Everything that follows here is stolen directly, word for word, from Peter J. Leithart. (I don’t waste time stealing anything second-best …)
Gregg “Pop” Popovich, longtime coach of the San Antonio Spurs, recently became the winningest coach in NBA history. He’s a grandfatherly figure in the league, known for his brusque treatment of inane reporters and his sensible view that life is more than basketball. For Popovich, life is also good food and fine wine.
In a recent story for ESPN, Baxter Holmes estimates that Popovich spends over $1 million a year on high-end meals for his team and staff. It’s one of the secrets of Pop’s basketball magic. Holmes quotes one of his former players explaining the importance of team meals:
I was friends with every single teammate I ever had in my [time] with the Spurs. That might sound far-fetched, but it’s true. And those team meals were one of the biggest reasons why. To take the time to slow down and truly dine with someone in this day and age – I’m talking a two- or three-hour dinner – you naturally connect on a different level than just on the court or in the locker room. It seems like a pretty obvious way to build team chemistry, but the tricky part is getting everyone to buy in and actually want to go. You combine amazing restaurants with an interesting group of teammates from a bunch of different countries and the result is some of the best memories I have from my career.
The Spurs have long been known for the balletic elegance of their team play. Pop knows that a team can achieve that kind of athletic beauty on the court only if the teamwork starts and continues off the court.
You don’t care about the NBA? Well, at least you can remember Popovich next time you’re read about Jesus’ gospel feasts or get ready to celebrate the Eucharist.
The Presbyteer 