So I meet this kid in New York at the Javits, for a weekend of Fanatics. He probably doesn’t remember me– Hell to him, I was an ant down on the floor. This young cat stands all of 12′ 2000″ tall. (I’ve never seen anyone like him in my life, and I used to cover big Shawn Bradley when he played for the Dallas Mavericks back in the day)….when I had a little sportscast on KCBI 90.9 Dallas/ /Ft.Worth.
Wemby arrived on this planet about 2 years ago, and immediately endeared himself to the local folks down in San Antonio, where the Spurs were eager to welcome this French phenom they had heard so much about. And Pop (Then head coach Gregg Popovich) knew right then and there, that he had a DIAMOND. He was soft-spoken (almost like the enigma of Tim Duncan, of Spurs fame). The kid didn’t say much. He was good but not “stand-out” good at the time. But did I mention, “Pop” knew he had a DIAMOND. Didn’t take long for him to catch on. And so far in this 25-26 NBA season, he’s proving it.
Well fast forward to now.
The soft-spoken, non-shit-talking enigma has stepped out. After dealing with some injuries (and not to mention “Pop” leaving the bench and moving up to the front office), Wemby has started to spread his wings. But I point him out in this blog, not because he made a media gaffe, but because he’s already showing the proper way to address the media and fans who challenge him. You know how players (particularly those who are singled out as the heir to the MVP crown) with words of humility–“Oh I appreciate it, I’m thankful that people believe in my game, but I’m just a basketball player and my goal is just to help my team win”. HAAAAAAAHHHH!!
I watched this kid in a news conference (on TV) the other morning, as he sat there and laid out three reasons– made his argument for why HE should be this years NBA MVP. He’s now 22 years old. But you’d think he had the cadence and cred of a 40 year old. He was masterful in making his case. And I think he should be singled out, for the way it’s supposed to be done.
First off, he made it clear right after the game–“My goal is to make sure that there’s no debate anymore at the end of the season”. Well damn.
And then he rattled off his game and three keys to his MVP campaign:
1. He says defense is half the game, yet it doesn’t get much attention in the MVP race. He told the reporters, in his own way, “You’re looking at the guy who plays the best “D” in the league right now.
You don’t want anybody sneaking up the middle and THIS guy is standing there. You’ll get your face knocked off (or turned backwards).
2. For the first time I can remember, NO ONE has ever claimed to have dominance over the reigning champ Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. He reminded everyone, The Spurs have beaten the Thunder 4 out of their last five meet-ups.
Well?
3. And then he goes “Don’t measure my offense on scoring alone, I do other stuff”.
In the Words of the Late-Great Stuart Scott- BOOYAH!
And he laid it out in a non-boisterous voice. He wasn’t cocky or “in-your-face” nor disrespectful. But I think somebody’s in this kids ear, and teaching him (Next Tally style) how to address the media and seize the moment. I don’t think any reporter walked away from that post-game conference thinking this guy was an a–hole. I think all players should take a lesson from him. All too often, players get cocky (and reporters do too). But at the end of the day, “cocky” ends up on the sports cast and on blogs and on streams which are played millions of times. That, or loud-mouth Steven A has something to say about it. And if it sticks around long enough, guess what? And heaven forbid a bad-ass has a horrible season. Oooh the karma.
So thank you Wemby for setting the example of confidence and assuredness of one’s talent, but being cordial and an effective communicator in making your case. You will go far young man– far beyond even the basketball court. There’s a couple of folks who could use a lesson from a young cat like you, with last names like …well, THEY know who they are.
There is only one “Wemby” folks. And you’d recognize him a mile away (in the dark). Not because of his height, but because the damn guy “Glows in the dark”. I saw him. They turned down the lights in the arena for the pre-game introductions. (He didn’t think I saw him)…but he GLOWED.
Freakin’ basketball extraterrestrial. I never met an MVP from mars.
L
Leave a Reply