My 95 year old great uncle asked me a life changing question fifteen years ago. He asked..."Baby Brother?...do you want to be right?...or do you want to be happy?
Yes...Baby Brother was my child hood nickname but I quickly digress. lol
In relation to Uncle Ursery's question, I...like many, replied..."both". Uncle Ursery flashed a quick smirk, wished me a good day at work, and returned to his morning paper. It took me years (and several disappointments) to figure out what Uncle Ursery was saying. "Baby Brother...do not live your life by cutting off your nose to spite your face".
Someone should relay that message to the Los Angeles Clippers and Memphis Grizzlies.
Both teams are coming off a franchise best 56 wins. The Clippers won their first division title this year. The Grizzlies reached their first Western Conference Finals. And both teams will likely have new head coaches next year.
Huh?
Clippers head coach Vinnie Del Negro was fired shortly after being eliminated from the playoffs this year. The owner blamed Chris Paul, CP3 fired back, and the truth is being held secret by that fly on the wall.
The Memphis Grizzlies just announced that, after their most successful season ever, they are granting head coach Lionel Hollins permission to look for employment elsewhere. Hollins' contract is set to expire at the end of the month. Coach Hollins improved the team each of the past four years, and his grit and grind mentality was immediately adopted by his team...and a City (Memphis) that shares the same blue collar mentality. Now the story is "philosophical differences". The owner feels that Hollins doesn't respect him, as Hollins publicly undermines upper management at times. Hollins feels that basketball related matters should be deferred to his better judgement, not theirs.
Yada yada ya.
I live in Dallas, does this story sound familiar to Cowboys fans? The Cowboys put themselves in a similar predicament with the public, and ugly break up between owner Jerry Jones and head coach Jimmy Johnson. The Cowboys were a shell of the group that used to be called America's team when Jerry Jones took over. He hired Jimmy Jonson, who steadily improved the team until their back to back championship breakthrough in 1992 and 1993.
Egos, who said what, and who did what ultimately derailed Jones and Johnson's relationship. The result was an abrupt "mutual agreement to part ways". Sure, the franchise squeezed out one more Super Bowl victory in 1995, but have not been anywhere close to a Super Bowl contender since. In Jerry's defense, Jimmy Johnson fared no better without Jones and the Cowboys roster, retiring from coaching without making even a futile attempt at another title.
Both men were right in their own mind...both men stubbornly stood their ground...and both men lost as a result.
The Grizzlies and Clippers have enjoyed unprecedented success this season. But y'all ain't won enough to start playing the ego game. Do not take winning for granted. If it ain't broke, why break it?
I know why...to be right. follow @plcolter
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