Hard Times in the NBA

Ah, basketball, Americas favorite past time. I know, it’s really baseball but I really think it’s time for this steroid laced sport to relinquish the title. I love NBA basketball, I’ve watched it religiously ever since I was a kid. It was great living in those glory days when Michael Jordan played at the top of his game and taught a new generation of players a new exciting way to play. Kobe Bryant, Dwayne Wade and LeBron James can be pretty spectacular to watch, making these impossible shots on the run and with only a split second to shoot. Just when you thought you stopped them, you’re dead wrong. But guess what kiddies, these guys play that well because growing up they saw Michael Jordan do those things and they went outside to the court and practiced those insane moves, they learned it by watching him, the true master, the great one.

I’m concerned right now, the NBA seems to be losing some of it’s popularity, some of my die hard friends are starting to talk about how they hate the NBA and they hate watching the NBA these days. I doubt the day will come when I give up on watching my favorite professional sport but my need to send out a public protest against the NBA is long due. Think about it, sports exist to entertain us. It’s not a profession, it’s not a career, sports are games, people playing games, on TV, for our entertainment purposes. This would mean that athletes are entertainers, putting on a show for people to enjoy. In the last few years, the sports show has taken a sad turn. I’m talking of course about NBA players flopping. I first remember seeing the flop when Dennis Rodman was still playing; it was remarkable to me that this guy managed to pull in the fame that he did considering what an overall lousy player he was.

Sure he lead the league in rebounds but that was it, that’s all he did. Except flopping, and I believe this where this unacceptable behavior first reared its ugly head. And now it’s ramped, you have entire teams that should be change their team name to “the floppers.” That has a nice ring to it, the Golden State floppers. It’s teams like this and players like Shane Battier that are ruining the game. Commentators talk about Shan Battier’s defense, oh what a great defender he is, what great defense he plays. Ok, really? Since when is flopping good defense? You stand in one spot on the floor, just outside the half circle, waiting for someone to bump you so you can go flying to the floor? Oh my! Shane Battier got knocked down to the floor AGAIN! Why won’t those mean offensive players just live the poor guy alone? I don’t know what’s worse, the fact that these guys are flopping onto the floor or the fact that the refs are calling it as much as they are. I know refs have a really tough job and I know I couldn’t do better, but Deron Williams knocking down Tyson Chandler? Really? Really really? Chandler is almost a foot taller then Williams. It’s ridiculous.

Supposedly the league is cracking down on it and calling it less, I don’t think that’s true, I still see it a lot. There’s still a lot of “good defense” going around the league. I tried to write David Stern a personal letter, protesting the flop but I couldn’t find where to send it. It went something like this: Dear Mr. Stern, you are a fantastic commissioner, sort of, I like the dress code, I don’t like the half circle. The flop is ruining the game. It’s ugly, it’s bad athleticism and it’s cheap. It’s your job to fix it, so fix it. Sincerely, a very big and very influential fan.

This article will have to do for now. And Shane Battier, if you’re reading this, thanks for ruining basketball. You and Anderson Varejao should be banished.