Robservations: On fans, on the NBA, on vacation
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Back in my days at the Southern Standard’s sister publication, The Daily News Journal of Murfreesboro, you could always tell when our sports editor, Monte Hale Jr., was going on vacation.
It wasn’t because he’d stock up on flip-flops and sunscreen, and it wasn’t because he’d sprint for the door at the end of the day yelling “so long, suckers.” Although those were pretty good hints, too.
No, you could tell he was going to be out for a week or so when he would spew forth the most disparaging, foul-mannered, downright venomous column of the year.
You see, he knew he wouldn’t be around to answer the phone the next day, when those angry readers called to respond to his rants.
Well, I’m not going to be that unkind to good ol’ Dale, who will be taking the reins next week. I won’t write that kind of incredibly angry column.
Instead, mine is just a little-bitty bit angry. Here we go.
• A few weeks ago, you regular readers will remember a column I wrote which was headlined “Leave the coaching to coaches.”
If you missed it, the gist of the piece was this: Parents should sit in the stands, cheer for their kids, and let those who volunteer to coach their kids team handle the responsibility they’ve undertaken.
Now, with that stance re-said, here’s an example of how not to follow that advice, brought to you courtesy of the parent of some fine young infielder at a recent game between two ultra-young teams.
Step 1: Forget that your kid is still years away from realizing what an oh-so-big deal it is to screw up in a little league game. When your child misses a ball, by no means say “good try.” Instead say nothing, and try to look as embarrassed as possible while sitting among the rest of the players’ parents.
Step 2: As your child runs by, leap from the bleachers, go down to the fence, and begin a boisterous, impromptu teaching session while berating them about the ball they missed.
Step 3: When the child begins to cry, and has to be consoled by the coach when he or she gets into the dugout, shrug your shoulders, walk back up into the stands and wonder aloud about why his or her “head’s not in the game.”
There you go. Nice job.
Your kid won’t grow to hate the game, or at least hate the idea of you coming to the game. Will they?
Acting like that in the stands will make them tough, right?
Yeah, right.
• Well go figure, the Lakers won the NBA championship.
Anyone surprised?
Actually, I was kind of surprised when I saw Thursday morning that Shaq and Co. had claimed another title. I thought they won it a week ago.
Seriously, it’s been a foregone conclusion that the Lakers would walk off with another NBA championship. It was just a matter of waiting to see which team from the East would be the lucky victim.
And is that so bad? Is it that hurtful to a sport to see a team or individual dominate year after year? I don’t think so.
In fact, if nothing else, it gives the rest of the competition something to aspire to. Back in the ’90s, everyone was gunning for the Bulls. Now, they’re gunning for L.A. For now, though, they’re all a little off-target.
Like Ric Flair said, “To be the man, you’ve got to beat the man.” And the Lakers may have the most money, and they may have bought the talent needed to dominate the league. But brother, they’re “The Man.”
• On another NBA-related note, Memphis still has a team. They’re called “The Grizzlies.”
As of this writing, 17 people cared about them.