Coach K's Birthday Wish

At 60, Coach K's journey far from over

Brett Friedlander

It's doubtful anyone would have the guts or the sense of humor to send Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski a bouquet of black balloons.

But if someone were so inclined, today would be the appropriate time to do it.

And not because the Blue Devils have lost four straight games for the first time since his current McDonald's All-Americans were eating Happy Meals at McDonald's.

Today is Coach K's birthday and he's turning the big 6-Oh.

It's one of those seminal occasions that cause even those among us who aren't concerned about our age to pause and reflect on where we've been, where we are and where we are going.

Given Krzyzewski's philosophy that the journey is more important than the destination, there's a good chance the celebration will be a happy one, despite what the current Atlantic Coast Conference standings suggest.

The fact is that the "old man" might actually be more invigorated because of his team's struggles than he might otherwise be if Duke was in its traditional spot at or near the top of the national rankings.

Grecian Formula might keep Krzyzewski looking young. But when it comes to feeling like a kid, there's nothing like a challenge to keep the blood pumping - especially one as challenging as the predicament his team now faces.

Still going strong

Regardless of how things turn out this season, the Blue Devils will be back and so will Krzyzewski.

His hips, after all, are only a little more than a decade old.

The rest of the parts that haven't been surgically replaced still appear to be good working order, too. He's still an aggressive recruiter and his intensity rivals that of the final few minutes of a national championship game.

All things considered, there's no reason why Coach K shouldn't be on the sidelines of the court named in his honor - working his magic and the officials - for a long time to come.

That is, unless he's the one who comes up with the reason. And that's a very real possibility.

Other interests

It probably won't happen any time soon. It might not happen at all. But don't be surprised if somewhere down the line, probably before his next birthday with a zero at the end of it, Krzyzewski decides he's had enough and simply walks away. Even if he's within reach of Bobby Knight's all-time record for career victories.

Although Krzyzewski is a Knight protégé, with just as fiery a disposition (and better people skills), he has grown to become more like his old rival Dean Smith with each passing year.

Basketball isn't the only important thing in his life.

It's a lesson he first learned in 1995 when back problems and his subsequent hip-replacement surgery forced him to miss most of the season and taught him to appreciate the time he spent with his family.

Just last year, he celebrated another signficant non-basketball related milestone with the opening of the Emily Krzyzewski Center for Family Life.

Located less than a mile away from Cameron Indoor Stadium and named in his mother's honor, the facility is designed to help give underprivileged youngsters a chance to succeed and become future community leaders.

An indication of how high it has become on Coach K's list of priorities came recently when he was asked by ESPN's Seth Davis what he wanted for his 60th birthday.

It wasn't another national championship or even an end to the four-game losing streak with a win at Boston College on Wednesday. "I would like to see my mom's center become completely endowed," he said, "so we can continue to help kids in the Durham community."

It's the wish of a man who is clearly as excited about where he's going as he is about where he's been. Not that he needed a milestone birthday to figure that out.

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