Durant Shold learn From Dirk

There is the saying "Those who fail to review history are bound to repeat it." If Kevin Durant is wise he should look take a look at the career of Dirk before making decisions about his future. Why Dirk you may ask? Dirk has traveled a lot of the roads Durant is about to go down. 1) Loyalty is overrated - Dirk has been loyal to Mark Cuban, the Mavericks Franchise, and the Fans of Dallas. Being loyal has brought him one ring, a MVP, a whole bunch of records. Dirk has a respectable career that any NBA player would love to have. But is it legendary? No. Being loyal to Dallas has allowed precious years of Dirk Career to go to waste. Dallas just recently got blown out by the Bobcats. Cuban has failed to put a championship caliber team around Dirk since they won the big one several years ago. Durant should learn Should learn from Dirk that staying with a team for your whole career is a huge gamble that usually does not pay off. IF Durant is going to pursue greatness, he is going to have to probably cut ties with the Thunder. 2) Offense Brings you scoring titles and records, Defense brings you rings - Ok I could have just said "Defense wins Championships." but I did not want to use that cliche. Dallas for years was a high power, high octane offense under Don Nelson. but they didn't win anything. Then came Avery Johnson, who brought a defensive mentality, but did not have the personnel. To use a cliche " Its not the x's and O's , but its the Jimmy and Joe's'." Johnson had the schemes, but lacked the personnel but he did usher in a mindset of defense that Rick Carlisle built upon. But Cuban brought in the Joe that made all the x's and o's work. His name was Tyson Chandler. Everything that Dirk lacked in Defense Tyson was able to supply in abundance. Couple that with good defenders in Jason Kidd, Deshanw Stevenson, and Shawn Marion, Dirk was able to capture his ring. Since the defensive personnel has left Dallas, so has the Championship opportunities. Durant and Dirk like most offensive players try to conserve energy when playing defensive, so they need role players who can do the heavy lifting defensively. Ibaka is good, but he defensive presence alone will not bring the Thunder a Championship. Therefore Durant will have to find a team (ie the Bulls, Bobcats, Blazer, Pelicans) that has a championship level defense. 3) Good intentions is not the same as your best interest - There are a multitude of fan-bases who would love to have Mark Cuban as their owner. He has money, He is willing to criticize and stand up to the League. His team is very successful. But like his NFL Counterpart, Jerry Jones, Cuban makes decisions that have good intentions; but are not necessarily in the best interest of their star player. I am not advocating that a star player should hold his team hostage or should be making personnel decisions. You cannot allow the inmates to run the asylum. But as a player, you cannot allow your owners good intentions to override what is in your best. You have to do what is best for you. In my opinion Cuban had good intentions not resigning key components of the Championship team to clear salary to be able to offer max contract to another player like Derron Williams or Dwight Howard. Dirk obviously thought this would work. It did not. Dirk allowed Cuban's good intentions to override his best interest. Dirks best interest at the time should have been to get out of dodge. Durant has to know that Clay Bennet, owner of the Thunder, may have good intentions for his team, but it may not be the best interest for Durant. Bennet has already allowed Harden to walk which had good intentions for the organization, but was not in the best interest for Durant. Dirk has had a successful career in the NBA. But there is no fine line between being successful and being great. The gap between the two is as wide as the Grand Canyon. Kevin Durant has made his desire known. He wants to be on the level of the NBA greatest. Being able to see the success and failures others have had is one way to get there.

My Jailer is Me

He comes in to town with a scowl on his face,
I know he is not here to offer me grace.

He looks so disappointed, He looks so mad
because he has to lock me up once again.

Like the Bounty Hunter named Dog,
My Jailer hunts me down when I do wrong.

Like a good secretary he keeps my records and a very long list,
of my mistakes, wrongs, mishaps, and even accidents.

I try to escape, I try to run free,
But like any Moral abiding officer of the law he ain't stoppin until he captures me.

I haven't broken a law, committed a felony, or broken into somebody's home.
All I I have done is barely violated my own moral code.

But that is just enough for him, to start the pursuit again.
Its like in my own mind I am a fugitive.

The moment finally comes when I can no longer run.
He ask me one question "Why did you this son?"

I drop to my knees and beg for mercy,
But my pleads fall upon deaf ears as he and I know that he must do his duty.

He drags me back to the dungeon, and throws me into that jail cell that is nothing but hell hole,
Sadly, I have become so familiar with it, its become a second home.

Once again I find myself behind bars and in chains,
Asking myself "How could I make such a dumb mistake?"

My Jailer says "Boy your not getting out anytime soon for your own good, I might as well throw away the key."
I ask him if I can call my Lawyer named Justified Reason. He is a sharp, quick whited, and very biased attorney.

I say to myself "If I would have done this, or would have done that,
I know with out a doubt I would not be in the place I am at."

