Uh-oh, deja vu-like feeling thinking about invincible GSW in 2016.
I just dig Russell Westbrook. He is talented as all get out on the court, and so fun to watch. Off the court he is entertaining, enigmatic, and quirky, and is a good, caring human being who is involved in his community. Not sure why so many people have such a negative reaction to him. Basketball is a form of entertainment and Westbrook puts on a great show. Enjoy!
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@MRod
I just dig basketball. Nothing like a a group of individuals with various levels of talent, skill and smarts -- orchestrated by coaches who motivate, strategize, evaluate, improvise -- coming together as a cohesive unit to compete with passion and purpose against a similarly prepared team.
However amazing any one player might be, the metric of success -- winning games -- eludes them unless they're part of a group that combines all the moving parts into a cohesive whole. Cooperation, collaboration, common cause, camaraderie -- the very basis of human civilization -- are exemplified in good basketball.
Hard to weave "me" into "we" when it's diminshed by a single spotlighted "me" because retail consumption driven by marketing Mad Men thrives on messages that all begin with "me."
Even the chosen one -- LeBron -- realized the hollow throne he occupied without a ring that anoints the one for all and all for one of champions. For him it meant Miami and Wade, Bosh, Chalmers, Battier, Haslem, Cole, Jones, Miller, Turiaf, Curry, Pittman, Harris and Howard.
Yup, b-ball is commercial like WWE, a fake "sport" as real as a video game. Westbrook puts on a good show -- like the Globetrotters. He's a total showman, down to the prickly thin-skinned, adolescent persona who appeals to teens who suck on sugar juice and pimp sneakers for status.
He may be the MVP for Sprite and Footlocker. But he's no MVP of basketball.
All those triple doubles don't add up to winner.
I just dig basketball. Nothing like a a group of individuals with various levels of talent, skill and smarts -- orchestrated by coaches who motivate, strategize, evaluate, improvise -- coming together as a cohesive unit to compete with passion and purpose against a similarly prepared team.
However amazing any one player might be, the metric of success -- winning games -- eludes them unless they're part of a group that combines all the moving parts into a cohesive whole. Cooperation, collaboration, common cause, camaraderie -- the very basis of human civilization -- are exemplified in good basketball.
Hard to weave "me" into "we" when it's diminshed by a single spotlighted "me" because retail consumption driven by marketing Mad Men thrives on messages that all begin with "me."
Even the chosen one -- LeBron -- realized the hollow throne he occupied without a ring that anoints the one for all and all for one of champions. For him it meant Miami and Wade, Bosh, Chalmers, Battier, Haslem, Cole, Jones, Miller, Turiaf, Curry, Pittman, Harris and Howard.
Yup, b-ball is commercial like WWE, a fake "sport" as real as a video game. Westbrook puts on a good show -- like the Globetrotters. He's a total showman, down to the prickly thin-skinned, adolescent persona who appeals to teens who suck on sugar juice and pimp sneakers for status.
He may be the MVP for Sprite and Footlocker. But he's no MVP of basketball.
All those triple doubles don't add up to winner.
He' a very talented and very rich guy.
I hope he loses.
Then nobody will be crowded around him and nobody will be writing down what he says and he can't be misinterpreted.
If he loses, everybody wins.
I hope he loses.
Then nobody will be crowded around him and nobody will be writing down what he says and he can't be misinterpreted.
If he loses, everybody wins.
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I like Westbrook, as a player and off the court. However, he shouldn't be forced to do interviews. It's like listening to someone scratch a chalkboard. Perhaps, teams should have designated players who are their spokespersons. That way we would get much better interviews. It's the same thing when people try to interview Klay Thompson or a number of others who really just want to play basketball and are less interested in speaking to the media.
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Having one team player as spokesperson is such a silly idea. Would you want your designated head-of-household or neighborhood block captain (if you had one) always speaking for you? As a sports fan, I want to hear what the players themselves have to say. If you don't, just tune out.
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So glad Kevin Durant got away from this paternosterknecht and into the waiting arms of Step, Draymond and Klay.
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Here's the thing about people who take themselves incredibly seriously: They're not very fun. Watching Westbrook is *kind* of fun. But not quite. Dude's a killjoy.
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Maybe Westbrook should be name to the all-defensive team simply by the way he conducted himself in this interview?
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Obnoxious in politics gets elected. Obnoxious in sports sells a lot of stuff, mostly stuff that's bad for you or no one needs (fizzy sugar water or junk food that ends up costing everyone higher health spending, $200 sneakers). Obnoxious is media catnip and sends the message that bad attitude is cool. Obnoxious is look at me 24/7. Obnoxious is likely the MVP -- not because of winning but because of selling. Normal or nice doesn't rock. Ask Obama. Obnoxious is tons of sugar and fat to mask the bitterness.
But obnoxious doesn't win basketball games. Obnoxious doesn't make team-mates better. Obnoxious hogs the ball, the spotlight, sucks up all the oxygen and asphyxiates "brothers" as anonymous afterthoughts. Great players -- Durant, Harden, Ibaka -- can't get far enough away fast enough.
Obnoxious makes you cynical -- who cares if they ever cure cancer when humanity is ugly, self-absorbed, just plain nasty, and collects tens of millions every year.
Yo -- it's just basketball, dude. Chill. Whoa, catch that dunk? Dude breaks ankles, takes it to the rack. Score? Oops. Houston by 30.
Give little O some space. Don't get too close -- like Big O -- because it makes you act like a forgettable loser not a hardcourt legend.
All time great season? For who? OKC? The Thunder? Coach Blatt? Sorry, it's Donovan, right? NBA? Basketball? Maybe Track and Field but Usain Bolt owns that.
Give obnoxious a lot of space. But give the MVP to Harden.
But obnoxious doesn't win basketball games. Obnoxious doesn't make team-mates better. Obnoxious hogs the ball, the spotlight, sucks up all the oxygen and asphyxiates "brothers" as anonymous afterthoughts. Great players -- Durant, Harden, Ibaka -- can't get far enough away fast enough.
Obnoxious makes you cynical -- who cares if they ever cure cancer when humanity is ugly, self-absorbed, just plain nasty, and collects tens of millions every year.
Yo -- it's just basketball, dude. Chill. Whoa, catch that dunk? Dude breaks ankles, takes it to the rack. Score? Oops. Houston by 30.
Give little O some space. Don't get too close -- like Big O -- because it makes you act like a forgettable loser not a hardcourt legend.
All time great season? For who? OKC? The Thunder? Coach Blatt? Sorry, it's Donovan, right? NBA? Basketball? Maybe Track and Field but Usain Bolt owns that.
Give obnoxious a lot of space. But give the MVP to Harden.
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Westbrook is probably one of the most athletic NBAers ever, but his one weakness is his tendency to be the only one to touch the ball on numerous possessions...if he can control his ball-hogging inner demon, team success will follow.
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News flash. Bulls beat Celtics second game in a row IN BOSTON, now up 2-0. Not that it matters to you people. But it should. You've been busy sucking up to Westbrook all year. Got you in a stranglehold baby!
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