Cutting The Nets

Last week, I watched ESPN’s 30 for 30: Survive and Advance. Having grown up in North Carolina, I remember the 1983 NCAA Championship well. Such a great trip down memory lane for me!

For me, most everyone was a big Duke or UNC Tarheel fan. I was one of the many UNC fans because Michael Jordan was such a sensation there. He seemed magical and invincible. It was bittersweet when NC State won the ACC championship, beating out Duke and UNC.

By the time the Pack was the last ACC team in the NCAA tournament, all was forgiven. We were pulling for a North Carolina/ACC team against anyone. We’re territorial like that.

I remember watching the “Cardiac Pack,” sweating through those close games. Laughing, cheering, shaking our heads when they somehow won just one more time.

I remember “Phi Slamma Jamma,” wowed by their dominating dunking style of play. I remember the build-up leading up to the NC State/Houston match-up. I remember the predictions leading up to that final game. NC State was going down. Said everyone.

Then I remember that 30–35 foot shot, capped off by that beautiful dunk. It plays in slow-motion in my recollection. I will never forget watching Jimmy Valvano race on to the court, with that wide-eyed expression on his face.

Unforgettable.

Unfortunately, I lost track of Jimmy V after that fantastic season. I didn’t follow the Wolfpack after that sensational win. I didn’t realize how much of an inspiration Coach V became, nor did I hear about all the motivational speeches he gave.

So watching the documentary provided the fascinating backstory for me.

I had not heard how he practiced cutting down the nets with his team after each practice. Each year, for several years before that mind-blowing 1983 season, he pulled out the ladder after practice and they did a dry run cutting down the nets, complete with waving and celebrating.

His players confessed that this was so awkward at first. Embarrassing even. They thought he was nuts.

But it didn’t take long for the net-cutting practice to work its way into their thinking. There came some point where they began to believe that this was their destiny.

Sure, initially Coach V looked like a dreamer, an unrealistic optimist. He took a risk to look foolish to chase what he believed was their destiny.

I wonder who felt foolish cutting down those nets after the ride they took? Not his players. Guaranteed.

All those times visualizing the goal. Those guys fought through unrealistic odds, shut out the doubters. They made it all the way to the big dance, where they proceeded to stun everyone by winning it.

Say what you will, but somewhere in there, the contagious belief that this was their destiny played a role in their refusal to quit in the face of ridiculous odds.

It started when one guy risked looking like an idiot and suggested they practice cutting some nets down, in order to make their dream their reality.

I have begun my own net-cutting rituals. It’s not voodoo. It’s not magic. Something about seeing yourself realize your goals just slowly creeps into your thinking, winning over your mind’s resident skeptic.

You naturally act in accordance with your beliefs. I could just as easily believe the unrealistic, unfounded negative talk that begs me not to try for fear of looking (or feeling) foolish.

I’m believing something either way.

I like the ending where I cut down the net in celebration, all because I dared to live as though I believe.

So I’m cutting the nets, complete with a wave and a smile.

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