St. Croix's own Tim Duncan is now an NBA champion, NBA Finals Most Valuable Player, last year's Rookie of the Year and, like it or not — role model.
We're not the only ones pinning the role model label on Duncan. Every one of our politicians has gushed about what a great example Duncan is for our young people. And while we agree with the politicos in that respect, perhaps they should follow his great example too.
Duncan wins an NBA ring and an MVP trophy, keeps his comments short and true, and doesn't refer to himself in the first person at all. He has distinguished himself with his quiet, old-school dominance on the court, his low-key demeanor, his analytical approach to the game and the fact that he opted to complete his college education rather than drop out and go for the big bucks earlier.
No wonder New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy described Duncan's unselfishness as something the NBA can build around.
Now, had one of our illustrious senators, say Sen. Overly "The Throat" Loquacious II, been on the floor of the Legislature trying to get a bill passed, he would have taken all his allotted time talking about how tough it was for Sen. Throat Loquacious II to have the law passed because of his know-nothing colleagues. He would have impugned the motives and integrity of any perceived critics in and out of the Legislature. Then he would have requested more time to rail on about some other issue that he thought would make him look good and others look bad.
If things still didn't go well, our senator might even resort to bullying, screaming or verbal abuse, or that great old selfless trick — turning off the power or pulling the plug on someone's microphone.
Some might say it's just politics. Perhaps. But our politicians are our community leaders and therefore are, like it or not, role models.
After Tim Duncan's recent successes, our politicians will surely — and rightly — hold another Tim Duncan Day, which the man-of-the-hour will probably reluctantly — but graciously — submit to.
But before the politicians go holding Tim Duncan up for others to imitate, perhaps they themselves should study the Quiet Man's game: low on flash, long on substance.
