Now More Than Ever, I Miss My Friend, David J. Stern
By: Jeff Volk
During this unprecedented window, with the Coronavirus creating so much fear and uncertainty in our lives, I miss the ability to sit down and learn from my friend, David Stern.
I’m currently at my desk, having just finished the first two episodes of ESPN's Michael Jordan documentary: “The Last Dance,” and I hope that some of the below sentiments resonate with those who knew ‘The Commish’ most closely. This is intended to be a series of raw ruminations, from my heart. I am going to mix in some stories, photos, quotes, smiles, and a glimpse into my vantage point with a true legend, from whom I learned so much in such a short amount of time.
Now more than ever, during these times of crises, a global pandemic, political division, and a dearth of critical leadership, I would love to sit with David and hear his opinions and recommendations, and I am certain that I am not alone. I’d love to hear his sound, lucid, thoughtful, objective, witty, opinionated, and straight-to-the-point views on so many topics.
David was quite simply a patriarch and a mentor, who successfully inspired the next generation of thinkers, innovators, entrepreneurs, investors, great companies, and hopefully great individuals. Those of us who got to know him during his ‘Commissioner Emeritus’ years have all shared similar experiences. Since his passing, I’ve talked with many mutual friends, and the most commonly shared theme has been that: “Everyone has their own personal, and amazing ‘David story’.”
He personally invested in people, and his judgement of character was unparalleled. He also bet on great ideas, and his final legacy is just beginning. Companies such as LiveLike, WSC, Overtime, and several others are still in their infancy of their entrepreneurial journey, yet their ethos, direction, and cultures endure. In many ways, one of David’s final great achievements will be his ability to live on through the entrepreneurs, visionaries, and leaders who he inspired -- each of whom were personally selected to join his inner-circle because of their intelligence, charisma, creative thoughts, and passion.
We all now feel a personal responsibility to achieve, accomplish, succeed, and win in David’s memory.
Looking back, the ‘Michael Jordan Years’ represented a time in my life where NBA basketball dominated my sports consumption. As a Boston native, it’s easy to reminisce about the great Celtics years where my family would visit Boston Garden or gather around the television to watch showdowns with Jordan’s Bulls, Magic’s Lakers, Isiah’s Pistons, Barkley’s Sixers, Nique’s Hawks and so on (I can almost hear the ‘NBA on NBC’ theme song in my head, as I type). As a boy, I was fortunate that my dad frequently brought me with him to games (in the very same way I hope to resume doing soon with my kids). I watched Larry Bird and crew go head-to-head with a young MJ in some of the most memorable and iconic games in history. During this hiatus in live sports, I have looked forward to tonight’s airing more than any recent content release since perhaps the Game of Thrones finale. I think Darren Rovell’s post earlier today summed it up best when he appropriately wrote: “I woke up this morning like it was the Super Bowl.” Thank you to all those involved in creating this trip down memory lane!
In the first episode of the Jordan documentary, I was most impressed by MJ’s unique ability to slow things down. He was able to see things that nobody else saw, and he had a relentless desire to win. I once asked David how he was able to be so deliberate (he never appeared to be hurried), yet he was able to be so effective, accomplished, and decisive. Usually, being purposeful and thoughtful is the antithesis of executing quickly and effectively.
Somehow, this was not the case with David. In fact, earlier this month, in a recent Sports Business Journal interview, former NBA colleague and current 76ers and Devils CEO, Scott O’Neil, referenced David’s “decisive decision making” abilities as one of his most unique and impressive qualities. Fittingly, David’s response to my question was always humble (and those of you who knew him may be able to hear his voice saying): “Oh, come on. Stop it, Volk!” Then, he would shift to a topic that kept you on your toes.
I didn’t know David during his years at the league’s helm. Undeniably, he guided the NBA through one of the most successful and tremendous league ascensions in history and helped professional basketball in America become the most global and well-recognized league on the planet. Are there better examples of a successful succession plan than Stern handing over the reigns to current NBA Commissioner, Adam Silver? His lineage of protégés stretches as long as any leader’s, and it goes well beyond the sports and business communities.
In fact, David and I met during the end of his tenure at the league, and we became close friends during the roughly five subsequent years that he affectionately called his “Next Chapter.” These are the years that I want to highlight and that may be less known to the wider community.
Just as Michael Jordan re-invented himself from one of the NBA’s greatest iconic superstars, to an owner and a businessman (see the Air Jordan’s expansion beyond basketball with Derek Jeter, his tenure as an NBA owner, and others), David Stern re-invented himself from one of the greatest pioneers and leaders in the sports business, to an active investor and a mentor to the next generation of leaders. Both excelled in everything that they did, and few worked harder to accomplish greatness or to win in their respective fields. I fondly remember David referring to this next chapter in his career by saying, “I’m not retired. I’m rewired.” With this ethos, he would go on to invest in innovation, technology and creativity that will change the way we consume sports for the foreseeable future.
“I’m not retired. I’m rewired.”
- David J. Stern, 2017
One of David’s special gifts was his ability to grasp and process amazing amounts of information quickly and cross-reference them against his unparalleled experiences, incredible judge of character, extensive knowledge, and vast relationships to form pertinent questions and thought-provoking conclusions. I look forward to further glimpses into how DJS and MJ impacted each other’s lives and careers, and I believe that we will all grow from witnessing these interactions during future episodes. Clearly, nobody worked harder or was more driven to win than these two gentlemen.
David always took the time to stop, to be ‘in-the-moment,’ and to make you feel like you were the only person in the room. I’ve read about people with that knack: the ability to almost pause time in a crowded environment and make each person around them feel special. Those descriptions are often saved for the most iconic figures in history, the most popular politicians, and most affable leaders. David embodied these qualities as well as any person I’ve ever met. He was thoughtful, caring, direct, visionary, and almost always right! He inspired me the way mentors do -- naturally leading by example -- and I aspire to be a more effective and empathetic leader as a result.
Speaking of ‘making time’ (or perhaps, creating time), David frequently accepted my personal requests to advise about my career and to speak publicly at various sports business events. He was often joined by his thoughtful, respected and super-experienced, Micromanagement Ventures Co-Founder, John Kosner (who also founded Kosner Media).
Regardless of the size of the event, David always seemed to capture the essence of ‘What’s Next’ -- which is especially pertinent during this time frame that we collectively refer to as “The Next Normal.” He was one of our most frequent keynote speakers and headliners at NYVC Sports events, and last fall, he spoke about the future of our industry to a group of personally curated guests at a private leadership event.
I truly enjoyed watching David ‘work a room’ (seemingly present in each conversation), and I have tried to embody this enviable quality in my personal and professional life.
Over his 77 well-lived years, I’m sure that he met thousands of people who would share similar stories, memories, anecdotes of the man, the leader, and the mensch who would impact their lives. One needs to look no further than his office trophy cabinet that included Olympic Medals, Emmy’s, and other prestigious awards, as well as photos with legends, former U.S. Presidents, world leaders, and dignitaries, such as Nelson Mandela, Bill Russell, Bill Clinton, Mark Cuban, and others. He embodied the role of a person who had pretty much seen it all, yet humbly listened as he asked others for their perspectives.
I believe that I speak for many when I declare that we all now feel a personal responsibility — even an obligation — to achieve, succeed, and well, ‘WIN’ in David’s honor and memory.
Thank you.