It might take courage. He might even have to let the money fall where it may. Going his own way, he might find himself distanced from his competitors, but his purity would eventually earn their respect, and his joy might even inspire them. But perhaps not. Michael Jordan demanded a clause in his professional contract, specifying that he would be free to play basketball wherever and whenever he chose, even in neighborhood pickup games.
Purity is hard to find in sports.
Thanks to television, we see athletes brawling, preening, and whining. Vince Lombardi, Jim Counsilman, John Wooden, Bill Walsh, George Halas, et al. As fans, we must pretty much take what's dished out for us. But as active participants, we can mold our own joys. Like Jordan and Pippen, we can turn our sports experiences, at our own level, into an art, a science, and a direct experience of joy.