Another Long National Nightmare OVUH!!

I have to admit, I don't really watch the NBA much, save the Atlanta Hawks. I'll turn on the finals every now and then, even if it's the Celtics/Lakers (yawn). But I am fascinated by they hype that the league generates. For what seems like six years now, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets has been waiting to be traded. He's had his own by-line on ESPN's "bottom line" ticker since the start of the season. I'm not sure we gave this much attention to Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez.

Lucky for us, it's all over. He was traded to the Knicks in a 3-team deal. I think this is how it shakes out:

Knicks get: Carmelo Anthony, Chauncey Billups, Shelden Williams, Anthony Carter, Renaldo Balkman, Kurt Rambis, Kermit Washington, Spud Webb, an assistant coach to be named later, a trainer, two extra posse members for Amare Stoudemire, a Pepsi Center ticket taker, three parking lot attendants, a director of Sales/Marketing, and a lower level popcorn vendor with a meth problem.

Nuggets get: Wilson Chandler, Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari, Timofey Mozgov, Corey Brewer, $3 miilion in cash, Steve Kerr, Chris Webber, Marv Albert's stilettos from the "biting incident", a 2014 first round draft pick, two 2014 second round picks, a 2021 second round draft pick, reminders in 2013 and 2020 that they have those picks, a security guard fresh out of Alcoholics Anonymous, an A/V nerd, four cheerleaders, two pictures of Bill Bradley in tight shorts, a book containing Isiah Thomas' greatest pick up lines, and a concession stand training DVD ("Beer Doesn't Pour Itself").

Timberwolves get: Anthony Randolph, Eddie Curry, and a book titled, "How To Pick Up And Move On When You've Been Screwed In An NBA Trade"

I've only been watching Sportscenter for 15 minutes this morning and I'm already sick of it. Sports Media is SO in love with this deal. Why? Because it might make the Knicks relevant again. And nothing is so important in this world as to have the teams in New York and Los Angeles be relevant. God forbid other teams be the center of attention for one entire season.

The NBA really sucks.

NBA playoff update

Um, I don’t really care. The NBA sucks anyway

Basketball time – ETSU Buccaneers

It happens every March. March Madness descends upon us and I think back to a time when my alma mater, ETSU, had brushes with greatness. The East Tennessee State Buccaneers had some really solid teams in the late 80’s and early 90’s. They went to the big dance fours years running (89-92).
March 16th, 1989 - #16 ETSU vs. #1 Oklahoma. Despite a double digit lead at half-time, most of us watching knew that when freshman sensation Keith “Mister” Jennings fouled out towards the end, things looked bleak. In fact, we didn’t relinquish the lead until the last minute of the game and lost 72-71. That game remains the closest a #16 seed has ever come to beating a #1 seed in NCAA tournament history. Two points away from being one of the biggest upsets EVER.
We returned to the NCAA’s in ’90 and ’91, but lost in the first round to Iowa and Georgia Tech, respectively.
1992 was the only time the Bucs got past the first round when, as a #14 seed, they upended #3 seed Arizona in Atlanta. I was lucky enough to go to that game and it was truly exciting for us little old I-AA’ers. Finally, we had moved past the dreaded first round and wouldn’t you know it, in round two all we have to do is beat a team from Michigan that is made up of all freshman. Anybody remember those freshmen? They were unknown then, but Fab Five members Chris Webber, Juwan Howard, Jalen Rose, Ray Jackson and Jimmy King went on to play in the finals that year, losing to Duke. I sat behind a very quiet Michigan fan at the Omni the entire game. Afterwards, I asked him, “Why don’t you seem that impressed with this bunch?” “Well”, he said, “they CAN be inconsistent.” I wonder if he was impressed after they came within one win of being the NCAA Champions. Unlike my Michigan counterpart, I truly liked the players on those teams. I had a class with Keith “Mister” Jennings and he was very quiet, but courteous, polite and all that stuff. And having worked at the McDonald’s right next to campus, I came into contact with almost all of them at one point or another. You want to know how good a person truly is? Watch how they treat burger slingers. Greg Dennis, Calvin Talford, Mister Jennings. These were humble, gracious guys.
A child hood friend of mine, Steve Tomasovich played center for Wofford and they came to play ETSU in the spring of 1989, just as their great run was starting. I spoke to him after the game and he said ETSU was a tourney team. “An NCAA tourney team?” I asked. “Oh, yeah, they’re that good, especially with Dennis (with whom he went toe to toe).” I laughed it off because that’s just what someone WOULD say after they’ve been beaten. Turns out he was right.

