“If you can make it here, you can make it anywhere”- Frank Sinatra.
New York City, often regarded as the greatest city on earth, can be overwhelming for many with all it’s fast life features and flare. Everybody here is either chasing a dream, money, love or their vision of happiness. No one comes to NYC to settle down and have a nice quiet relaxing life. Often times, people from all over the world will come to NYC with their talent, guitar in hand thinking they’re about to conquer the five boroughs until they meet a homeless man on the A Train that sings far better than them and then asks for a dollar to eat. NYC is a place that either makes you or breaks you. Joakim Noah, who was born in New York City couldn’t even handle it upon his return.
Not everyone comes to the Big Apple for a dream, some people relocate for work or the opportunity to chase big money. Especially athletes like former Knick, Joakim Noah. Noah signed for huge money to come be a Knick; 4 years for 72 Million dollars. That’s a lot of skrilla for the 2x all-star and former defensive player of the year who was plagued by injuries limiting him to play in just 53 games, averaging 4.6 points and 7.9 rebounds per game during his entire tenor with New York before his release.
“When I got kicked off the team, it was New York Fashion Week,” Noah said. “I was getting paid a lot of money and I had no direction. I really had to make a decision of how I wanted to live my life. If I kept going in the direction I was going in and stayed in New York, then I probably wouldn’t be here right now.”
Implying that the fast life in New York where temptation is everywhere in NYC, had him on a path to self-destruction.
After Noah was released, the Grizzlies reached out and Joakim stated that “I was living in New York, I had a lot going on with my family and my friends. I got the call from Memphis. I had some things planned. I decided that this was a good fit. I’m just really, really happy to be here.”
New York City is the greatest city on earth but it will kill your dreams, eat you alive, and make you feel like the loneliest person on the planet at times; it’s not for the weak of heart. It’s also not a good place for people easily drawn in by temptation, you can lose everything faster than you can hail a cab, but in that same breath, there’s something magical about the vibe here and sometimes this city is everything you need to find your best self and make your dreams actually come to fruition.
The man makes the city, the city doesn’t make the man.
Alexa, play “New York, New York” by Frank Sinatra
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