In 1910 Constantine Cavafy wrote to her “Ithaca” a poem that has conquered the world to this day. The poet concluded:

“Ithaca gave you a wonderful journey / Without her you would not have gone on a journey / But it has nothing to do with you give more / And if you find her poor, Ithaca did not laugh at you / So wise that you have become, with so much experience, you would already understand what Ithaca means.

“Do you get a promotion at work every year? So every year of yours is a failure? Every year you work towards one goal: get a promotion, take care of your family, take care of your home. This is not a failure, but a step towards success. There are always stairs. Michael Jordan played 15 years and won 6 championships. Did the other 9 years fail? Are you talking to me? I beg you. Why are you asking me this? That’s the wrong question,” the Bucks star responded to a reporter’s question after the game with obvious annoyance.

And continued: “There are no failures in sports. There are good days and bad days. Sometimes you are successful, sometimes you are not. Sometimes it’s your turn, sometimes it’s not. This is a sport. You don’t always win. Someone else will win this year.

We want to come back next year and win the championship. It’s been 50 years since we won the championship in Milwaukee. Was it 50 years of failure? No, these were just steps towards success. We won the championship, hopefully we’ll win another one.”

In the modern championship, there is an idea that puts on the scales of success, on the one hand, millions spent on the squad, player, coach, and on the other, a huge “duty”. The more money spent, the more “owed”. A ratio that cannot be disputed and that does not allow any of the scales to fall.

Giannis, however, sent a very important message with his outburst. It’s a sport, he said. Sometimes it’s your turn, sometimes it’s not. You don’t always win. There will be mistakes. Empires will be built and then they will be lost to be replaced by others.

In sports. However, failures are unacceptable in the championship. Because failure means… a mess and loss of profits, sponsorships, television rights. And if this failure hurts the advanced leagues, imagine what happens in third world sports countries, many of which cannot organize, for example, competitions. cup final…

However, there is another side to this expensive, brilliant medal. Giannis knows where he is. He knows how this whole global NBA industry works. He receives astronomical sums and knows full well that many will be waiting for him in the corner. Championship of this level is relentless.

“Even when I didn’t win, I was hard on myself. When you are a big player, when a lot is expected of you and you don’t win, I think you have failed. I played 19 seasons and lost 15. When I didn’t win a championship, I lost. I can’t tell anyone how to think, but that’s how I was raised. Giannis himself, of course, is not a failed player, but for the organization the season was a failure. I respect his explanation but for me when we didn’t win it was always my fault and I always considered it a defeat.” Shaquille O’Neal, one of the best centers ever to play in the NBA.

In a world that is only interested in Ithaca, whoever decides to travel must think carefully and find the thin – almost invisible – thread that separates success from failure, the right shot from the wrong shot. Whether it’s Antetokounmpo, the media or, finally, a simple fan of the team.