Stern leaves with a legacy of greatness

Can’t imagine anyone was surprised by David Stern’s announcement of his retirement yesterday – we knew he wouldn’t last the term of this CBA, the date was the only question – but it does now give us 15 months to figure out what he is, was and what his legacy would be.

Everyone will have an opinion, some more well formed than others, but in this corner, he leaves a legacy of unfathomable success and as one of the very best commissioners in the history of the four North American pro sports.

You’d probably put Pete Rozelle at the top of that list all-time, you might say for competitive balance and North American success that Bud Selig’s doing a pretty good job but what Stern has done globally is unmatched, and will be, forever.

Yes, he can be autocratic and a bit of a bully but you can’t herd ownership cats and players like he has to without being that way. It’s not an easy job by any stretch of the imagination getting diverse personalities and businesses to act for the common good and if takes some arm-twisting and arrogance and toughness to get it done, so be it.

Yes, there were lockouts – they seem inevitable -- and, yes, vetoing the original Chris Paul trade might have been a stretch of authority but if you’re a position like that, things are going to happen and decisions will have to be made that, in hindsight, might not be the greatest.

But it cannot diminish from the overall picture.

Stern made, or helped make, an incredible amount of money for a lot of people; he presided over an era of unprecedented global growth of the game and the sport is positioned today better than perhaps it ever has been.

I guess the argument could be made – and will be made – that the growth would have been inevitable and others in Stern’s place could have pulled it off, but I doubt it and discount that point of view.

No matter what you think of him, he got it done; he twisted arms to make deals because he had to and he cleaned up a sport rife with drug problems and one that was far out of the consciousness of the general public and made it a global force.

He presided over an era of inclusion for people all over the world, he presided over an era where basketball almost rivals soccer as the world’s No. 1 game. No, it’s not there yet but it’s closer than you think.

Say what you will about his style but his style works for the common good; he’ll leave a game unimaginably better off than when he arrived and he should be remembered as someone who had a passion for the sport and business that was perfect for his time.

Is he perfect? Who is?

Was he a perfect fit for the job? I’d say so.

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You wander down Beale Street at 6:30 p.m. and stop in the Blues Hall Juke Joint and hear a really good five-man band doing the blues and then you can walk up to BB King’s to have some catfish bites, a couple of glasses of Yeungling and hear three guys do Suspicious Mind because it’s the last No. 1 hit for Elvis and it’s a not bad night at all.

And the common song heard at both places?

Should have worn by Muddy Waters t-shirt.

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So, yeah, Obama goes on Leno and says something about hoping the pucks people get their act together – as if anyone connected with the union or ownership are going to pay attention – and it becomes news.

This would have been news.

“Jay, I don’t care if they ever come back. Hockey’s a marginal sport here in the United States, I don’t think too many people miss it and, besides, I’m a basketball guy and if there’s no hockey, there’s more room for hoops.”

But, seriously, who gives a rat’s bum what a politician says, it’s sure not going to make a bit of difference to the two sides.

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Speaking of questions and answers …

Mail. Here. Now. Thanks.

And, yes, we shall return with an IGBT tonight, right around 8 p.m. Toronto time, if you’re interested.

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As a guy who has decried the lack of original nicknames in sports these days, I’m quite fine with the Sandoval dude on the Giants being known as the Panda.

Kinda cool.

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All right, you might want to sleep fast tonight because, with all due modesty, the Steve Nash thing we’ve got going in the paper is pretty fascinating.

It’s not “written” it’s more a Q and A and his own words, I was the guy doing the transcript and the questioning.

But in a series of interviews over a three-day period, just he and I, you’ll get a really good glimpse into him, far more than just basketball.

Like …

Q: I know the Terry Fox film was obviously a very personal thing (Nash produced a critically-acclaimed documentary on Terry Fox for ESPN’s original 30 For 30 series) and I know you and Jay (Triano, an old friend and former coach) had great respect for what Terry did. How did that influence your life?

A: I was six when Terry was running across our country and to see a young man running across Canada, he looked like a hero and he looked fit and healthy and then you notice he’s limping. As a six-year-old, you think, ‘hey, look at this great athlete, why does he have a prosthetic leg, what is that, why?” And it just provoked so many questions and taught me so many things about life. Not only about the fragility of health, the fairness of life, but getting on with life and being mentally tough, unselfish and bringing people together, so many lessons and thoughts that Terry provoked in all of us. As a six-year-old it was pretty impressionable and I’m sure it was the same way for everyone at every age.

He was a hero to all for us add I don’t really know if there’s a bigger figure in Canada than Terry Fox. Even Gretz because of the special moment in time and Terry’s incredible story.

Seriously, I don’t often toot my own horn but there’s some really interesting stuff in there if you’re inclined to give it a read either today if it gets posted here this afternoon or tomorrow morning in your paper I don’t think it’d be time wasted at all.

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Okay, I’m back to normal after that little LA experience, a shootaround and an early story today and don’t forget we’re coming to Rama on Sunday afternoon for yet another open practice.

See you then.

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Comments

[Peter]

The thing that I wonder about, in regards to David Stern, is did he, perhaps, stick around too long? Even you hinted at a couple of the issues people have with him, the lockout, and the Chris Paul non-trade. For a career that lasted decades, two of his most questionable blemishes happened within the very final moments of his career.

Also, I'm VERY much looking forward to reading the Nash interview! Thanks for getting that! I hope that it will remain online for a while so that I can not only refer to it myself, but also show others who should read it in the coming months.

