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Online now: 2 members: Rick Wiebe, TABLE SETTER 11; 88 anonymousDiscussion: Lakers again give 'Professional Thugball' another black eye
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| May 9, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Lakers again give 'Professional Thugball' another black eye I never watch Thugball any more, but happened to be in a restaurant where the Lakers/Mavs game was on. Without hearing I could see the multi-millionaires had given up in the first half. Some of them make more in ONE GAME than a lot of us make in a year to PLAY A GAME. Saw on Mike and Mike what Bynum did-should be run out of the game like Artest should have been in the 'Detroit' incident where he went into the stands, and Kobe--just another arrogant overpaid quitter. I know-not all players are that way, but the NBA seems to have an overabundance of them demanding sometimes HUNDREDS of Millions for their 'sevices'. Kids learn 'trash talking' and 'attitude' early watching them. No respect for anything. Pretty sad that we continue to support them in their lavish lifestyles by attending the games and buying their paraphernalia. Its not the fun it was when Magic and Bird ruled the roost. Am I alone feeling this way? Just curious! Thanks for your inputs. Mark Weber Desperados |
| May 9, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I forgot my main point-senior moment! I think almost every senior that plays our game gives more effort EVERY TIME THEY TAKE THE FIELD than these guys did-and just for the love of the game! |
| May 9, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Webbie, you forget that Bird might have been the premier trash-talker of all time. No, he never quit and went gangsta like some of the guys did, but he talked a LOT! As far as the money, someone is willing to pay them so what would you do in their position? Say "no thanks"? |
| May 9, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Seniors give more effort? Is that why there are rampant abuses of courtesy runners? Why games take forever as guys walk on and off the field? Let's not get carried away here. They are the best athletes in the world! |
| May 9, 2011 stick8 1992 posts | Gary, your exactly right about Bird. Bird would tell his opponents what he was going to do when he got the ball and he would lecture them that there wasn't a damn they could do to stop it. Bird also HATED his opponents and many times scolded his own teammmates if he felt they weren't giving enough. He was old school all the way in that vain. As far as Odom and Bynum are concerned I saw the hilites and that was streetball thuggery. David Stern needs to send a strong message to that. |
| May 9, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | I never said Bird didn't trash talk-I know he did, but it sure sends the wrong message to our kids. Charles Barkley once spit on a photographer and then claimed he was not a role model. Are you kidding-by playing you become one-whether you want to be or not. Another fine example of a humanity, and he keeps getting rewarded with commentator jobs. Gary-seniors are 30 years or so older than these highly paid athletes and for a lot of them, it can be a chore just to get out of bed in the morning, especially after 3 or 4 or 5 games the previous day. Sorry we are not all in good shape like you are. But we do get up, go play and I don't see people quitting too often. CJ&S in Laughlin was playing their 10th game with 12 players-at least 3 hurt and never gave up in Laughlin. That's the no quit attitude I see in seniors. At least the Lakers could have given some effort for the fans that were rooting for them and paid to show up and watch, and bought their stuff and make sure they get paid their millions. You are right-Gary-we have created this and tolerated it. We get what we deserve. |
| May 9, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Webbie, I am far from saying the NBA players or anyone for that matter are perfect. And yes, the Lakers seemed to have quit. NO excuse for that. It just sounded to me though like you were taking your indictment of pro athletes a bit too far. Any comparison between them and slow-pitch softball players of any age is completely inappropriate. Sure a 10th game, though we must stop using the most extreme examples to try and make points since honestly how often does that happen, is tiring but so are 82 basketball games plus potentially another 10-20 or more playoff games. Plus the constant travel, changing time zones, etc. I know they sign up for that kind of schedule, but softball players also voluntarily play in tournaments. As far as Barkley, he did not sign up to be a role model. That kids choose to make him one, and parents allow that to happen, is not his fault or responsibility. |
| May 9, 2011 stick8 1992 posts | I believe Charles barkely was once quoted as saying "I'm not a role model" |
