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Letters
to John
by Stef Siepel
Disclaimer: This article isn’t based on actual events. There has
never been an exchange of letters between me and John Stockton. I used
the format of a letter solely as a literary device, and everything in
this article is totally fictitious. It is my own opinion about the
matter, and solely my opinion, and not Stockton’s, or anybody else’s for
that matter.
Dear John,
First of all, let me start by congratulating you on your 41st birthday.
Have you ordered your cane yet? Just kidding, old man. How is the
family? I expect Nada and the kids are doing all right without you, like
they have done for 18 years now. Or is it 19? I’m afraid I stopped
counting after ten. You have been playing for so many years now, that I
just lost track.
Are you planning to stick around for one more year in the NBA? I’m sorry
to ask it, but you know me, I’m curious. I always want to know
everything, just like the press. I have been reading a lot lately. You
probably will remember my awful morning routine, which consists of
reading two different papers and a cup of tea. Every time I open a
sports section these days, you are in it. Every sports magazine I open
mentions you at least once, and normally the first word to come after
your name is the word “retirement.” Everybody wants to know if you are
really going to retire or not, even if it is just to finally get rid of
you. Just kidding, of course. That’s what I hate about letters, you
can’t write something you would normally say with a smile, because no
one will see the smile, and therefore it may be misinterpreted.
Anyway, why would you want to retire? It seems to me you are having fun
on the court, and you are definitely making the young ones better. They
would all love to have you around for one more year, I’m sure of that.
And what are the Jazz without good old John Stockton? If I were you, I
think I would go for at least one more year. That nasty injury to Raul
Lopez is another reason to consider playing longer. I know they brought
him in so that you could tutor him. It’s really a shame he isn’t able to
play, because I’m sure he could learn a lot from an old fox like you. If
you add one more year, I’m sure it would help him to become a better
player.
And it’s not like you can’t keep up with the youngsters anymore. I mean,
you are the number one in assists per 48 minutes, and that’s quite an
accomplishment. And you can still out-run the young guys, so that
shouldn’t be a problem either. You are still a lot quicker than your
back-up point guards are. Well, I’m not 100 percent sure about Arroyo,
but I’ll bet you can outrun Jackson any day of the week. More
importantly, you can still deliver almost every package to your
teammates, and that’s what being a point guard is all about.
Your body is still holding up, isn’t it? When a normal person reaches
the age of forty, then all hell breaks loose. I still remember when I
stepped up on the court at that age. I played non-stop for an hour, and
the result was somebody had to drag me home. You would’ve never guessed
it while I was playing, but my whole body ached during (and after) the
game. I hope that isn’t the case with you, because the most important
thing is your health. If one more year would mean that you couldn't play
basketball (or soccer, or baseball, or any other sport) with your sons
in future years, then it is time to call it quits. It’s as simple as
that.
I just wanted to congratulate you, and I wanted to satisfy my curiosity.
That, by the way, is written with a smile, which brings me back with my
earlier complaint about writing letters. I hope you keep the Jazz on the
winning track, even at the age of forty-one, and I’m sure you are going
to do that. Besides, you (as you have often remind me) are just a day
older, not a year. By that logic, not a single person would age, but it
seems that only you have managed that.
Best regards, Stef Siepel
Dear John,
Thanks for replying to my previous letter so quickly. I’m sure you have
other things to do, and I really appreciate your quick response. I know
what you mean; letters are still a great way to interact, despite their
shortcomings. It’s such a delightful, old-fashioned way of
communicating. We could do it by e-mail, but I personally think that it
is one of the most distant ways of communicating. Whenever I get an
e-mail from a friend, I just have the feeling that he doesn’t really
want to talk to me, but he doesn’t want to be rude and send me nothing.
And with the time difference, this is a lot better than calling someone
in the middle of the night.
