The Columbus Dispatch

‘MORE JOY’

Nancy has brought a new energy to the Crew

- Bailey Johnson

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — When Wilfried Nancy began preseason with the Crew, he immediatel­y noticed the tension of his new team.

“In the beginning, everyone was standing up like this,” Nancy said, squeezing his arms close to his body and adopting a stiff, tense posture. “We didn’t move.”

Now, after six weeks of preseason training, Nancy has brought the Crew a newfound lightness. When asked what the highlight of preseason was, it didn’t take Nancy long to find his answer.

“Joy,” Nancy said. “More joy. This is a big part of what I believe with the staff. We believe that if we train and if we do our job with joy, they’re going to be able to be better, quickly, and with less pressure, with less anxiety and everything . ...

“Step by step, they saw that, OK, yes, we’re going to be really demanding with the players, but also we need to train in a safe environmen­t. For us, safe environmen­t (means) they can make mistakes.”

The impact of the new environmen­t has been felt across the roster. Players laugh more in training than they did in the beginning, and smiles are wider. When Nancy is calling instructio­ns across the field, his tone is relentless­ly positive — “Yes!” and “Good!” may well be the two most common words.

Even players such as Christian Ramirez, who joined the Crew during preseason in January, can feel the new spirit.

He didn’t experience the energy around the Crew prior to Nancy’s arrival, but he can tell his longer-tenured teammates have undergone a change.

“It’s a group that I feel is fresh, based on everything I’ve seen so far,” Ramirez said. “Wilfried’s really given everybody his trust, and now it’s what we do with it to make sure we repay him for that. He doesn’t have many rules. Just wants us to be — every day, challengin­g us to be a better person, both on and off the pitch. It’s a good relationsh­ip that he’s building.”

“He wants you to take more risks going forward. He wants you to make mistakes. He’s really emphasized that. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes.” Sean Zawadzki Crew midfielder

Crew at Union When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday TV: Apple TV

Sentimenta­lists need not apologize for getting emotional over Love pulling down the driveway of Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse for the last time, knowing the 34-year-old was the last remaining link to the 2016 title team.

(Clears throat). Where was I? Oh, right. Cleveland fans in need of a happyplace fix should find the Game 7 footage of Love's defensive effort online. The footwork is superb, especially for a 6foot-9 power forward. Even those who say Love's career as a Cavalier never met expectatio­ns must admit that he delivered in the clutch. For that, Cleveland fans forever should be grateful.

But not just for that. As perfectly as Love defended Curry at the crucible moment, his biggest impact on the NBA is his defense of seeking help to maintain strong mental health.

Emotional balance has always been important to an athlete's physical performanc­e, but talking about it, especially when wheels begin to wobble, was viewed as weakness. Love helped destigmati­ze the topic in 2017 when he opened up about his own issues in The Players Tribune.

“We're all going through something

that we can't see,” he wrote, sharing how a panic attack during a game in 2017 scared and confused him, which led to counseling.

Good for him for admitting career success does not guarantee happiness. And Love's career is impressive. His time in Cleveland followed six mostly stellar seasons in Minnesota, where he was a three-time All-star who in 2010-11 led the NBA in rebounding (15.2 a game) and in 2013-2014 became the first player in league history to record 2,000 points, 900 rebounds and 100 3-pointers in a season.

Cleveland traded for Love entering the 2014-15 season, creating a Big Three of James, Irving and Love that led the Cavs to three NBA Finals. James and Irving grabbed most of the headlines, leaving Love as something of a third

wheel whose contributi­ons never received enough credit; in that way his defensive stop of Curry perfectly characteri­zes his role as the guy behind the guy (Irving) who was behind the guy (James). Without Love, however, Cleveland does not win the 2016 championsh­ip.

If that truth alone does not ingratiate Love to Cavs fans, then consider how he remained committed to Cleveland when both James and Irving made clear they wanted out. Irving got his wish in 2017, going to Boston in a blockbuste­r trade. James left for Los Angeles in 2018. Love stayed, and while his remaining time in Cleveland drew mixed reviews, it speaks to his loyalty, boosted by a four-year, $120 million extension, that he actually felt at home with the Cavs. Imagine that, a superstar wanting to play in Cleveland. If nothing else, that should earn him points with fans of the wine and gold.

Love heads to Miami hoping to fit into the frontcourt rotation as the Heat push toward the Eastern Conference playoffs. He was on the outside looking in with the Cavs, his minutes dwindling to the point of barely getting off the bench. But while he and the Cavs have moved on, Cleveland fans should never totally move on from him. Love helped bring a title to a city desperate for one, and brought illuminati­on to a growing health crisis in need of transparen­cy.

 ?? ADAM CAIRNS/ COLUMBUS DISPATCH, ILLUSTRATI­ON BY MARC JENKINS/ USA TODAY NETWORK ?? New Crew coach Wilfried Nancy believes in having a positive team atmosphere.
ADAM CAIRNS/ COLUMBUS DISPATCH, ILLUSTRATI­ON BY MARC JENKINS/ USA TODAY NETWORK New Crew coach Wilfried Nancy believes in having a positive team atmosphere.
 ?? AP ?? Kevin Love, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving in 2016.
AP Kevin Love, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving in 2016.

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