A ring’s the only thing, and the Bucks heard the bell

So the Milwaukee Bucks are in the headlines because they fired their head coach.

Sports firings happen often. Ask fans of the Atlanta Falcons.

Sports firings happen for a slew of reasons. Ask Auburn supporters.

Sports firings are normally a scroll item on the ESPN ticker that makes me think, “Wait, did I know Adrian Griffin was the coach of the Bucks?” before looking for some version of “Law & Order” on the cable guide.

And that’s OK.

But the Bucks have arguably the most unstoppable force in basketball in Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Bucks entered Wednesday with a 30-13 record, which trailed only the Boston Celtics for the best mark in the league so far this season. The Bucks are primed to make a run.

But here’s the thing, and for all the heat the Bucks are catching right now from all the hand-wringing national shows, let’s be very clear on this from a fan’s perspective: If you are not in this to win a chip (what the cool kids call a championship these days), then why am I giving my hard-earned duckets (what the cool kids called dollars back in my day) to support your team?

The ring is the thing. It’s the only thing. It’s what makes the suffering of the Bills Mafia even more sympathetic.

And for all the inside skinny from Woj (ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski) and the rest of the NBA aces, if Bucks management does not believe they are in a position to win it all with Griffin, then absolutely send him packing.

The Bucks, who were NBA champions in 2021, are loaded. Let’s not try to go into the snoozefest that is NBA roster breakdowns, but know this: Giannis and Dame Lilliard are as good a 1-2 punch as there is in the league. And that matters come spring.

Yes, the Bucks were winning, but if management believes it was broken on the inside, fix it now, before Giannis and Dame send out Valentine’s Day cards, so the team can reassemble before the all-important postseason. Because if we know anything in pro sports, it’s everyone is measured by the playoffs.

We loved the Atlanta Braves’ dynastic run through the 90s, but winning only one chip — see, I’m cool — in that stretch made them feel like MLB underachievers right? Same with Giannis’ window in Milwaukee, a place that has to be difficult to attract one-name superstars.

This is less about basketball business and more about the business of sports. Maybe Adrian Griffin was the czar of the chalkboard. Heck, he could have been the magician of the man-to-man defense, and that’s fine, but he clearly lost faith and trust in the halls of Bucks Central, and that matters. A lot.

Because it’s important to note that the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2016 fired some clown named David Blatt about this time of the season as LeBron James and Co. had a 30-11 record. Yeah, the Cavs won the title that season. Hmmmmmmm.

The Bucks have a chance to win it all now, and if they are willing to pay Griffin to go away because they believe he is not the guy who can lead Giannis and Dame and the rest of the strapping Bucks to the chip (am I overdoing it?), then I applaud that decision.

There is no loyalty in sports these days.

Not from coaches, who will leave at a better offer. Not from players, who will explore free agency as pros and the transfer portal as college players given the chance. Not from ownership or management, who will cut you, fire you and replace you quicker than you can say, “Man, Mike Vrabel is a really good coach in today’s …”

Sadly, the last bastion of loyalty comes from us — the fans. And we are forever true.

And in that regard, as a fan, not some blowhard from a national network, I applaud the Bucks for making moves to position themselves to win it all. I wish my teams made similar decisions. Maybe they could be “chips” off the new block?

(That was out of bounds, right?)