Homophobia Gone Mad

There’s not much I can add to what Tim Hardaway said about homosexuality (when asked about former NBA player John Amaechi coming out as a gay man in the NBA). It’s been argued and argued and there’s not much chance that people will change their stance on this issue. Of course what separates this from other conversations about homosexuality is that Hardaway used the word “hate”. “I hate homosexuals” he said. He went on to say that he would avoid a gay man if he were a teammate, especially in the locker room. To me, this sums up the whole issue. Most people who believe homosexuality is wrong will point to this very argument. “Would you want a gay man in YOUR locker room, staring at you while you get undressed?” I would venture to say that most guys who could care less about someone’s sexual preference would not want to share a public shower or locker room with someone who is gay. Fair enough.

(I must add that I’ve played pick up basketball on a regular basis with a former women’s D1 player and while she is very pretty, the attraction gets lost when she’s schooling me in the lane for rebounds or stealing the ball from me).

So to follow up with the next topic, many are asked what would happen if a CURRENT NBA player admitted he was gay. Would his teammates accept him? Would they treat him with any respect?

I have a different angle. I think a gay player COULD be successful, as long as he uses it to his advantage. Like or not (and I HATE it), trash talking is a part of today’s sports culture. And out on the court, NONE of those NBA players are quiet. Imagine how a player who is gay could get under the skin of an opponent. Basketball is a VERY physical sport – body checking, elbows flying, blocking out for rebounds. Would YOU be able to concentrate if a gay player was taunting you and making you uncomfortable?

“Tough shot, sexy”

“Ooooh, you sure missed that one, sweetie”

“Honey, if you can get by me, you can HAVE the basket, but I aint’ gonna make it easy”

“I’m taking this to the basket, if you want to touch me on the way, be my guest”

“If I score 20 points tonight can I call you my bitch?”

The testosterone that it takes to play pro sports is high volume. It’s doubtful that comments like these wouldn’t make a macho player’s skin crawl, thus throwing off his game. In fact, chances are that it would make most guys go crazy and draw a few technical fouls. And of course, two of those and you’re out of the game. Football, baseball, this principle could apply in any sport.

There is the argument that teammates of a gay player would be really uncomfortable with that kind of talk. Please. Did Terrell Owens’ teammates put up with him as long as he was scoring touchdowns? Did the Atlanta Braves deal with John Rocker when he was saving all those games? Barry Bonds? Dennis Rodman? The answer is yes. I’m not saying that Joe Macho wouldn’t have some reservations about sharing a locker space with a gay teammate. But most heterosexual men make the mistake of assuming that all gay men are checking them out. Stop flattering yourself. I just don’t think that’s true. I don’t think that homosexual men are any more ‘sex hungry’ than heteros. The notion that a gay man in a locker room is a kid in a candy store who doesn’t know where to begin is ludicrous.

The simple fact is that homosexuality is here to stay. I truly believe that people are born gay. That seems to be the main sticking point in whether or not someone accepts homosexuality. But remember this, if it DOES bother you that someone is gay, or wants to have a gay relationship (or get married), chances are that you think of them as a gay first. Just as many still think of some people as black first. It’s the first thing you think about when you deal with them. And you already have all of your preconceived notions up and running that could get in the way of your relationship with them. Notions that they could, in fact, use against you.

Are you a cynic? Then think of it the way Dennis Miller did. “Why despise someone on the basis of color or sexual orientation when, if you take the time to get to know them, you can find SO many other reasons to hate them?”