Is this the NBA or the third grade?

Posted by jennicarlson
on April 27, 2009M at 10:24 pm

 I just can’t take my eyes off this Boston-Chicago series.
 
The rest of the first-round match-ups in the NBA Playoffs pale by comparison. This is a series that has featured last-second shots and overtime thrillers. There have been big performances and monster shots.
 
Of course, Game 4 on Sunday had all of that. No shot was more memorable than Ben Gordon’s three-pointer at the end of the first overtime that forced a second OT.
 
And unfortunately, no reaction was more forgettable.
 

First, the set-up. The Bulls looked like they had just about run out of steam late in the first overtime. The Celtics took control of the momentum at the end of regulation with Ray Allen’s game-tying three, and they rode it into overtime. They didn’t build a big cushion, but then again, four points in this game seemed big.

 

But then, the Bulls managed to get back within one possession with only seconds remaining. Gordon got the ball near the top of the key and dribbled to the right with Paul Pierce all over him. Somehow, Gordon managed to separate from Pierce and get away a shot.
 
It found only net.
 
Gordon turned, strutted a bit, then grabbed his crotch.
 
Yes, he cupped his crotch ala Michael Jackson in one of his videos from the ’80s.
 
Really, Ben? Really?
 
One of the most memorable shots of these playoffs, one of the biggest moments of this series was punctuated with a crotch grab? That was a shot that they’ll use during a montage about these playoffs. That was a clip that the Bulls will want to run in the season highlights.
 
And the celebration is a bad Michael Jackson move.
 
Geez, maybe I’m getting old or something, but I just don’t get it. I’ll be the first one to say that too many sports have done too much to try to squash celebrations. Home run trots. Touchdown dances. Dog piles at mid-court. Man, I love all that stuff.
 
But crotch grabbing?  
 
I’m not saying that the NBA should make a rule prohibiting it or anything. Athletes should know better. Ben Gordon should know better.
 
Maybe he thought it was cool, but in a series that has been nothing short of must-see TV, this was one time I wish I hadn’t been watching.



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Comments
Comment by Port-O-Potty Picasso on April 28, 2009 @ 10:07 am

your indignation is remarkably contrived — a microcosm of what blogs hath wrought. you question his maturity level, but what about yours? it’s immature to think that everyone’s behavior should suit you.

Comment by ken s. on April 28, 2009 @ 10:57 am

Another low class example of what the nba has become. There are many, many classy players in the NBA. Kevin Durant, Tim Duncan, Chris Paul are good examples, but for every Tim Duncan there is a Carmelo Anthony (who appeared in a video his rookie season with gang bangers in his home town of Baltimore encouraging people to “stop snitching” on criminal.) For every Chris Paul, there is an Allen Iverson (who once made a rap song about why he hates white people), and for every Kevin Durant, there is a crotch grabbing idiot like Ben Gordon.
When a league has a gentleman to idiot ratio of 1 to 1, it’s hard to imagine what the future may hold.

Comment by Terry T. on April 28, 2009 @ 12:26 pm

I wouldn’t expect a woman to understand why a male athlete grabs his crotch after a big play.

Jenni, don’t watch any baseball games, they do it all the time!

Comment by jennicarlson on April 28, 2009 @ 1:02 pm

Terry T., I understand the crotch grabbing in baseball. Those guys are wearing cups; a little adjustment is necessary from time to time. But Ben Gordon wasn’t adjusting anything. He grabbed his crotch to say, well, what exactly? “Look at me, I’m a big man”? He hit arguably the biggest shot of the series; we all know what a big deal he is. Grabbing his crotch was unnecessary and third-grade-ish. — Jenni

Comment by Joke on April 29, 2009 @ 6:50 am

God you’re lame.

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