Stern: "I did it my way!"

David Stern with the Rookies of 2012

David Stern served the NBA at the very highest level over nearly 30 years as Commissioner and some 48 years of association with league.  His ability to impact the NBA had never been contemplated before in the realm of professional sports. Without a doubt, he will retire as the greatest commissioner in league history and, I believe, the best leader and commissioner in the history of any sport at any level on any continent.  Simply put, Stern is a visionary.  He fully recognized the potential and future growth of cable TV, long before any other executive - sans Ted Turner - even thought about it.  Stern had the foresight to see where the rights fees for the league would increase under deals cultivated over decades with Turner and ESPN. He also had the vision to bring the NBA to a global audience through live NBA events and via every communications medium and that paid off in spades after '92 when the game impacted a truly global talent pool of players. 

Stern saw labor relations as an opportunity to mold the league and partner with the players to share in the future prosperity of businesses revolving around the game. All the while, Stern had the vision and the collective bargaining acumen to make the league as attractive in Charlotte, Portland, San Antonio and Utah as it was in LA, Boston, New York or Chicago. As the league became more and more competitive, the labor deal was tweaked to take the NBA to an even better place for incoming rookies and proven veteran players who wanted to sign them in true free agency.

Labor - check.

International growth - check.

Player programs - check

Building assets, protecting intellectual property, researching and acting on all forms of new technology, nurturing and developing the women's game, then even further development of the NBA talent pool - check, check and check.

From there, the canvas was only half completed, as Stern focused mightily on player relations, player programs, grassroots programs, community relations initiatives that attacked the issues everyone else was afraid to even speak of. A league , supposedly, "too" black and "too" driven by players who were experimenting with illegal substances (a.k.a. the "recreational" drugs such as cocaine and marijuana became the league with the first anti-drug program and real player development program. The HIV/AIDS epidemic? Earvin "Magic" Johnson had the confidence to walk up to a podium in 1991 and Stern was at his side right up to this very day when he supports the "right" things and helps provide a lofty pulpit to fight the HIV virus, or the SARS epidemic; the trials of education and high school drop-out rates; and a whole slew of community relations programs, many put together to counter a natural disaster (Katrina; Earthquake in Haiti; or whatever the cause of the day might've been). It was truly amazing to see him, willing to turn an entire organization on a dime and lead a league right into a controversial issue that no sports league would even touch.

Community Relations - check.

The NBA's darkest days were when Stern stood up and faced the music and the critics, with that criticism sometimes coming from the very teams he was leading towards financial stability, prosperity and, ultimately, solid ground. Tough decisions, like terminating the player contract for Michael Ray Richardson might've actually saved the man's life. Whether it was an amped up drug scandal in Phoenix, a 'third strike and you're out' anti-drug suspension of John Lucas or - the unfathomable, the Tim Donaghy criminal activity of a ref, Stern stood up and guided the league through rough waters. He even reversed courses at a 180-degree turn, when necessary such as when the rules and three-point line took steps in equally opposite directions or, god forbid, when the NBA experimented with a brand new synthetic basketball that just didn't cut it on the court as it cut the finger tips of every point guard in the league.

Confronting crisis - check

Willingness to correct course and say, "we screwed up." - check.

David Stern demands the very best from those who report to him and he expects the highest levels of performance wrought by hard work, long hours and attention to detail.  All the while, he wanted the NBA to have the touch of a family affair where those who sought the coolness, the hipness of the game were welcomed with open arms. Stern didn't have to say it, because he lived it and he did it - everyday. 

David's total dedication to the NBA and his job, his willingness to face the music and confront the unfathomable challenges or news; that was when he served the league at his best and he did it every time - he shot .999%.  Now, David isn't perfect, and God knows, he could light you up in a manner second to none, but, put simply, the guy is damn good. He demands the very best and he gave his very best each and every day.  I still can't figure out where he got the energy while we were all touring the world and spreading the NBA basketball gospel. We'd be dead tired, but he would lead the charge!  You just couldn't out-work David.

