While the NBA is in the midst of some very spirited playoff runs, I am wondering why those who claim it is a thug sport played by goons do not recognize a few things.
The league again enjoyed very good attendance, the athletes are as proactive in community involvement as those in any sport and the whole notion that a fight breaks out at every game is ludicrous. Quick, when was the last full-scale brawl you saw involving NBA players? The league has taken steps to address the matter, and the so-called violence has been reduced compared to the days when players could not get a life insurance policy should they decide to go down the lane for a lay-up.
By the way these people who poo poo the NBA are the same ones who could not name five players in the league outside of Kobe, Lebron and one other guy. Don’t put stock in what they have to say or write; they never did get it, anyway.
The Kevin Garnett story is one I am surprised does not get more play. I understand why, though. He is not being pulled over for a DWI, beating his wife, being behind on child support or saying or doing something that he has to apologize for. Instead, he gives the double-double every night like he gives the good legible interview. These sort of players are not good fodder for those who say, “You see, there is another one.” In Garnett’s case he just acts like a grown professional, on and off the court. A better role model than what you find in most sports, but no one wants to talk about that. Garnett’s career would be complete if only he were a Los Angeles Laker.
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Gunning for Marvin
I noticed that Indianapolis Colts receiver Marvin Harrison was in the news. It has been reported that perhaps one of the 26 guns registered to Harrison may have been used in a shooting outside one of his businesses. While no one was seriously hurt, it still remains that a gun was involved.
The gun of a pro football player. I wonder why in most editorials concerning this matter, the question asked is “Why does Marvin Harrison need 26 guns?”
Great question. Perhaps he is a collector. That doesn’t make
it the right answer in a society that has gone gun crazy, but I am sure that Harrison is not the only NFL player who may be a registered gun collector.
He may be the only registered gun owner who owns a gun that may have been involved in a shooting. I wonder, if this were a hunter whose weapon was involved in a similar incident, would there be this mad rush to judgement to convict and pass down sentencing?
A suggestion here. If Harrison’s registered gun is found to be in the wrong, then he should be held accountable for what took place, not for being a registered collector. If there is one thing we do not need more of is
guns in the hands of irresponsible people.
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Frank with Rick
Not long ago I had a few things to say about the basketball coach at Saint Louis University, Rick Majerus. As expected, he was not happy, nor were some of our readers. Since then, Coach Majerus and I have had a chance to visit.
To say it was cordial at the start would be overstating it. “Spirited” would only be lukewarm. “Frank” would be close.
Having said all that, it would be safe to say that while Rick Majerus has some things we would agree that we disagree on, we understand each other better and that is fine for us. Until our visit, we were in no dire hurry to embrace each other, for reasons that we have now addressed.
While much of our visit would be considered a private matter, our language toward each other was easy to understand and I like that. We left our meeting with no misunderstandings about each other, which I think benefits us
and any future relationship, should there be one. That part is up to Coach.
One thing has been overlooked here: Rick Majerus is a really good basketball coach. He understands the game, he communicates it well and he has the
strategy and recognition part down as well as anyone. He can also be wrong about how some things can be handled, much like a writer can be at times. This doesn’t happen to be one of those rare occasions for the writer, though.
As for Majerus, he can lay claim to what he thinks is right or wrong because, like the writer, he has to live with it and that is what makes the world go around and around.
