These days, I’m a washed up athlete. I get tired just taking the garbage up the driveway.
But back in high school, I ran track. And I remember I would get so worked up about races. As early as a week before they actually happened. I would wake up with butterflies; maybe I would sweat in my seat during class; I would cancel Jerry’s runs to get ready for runs I thought were more important.
No matter how nervous I would get, the race would always arrive as scheduled. Some days I did well, some days I didn’t. But one thing is for sure: my pre-game jitters never helped. Sometimes, they probably hurt.
Tonight, the Grizzlies begin the playoff race. With Rudy Gay out for a long time, and 16 of the Grizzlies remaining 25 games against teams over .500, it’s safe to say that Memphis is in an outside lane. Part of that is their own fault–the team lost too many winnable games over the first half of the season–and some of it isn’t. At this point, it doesn’t really matter.
A lot can happen in 25 games. The Grizz could hold serve until Rudy gets back, and then finish strong for a shot at a 5 seed. Or, Rudy could miss the rest of the season and Memphis could be back in the lottery. Portland could continue to never lose; Denver could be better without Carmelo.
But just as in a race, when you can only control what you can control, the Grizz can only do what they can do. And as fans, it’s no different.
Let’s be honest, we don’t have an effect on how the Grizzlies play. If we start drawing crowds like they do in Portland or Golden State, than O.K. But right now, we don’t.
So as much reason as there is for cynicism right now (and they are all legitimate reasons…you don’t follow this franchise for 10 years and not learn to expect the worst), Grizz nation has to take a step back and enjoy the race.
My coach would always tell me to get to the track two hours before the race, and just take a look around. Grizz fans should do the same today. Think about the Barone era, think about where we were 3 Februaries ago , forget the fact that the front office could make another tremendous mistake in the next 3 days, and enjoy the race. We are relevant again, and isn’t that all a small market can really ask?
Check the standings every night, and the paper every morning. Watch FSgrizzlies or League Pass or channelsurfing.net. Tweet @grizzlife. Think about Dirk’s shot in Game 3 of the ’05 playoff series and say, “Give us another chance”.
And one last thing: remember that the GrizzLife is a lifestyle. Look good, feel good, feel good, play good. Wear the bear this next month and a half. You’ll feel better, and maybe–just maybe–it’ll help the Grizz play better.
I live the Grizzlife and love it.
Wise words from the resident Grizzlife sage. Let’s go Grizz fans! Wake up and smell the (verge of the) playoffs! I’m tired of having to make terrible decisions in the lottery. Let’s not give ourselves an opportunity to make that kind of choice. We can get to the playoffs, and win…a game…or even a series or two. I was sitting five rows back from the Heat bench when Rudy hit the game winner over LeBron in Memphis. We can do this!
Grizz, bitch.