Both predator and prey are vulnerable. Cats may become playful or intoxicated with catnip (nepetalactone) and worse things happens to mice who 'take the cheese'.
The game rewards focus. Both taking catnip or 'the cheese' distract players and coaches from the work of winning.
What serves as catnip for the basketball community?
- 'Generational' talent. Think Zion Williamson. Talent in Bill Belichick's mind blends ability and durability. Staying on the floor hasn't been a Williamson staple. Viktor Wembanyama is the next new thing that has management, coaches, and fans salivating.
- The Big Three. The Celtics blended Pierce, Garnett, and Allen into one championship squad and another Finals defeat. It's not that new as the Lakers had West, Baylor, and Chamberlain and the Heat won with LeBron, Wade, and Bosh. It doesn't always work as the recent flame out of Kyrie, Durant, and Simmons proved. With NIL, the imperative to create Superteams reaches down to college. It's already spread in full force to prep basketball.
- The Elite Coach. You don't reach NBA head coaching without a wealth of knowledge and competence. But neither guarantee success. Some guys become Horse Whisperers and others don't. And it's easier to blame a new guy (e.g. Steve Nash) than roster construction. And the corollary is that it's easier to dump the coach than the roster.
- The "Next New Thing" offense was the Triangle (Run through Jordan and Kobe) and now it's sales and online pitches for the Princeton Offense. Among online sports betting, biologicals for skin diseases, and constant promos to buy "Princeton Secrets," I'm not sure which is most disruptive. It reminds me of the saying, "where are all the customers' yachts?" Pete Newell reminded coaches that "copying generally results in poor reproductions of the original."
- Race-baiting. "You can't see me." Trash talk and gamesmanship occurs at many levels of sport. Rivalries promote interest, interest drives ratings, and ratings fuel compensation. Don't fall to the dark side of sports fandom.
- "Culture wars." Free speech for me and not for thee is another negative sports trend. It's fool's gold to support one pundit, celebrity, or athlete for speaking out, then silencing others with opposing views. "Shut up and dribble" is the dog that don't hunt.
- "The Life." Some pursue sport as 'excellence domain' to become the best they can be. Others get sidetracked by "The Life," the trappings of success...fast cars and faster lives. Len Bias exemplified what can go wrong. Rick Pitino is no choirboy. Henry Ruggs' case remains in limbo. Ja Morant has been off the rails for awhile.
Sport is a microcosm of life. Finding heroes and villains is as easy as Google searches. If excellence is your mantra, don't become a Golem.
Lagniappe. Don't presume good decisions are the norm.
