This week, in a defeat of my prognosticating skills, the San Antonio Spurs shocked the two-time defending champs, Miami Heat, by winning this year's NBA Championship in a very convincing manner.
It definitely made up - redeemed them - for last year's oh so close call. Sometimes, sports goes beyond just being about sports and this is that rare occasion.
They'd been written of after last year's defeat - that they were too old, players should be changed, etc. - and to come back in a manner they did demonstrated that oh so rare ability to get up and make a go at things again.
The irony, of course, is that had they actually won last year, there'd be no beautiful redemption story. Sometimes one wonders if things happen to us to allow us to inspire others - more on this later. More of God's mysterious ways, perhaps?
A few final thoughts on the Spurs' victory:
- The coach, Gregg Popovich, has been coaching 17 years but his success partly comes from the fact that he adjusts to his players and adjusted to the game. He's understood that those things evolve and he has not pushed his own agenda...style of play.
- He values his players as human beings - once stopping a coaching session to honor the passage of a law honoring native Australians in a nod to one of his players, Patty Mills, being of Aboriginal descent.
Written June 19, 2014
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