One of my x-loves is basketball. It was poured into my upbringing in about the same quantity as milk. I’ll spare you the long saga of my career playing basketball and focus only on the NBA in this blogpost.
I reached my most influential years during the 80s rivalry of the Boston Celtics (yea) and the L.A. Lakers (boo). My family never missed a game. Even my mom would become a nervous wreck watching those games. My brothers used to brainwash me that my other brothers were Danny Ainge, Larry Bird and Greg Kite. A few years after the height of their fame, I was delighted when my sister finally passed me her Boston Celtics t-shirt to wear as a night shirt.
My brothers were gone soon after the Celtics glory and my family never got hysterical about Michael Jordan. I still considered myself a NBA fan until Kobe “the rapist” Bryant soured it all. As I got busier with being a teenager and being buried in homework in college, I somehow stopped watching the NBA. However, I’ve always cleared my schedule to enjoy March Madness and follow my family upbringing to cheer only for Duke-- who usually breaks my heart.
And now—scandal after scandal, what is there to watch in national sports??? Mr. Floporama follows all sports and I’ve become aware of the existence of other disgusting sports heroes that are all children have to look up to now.
The best thing ever to happen to stockholders in the NBA is a pair of familiar teams to make the finals this year. I have been enthralled. It’s wonderful to remember the same color jerseys playing 20 years ago. I’m disgusted with the super media attention they are trying to give Kobe “the rapist” Bryant as if he had negotiated in his contract to have major PR included for his image. It gives me joy to remember that he was too good to go to college and play NCAA which means he doesn’t have any education. When his body gives out and he has the rest of his life to be a has-been, he will have no education to build even create something to pass the time with. I would laugh if his agent embezzles everything. He should not be compared to Jordan, ever.
The game has changed. The shorts are longer, the fan apparel is better designed and HD has made me realize that the players are not dripping water. But somewhere under it all, I’m drawn into the game again. I enjoy that some of the old players are still near the Celtics team. Dear ole Danny is G.M.
I foresee that this will be my only sports post ever so don’t expect any continued poor commentatorship here. I guess I still “I love this game.” What’s happened to that too? “The Finals” is not any kind of a slogan.
Come on Boston!!!