I wish Commissioner David Stern a very enjoyable and productive transition time to fully pass the torch to Adam Silver. Adam will do very, very well.  David will demand it of him.

For more coverage tonight and all day on Friday, be sure to visit: http://www.digitalsportsdesk.com/New/nba.html

Tribute to Big Bob Lanier and John "Red" Kerr ...

Each NBA All-Star Weekend, an insightful writer or columnist in the host city is smart enough to delve into the "Big" Bob Lanier story. The great St. Bonnie's center - Tim Russert's all-time favorite player, I might add - now hails from the Valley of the Sun and is still "getting it done" for the NBA, NBA Cares and Basketball w/o Borders programs.

Read the great piece on AZ Central:

"I found out early," he said, laughing, "that by feeding the hungry, I got a chance to eat some of the really good collard greens and fried chicken we were serving to the people."

Lanier had sympathy for those who felt isolated. He was 6 feet 8 by the time he was 14 and forced to wear ill-fitting men's clothes while his peers opted for khakis and penny loafers. He was told by a coach that his large feet would prevent him from becoming a successful athlete, and as a sophomore he was cut from his high school's basketball team.

He worked hard and improved, eventually ended up at St. Bonaventure. He was a three-time All-American and continued his interest in helping others, working with the Seneca Nation of Indians. In the NBA, where he averaged 20.1 points and 10.1 rebounds in 14 seasons, he was inspired by Detroit Pistons teammate Dave Bing, now a Detroit mayoral candidate, who "just kind of got it and made us get it," Lanier said. "He was the kind of leader and mentor who made sure guys got involved with community visits and doing clinics in tough areas. It was important to him."

Lanier retired in the same year, 1984, that Stern was named commissioner. Several years later, Stern asked Lanier to help launch the NBA's Stay in School program. He has stayed involved with many of the league's community outreach programs and was a founder of Basketball Without Borders, a group that runs basketball clinics around the world and helps teach at-risk youth life skills.

One of the reasons he moved from Milwaukee to Phoenix in 1996, in addition to the warm weather, was "a great airport."

Travel is a necessity of his job. He has introduced many NBA players to causes outside the United States. Stoudemire traveled to Sierra Leone in West Africa last year, and now his foundation is helping fund much-needed well construction.

Despite what some might suspect, Lanier is inspired by today's NBA players and their willingness to help.

"It's been absolutely phenomenal," he said. "Our players get it. I've got guys waiting in line to do some of the international stuff. We had some guys doing Special Olympics stuff in Africa recently. It gets me choked up thinking about it. This is a different era, a different player, but they still care about what we do."

So does Lanier, who is a great example for this season's All-Star selections.

Recently, his 10-year-old daughter asked him he had ever been named an All-Star Game MVP.

"Google me!" he told her.

She should. She'll find out he was the MVP in 1974. She'll find out a lot of other great things, too.

***

The Chicago Bulls and Basketball Hall of Fame honored Johnny "Red" Kerr, the former NBA great, former coach and broadcaster. Here is Chicago Sun-Times columnist Rick Telender's tribute to Kerr:


Kerr tribute: As good as it gets
Ceremony for Chicago legend a trip back in time to the glory days for 'Red,' Jordan, fans

BY RICK TELANDER rtelander@suntimes.com

For a moment at the United Center, time stood still. Or, rather, it went back to another era.

Call it golden.
Rick Telander, Sun-Times sports columnist

Honoring Red Kerr

It was a few minutes into the first quarter of the Pistons-Bulls game when Michael Jordan saddled up to Johnny ''Red'' Kerr, and they started b.s.-ing like old times. Just like when the big Irishman cut a wide swathe through the halls of Chicago hoops and Jordan was an active demigod of never-seen proportions.

The difference was ''The Big Red One'' was no longer playing, no longer coaching, no longer broadcasting.

He was sitting down, in a corner box about 40 rows from the court, slowed and weakened from the effects of prostate cancer.