| May 9, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | Point is they get paid-way too much-we don't.Those poor multi-millionaires have to travel, and put up with all that. Gosh, I almost feel sorry for them. Playoffs they play 3 games a week? Tiring??? Are you kidding???? They are supposed to be the best conditioned athletes in the world. AND they know they are going to be role models. The kids are going to look up to them, no matter what their parents say. Your last sentence is absurd. 10th game is a bit extreme, but R&R went 12 games last year in Reno and didn't quit and there are a lot of other teams that have done that. I prefer the heart that seniors show still playing, and playing hard.Oh, that we could all be in the shape you must be, Gary. |
| May 10, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Webbie, no one said that playing that many games in a weekend isn't tiring, but that is the rare exception and should never be used to try and prove a rule. Just not logical. As far as role models, I have 5 kids all of whom played varsity sports in high school and 3 of them in college. Yes they had their favorite players, but none of them ever used any as a role model. They chose not to, and we never encouraged it. So no, that statement was not absurd at all. If you really think 82 games followed by potentially weeks of playoffs and all the associated travel is not wearing on people then you might be the absurd one. For you it sounds like it is always coming back to the money. They were not handed their jobs, and you had the same opportunities, so why be so bitter? |
| May 10, 2011 boston Men's 60 355 posts | I want to weigh in on this role model deal. I am my kids role model and should be. As an educator I get upset when I am told that I must act in a particular way by adminstrators because i am a role model. Parents are and should be the role models for their children. If they are not doing their jobs it is not something we should readily throw at others. My children look up to me in many ways but I also let them know I am not perfect. They do have their heroes in sports but I am the one that should set the standard for the way they live their lives no one else. I must also say in regard to professional athletes and schedules. they are highly paid, highly trained professionals. They have the best facilities, doctors, equipment and drugs. If they are giving a lackluster performance after 82 regular season games maybe they should evaluate their physical and mental preparation. As for the thug ball. I grew up in Boston and practically lived in the Garden and Fenway. The old Celtics such as Jungle Jim Luscatof, Tommy Heinson and Dave Cowens were brutes. Hard fouls were a way of live in the old NBA. I'm sure most of you oldtimers remember the likes of Nate Thurmond, Bob Lanier, Bill Laimbeer, Maurice Lucas to name a few. there was no such thing as an easy layup come playoff time. So I don't find the NBA as physical now as in the past. |
| May 10, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Hard fouls are one thing, as we all remember. Dirty play is quite different. Maybe they cannot both be easily defined, but as someone once said about beautiful women "I cannot define it, but I know one when I see one". |
| May 10, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | lets see,82 games over 7-8 months,lets do the math,30 days x 8 months =240 days / by 82 games = 2.92 days per game,mmm thats almost a game every 3 days,what is the prol with that,even at 60 i can do that.as for the punks from LA fakers,well they should be given at least a 10 game ban at the beginning of next min.i remember when it was play 2 playoff games,1 day travel play another 2/3 games(depending how it was structured),then back and forth to finish the series,7 game series took 8 days to complete,now it is more like 10-12 days. boston i remember watching Celtic games(from the Berkshires)and yes there were plenty of hard fouls.i seen heinhson pummel someone who drag him down from behind with a hard foul.these babies now a days don't know how good they have it.make a bucket in the first quarter and have to strut like it was a game winner,and this is in all sports now a days whether it is MLB,NFL or any other pro sport. |
| May 10, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | sad, sad puppy, (a) Try 5 1/2 months. Late October to mid-April. So you might want to revise your "math". (b) Not defending the behavior at all, just the ridiculous comparison of an NBA season to friggin' senior SLOW-PITCH softball. The best athletes in the world compared to old guys playing a game 8-year-old girls used to play. Hmmmm....... |
| May 10, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | even with the 7 month it is still 2.5 days,still not over doing it IMO.they are supposed to be trained and in shape to play. i think the comparison is the fact these pro babies quit playing when things don't go their way,where as the senior baller keeps going regardless,maybe if you could play on a senior tourney team you might see that,oh thats right no one wants you in your area to play with them b/c of your attitude.have fun league boy as that is all you can play,so i can see where you can't see the comparison. |
