NBA fans are excited for the season to begin this week for all teams. Before the year can officially begin, there needs to be a ceremony to honor the prior year’s champion. So this week in Boston, the Celtics’ team members were give their championship rings, and their fans were able to watch their championship banner raised to the rafters. The 2023-2024 championship banner joins 17 other banners representing the winningest franchise in the NBA.

Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla was asked about his thoughts on the latest championship ring, “When I got the ring (I thought) 'I don't know, it’s too big and I’m never going to wear it. But it's cool to have.' That's what I thought," Before getting his ring, Mazzulla, got on his knees and kissed the parquet floor. When asked, he explain: The parquet, that's where the blood, sweat and tears of the greats [played]. So I don't get to go out there and dive on the floor for loose balls like I'd love to or do any of that. So that was a way just to express the passion and the gratitude that I have for our team, for the people that have come before and for what it means to be a Celtic."

By embracing the past, Mazzulla is honoring those who had a hand in establishing his current culture. Without the past players who gave their all in games, who made the Celtics represent something bigger than themselves, Mazzulla would have the ability to establish his winning infrastructure. To have a great culture all leaders must honor those who came before them. they must recognize the past; they must explain the past and teach those who are in the present what it means to be a part of this franchise. 

About a 45-minute drive south, the New England Patriots (Boston’s NFL Team) are doing the opposite. They are blaming their present-day failures on their former coach who helped them win 6 Super Bowls and established the Patriot’s winning culture. They have no interest in honoring their past, except to reduce the impact of their former head coach Bill Belichick. From a Patriot produced documentary to constant comments about the shortcomings of the past four season, the Patriots are playing the blame game, which never allows for culture to be enacted, or developed. 

Every owner or the board of directors has the right to make changes. Business divorces are inevitable, painful and can become nasty. When a separation occurs, there needs to be a way to honor the past and forge ahead, without destroying the past. Often, change is good, which at times can revitalize the future—as long as you don’t diminish the past. Honoring the past provides the pathway towards the future. Mazzulla understood the sacrifices of those before him allowed him to build something unique. Once the Patriots embrace their past, stop taking credit for the past success and honor those that helped win six Super Bowls, they can forge into their future. If they continue to destroy their past, their future won’t get brighter, nor will they return to a winning culture. 

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