Innovation: The Revelation Will Be Televised with Steph Curry Taking Over the TV Screen
By Elder Hugh “Holy” Tarrer
“Did you see Steph Curry the other night?” How many mornings at work or at the barbershop, or even at church, has this question been asked this season? This young man is re-defining the term “He Got Game”, all the while using his platform to show his love and reverence for his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I am in lock step agreement totally with him being named the first time ever “unanimous” MVP of the NBA this season. But as always, there are detractors, curmudgeons, and malcontents whom say things like “he wouldn’t do that against Jordan” and “if he played in our day we would defend him better”. Unfortunately, ‘If’ in my opinion, is a poem by Rudyard Kipling, or a mere notion that tries to legitimize itself with speculation, conjecture, and hypotheticals. Some say that Steph Curry’s game is predicated on shooting quickly and accurately from virtually anywhere on the court while having incredible ball skills to dribble around defenders and cut to the basket with cat like quickness. And they would be right.
What has and is occurring is a revelation of newness in the NBA and with our youth. Because basketball used to be all about “Big Men (7 ft. Centers) down low in the paint”. If you were 6 foot 5 and below you need not apply. However, Steph Curry a 6-3 point guard from tiny Davidson University down here in North Carolina, has made it not only fashionable to be a 3 point shooter, but he’s made it cool. The game is evolving into a drive and dish to the open man game, which was Dr. Naismith’s original intention of the game. This is why a long-range 3 pointer yields higher points than a Slam Dunk. Jesus addresses this in Mark 2:22 People don’t pour new wine into old wineskins.” The comparison is a very apt one when we think of the properties of new wine and old wineskins. When wine is new, it is in a perpetual state of fermenting. It will expand, and release gasses in this process. So seasoned Hall of Famers like Charles Barkley, Scottie Pippen and Oscar Robinson are vessels that find it hard to accept a revolutionary mindset or paradigm shift. Mindfully and emotionally these retired players are like vessels, rigid and set in their mind set.
Later on in verse 22 Jesus says Rather, new wine is to be poured into fresh skins.” Because they can handle the fermenting of wine, in that they absorb better. They are flexible, and not so rigid and set in their ways. This also parallels the fact that the league has become more of a shooting league. Just a few days ago The Cleveland Cavaliers led by a 6-8 260 pound anvil of an athlete in one LeBron James, someone known for his power, his dunking ability, and high-flying, set a record for…You guessed it three pointers in a game vs Atlanta with 25. Although I don’t believe in evolution as the beginning because the Bible tells me different. We do adapt and evolve with circumstance and situation. The long shot is rewarded with an extra point, because of its difficulty. It usually requires a pass from your teammate which further bolsters the concept of a team-game.
Lack of acceptance to innovation can cause regret and anguish. Growing up remember a weekly circular called The Trading Post. It listed all kinds of classifieds and advertisements for people wanting to buy and sell almost anything. Today we have Ebay or Craig’s List. I don’t know it to be the official story, but what if about 25 years ago someone named Craig came to the owners of the Trading Post and said “this internet thing is going to take off have you ever thought about putting your stuff on line?” Innovation comes kind of all of a sudden, but if were rigid and can’t accept new mediums we can live to regret it.
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