The World is Alright

     When you're a kid, one of the lessons ingrained in your head is one about hard work and perseverance.  "You have to work hard, keep trying and never give up!" so the lesson goes. It sounds simple enough and it's a noble one.  Yet, the world in its modern age, has become cutthroat; overcome with an obsession for results,records, and achievements, but never about the hard work.  It brought in desperation and greed morphing the lesson into a horrible mantra. "Be practical.  You have to find the easiest solution to get what you want."  That's why the world, as we know it, sucks most of the time. That's why we don't know what to tell children when we try to convince them that the world is alright.

     Dirk Nowitzki entered the NBA full of dreams and promise.  A talented, other-wordly shooter in a seven foot body, the German was a phenom in waiting.  He became a superstar, a franchise player and soon a city's dream of a first NBA title would fall on his shoulders.  He would fail.  Going up 2-0 in the 2006 NBA Finals against Miami, Nowitzki and his Mavericks stood on the cusp of fulfilling Dallas' dreams to NBA glory, but a monumental collapse led to a Miami title that year.  The loss was tough on the Mavs and Dirk, beginning a string of playoff failures in the years that followed.  Brickbats came hard and they came fast. Nowitzki, the phenom, was branded as a "soft player," "choker," and one who didn't possess the needed leadership skills needed to win a title.  He was used as the personification of the European stereo type, skilled players who couldn't take physicality.  

     This year was no different.  Former NBA pro Chris Webber called Nowitzki out for not being tough enough. Dwayne Wade and Lebron James questioned the factuality of Nowitzki's broken finger and scoffed at his 107 degree fever in game 5 of the NBA Finals.  







      His response to all that grief? Silence. At least, only in words.  Nowitzki took things to heart but took them in stride.  "I got hammered for 13 years, basically," he shrugged. "“I just think sometimes when you don’t win, criticism comes with it,” Nowitzki said. “That’s just a part of the game if you’re the star or the face of the franchise. If you win, it’s great for you, and everybody looks at you. And if you lose, you’re going to get hammered.”  

     Growing old didn't change the lesson. Not with Nowitzki. During those said dark years, he asked his old coach to come to the US, to train him further.  He worked on unorthodox drills to improve and make himself a more complete player.  He began to assume a more vocal role in being a leader of the Mavs, even if jawing was not his style.  Nowitzki became a different player because during those dark years, Nowitzki understood.  You're supposed to work hard. You're supposed to keep trying. You're supposed to never give up.

      Perhaps the most telling of all sights in this significant victory would be the last few seconds of Game 6 as the Mavs began counting the seconds to their victory. (Video link is here) Dirk quietly walked back to the locker room to tear up, to have a private moment.  Preening, jumping, shouting didn't seem all that appropriate for this win.  Not for Dirk.  He had gone through too much, worked too hard to spoil it with useless, over exuberant celebration.  He needed a moment to truly appreciate one of life's greatest gifts. Success that came through hard work.   

      With the Mavs improbable victory, lavish praise will begin to be slathered on Dirk.  People will be calling him great, quoting his great shooting touch, his ability to deliver in the clutch and his leadership skills.  Hopefully, though, Dirk also gets praised for his greatest achievement.  He showed everyone that the lesson need not be changed.  The sweetest success really is borne of hard work, humility and tenacity.  Dirk made the world alright again and we owe him a debt of gratitude.

many thanks to Johnny Ludden of Yahoo Sports for the quote from Nowitzki, Getty images for the pictures and Ben Golliver for the you tube link.