By Mike Berardino, Sun Sentinel –
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — As far as we know, the Miami Heat never tried to use Ozzie Guillen to recruit Ray Allen.
It was more than enough for the NBA’s career three-point shooting leader to feel the Twitter love from LeBron James and Dwyane Wade.
Getting wined and dined by Pat Riley, Alonzo Mourning and Co. didn’t hurt either.
That’s how the Heat was able to sign Allen for the mid-level exception of $3.1 million, or roughly half of what Allen would have made per year by remaining with the storied Celtics franchise he represented so well over the past five seasons.
Yet as Allen negotiated those pangs of guilt about abandoning the other members of Boston’s Big Three — plus rumored annoyance Rajon Rondo — he could have merely considered the words Ozzie uttered recently.
On the subject of Money vs. Rings, the Marlins’ manager has long held that rings can’t feed your family, can’t buy you a new boat and that sort of thing.
Yet, while watching the Heat’s victory parade on television a few weeks ago, Ozzie was overcome with emotion.
He was inspired.
To the point, in fact, that he reconsidered his old saw about championships somehow being overrated when placed next to cold, hard cash.
“Seeing the Miami Heat win was inspiration for me,” Ozzie said recently. “I saw those guys in the parade, I got jealous. I wanted to be there. I wished I was the coach.”
This, mind you, was coming from a man with two rings since his playing career ended.
He was the Marlins’ third-base coach in 2003. Two years later, as a second-year manager for the White Sox, Ozzie was fitted for another ring.
“That’s my inspiration for the rest of my career here in Miami,” Ozzie said. “Hopefully I feel the same way they feel, having the parade with everybody around. That’s a feeling nobody can take away from you.”
Among current Marlins, only Mark Buehrle (2005 White Sox) and utility man Greg Dobbs (2008 Phillies) have experienced championship bliss at the highest level.
The Heat, of course, has a roster full of freshly minted champions.
Allen, a champion with the Celtics in 2008, knows the feeling.
New Heat forward Rashard Lewis, who reached the 2009 NBA Finals with the Magic, came close enough to put a likely ring over guaranteed dollars as well.
“I’ve made a pretty good amount of money over the course of my career,” Lewis said last week. “The ball can’t bounce forever. I’m sure you see the gray hair on my head. I’m ready to win.”
Allen shaves his head, so no gray for him. But having already earned more than $178 million in his 16 seasons, he cast aside his calculator in making what is probably his final free-agent decision.
Money vs. Rings?
For those who know the difference, there’s no decision at all.
“I don’t care what they say, there’s nothing better,” Ozzie said. “Even I always say, ‘That ring won’t make you rich and won’t make your kids go to (private) school,’ but you always keep your chin up: ‘I got ‘em.’ “
The ultimate professional satisfaction.
That’s why previously ring-less veterans like Juwan Howard and Shane Battier were so visibly moved amid the Heat’s celebration.
That’s why LeBron, D-Wade and Chris Bosh chose to leave nearly $50 million combined on the table two summers ago.
It’s why Greg Maddux, upon choosing the rising Braves over the rebuilding Yankees two decades ago, spurned a contract offer that was 21 percent higher.
There have been a number of other examples, including Cliff Lee in baseball, Marian Hossa in hockey, Karl Malone in basketball.
Not all of them wind up in the winner’s circle.
Not all of those stories conclude with champagne spray.
Yet each of those rings-over-money choices should be remembered and lauded, even as they become hazy with time.
That’s how refreshing it is to see elite performers place collective glory over individual enrichment.
