Tracy McGrady: In defense of respect

"It's all about the fans," he said. "It's all about who they want to see because they generate the dollars, they're going to watch the game, so they're going to vote for their favorite players and that's probably how it should be." Chis Bosh

Recently Tracy McGrady was placed on the trading block after coming back from a career threatening micro fracture procedure. After hyper-limited playing playing time allotted to his playing ( 5 to 7 minutes) it became clear that Tracy felt that his rehabilitation progress had transcended management's reasoning for not giving him more time on the court.

In short order, the situation led to McGrady requesting to be traded and the management and coach hastily agreeing to do so. Today his career is in limbo based on the reasoning (or unreasoning) of letting Tracy go in spite of his illustrious career stats (saving no Championships rings) and yet to be proven potential with the Houston Rockets.

It's not that Tracy wanted to go as much as it appeared that management was desperately seeking a reason to let him go. Shortly after this unpopular decision, the head coach, Adelman was awarded a five year extension (Untimely awards like these smells suspicious). The paradox being that Adelman has been awarded already for his smarts for coaching a team of overachievers without a superstar in sight and finding them in the thick of play-off teams.

That was then, this is now.

The questions that begged to be asked are many, but let me give a few of them.

1. Did and has management handled the situation in the most sensitive manner regarding the unceremoniously release of a superstar that will probably land in the Hall of Fame?

I would say no. Even before McGrady became frustrated with the support from management regarding his return, it was evident that management sent mixed signals to the fans about a genuine desire to keep him. Even though it has been promoted as a mutual agreement, I doubt very much that this is true. It appears to be partially a power struggle and a disrespect issue. What management has done is let McGrady know whose in charge.They've even went as far (see above) to award the coach who had the temerity to recommend dismissing McGrady with a "in your face" contract extension in a season that has yet to reach a half-way point with a unproven roster (with some early, not definite successes) and without hint of remorse.

2. Has the groundwork been laid for future dealings?

I would say yes and no. If one would attempt to look at the whole picture, Yao (the pother superstar) has been just as injured as McGrady). He is due to return next season. So if his play has declined, he will be let go. Right? No. The fact that the Houston Management has not laid any strong paradigm for dismissing declining players makes the team come off as unfair and cold--and prejudice. One may argue that if Kobe Bryant shows any decline while playing with the Rockets that he would be unceremoniously sent packing based on the paradigm of dismissal that they've created. Needless to say, this paradigm is flawed and should be corrected.

All of the burden of proof has been placed on McGrady. Why didn't others receive a modicum of responsibility for McGrady's disposition except to regulate his playing time and ultimately,suggesting that he be let go. What about the well paid assistant coaches, where one is the head coach's son? Where do they fit in the decision making equation. The answer is nowhere, it appears that a unilateral decision has been made-good or bad, without this general manager doing his math and computer calculations in which have become known.

3. Can McGrady be blamed for some of the bad karma and drama that surrounds this move?

Yes. McGrady has been accused (right or wrong) for being selfish and self-centered--of not being a team player. To some degree, this is true, he does have a a habit of sulking and being anti-team concept. On the other hand, his shortcomings does not outweigh the argument for respect that his naturally given to past and present superstars, including the difficult ones like. For instance, take Charles Barkley, he complained all of the time and is still complaining as a sports commentator, but he was never (and even now) disrespected as a player. Kobe once indicated that either his team will do what's necessary to win or he had plans to go. The team reverenced their star so much that Kobe was heard loud and clear. (Note: There should be a separate story produced on how successful coaches are ale to coach superstars where others are either threatened or clueless). General Manager West and Coach Jackson was able to suck it up and take care of business. Allen, another superstar was rescued by his original team vs. one that has sent theirs out to sea. Teams dare send a message that they are intolerable to their official superstars, which brings up the final question of this installment.

4. Or players immune or unaware of their fellow players situations?

Yes and no. Most players are in denial, like in the case of the Rockets, they would would tell you that what goes on in the front office or with other players have nothing to do with the game play. I would agree, to an extent. Because, of course how they dealt with McGrady (or any other player for that matter) has their intensive attention, whether they admit it or not. It's like you can beat up my friend or deal with him/her unfairly but that's not my business. In all reality I would wager that how the front office has dealt with McGrady is the business of all the team, individually and collectively. Like I iterated, they won't address it publicly but a real strategist will be able to observe the side-effects as the season unfolds. The need for survival in this world is a natural instinct. So the internal question is how will they deal with me? Does how they dealt with the superstar inspire or obstruct my ascendancy in a very competitive league?

I would suggest that the respect factor that has played out in this scenario will ultimately effect the team psychology. The little things that has propelled the rockets to overachieve will be challenged by this inner-alter voice known as individual survival.

While we live in cynical times where many fans are just mean, a lot can be said about how the majority of fans feel when they vote for their All-Stars. In this case, the fan base (or not enough) was realized. A lot of fans love McGrady. So, if something has been perceived to be dealt with unfairly, there can be unforeseen consequences still unfolding even if the decision makers felt that they were being smart, or arrogant. The problem with this paradigm is that someone has to use energy hoping that their decision was good, hence with a silent propensity of hoping that the other will fail. This is an unhealthy paradigm in human relations and business practices, and, for team building.

[What are Houston fans saying of late?-1/26/2010. Check
out blog:
http://www.chron.com/disp/discuss.mpl/sports/bk/bkn/6835080.html?p=7]