Kwame's a fool, and Washington escapes a close one
Man, what a crappy way to lose. Come back from 22 down, then lose on a last second shot. It got exciting though, as Chicago went three point crazy at the end. I have somewhat of a Pavlovian reaction to the Bulls uniform, thanks to Michael Jordan. It's got a built in aura about it. Seeing the United Center, everyone cheering and jumping up and down and going crazy and it's the 90's again and I've got a 401(k) with money in it. Ben Gordon isn't Michael Jordan, but one can pretend. In a rousing come from behind loss, the Bulls find themselves on the brink of elimination.
San Antonio, playing their game, which, if you're not careful, can kill innocent viewers not used to such drudgery, bored Denver to such a degree that they gave up and went home. So now San Antonio will play the Sonics, a match up I will Tivo right through to watch the Suns - Rockets/Mavericks series.
In exhibit A of David Stern's argument for a minimum age, is Kwame Brown. Like Kobe, Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neill, Kwame skipped college. But unlike Garnett, and O'Neill, and - maybe - Kobe, Kwame can't cut it. He was picked first in 2001 by the Wizards, no doubt thinking he was going to be the big shot, make a seamless transition into the pros, only to find an aging legend with a chip on his shoulder in Michael Jordan, as a teammate. Somehow, I thought he could get through it. He was timid from the start, but he was young. You'd think if you could survive Michael Jordan screaming at you, you could get through anything. But, instead, sadly, Kwame's never found his way. His numbers last year were good, and he played well from time to time this year--but perhaps, like many high-school athletes, who are the only stars on their teams, he doesn't know how to share. So, like a bonehead, he fakes illness as a protest- DURING THE PLAYOFFS! - because he felt he wasn't getting enough playing time. As if the coach would say, yeah, faker, here's some more minutes. Instead, while his team is poised to get utterly dismantled by the Miami Heat, he's done for the season, sent home early. See Kwame Brown! Stern will say to make his point. Let's see: Kobe Bryant takes the Lakers and dashes it against the bright gaudy diamond of his ego; Jermaine O'Neill misses most of the season for being involved in a brawl; Kwame Brown pretends to have a stomach ache during the playoffs; LeBron James (is awesome) chews bubblegum. Kevin Garnett is one of the greatest players in NBA history. Except for those last two - and Moses Malone - Stern has a good case. There's something to be said for the maturation process that takes place by drinking case after case of beer and taking classes like Business For Athletes. There is something to be said for learning the fundamentals of the game, and learning a little bit about life. I'm not saying they have to stick around. But they should go. What's to say the world wouldn't be a different place if Kobe hadn't come across the likes of, say, Bobby Knight, as a 17 year old instead of an overmatched Del Harris? And - Lebron James aside - Kobe, Jermaine et al didn't start producing until three years in anyway.
Meanwhile, the entire Houston Rocket team is running through the gaping opening in the vulnerable belly of the NBA's integrity, which Jeff Van Gundy opened with his impulsive mouth. Backing up their coach perhaps, the whole team is gleefully weighing into the controversy, basically saying, "Coach is right. The game is rigged!" And, somewhere else, David Stern is shooting out the screen on his television. With every word the players say (McGrady) trying to support their coach, the deeper Van Gundy's troubles are going to get. Have you ever seen David Stern yukking it up with anyone? Ever see him laugh in a way that seemed genuine? No, you haven't, because the guy has the heart of a turkey buzzard. And the last thing he needs is a bunch of players insinuating the league is fixed. If I were Van Gundy I would take advantage of this close bond he now has with his team and tell them to be quiet, not answer questions about referees.
San Antonio, playing their game, which, if you're not careful, can kill innocent viewers not used to such drudgery, bored Denver to such a degree that they gave up and went home. So now San Antonio will play the Sonics, a match up I will Tivo right through to watch the Suns - Rockets/Mavericks series.
In exhibit A of David Stern's argument for a minimum age, is Kwame Brown. Like Kobe, Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neill, Kwame skipped college. But unlike Garnett, and O'Neill, and - maybe - Kobe, Kwame can't cut it. He was picked first in 2001 by the Wizards, no doubt thinking he was going to be the big shot, make a seamless transition into the pros, only to find an aging legend with a chip on his shoulder in Michael Jordan, as a teammate. Somehow, I thought he could get through it. He was timid from the start, but he was young. You'd think if you could survive Michael Jordan screaming at you, you could get through anything. But, instead, sadly, Kwame's never found his way. His numbers last year were good, and he played well from time to time this year--but perhaps, like many high-school athletes, who are the only stars on their teams, he doesn't know how to share. So, like a bonehead, he fakes illness as a protest- DURING THE PLAYOFFS! - because he felt he wasn't getting enough playing time. As if the coach would say, yeah, faker, here's some more minutes. Instead, while his team is poised to get utterly dismantled by the Miami Heat, he's done for the season, sent home early. See Kwame Brown! Stern will say to make his point. Let's see: Kobe Bryant takes the Lakers and dashes it against the bright gaudy diamond of his ego; Jermaine O'Neill misses most of the season for being involved in a brawl; Kwame Brown pretends to have a stomach ache during the playoffs; LeBron James (is awesome) chews bubblegum. Kevin Garnett is one of the greatest players in NBA history. Except for those last two - and Moses Malone - Stern has a good case. There's something to be said for the maturation process that takes place by drinking case after case of beer and taking classes like Business For Athletes. There is something to be said for learning the fundamentals of the game, and learning a little bit about life. I'm not saying they have to stick around. But they should go. What's to say the world wouldn't be a different place if Kobe hadn't come across the likes of, say, Bobby Knight, as a 17 year old instead of an overmatched Del Harris? And - Lebron James aside - Kobe, Jermaine et al didn't start producing until three years in anyway.
Meanwhile, the entire Houston Rocket team is running through the gaping opening in the vulnerable belly of the NBA's integrity, which Jeff Van Gundy opened with his impulsive mouth. Backing up their coach perhaps, the whole team is gleefully weighing into the controversy, basically saying, "Coach is right. The game is rigged!" And, somewhere else, David Stern is shooting out the screen on his television. With every word the players say (McGrady) trying to support their coach, the deeper Van Gundy's troubles are going to get. Have you ever seen David Stern yukking it up with anyone? Ever see him laugh in a way that seemed genuine? No, you haven't, because the guy has the heart of a turkey buzzard. And the last thing he needs is a bunch of players insinuating the league is fixed. If I were Van Gundy I would take advantage of this close bond he now has with his team and tell them to be quiet, not answer questions about referees.
posted by Chandler Colfax! at 10:24 PM
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