You still haven’t decided whether you are going to retire or not, you
say? I can’t blame you. As you said, it is a tough decision. I’m sure
you could still compete with all the young guys, and I just know you
will make your team better. With how many point guards will Kirilenko
work who will give him the ball with such amazing accuracy as you do? I
can tell you the exact number: none.
I know that family comes first, and if they say that they want you to
stop, then I wouldn’t think twice about it, if I were you. Family and
friends are the most important things in our lives, and we have to
respect their decisions, even when we don’t always agree with them. But
I’m sure your kids don’t mind having a father who plays in the NBA, as
it gives them something to brag about.
And you won’t be egocentric if you keep playing. Quite the opposite
actually. If you keep playing, and your family agrees with you adding
one (or more) year(s), then it would definitely not be an act of
egocentrism. As a matter of fact, it would be egoistic to stop playing
in that case, as the fans would really be disappointed. Well, not
disappointed, I’m sure they will accept your decision (what other choice
do they have?) but they will be sad for a while, I can assure you that.
You are the face of the franchise along with Karl, and it is always hard
for the fans if they lose not only their star player, but also the face
of their franchise. You can ask Bulls fans that, as they have
experienced that feeling twice.
But after you have given so many years to the Jazz and their fans, I can
assure you that, if you retire, everybody will understand and accept
your decision. A lot of them are fathers, and they know that it is very
hard to be away from home all the time. Your kids are growing up while
you are flying to another city. You miss school plays, sports games, and
all those other things that a father really doesn’t want to miss.
Playing another season would cause you to miss even more of those small
things that make life so beautiful.
But then again, you are doing the one thing you really love: playing
basketball. Of course, family comes first, but basketball is clearly the
other love of your life. If it still gives you so much joy to play, then
why change it? It isn’t like your kids aren’t going to be able to star
in that school play or sports game without you. They will manage, as
they have done all the years before. And besides, there is always next
year.
If you decide to add another year, then you will delight almost the
entire world of basketball, especially Utah fans. You will do the thing
you love so much for another year, and if it still gives you so much
happiness, I don’t see your family telling you to stay home. On the
other hand, you will miss another year of your kids’ youth. The children
undoubtedly miss you when you are away, but they will manage another
year with you on the road, I can tell you that. They still have others
who can help them, and it isn’t like you are gone the whole year. You
will be able to see them very frequently, although not as frequently as
you might want. I don’t know what your children think of you being on
the road so much, but if they say you should go for another year, then
by all means, do. Unless you feel you will miss too much of their youth.
Did I succeed in balancing it? I tried not to influence your decision,
since it is your decision, and no one can make it for you. I’ve pointed
some things out, but none of them is new to you, I’m sure of that. Think
hard, and then make the right decision. But if your family says “no”,
then I would really take a hard look at retiring. If they say “go for
it”, then take a look at what you really want. Basketball is one of the
greatest things in the world to do, don’t forget that. You probably
won’t find any other job as enjoyable as this one. The thrill when you
step on the court, the fans; take those things into consideration as
well. If you leave the NBA behind you, you will never get that thrill
back when you step on the court, and you will never get that feeling
back of you and your teammates celebrating a win. Never will you be
among those guys again (not as a player anyway), and never will you be
in that locker room again, talking and joking with your teammates.
But after leading such a life, in which you traveled from one place to
another so often, being with your kids, and watch them grow and play,
might be the ideal life. Peaceful and quiet.
You know what, I’m going to stop. You have a luxury problem, my friend,
and you have to make a difficult decision. I can only offer one piece of
advice, and that is to do what your heart tells you to do. Do what you
want to do the most, and then look if everyone agrees with your
decision. But either stay with the Jazz, or retire. Going to another
team would not be the smartest thing to do. If you want a championship
ring, sign for the minimum, but don’t go to a contender. Your whole
career you have made contenders, and it just isn’t like you to acquire a
ring by going to another team.
Good luck with your decision, as it is a very hard one, and I hope to
talk to you soon.
Best regards, Stef Siepel
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