1.) I love the NBA.
2.) The Dallas Mavericks are my homeboys.
3.) The Heat is Dallas' biggest rival.
So about 9 days ago, why did I find myself starting to root for the Miami Heat during the 2012 NBA finals? Why wasn't my whole being pulling for the upstart Thunder, even though they swept the beloved Mavericks this year? Why wasn't I turned off by the Heat and LeBron's arrogant actions in the past?
One answer: journey.
That's why part of me was pulling for the Heat. Their story is our story.
LeBron, D-Wade, and the Boshosaur are human. They made a few mistakes. The decision. The pre-season celebration. The complacency based on the assumption that they were unstoppable. The isolation basketball.
Then the loss to the Mavericks happened (remember Dirk singing "We are the Champions"?).
According to every Miami Heat player, that Finals loss humiliated them. Ironically, that was exactly what needed to happen to the Miami Heat.
What doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
All the talk was that Miami was a completely different team. Isolation basketball was no longer part of their offense. Every single NBA analyst noticed it. The bench that was once criticized for not being deep exploded in the most important games. The whole team caught fire and blew the hot Oklahoma City Thunder out in five games.
So why is this all so captivating? Once again: it's the adventurous journey that makes up the story of our lives. You know the story: something happens and we feel like we're on top of the world. However, we become arrogant and forget about other people.
We play isolation basketball.
But that just doesn't work. Ask Carmelo Anthony. Sooner or later, life gives us a sucker punch.
Right in the face.
It humbles us, makes us realize what our real goals are. It gives us sight, the kind of sight that LeBron showed through his face the entire playoffs. We have the sober look of focus, determination, and fear. Fear that looking to the left or right will lead to failure.
When we are sober, don't take things for granted, and accept responsibility, things happen. Little victories lead to greater ones. They lead to greater joy, and joy that happens as part of the journey. Dwayne Wade said that going through the failure against the Mavs was a necessary event in the life of his team. They had to go through pain and suffering in order to get to their point of victory.
Keep your eyes on the Prize. Don't look to the left or right. Stay sober. There are things so valuable that they need all of your strength. Even strength in the midst of failure.
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