Sometimes it requires someone to express what you feel. Not what you think.
"And now we're told that the next move is Chris Paul or Deron Williams, whose acquisition will complete our own "super team" to compete with the one in Miami. The logic goes that with those three in place it won't matter who the role players are.
But the role players always matter. They are more than just garnish; they're an integral part of the meal, kind of like booze. You admire the stars, but you love the role players. They're the ones you most connect with, the ones whose talent isn't so immense as to be untouchable, even though it actually is. Sure, Lakers fans love Kobe and Gasol, but ask the diehards what they think of Derek Fisher and you'll see in their faces the type of fan love that vastly outweighs a player's actual abilities. You'll also quickly really not like Derek Fisher.
Why'd that happen? Because we all want to believe that there's a certain amount of magic that goes into a championship season. Surely, merely writing checks can't attain something as special as sporting glory?
It's why the idea of these "super teams" seems somehow soulless. It feels like pretty soon we're all rooting for Western in Blue Chips, and we no longer even care if poor Tony passes TV, "It's a tough class, coach, you don't just watch the tube."
But a championship is supposed to be a process, about building something, about a special collection of players who magically come together in the name of lady victory. Sure, we know that's largely an illusion, but that illusion remains important.
Of course, all that being said, I'll probably miss my sweet, little Gallinari approximately as long as it takes Carmelo to put up his first 50 points. Then, I'll be telling people how hilarious it was that anyone was actually critical of the deal. He'll be joined by Paul in 2012, and when the championship banner is unveiled, please forget I ever said anything. I was really just kidding around."
Brian DiMenna is a contributor to SNY.tv
http://web.sny.tv/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110223&content_id=16713024&oid=36320&vkey=18
