Watching sports allows you to release aggression that hundreds of your ago would have been used to murder someone. But now you get to release it by watching sports. By rooting for a team that means a lot to you because you're from that region or you like their championship pedigree or you can relate to one of the athletes... you get to be part of that team. The same feelings tribes had hundreds of years ago when they took over another tribe's village. Except, no one gets hurt (sometimes).
The Olympics were invented for the sole purpose of reducing wars against nations. Countries compete instead. In organized competitions called sports. The best nations win. And don't kill each other for it. Sports is part of the reason society has gotten this far. By repressing these instincts. But all society can do is repress them. The instincts are alive and well. If these instincts are not used for sports, they come out in other ways. Sometimes, against you.
There is a book called "The 33 Strategies of War" by Robert Greene. It uses historical examples from history's greatest generals like Napoleon, Patton and Tsun Tzu to illustrate how to deal with adversity. How to not panic under duress. How to get the best out of yourself in stressful situations. Much like in sports.
Problem is, whenever I recommend the book to someone, they think it's too aggressive, too cutthroat, or even cruel. I think it's an enlightening pamphlet into daily living. Just like you don't learn martial arts to go out and break someone's nose just for fun. You master it for your own self-protection and confidence. The very things that "The Strategies" and sports can teach us.
In my effort to more richly understand "The 33 Strategies of War" and demonstrate that there are great lessons to learn from sports, I will break down "The 33 Strategies" into examples taken from recent sports history. Based on events, seasons, dynasties I have witnessed in my lifelong obsession with sports. At the same time, I will prove that "The 33 Strategies of War" is one of the most enlightening books I have ever read. Now, let us begin...
ONE: THE POLARITY STRATEGY
In your search for happiness and success, there is always someone in your way. Wherever you go, that person is waiting for you. Cutting you down. Finding a way to kill your momentum. Destroying confidence you built. Look in the mirror. That is your worse enemy. And you won't defeat anyone outside that mirror unless you first root out your own bad habits and maximize who you are through discipline and sacrifice -- much like an athlete -- by defeating yourself. That's what discipline is. The control of one's self.
THE INNER ENEMY
The fourth pick of 1996 NBA draft, Stephon Xavier Marbury was heralded as the next great point guard. Marbury was named a 1995 McDonald's All-American along with Kevin Garnett and Antawn Jamison. At Georgia Tech, Marbury averaged 18.9 ppg and 4.5 assists and was named a Third Team All American by the Associated Press. It was clear Marbury was a point guard with outrageous talents. He was fast, strong and had Terminator-like court vision.
Minnesota Timberwolves GM Kevin McHale imagined Marbury and his then forward Kevin Garnett being an unstoppable combo in the NBA. McHale had to trade for Marbury's rights for Ray Allen plus a future first rounder to fit his Stockton-Malone-eske vision.
And it was worth it. In Marbury's first year, the T-Wolves went to the playoffs for the first time in franchise history, where they were quickly dispatched by the Houston Rockets. But the fans loved Marbury, who averaged 15.8 points and 7.8 assists a game in his first year. Marbury and Garnett were a fearsome combination. If the T-Wolves could supply this team with someone other than Tom Gugliotta, they had something here. The sky was the limit.
During the offseason, Garnett signed a contract that was higher than the selling price of the team. 6 years for 126 million. The future was bright. The T-Wolves had solidified their big man for years to come. Their franchise player, K.G.
In his second year, Marbury upped his game. He was the perfect complement to Garnett's game. They played well together, just as McHale had envisioned. The second coming of Stockton and Malone. K.G. averaged 18.5 ppg and 9.6 rebounds. But the T-Wolves lost in the first of the playoffs once more, this time to the Seattle Supersonics.
Still, the future remained limitless. Afterall, Rome was not built in a day. Other teams in the NBA would kill to have either Marbury or Garnett on their team, let alone both. The Michael Jordan era was coming to end and it was time for a new dynasty. Jordan himself did not win a title for the first eight years of his career. Marbury and Garnett could certainly bring a championship trophy to Minnesota sooner than eight years. Garnett could not even imagine playing without his beloved point guard. K.G. saw them as one. They were the deadliest combo in the N.B.A.
This is why it came as a complete shock to Garnett when Marbury walked into the locker room one afternoon and happily announced his great news... that he had been traded to the New Jersey Nets. Garnett was pale and speechless. His point guard looked like he was experiencing the happiest day of his life... because he was leaving the team. The duo was broken, as was Garnett. It took him a long time to get over this. Garnett barely spoke about this in interviews.
