As I've mentioned previously, I’m not a sports ball guy. Whereas guys my age will complain about injuries received during the big game (some while even playing and not just falling in the bleachers from too many "adult beverages"), I can show people my paper cut scars from being a book worm. Yet, I can't say that this year's NBA finals haven't gotten me a bit excited.
I’m from Cleveland, but I’m no LeBron James fan(atic). I'll root root root for the home team, and if they don't win (which, as a Clevelander I'm used to) it's a shame, but I won't go "hero worship" someone who makes a lot of money playing a game.
Yet, I have to admit, I love watching the polar-opposite playing styles of LeBron James and Stephen Curry (of the Golden State Warriors) during the finals. Whereas James' style is all brute force, muscling his way to shooting positions, Curry is all finesse - frequenting the 3-point line.
As I write this, both teams are in California (I keep wanting to say "Ca-lee-foh-ni-ah" as if I’m Arnold Schwarzenegger) getting ready to play game seven. I’m going to focus this particular blog article on a comment the Warriors coach, Steve Kerr, made in a Cleveland.com article by Chris Fedor concerning game six, where Curry fouled out of the game:
"Curry swiped the ball from Irving, had a clear layup going the other way and a chance to make it a single-digit game.
"Instead, Curry was whistled for a foul, his fifth. Five minutes later he fouled out of the game -- his first time ever -- chucked his mouthpiece and exited the court with fans waving at him mockingly.
"Following the game, both Kerr and Curry expressed displeasure with the officials and will likely be receiving a fine.
"'He had every right to be upset,' Kerr said. 'He's the MVP of the league. He gets six fouls called on him, three of them were absolutely ridiculous. He steals the ball from Kyrie clean at one point. LeBron flops on the last one. Jason Phillips falls for that, for a flop. As the MVP of the league, we're talking about these touch fouls in the NBA Finals.
"'Let me be clear, we did not lose because of the officiating. They totally outplayed us and Cleveland deserved to win. But those three of the six fouls were incredibly inappropriate calls for anybody, much less the MVP of the league.'"
Did you see the that? I love the last sentence: "But those three of the six fouls were incredibly inappropriate calls for anybody, much less the MVP of the league."
Are you kidding me?!? Listen. I’m not going to argue whether or not the fouls were appropriate or inappropriate. Frankly being a non-sports ball guy, I really have no idea that a foul even takes place, and am surprised when some actions AREN'T fouls. But the "MVP of the league" should have special dispensation when it comes to actions made is utterly ridiculous.
(I do wonder if Kerr would have been so vocal if it had been LeBron James who was the "MVP of the league" in a similar situation. Nah, I'll stop wondering.)
Currently, we are in an election cycle for President of the United States, where every word, action, tax form, and email are up for scrutiny for any candidate who decides to throw their hat in the ring. It doesn't matter how big or small the gaff, it will be played and replayed ad infinitum on the cable news outlets. Nothing is sacred (as a point, stay tuned for my next blog, where I talk about just that!)
If Curry is the "MVP of the league", shouldn't that mean that he should be under GREATER scrutiny for his actions, not less - as his coach seems to think?
I think I agree with Uncle Ben when he told Peter: "With great power comes great responsibility."
Now. Go take your free throw and quit whining.
©Emittravel 2016
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