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I recently joked that, with the Celtics loaded and already heavy with leadership, Doc Rivers would soon go the Phil Jackson route. You know, start spouting philosophy and offering guru-ish meta-lessons as a way of asserting his importance.

Sometimes, reality is truer than fiction. Or life imitates me. Or something like that. From the Boston Herald:

During the first days of training camp in Italy, the team has chosen the word "ubuntu" to finish its post-practice moment with coach Doc Rivers.

The word has its origin in the Bantu languages of Southern Africa and is used to describe a philosophy of life that promotes the greater good rather than individual success. Rivers read about the philosophy during the summer as it related to the teachings of Archbishop Desmond Tutu and said it denotes a belief that one person cannot be successful if those around him are not.

If that wasn't already bookish enough, what about when Rivers asked rookies Gabe Pruitt, Glen Davis, Brandon Wallace and Jackie Manuel to study up and make a presentation to the team. The whole is into the concept--how couldn't they be--and as a bonding practice, it certainly beats a curfew or napping. Though I think Rivers has to come with something a little more original if he really wants to distinguish himself in that locker room. Get Kevin Garnett reading John Locke and then we'll talk.