In truth, Marbury was jealous of K.G.'s contract and wanted to be the biggest player on the team. This is why Marbury frequently held the ball too long and tried to win games on his own, by taking ill-advised shots. Marbury saw himself as the hero. He wanted to carry a team on his back. The other four players frequently watched as he would dribble his way to acrobatic play or an embarrassing turnover. Marbury would never consider passing the ball in these moments. They belonged to him.
After Marbury was traded, Garnett soon discovered that the T-Wolves were better. The team had a better flow. They passed the ball more. K.G. would even play point guard himself sometimes. The T-Wolves continued to make the playoffs year after and year without Marbury. K.G. would go on to win an MVP Award and even led the T-Wolves to the Western Conference finals in 2003-04 with Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. If it had not been for Cassell's untimely injury, the T-Wolves might have defeated the Lakers and experienced their first championship. In any case, the T-Wolves experienced plenty of success without Marbury.
Garnett would eventually be traded to Celtics and win his first championship with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen (the player Marbury was originally traded for). As envisioned, Garnett would be a champion and fearsome athlete in the right combination. This simply did not include Marbury. The player Garnett once could not imagine playing without.
Meanwhile, Marbury would go on to take other teams (the Suns, Nets and his dream team, the New York Knicks) to quick first round exits of the playoffs. But that was as far as his career would ever go. Marbury would also eventually win a championship -- in China, where he plays today.
INTERPRETATION
You will face Marburies your entire life. Some will be obvious. Others will have the face of your friends, relatives or even your own. Meaning, Marbury can be your laziness, your alcoholism, the crazy amount of time you spend surfing the internet, your lack of discipline or fear of failure.
Like the predator in the movie "Predator", you cannot fight an enemy you cannot see. The point is, whether you know it or not, you have one or more Marburies. And your life will be a lot easier if you spot them -- and extinguish them.
People love sports in a deep way because the nemesis is obvious. You know who to rot for and against. And the rules are laid down. But real life does not have these rules. Today, the enemy is never obvious. You probably don't know who the Marbury in your life is.
K.G. inadvertently got rid of his enemy by accepting his big contract. His deep sense of camaraderie blinded him to Stephon Marbury's narcissism and disinterest in team play. K.G. is the type of teammate who will unconditionally defend anyone on his team. This loyalty is actually what prevented him from winning a title for the majority of his career. After Marbury, GM Kevin McHale used Garnett's loyalty against him to keep him in Minnesota. Had K.G. understood who his enemies were, perhaps he would have won more titles on a different, more stable team -- like the Celtics, the organization he ended up with.
KEYS TO ENGAGEMENT
The word enemy, from the Latin "inimicus", means "not a friend". This word has been demonized. It's actually healthy to have an enemy. In a movie, the enemy is what helps the protagonist gain focus and understand what he's for or against. The problem is, in real life, enemies are hard to find, because society has a stigma against aggression and confrontation (another reason why watching sports is such a release for us... In sports, aggression is not only expected, but necessary).
To root out your enemies, you must look for hints, study the history of someone's action and not their words. The occasional snide comment. The lack of response when you need help the most. Enemies are frequently your friends. Are they supportive in time of need or not. Do they find joy in your suffering. Enemies can also be ideas. Republicans, Democrats, useless materialism, Starbucks, Pink Berry, carnivores, vegetarians, BP. If you cannot find focus in your life, if you're not sure whether to turn right or left, these people, things or ideas will help you. Call them the anti-role model. You model yourself against what they are.
One of the most common terms I have heard in my life is,"why would this person do that to me?" These are the words of someone who does not know who the Stephon Marburies are in their lives.
Even after being traded from the T-Wolves, Marbury continued to experience success as a result of his incredible abilities. Each time it took the ball club years before they realized he was, as they would later call him, "a cancer". They were blinded by Marbury's incredible gifts as a basketball player.
K.G. nearly lost his entire career because he only considered one enemy, The Los Angeles Lakers (whom he eventually defeated with the right teammates). But there were others standing in his way before he could defeat the Lakers. It took him almost 10 years. For others, entire careers have been lost.
REVERSAL
You can go crazy thinking everyone is your enemy. Remember that I said, your enemy could be an idea, it doesn't have to be a person. Michael Jordan, who is the master of crafting enemies to motivate himself, continues to craft enemies and hold grudges this very day, probably this very moment, which culminated in his Hall of Fame speech, when he flew out the high school coach who cut him from the varsity team, Jeff Van Gundy and other baffled sports figures who weren't sure what more Jordan had to prove. After becoming the most iconic sports figure perhaps in the history of sports, M.J. continued to call people out and mock them for not being on his side. The man is practically diseased with forming enemies. In this regard, don't be like Mike. Gather the appropriate motivation and awareness from your enemies and move on.