| May 10, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Who said 7 months? Late-October to mid-April is 5 1/2 months for 82 games. They are trained and in shape, and with a few exceptions they do play. They do not get courtesy runners. By the way, what attitude? I play the way I play, I know some don't like it. Que sera! |
| May 10, 2011 curveball Men's 65 705 posts | Late-October to mid-April? I saw games yesterday, that's closer to mid-May, well it is on the west coast anyway. |
| May 10, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Yes you did. So did I. Now, if you would have read the thread, you would have noticed we were talking about the REGULAR SEASON. The playoffs were being discussed in a separate time frame. |
| May 10, 2011 mad dog Men's 65 4191 posts | well your the one who brought up the 82 games,not original poster.oh the 82 games for your 5.5 months is still over 2 days,so what is the problem with these highly trained athletes.at 61 i still can play 1 game every 2 days why can't they. as far as our courtesy runners,so what,but they refuse to go into games they think are not worthy of their appearance,what cry babies,and they want millions of dollars to play a game....go figure...... |
| May 11, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | This will stretch into July, curveball, I think. Half the teams make the playoffs-some with ridiculous records like 37-45 or similar. I have also been a proponent of NO .500 or less teams in the playoffs. We reward mediocrity. I would love to see a system-in all sports- where if a team qualifies for the playoffs with a .500 or less winning percentage for the regular season, they forfeit their position. The team that takes its place would be the team-in any division of the sport-with the best record that did not qualify. If you don't have enough teams-the #1 seed gets a bye. I know-it will never fly. This year would have been interesting. Philadelphia at 41-41 and Indiana-a ridiculous 37-45 would have been disqualified. Houston at 43-39 would have taken Philly's spot and the Bulls would have a bye, because no suitable WINNING team would qualify. Of course $$$$$$ rules and it won't happen. Hockey-which I love to watch as it is the fastest and most exciting game-has the even more absurd practice of not awarding a loss in shootout overtime games. WHAT??? Sounds like those advocates of no winner or losers in little league so nobody gets their feelings hurt. As a result-too many kids don't learn how to lose and how to pick themselves back up and learn how to be a winner. As a result, there are only 4 or 5 teams with losing records in the NHL, and you have to be really bad to be under .500. I know you are going to have a field day with this! Mark |
| May 11, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | They want millions because they can get them. So would you, if you could. They can, you can't, and you seem to have quite a problem with that. As far as the money, no one gave them their spots on these teams, just as no one denied you the same opportunities to make a pro roster. They made one, you never did, and that seems to be at the root of your issues. |
| May 11, 2011 Webbie25 Men's 70 2414 posts | You are a very bad psychologist, Gary. I am comfortable in my own skin. I would not trade where I am in life for the chance to go back and try again with the advantage of knowing what I know now. I mourn the loss of true sports to the almighty dollar, the business it has become, and the 'athletes' that abuse the games. |
| May 11, 2011 Gary19 Men's 50 2609 posts | Mark, if you are comfortable that is great. But a few guys on here, you being one of them, brought the issue back to the money they are making. So maybe I am a bad psychologist. Or maybe some of you are in denial. Not sure which. Sure money has changed, and I agree not necessarily for the better, many sports. But why blame the athletes? Who among us would turn down the money that is obviously there and available? Are they supposed to say no to it? Society values athletes and entertainers over teachers, doctors, clergy, social workers, scientists, and on and on. Let's not just blame the athletes for what we all have created. |
| May 11, 2011 DCPete 409 posts | Well it would be nice if the players didn't go on strike or de-certify or whatever when they don't get their way. But back to the initial comments, there's no reason to mention trash-talking with thuggery in the same thread. If Larry Legend trash-talked so be it, he almost always backed it up and none of us sitting at home ever heard a word of it. The thuggery on the other hand is plainly visible for everyone to sadly have to see. Two completely different deals that should never be compared to one another. |