Regret comes to visit along with his brother Misery.
Seeing that they are cousins with my Moral Jailer, I am not surprised that they are also disappointed at me.

They try and keep me company, but I just send them away.
People like them don't help you get better, they either make you worse or keep you in the same state.

My Jailer is not horrible, He is just doing his job.
Being a Moral Conscience means you must do what is right and correct what is wrong.

I know that one day I will be set free,
because I have come to realize that my Jailer is me.

A Strong Toned Poem

I am the Champion.
I am the King.
I am the one who writes and fulfills his own destiny.

Live the following words if you want to be great.

Fate unfolds for those who are not in control.
Chance is for those who wallow in fear and dare not take the risk to obtain the reward for those who are bold.

Life is to be lived and not to be watched on a screen.
Your either driving the car at your own speed,
Or letting someone else drive and decide where you are going while you're sitting in the backseat.

Dream your Dreams, but do more than that. Make them a reality.
Anybody can dream a dream, but the man or woman who can fashion his dream from nothing is truly unique

Write your legacy. Tell the story that has never been told.
Tell your posterity to look at your Life for instruction on where to go.

Set your mind and Take the risk.
Don't live your life behind the bars of fear, cut loose the ball and chain of insecurity that has been a constant hindrance.

Backdown from no challenge. Stand against what is wrong.
Help those who need aid and prepare the way for those who will eventually come along.

Have no regrets, tell no lies.
Live each day likes its your last, live like you know the end is nigh.

Take nothing for granted, be thankful for what you have.
Remember there is someone is in a worse situation than you, and that someone would love to be where you stand.

Don't always take the road well traveled, be willing to walk to one that is not paved.
Remember its not always about the destination, its about the journey.

Finally, before you lay your head to rest at the end of each day,
Ask yourself "Did I make an impact, did I take another step toward my destiny."

My Lady

Her eyes are truly angelic,
Her Hair is soft and long.
Her nose is cute as a button,
Her skin doesn't have a blemish at all.

Her smile is like the sun, it truly brightens my day,
if I could spend a just a second with her,
I would know how it feels to be in a heavenly place.

But to only describe her physical beauty, would truly be a shame
It would be an injustice to those who have never met her,
For she truly embodies the beauty that really matters such as kindness, Love, and Grace.

I don't understand why she wants to talk to me, I am not a great man
Why she wants to hear my voice everyday,
I don't consider myself to be that special, I don't consider myself to be worthy to talk to such a wonderful woman.

But that is what makes her truly unique,
She understands that I am not perfect,
And yet she still accepts this imperfect man, and is truly nice and sweet to me.

I know you want to ask me "Who is she?"
Princess, Queen, Madam, Lady are all inadequate titles to place before her name,
but all you need to know that she is My Lady.

The "P" poem

Patience permeates perseverance,
perseverance perfects.
Perfection procures prerogative,
Prerogative places.
Places proliferate problems,
Problems present pain.
Pain prevents peace,
Peace provides placidity.
Placidity promotes positive production,
Production produces passion.
Passion pursues pleasure,
Pleasure promotes preparation.
Preparation positions precisely,
Precise placement pens P poem.

Opportunity

Opportunity knocks,
it may suddenly come.
When it presents itself,
you must be ready to climb the ladder,
you must be ready to put your foot on the fist rung.

Opportunity doesn't wait,
it doesn't want to play.
All opportunity wants to know is are you ready to receive what it has for you today.

Opportunity will pass you by,
it will seldom gives you another try.
It doesn't like to be mishandled,
And don't even try and fool it with a lie.

Opportunity wears a blind fold, it truly doesn't discriminate.
it is the people who control opportunity, that truly determines its fate.

Opportunity comes in all shapes and sizes,
Yet it doesn't always come neatly wrapped with a pretty bow.
Sometimes you have to chase it,
and sometimes you have to just let it go.

Opportunity opens the door,
it sets the table and prepares the stage.
It gives you the chance to make something of yourself,
It gives you the chance to prove you are worthy.

Will you take advantage of opportunity,
or will you just moan and groan?
Here is the one truth you need to learn from this poem,
What you do with opportunity is up to you and you alone.

My "able"s

I am trying to predict the inevitable
while avoiding the regrettable,
to obtain and sustain the enjoyable.

I want my friends to think I am personable,
and my enemies to thing I am unstoppable.
I want all men to know that I am honorable.

When a crisis arises I am unflappable,
because I have a confidence in myself that is unshakable.
I always try to go after what many say is unattainable.

I want to be recognizable.
I won't allow anything to make me disable;
for I know that I am strong, willing, smart and able.

I know that having 100% success on everything is not probable,
but being successful is not unfathomable.
Fulfilling my dreams is nothing like a fairy tale or fable.

One day my wife will find me to be lovable
and my love and devotion to her will truly be unbreakable.
All I want to do is live a life and leave a legacy that is unforgettable.