Luka’s Corner

In sports, winning can be witnessed and measured in many different ways. And, because there are so many different kinds of athletes within their respective sports, it is easy to compare them in order to figure out which are true winners and which are not. But, here’s my question. Who exactly is a winner and how can that be determined? Luckily, there are so many different kinds of winners in sports that it is easy to determine.

A winner can be measured by their stats when it really matters. In other words, if an athlete’s statistics or production noticeably increase in the postseason, championship match, knockout round, or whenever else the result is on the line, then that athlete is a winner. There are plenty of examples of this. In soccer, Samuel Eto’o elevates his play by scoring more goals in the knockout round of the UEFA Champions League or when the domestic league is nearing its end. The Cameroonian star seems to always come through when he is both least expected to come through and when he is needed to come through. Just remember that with all of the talk about Lionel Messi, Thierry Henry, Xavi, and the other big names on FC Barcelona entering the club’s Champions League final against Manchester United last May, it was Eto’o who came through at the start by opening the scoring for his club.

On the other hand, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal production notoriously decreases in the knockout round of the Champions League. He has infamously experienced scoring droughts on the biggest stage of international club soccer. It is not surprising that his Inter teams always failed to go far in the Champions League. If the leader of your team fails to produce, then you cannot win. So, it is not surprising then that the Inter club this season, with Eto’o, is on the verge of reaching the final for the first time in recent memory (ironically, at the expense of Ibrahimovic’s Barcelona club).

However, it isn’t only an increase in statistical production that makes a winner. You can see a winner in action if they make the timely pass, steal the ball to get a critical defensive stop, hit the big three-pointer, or save the wrist shot that could have won the game. The athletes who do these things don’t always have to be the biggest names or most heralded stars. They can be the 7th-man on a basketball team or the substitute on a soccer team. No matter who they are, though, they have to make these big-time plays on a consistent basis to be considered winners. A winner does not have one magical season and then fade the rest of his career. Athletes who win once and then say that they are winners, but somehow never win again, are not winners. Consistency is key.

For example, Robert Horry, a role player who hit big-time shots for the Houston Rockets, Los Angeles Lakers, and San Antonio Spurs throughout his career, is a winner. Joakim Noah, who has a knack for grabbing critical rebounds, and displayed that ability both in college and in the NBA, is a winner. Ben Roethlisberger, who has made a name for himself with his game-winning drives for the Steelers in the postseason, is a winner. So is Gennaro Gattuso, who uses his emotion and intensity to lead both his club and international team to wins. Such athletes, even if they aren’t the biggest stars in their sport and don’t draw much media attention, find a way to get it done in winning time. They seem to always do it when it really counts.

I also want to throw out there that winners get it done in all kinds of situations. This means that they win in different leagues and by playing different roles for their team (to fill their team’s needs). Manu Ginobili is a great example of this. The Argentinian is a three-time champion with the San Antonio Spurs. He also led Argentina en route to winning the Olympics in 2004, in addition to already having won the Euroleague with Kinder Bologna in 2001 (with whom he was also named the Euroleague MVP for 2000-01). Ginobili has proven that he can win in any environment and on any team. He will be the playmaker on the team or the scorer or even the lockdown defender, as long as it will result in victory. He does what he has to do, no matter where and how he has to do it.

It is similar to high school basketball players who end up in the NBA and continue to win in the pros after winning state championships at the high school level (like LeBron James and Derrick Rose). It is not a coincidence then that the athlete who has proven that they can win keep on doing it, even if it is against better competition. That is also why we even hear about these athletes in the first place. Winners, be it in high school or in the professional ranks, grab the spotlight.  Everyone wants a proven winner. This is why winning is like a fortune. Everyone wants to make a billion dollars, but very few people actually earn it in their lifetimes. Similarly, everyone wants to win, but very few find a way to do so.

Stepping away from the US team, one of the most interesting storylines of these games was how Ricky Rubio would play for Spain. Considered to be "the next big thing" by many scouts and often dubbed the Spanish version of "Pistol" Pete Maravich, Rubio is only 17 years old and will most likely apply for the NBA draft next year.

Looking at Rubio play against the United States in pool play and against Lithuania in the semifinal round (Jose Calderon sat out due to injury), one thing was very clear: Ricky Rubio is one of the best defenders in the world at this point and has a chance to be the best in the world in that regard, including the NBA. He is capable of pressuring the opposing team’s guards for a full 94 feet of hardwood and can disrupt everybody in the backcourt on rotations and pick-and-rolls. I have never seen a guard steal the ball the way Rubio has in these Olympics. When the opponent’s big man rebounds the ball in the backcourt and hands it off to the point guard, Rubio trails behind the play and either deflects the pass or steals it from the dribbler. That is extremely effective in disrupting the other team’s offense and, even if Rubio fails to steal the ball, the offensive player spends so much time looking for him that another Spanish player can easily steal the ball instead.

In these Olympics, Rubio has played against the best that basketball has to offer. Even against Team USA, Rubio was a pest against Chris Paul and Deron Williams, two of the best point guards in the world. Defending against Jason Kidd, Rubio used his superior quickness to really trouble Kidd. In the semifinal against Lithuania, Rubio had to go up against Sarunas Jasikevicius, perhaps the best PG in Europe. And, surprisingly, Rubio took the more experienced Lithuanian out of his game. He pressured Jasikevicius in the backcourt and gave him no space on pick-and-rolls, not to mention that he stopped the Lithuanian from scoring and handing out assists. Known for his leadership on the court, Jasikevicius was "bamboozled" (in the words of Charles Barkley) when matched up against Rubio.

I would compare Rubio’s defense to that of a Rajon Rondo or Delonte West, but two times better even at this point in his career. Like Rondo and West, he gives the dribbler no space in the backcourt, but he gets more steals than those two and is a higher-level pest. I look forward to seeing Rubio in the final against Team USA and in the NBA soon because he can achieve superstardom on the defensive end. If a team like Memphis or Seattle drafts the Spaniard, they will truly have a game-changer on their side.

With the opening ceremony kicking off tomorrow, the United States has completed all of its exhibitions and it is time for the real games to start (on Sunday against China). It is also time for my Olympic predictions:

Gold Medal: USA

The US team is simply too deep at every position to lose this time. They have regained their focus after consecutive international defeats and are poised for an Olympic run.

Silver Medal: Spain

Spain has proven that they can win on the international stage. They have Pau Gasol, Jose Calderon, and even Ricky Rubio this time around.

Bronze Medal: Argentina

Argentina is the defending Olympic champion, so they are intent on defending their spot as the best. Ginobili, the best non-American in these games, is the difference.

Team to Watch: Croatia

Croatia is a skilled team that moves the ball around well and finds the open shooters. Marko Tomas is their go-to-guy and Nikola Prkacin is their low-post threat. Remember that this team beat Spain at the European Championships in 2007.