I must say that these excerpts from Tom Izzo’s press conference yesterday are rather touching. They strike a chord with me personally, as I’ve had many of these kinds of conversations with myself, and with Tim, talking about home and family, ambition and adventure, the goals you set for yourself and the impact you might be able to have on others. There’s a point, I think, where all of those things converge, and you come to terms with where exactly that is and what means to the rest of your life, and the legacy you’ll leave behind when you pass away.
Sacrifice. There’s always sacrifice. Izzo gave up a dream, to coach in the NBA, but he gets to keep his home and the pride he no doubt feels for what he’s been able to do at Michigan State. He’ll continue to be a god in Michigan. He could have been a god in Ohio, or more, depending on what LeBron James does, given the depth of fans James has all over the world. But at some point, I suppose, you have to be okay with not getting more than what you already have. Otherwise you just keep chasing forever.
Maybe James is facing a similar moment. He wants to win championships. He wants to be a movie star. He wants to be a billionaire. He wants to be a celebrity. He wants to be a family man. He wants to raise his kids in Akron. He wants to be the most liked guy in the room…
Remarkably, at the age of 25, maybe it’s time for Bron to get to the same place the 55-year-old Izzo just landed at, where you settle on one thing and stop dreaming and chasing and start obsessing over the one huge thing you want more than anything else, or the two or three smaller things you believe you can handle together. To know pursuit, but not to crave it above all else. To be accepting and embrace satisfaction.
Does it happen? I doubt it. The problem with ambitious people is that, by nature, it’s very difficult for them to believe they can’t have it all. That’s why ambitious people tend to leave child support payments, alimony, and used drug paraphernalia in their wake.
For the Cavaliers, what does it all mean? No one can say for sure. But I do know that Izzo’s comments about Dan Gilbert should all make us sleep a little bit better tonight, now one week away from the NBA Draft.
