Friends

An excerpt from a Detroit Free Press interview with Joe Dumars:

"The first day I walked in, they said very little. Very little. It's not like it is today. Today it's all hugs and handshakes. It's all love right now. Back in that day, it was about earning that respect. I recall the first time coming in it was kind of, 'Hey, what's up, young fella?' And kind of keep moving. It wasn't, 'Hey, let's go out to dinner.' And, you know, they weren't going to embrace you until they felt like you were in the foxhole with them. It was different then. It was totally different then it is right now."

The culture of NBA--and basketball in general has become one of niceness today. The three definitive players of "next" (LeBron, Dwayne and Carmelo) are all good friends--and they're certainly not the only ones. It's a distinct departure from a culture during the 80's and early 90's when the only friends you had on the floor were your teammates. Especially the stars.
In this modern era where basketball has become even more organized, at younger and younger ages--and centralized through the constant year-round play, so aptly manifested by AAU--there are no strangers by the time you get to the league. They've been replaced by friendships--and bad blood has become a rarity today.

My question is how this is influencing the product of the world's most competitive professional athletic organization. We've seen rule changes that have likely continued to foster this environment, as the physical, sometimes barbaric defensive practices of The Bad Boys in the 80's (which no doubt led to multiple brawls) have disappeared. You can't pound people just because they're in the lane anymore--and its hard to get away with a tough physical, intentional foul without serious repercussions from the league's front office.

Aside from the X's and O's changes, the rivalry between teams have become less emotionally charged. The Celtics and the Lakers hated each other, the same way the Pistons and the Bulls did, and the same way the Knicks and the Bulls did. It was war out there. Michael and Isaiah, Larry and Kareem, Bill Laimbeer and every other non-Piston in the league. Your teammates were the only ones you could share a smile or a laugh with.

Things done changed lately.

It's cracking jokes during pre-game warmups with tonight's opponent--or going out to dinner with them the night before. The "it's all good", "we all rich as God--ain't no reason to be hating" mentality seems to be the predominant philosophy. But with such little bad blood floating around, do the games mean as much to everyone? At some level, I have to believe the spirit of competition has become watered down in all of this peace-talk. You've got to believe that Dwayne Wade--in his horrendous situation now--isn't as depressed, or prone to talk back, get frustrated at a ref, or hit someone who just disrespected his team as he would have, had he played the game 15 years ago.

Here are what I believe to be the chief contributing factors:

• Free Agency. Guys get around more, and establish more friendships today than ever before.
• Money. The amount of money players are making today is astronomically higher than in previous eras. With the exception of a very few players, money doesn't come within light years of winning.
• Small World. People know each other if they're good these days. From a young age. Probably play together too.
• The Overactive Media. When there is bad blood between players or teams, it's blown to such spectacular proportions that it becomes a team-wide distraction. Hell, Shaq and Kobe were essentially forced to let bygones be bygones after the intense media scrutiny following their separation.
  

And the effects of this age of niceness?

• Players are less willing to commit hard fouls.
• Less willing to be honest with the media.
• Players are more willing to move to other teams.
• Players are motivated more by fun, than they are for pride.
  

These cultural changes aren't all negative. They work to dispel the myth of a league of "thugs." The culture of niceness has also fostered a culture of league-wide community service.

But I do believe it is a trade off. Because there is a great deal of entertainment value knowing that the Suns and the Spurs aren't the best of friends. That Amare Stodamire doesn't like Bruce Bowen. Or that Ron Artest is willing to break your ribs given the proper lose ball.

I guess it's not all gone. We just need a little more history to kick guys into caring a little too much.