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For Bill Belichick as well as Michael Jordan, winning has a price.
That is what Jordan said in his Last Dance documentary about being so tough on his teammates during their six NBA championship run.
Belichick, who had a six Super Bowl championship run of his own, has a home in the same Florida neighborhood where Jordan lives as well as Tiger Woods.
While the greatest golfer of all time, definitely the best basketball player of all time and probably the coaching GOAT are about 20 years apart in age, they would all agree that winning definitely has a price.
They have had their own ways of paying that price, and it was part of proving their professional perfection.
Tiger was a virtual recluse in his prime, cold and uncooperative with the media and public that constantly wanted a piece of him.
Michael was so locked into winning that he was tough on his teammates and physically fought with a few in practice to hold them accountable. Maybe because of that, he and Bulls teammate Steve Kerr never discussed how both of their fathers were brutally murdered.
Belichick was almost devoid of personal relationships with his players in the NFL until after they retired, and he did it on purpose to not let his feelings get in the way of who he kept and who he cut.
Whether he will be that way with his first college team of younger, one-time amateurs remains to be seen, but he will surely be all business with constructing his roster. He knows how to put the pieces together and whether they fit.
Because winning has a price, and winning is why UNC is making him the $10 million man for every season he coaches the Tar Heels.
Will he care about how the players do in school, if their families question what’s going on and whether they are having problems with their girlfriends or about the new money they are making?
Of course, but that is why UNC is doling out another 10 million for the Carolina football coaching and administrative staff, which will handle those concerns.
Before and during the season, Belichick will be at his office very early and stay late after practices to meet with his staff to discuss how their preparation is going. He won’t have to be too tough with his coaches, recruiters or scouts, because all will be carefully hired from an experienced pool and already know how to do their jobs.
He will meet some of his university obligations, but not many and not for long. Because he is here to win and winning has a price.
Belichick said he has already spoken to Jordan since both are now Tar Heels and that Michael will be supportive. That is part of why winning championships will have a substantial price.
Featured image via UNC-Chapel Hill/Jon Gardiner
Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
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Art Chansky is a veteran journalist who has written ten books, including best-sellers “Game Changers,” “Blue Bloods,” and “The Dean’s List.” He has contributed to WCHL for decades, having made his first appearance as a student in 1971. His “Sports Notebook” commentary airs daily on the 97.9 The Hill WCHL and his “Art’s Angle” opinion column runs weekly on Chapelboro.
