NBA: Man Overboard
The NBA is in serious trouble.
Kobe Bryant has one championship ring. Now, he is so concerned with a scoring title and M.V.P. award that the Lakers pale in comparison to the selfless powerhouse that once pushed around teams in the paint. Team play has fallen by the way side for individual accolades. Count how many times Kobe will try to throw up a shot while in triple coverage. All you need to see is the average number of assists Kobe has been dishing out to teammates…crazy fat goose eggs.
Gary Payton throws more tantrums than a belly-aching toddler. He has already driven Paul Westphal out of Seattle, now it seems like he’s trying to do the same with former teammate-now coach Nate McMillian. When one of your teammates anonymously tells an ESPN reporter, “He better hope he doesn’t die, because nobody on this team would go to his funeral,” you know there is some serious static floating over Seattle.
According to a story in the Boston Herald, during a recent game when it looked as though the Celtics were going to pull off another win, Celtics interim coach Jim O’ Brien noticed Antoine Walker looked disenchanted on the bench. When O’Brien asked Walker what was wrong with him as they were going to win the game, Walker blew off his question instead inquiring about when he was “going to get some more touches?”
What the hell is wrong with the NBA today?
Many high school seniors, and collegiate underclassman are forgoing further mental and physical development in the collegiate ranks to earn instant millions on a NBA court.
There is something to be said for the watered down players and talent of the many people who are coming out prematurely. Too many box scores show final scores ranging in the mid 70s. Games just aren’t as offensively appealing as they once were. Too many players want to use the three-point line on a consistent basis, often ignoring the easier shot, closer to the baseline.
Larry Bird often used the three-point shot towards the end of the game, something that helped place that final nail on an opponent’s coffin.
Nowadays, it’s all too often to see a player pull up on a fast break or a three-on-two, just to take a long shot from behind the arc.
The problems with selfish players, poor shot selections, and immature youngsters coming out too early however, are mere cracks in the NBA’s armor. Lately there are many more serious issues at hand.
Marcus Camby gets poked in the eye during a physical game and tries to decapitate Danny Ferry with a wild haymaker. During the melee, Camby accidentally butt heads with his coach, splitting his head wide open.
Last week, the Paradise Valley Police Department dropped domestic abuse charges against Suns guard Penny Hardaway after his girlfriend refused to cooperate in prosecution.
Police arrested Phoenix Suns point guard Jason Kidd after his wife was injured in the climax of a daylong quarrel. Kidd and his wife, Joumana, had been arguing over the feeding of their 2-year-old son, Trey. Kidd acknowledged that he struck his wife, resulting in a cut on the inside of her mouth and slight swelling to her lip. When the authorities questioned Joumana about seeking medical assistance, she remarked something along the lines that the recent assault was nothing compared to what he usually dished out on her.
Beyond all of the immaturity and poor future decision-making, violence is becoming a very serious issue for the NBA.
Besides all the fights, the trash talking, the arrogance and immaturity on the court, off the court violence seems to be encircling many of these players. Sad to say, but lately many of the player’s off-court foes have been of another gender.
The NBA could potentially be in serious trouble. Many players are lacking heart, as their pockets are full with thousands of dollars. If a team realizes it has no shot of winning, it seems as though the players will wait for the next day, throwing away the shovel to dig themselves out of the hole. Some players are content enough to rest on their behinds and rack up record-low points in the 70’s. Aside from the greed, and poor play, the brutality unleashed from some players is causing David Stern much anguish.
The other day I saw a picture of a guy who I thought was Don King. Somebody quickly informed me the picture was of NBA commissioner, David Stern.
Oops.
Who would have ever thought people would be mesmerized by daydreams of Bill Laimbeer stomping upon some of the present-day players?
How about Dennis Rodman coming back out of retirement, dropping elbows upon the masses in a dress?
Anything can and will happen these days in the NBA.
Even with Michael Jordan mixing the potion for the Wizards organization, he still can’t revive the team’s missing magical spells.
As far as the viewers are concerned, too many old-school fans are turning off their television sets, wishing for today’s more athletic players to score and post up on D like the lesser athletic players of back in the day.
Besides the old school fans turning away from their televisions, how about the mothers and fathers shutting of the television sets and disallowing their sons or daughters to cheer and support some of the non-law abiding players of the league. From the D.U.I.’s (see Rod Strickland), to the charges of unlawful possession of such things as a firearm and a roach (see Chris Webber), to the frightening claims of domestic abuse (see…sadly, way too many players), parents don’t seem to want their children to support and idolize these players any longer.
The NBA is in serious trouble.
Commissioner Stern, take heed. Your league is capsizing faster than Captain Nemo’s Nautilus and unless you intervene, it could potentially sink to the bottom depths of sport favorites along side synchronized swimming and flag Stratego.
Hey, Lemieux came back and gave the NHL a much-needed shot in the arm.
Michael, Magic, or Larry…what do you say?
