Sixers, Sam Hinkie Not Looking for Shortcuts to Success

During media day yesterday, Sixers President and General Manager Sam Hinkie was asked about whether it was difficult to have his name attached to last season.

"I tell people that I think a lot of it is where does your self-worth come from? Do you need people every day telling you you're doing well?" Hinkie said. "Do you need the masses every day telling you that they agree with you, or do you have some higher purpose in life?"

If you were expecting Sam Hinkie to second guess his strategy because of public opinion, you've come to the wrong place.

For some, that act of defiance is off-putting. To others, it's part of what gives them hope. The Sixers GM has a plan, and the frequently fickle musings of much of his paying public isn't going cause him to deviate from that.

"We're all competitive, me as much as anybody," Hinkie would say. "We had lots of long nights and worked our tails off trying to do what we could in this phase that we're in."

"It's really important not to take your eyes off what matters. And what matters is not feeling great about yourself the 3rd of March, but to give yourself a chance to feel great about yourself the 3rd of June."

It's an interesting fixation many in this town have on the Sixers wins and losses, considering the 25 year championship drought the city went through that just ended in 2008. You would often hear -- on the radio, on the street, among your friends -- that many would be willing to suffer through years of losing if they could have a championship.

That debate is mostly hypothetical, and pointless. There was no realistic scenario that would have caused the Phillies to fall off the map after winning in 2008. Sure, they would fail to win another title after that, but their next three seasons included a second world series appearance, which was then followed up with back-to-back seasons in which they had the best record in the league.

In truth, you're not building for a championship. You've building for a prolonged period of contention.