybody knows
that's exactly the demand isn't it?

 

To my pea brain it's all about legacy.  If you're a Hall of Fame candidate
(and KG is) I have to wonder what would cement my legacy even more - a
"cookie cutter" approach going to a Phoenix or a San Antonio and being a
small piece of a rote championship that will likely be forgotten in a couple
years or the more "epic" approach of attempting to shock the world by being
the man to just maybe bring prominence back to the hallowed Celtics? Which
do you think would be remembered longer? Just look at 2004 and how the
sports city of Boston commemorates its champions (again - Dave Roberts
example) even three years after the fact in a world where we currently
forget what happened yesterday. 

 

KG had a chance to not only try for the greater legacy move (while still
holding the card of opting in 08 out if he'd kept his mouth shut) of maybe
attempting the challenge of an ECF win and "take your chance" for the Finals
with the best clutch player not named Cassell he's ever played with in
Pierce; but to do it in a city that commemorates its champions almost
literally forever. 

 

So ultimately KG proved he's not really all that competitive. He's just a
square filler and when building a legacy - square filling just doesn't cut
it.