The Hall's Official News Release:

SPRINGFIELD, MA - Johnny "Red" Kerr has been selected to receive the 2009 John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

The Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award was instituted by the Board of Trustees of the Basketball Hall of Fame in 1973 and is the most prestigious award presented by the Hall of Fame outside of Enshrinement. Named in honor of Hall of Famer John W. Bunn (Class of 1964), the first chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame Committee who served from 1949-1964, this award honors coaches, players and contributors whose outstanding accomplishments have impacted the high school, college, professional or international game.

"Mr. Kerr's career contributions are the epitome of what the John W. Bunn Award Lifetime Achievement Award is meant to recognize. There are few people who have committed their lifetime to the game of basketball as Johnny "Red" Kerr has done. He has touched every facet of basketball and has done so with an unmatched passion, dedication, professionalism, and respect for the game he loves," stated John L. Doleva, Hall of Fame President & CEO.

Jordan is Jordan, the only athlete anyone can think of who had a statue built of him and erected, while he was still a player.

Jordan was casually debonair in an olive blazer, black turtleneck and jeans. Kerr looked professional, if thin and tired, in his black business suit, white shirt and tie.

Oh, the fun those two used to have!

And then there was another moment.
One more Jordan moment

It was during the halftime midcourt ceremony, arranged to present the 76-year-old Kerr with the John W. Bunn Lifetime Achievement Award from the Basketball Hall of Fame, an honor previously bestowed upon such luminaries as John Wooden, Hank Iba and Red Auerbach.

Arranged around Kerr, who was seated rather uncomfortably in a red cushioned wheelchair near the center circle, were hoops greats and pals such as Scottie Pippen, Dolph Schayes, John Paxson, Bill Wennington, Jim Durham, Bob Love and Jerry Colangelo, who would make the trophy presentation.

Jordan was there, too.

And when host Neil Funk announced good old No. 23, the crowd went nuts. Jordan walked up to Kerr and clapped his own gigantic hands near the man who once played in 844 consecutive games, who was the first Bulls head coach, who announced Bulls games for three decades, who once was bright red and feisty but now is shades of gray.

Resin powder exploded from Jordan's palms in a cloud of glory. Kerr, has been his custom, pulled out a hankie and cleaned his pants and glasses.

What, you though LeBron James invented the powder ritual?
'He is the Bulls'

For a while there we were all transported back to the days when Jordan and his mates gave this city a bouquet of sports joy that may never be matched.

Through it all Johnny Kerr was there -- on the sidelines, in the booth, on the bus -- and his passion for the game and the hometown team was unmatched.

''He is the Bulls,'' general manager Paxson said before the game. ''You know, he was a fan.''

And that came through in everything the lively 6-9 man did or said. His yelps and muffled curses when the Bulls screwed up or the refs made a ''bad call'' (any call against the Bulls) were so telling that ''FAN'' might as well have been stenciled on the large man's forehead.

Wennington, another Bulls career basketball nut, got thoroughly tied up with Kerr once Wennington retired and joined the broadcasting team.

''He'd sing all the time,'' Wennington recalled before the ceremony. ''Especially on the bus after a win. If you were listening to a game, you didn't even need to know the score, if the Bulls were ahead or not -- you could hear it in his voice.''

Now these current Bulls are average at best, and the 1990s days of NBA title after title recede like a fading voice.

Jordan, ever the fun-time guy, mentioned the joy of sharing with Kerr, ''a little drink here, a little cigar here.''

One after the other the attendees walked up to Kerr and hugged him. And soon the metal bust of Johnny at the microphone that will be displayed in the United Center concourse was unveiled.

Kerr himself spoke at the end, in good humor, chiding his own son, Matt, who fumbled handing him some typed notes. ''He never did listen,'' muttered Kerr of his adult child.

Kerr then spoke of this being the ''happiest day in my life,'' and a Bulls fan named Barack Obama came on the big screen overhead and stated, ''Thank you, Johnny, We love you!''

Soon enough the lights came up and the real world intruded, and the Bulls rallied for a victory.

But for a while there it was, as good as it gets.