NFL trade deadline might be a lost cause
October 23, 2014Michael Brantley, Yan Gomes finalists for Gold Glove Award
October 23, 2014The latest piece to be published by Derek Jeter’s new journalistic venture, The Players’ Tribune, is from the byline of one Cleveland Cavalier power forward, Kevin Love. Titled “How I spent my summer vacation,” Love details his offseason of rumors, speculation, working out, and binge watching what amounts to nearly the entire catalog of Netflix.
I spent most of my summer either working out or trying to escape the craziness through Netflix binge watching. I tore through more than 40 of the IMDB Top 250. That’s not even counting the TV marathons. I did every single episode of Seinfeld (holds up), Curb Your Enthusiasm (the best), Mad Men and Game of Thrones (twice). I can win any argument with you about why GOT is the best show currently on TV.
Things were especially tough because for a month before the trade was finalized, [Andrew] Wiggins and I were caught in NBA purgatory. Is this happening, is this not happening? With everything up in the air, I felt like I couldn’t say a proper goodbye to Minnesota. And once the trade finally went through, everything happened quickly.
Love used the space to thank the fans of Minnesota for their embrace during his time spent in the city, harkened back to the days he was ” shooting on an eight-foot hoop in a Shawn Kemp jersey,” and referred to boarding the Cavs’ plane to Brazil as something akin to the first day of school.
As I moved to my seat, guys were making inside jokes with one another and shouting across the plane. The atmosphere was totally different than what I was used to. And at that moment, a familiar feeling came over me that anybody can relate to when he’s getting his bearings: It felt like the first day of school.
So I did what I should’ve done on my own first day of school. I went and sat down next to the smartest kid in class, James Jones. He’s a guy who has played in 100-plus playoff games and has done the gritty, thankless jobs that don’t make SportsCenter. Just as we started talking, Mike Miller posted up in the seat behind us. He’s a guy who I think shot 44 percent from three to help the Heat win the 2013 title, and did it like it was no big deal. He even hit a huge three in the Finals without his left shoe. Having the opportunity to talk basketball with teammates who’ve won four NBA titles among them is invaluable.
Throughout the piece, Love juxtaposes his brief experience with the Cavs to that of what he was used to in Minnesota—a picture that he paints as being very secluded and impersonal. On that trip to Rio, it sounds like 16 close friends were taking a road trip after having not seen one another for several years. And while he may not write another piece again, his kicker may have been the best part of the entire thing.
Everything on the plane to Rio was natural, and I felt like I could be a part of something special. It was a culture that I’m not accustomed to.
After I was traded this summer, I kept hearing about how our challenge was going to be figuring out how to share the ball among LeBron, Kyrie and myself. Reporters kept asking me how I felt about it: Are you the second wheel? Are you the third wheel? What about your stats?
To them I say: I don’t care. I’ve never played in a playoff game. I came to Cleveland because I want to win. I’ll grab a broom and sweep the floors if it gets me an NBA title.
The entire piece is well worth your time, if only for the behind-the-scenes look into how the Wine and Gold are interacting at this point in what is primed to be one hell of a season.
3 Comments
I’m a Loveaholic and the homer in me loves every word but I’m not excited over reading Love “reportedly” saying he needs the ball inside more. As I stated in another section I’m hoping this was inferred and not out right said because if it was indeed stated publicly to the media after just eight exhibition games I think it was a big mistake. K-Love is a pretty smart basketball player and grew up in the sport so I want to believe he didn’t come right out to the media in such a manner. At least I hope not.
Go Cavs! Glad to see K-Love bonding with the team and more importantly showing a little hunger for the ring! Dont worry about the floors my man… just clean that glass every night!
What a nice, heartfelt piece. Love that drumbeat theme: I want to win, I’m ready to sacrifice.
“It’s hard to be a leader when you don’t have the model — and when you don’t have a blueprint for what winning in the NBA looks like.” Really hope the other young guys, particularly Kyrie and Dion, are thinking the same thing and are open to emulate.
For some reason I also liked his image of drinks being poured over stories. Of course they were, but nice imagery of young men on a road trip, bonding while someone else is the designated driver. Gentlemen, this is vodka, or something like that.