Story:We Don't Have To Be Friends
We Don't Have To Be Friends
Written by BigCed
It was the afternoon of October 15. The Plymouth Taproots had just finished practice at the Commonwealth Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, ahead of their preseason match with the Baltimore Spirits that night. A homecoming for one Alvaro Tejón, who played at the University of Strathclydesdale prior to the FBA, and also a return to the UK for one Jesús Hamilton, who had played a season in the British Basketball League two years before.
A small group of local reporters were milling around the locker room occupied by the Taproots, mostly tossing softball questions to the players, asking if they were enjoying their brief stay in Scotland and how such a trip served to help grow the game abroad.
But one older highland cattle writer posed a question the young lynx was loath to answer, but had suspected was coming at some point.
“So you’re set to be starting alongside Tejón tonight. You’re from Gibraltar, he’s from Spain… I’m sure you’re well aware by now that many Spaniards don’t care for you because of where you’re from. Is it possible for the two of you to put that aside and work together on the court?”
Jesús stood by his locker, thoughtfully listening to the writer’s query, and let out a deep breath before answering.
“Yes, of course we can… I’ve been hearing about this concern over whether we can play together in Plymouth, since not long after I took the stage on draft night.
A lot of people, fans and those in the press alike, seem to have this idea about team chemistry, that it’s this fragile thing that can be undone with the slightest difference. I think it comes from the fact we play a game, and when they play that game with their mates, everyone is having fun, having a good time.
But it’s different if you play it competitively. It’s a game, but it’s also a job. I’m sure you don’t care for everyone in your newsroom, you’re surely not pals with everyone. But you all work together to report the news. That’s your job. Our job as a team is to win basketball games.”
The highland cattle scrawled some notes on a pad of paper. “So we shouldn’t expect you to be at each other’s throats then?”
The lynx shook his head. “Not at all. Look, Alvaro doesn’t care for me, that’s on him. I don’t have anything against the Spanish people. My Mum’s from Spain. Now, I’ve rather heard enough from the Spanish government in my time, but most people don’t like government. It’s one of those necessary evils in society. But back to the topic at hand… I have nothing against Alvaro, and if he’s willing to be professional, which he’s indicated that he is, we’re going to get on just fine. We’re probably never going to be friends. But we don’t have to be.”
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