[sam]

I've thought for a few years now that being the commsioner of a professional sports league is a rather thankless job. Kind of like being the GM of a toronto sports team. No matter what progress is made in thier respective sports, there are those amongst the great unwashed that will criticize every decision whether it is warranted or not.

I've not been a big fan of any of the head guys. For the most part I find them glib, and at times condescending. Stern is the poster boy for that, followed closely by Betman. Perhaps it's the labour unrest each league has gone through recently.

Looking forward to the Nash piece....

[Rob.V]

Great snippet (if the word snippet applies here) of the Nash article. Looking forward to the rest.
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Terry Fox absolutely was a hero, we should all be wearing Terry Fox T-shirts.
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Anyone know if there is a broadcast of tonight's game that we can hijack online?

Blogger's note: No radio or TV from either Toronto or Memphis so I don't know how anyone will find it

[LeeZ]

Oh, so THAT'S what you were doing in LaLa Land, you International Man of Mystery you. I just assumed it was a drug deal, or maybe the Star was sending you out there to audition for George Lucas's next film. Either way, looks like you came back with GOLD. Pure gold, Jer...er...Doug.
Question: did you pitch the idea for the interview to the powers that be, or did they come up with it themselves?

Blogger's note: It's mostly me pitching different stuff

[Tim H.]

Hey Doug:
In the comment section of yesterday's blog, someone said, and you responded:
" I tuned in and Valverde was pitching. I felt bad for the guy. Not just because he can’t seem to get anyone out, but the way he gets ready to deliver the ball, I wonder if this guy is OCD and if it is impacting his ability to pitch.

Blogger's note: He's the best pitcher in the game"

I am assuming jet lag and a plane ride or two made you see Verlander instead of Valverde? I'm hoping that is the case, because you would have a hard time convinving anyone that Valverde is the best pitcher in the game :)

Blogger's note: Yeah, that was a terrible misread by me; must have been way out of sorts. Thanks

[Kevin Murray]

Hi Doug,

I'm in agreement with you about Stern. The Chris Paul incident may not have been his best moment, but weighed against his other work, it looks like a bump in the road.
Michael Grange had a good article comparing Stern's legacy to Bettman's.

I'm looking forward to the Steve Nash piece. (I liked the Terry Fox sample this morning). How did you get that chunk of time? and does Nash make himself accessible to most ink stained wretches (when was the last time you got ink on yourself?) just before the start of the season.

I'm going to assume it will be good because you rarely self-promote.

Blogger's note: Just made arrangements with Steve and the Lakers people to get some time after a couple of practices and a game to chat; helps that I've been writing about him for about 20 years now

[Dave B]

I agree that Stern has done a great job. For all the players that don't like him, he is the reason they are making the millions that they are. The players read too many of their own press clippings and don't understand that his ability to grow the game and get it in the main stream if the reason they are all overpaid.

I had no problem with him mixing the trade of Chris Paul to LA. He did what any owner would do. I have more resentment for Jordan stopping the "agreed to" trade with the Raptors a few years ago. Now in hind sight (it is always 20-20) if Chris Paul was traded to LA, Steve Nash would now probably be playing in Toronto.

If anyone haven't seen the Terry Fox monument in Thunder Bay, they are missing a big part of his legacy and a large part of Canadiana. It is interesting how some great monuments like the Vietnam monument in Washington and the Terry Fox monument in Thunder Bay brings a tear to your eye just by standing there by it.

Enjoy Memphis. I am a little Jealous. I will have to get back to Beale Street soon.

[Tim H.]

"Blogger's note: Yeah, that was a terrible misread by me; must have been way out of sorts. Thanks"
Phew! I wouldn't want you to lose all your seamhead cred!

[bk]

Rozelle? Stern? All time best? Doug, surely you have forgotten Gary Bettman...
... Nah, I can't even type it with a straight face.

[Jc]

So you will be the closest thing to live tv tonight? No TV?! Kind of reminds me of that Louis CK line that went something like "we're so entitled today that we get upset when we find out we can't use something that we didn't even know existed 10 seconds ago". Looking forward to seeing how candid the Nash talk is.

Blogger's note: First part of Nash is up now; will be more in the blog in the morning.

[LeeZ]

@Jc: Great Louis CK line. For any of you who live in a cave and don't know who Louis CK is, he is arguably one of the top 10 standups of all time, right up there with the Pryor's, the Seinfeld's, the Carlin's, etc.
Here is a nice introduction to his work:
(WARNING!!! This video is chock full of baaaaaaaaaaaaaad words, so make sure the wee little ones are out of the room)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5Z_ZducwbQ

[Eric-in-NS]

This site has tonight's game listed:

http://www.thefirstrow.eu/sport/basketball.html

You have to get by some pretty gross and annoying pop-ups and delays to bring in the audio, then the video, but once you expand the window to fill the screen it's _usually_ not too bad. There's only one link/feed to the game. Guess we'll find out who is broadcasting it. ESPN9?

[sportschic]

A few years ago, I was telling a pucks head friend of mine about something Stern had done (and I can't recall exactly what it was), and saying that I thought Stern was the best commish out there in a tough job. I think some things since then may have tarnished that a bit, but he did a good job overall.

Is this our chance to vote Smith in for commish? I can see it now: short training preseason (the players will love you), Euro tournaments in great cities (the fans -- and some of the players will love you). I'd look to see what else you've recommended in the past if only I could search your blog archive. ;)

Blogger's note: No music during the play, two timeouts per team per half; all weekend games start not later than 3 p.m.; and a bunch of other ones I can't find, either ;)