So what if President Clinton might be having some problems shaking off allegations of an affair with an intern? So what if a weapons inspector believes Iraq is hiding enough nuclear weaponry to obliterate Tel Aviv? If you want some eye-catching headlines, remember where to look. The zoo ... oops ... I mean, the NBA.
On Tuesday, the National Basketball Association started Latrell Sprewell's arbitration hearing. What an eyesore for a league which seems to grow farther out of touch with reality every day. Do you remember good ol' "Spree?" Maybe you call him by his other nickname, "the strangler." For those of you who are basically brain-dead after round one of midterms I'll fill you in. Sprewell is the former Golden State Warrior who the NBA suspended for one year after he twice attacked head coach P.J. Carlesimo at practice. Oh, I almost forgot, the poor guy also lost the remaining three years and $25 million of his contract with the Warriors. You know what is really sad about that? No, it's not that we will not be blessed with Latrell's court dominance in Golden State. Nope, it's the fact that his contract was for $25 million! Wait, maybe I am out of line. He was an All-Star selection last year... maybe this year's benching was just a fluke ... yeah, right.
In December, Sprewell was reported to have yelled, "I'll kill you," as he grabbed Carlesimo around the neck during a routine practice. When asked for his comments on the subject, President Clinton denied ever having sexual relations with a man named Latrell. Okay, I jest. Seriously though, Sprewell did make a public statement about the incident saying, "I totally don't condone this behavior, but I just got to the point where I couldn't take it anymore."
I am having a little problem following the logic of Mr. Sprewell. Is he saying that he will gladly do an ad for United Way against random violence? But, if he is confronted with a situation that he just can not handle professionally, he will lose all sense of proper conduct? Somebody throw me a friggin' bone here, because this just does not jive.
Since entering the NBA, Latrell Sprewell has enjoyed amazing good fortune. Laboring in obscurity at Alabama under the shadow of Robert Horry, he was discovered by Don Nelson (a stroke of pure basketball genius) and made a first-round pick. When Tim Hardaway went down, Nellie gave him full rein, resulting in an All-NBA selection. Ironically, Sprewell paid Coach Nelson back by dogging it the next season and undermining the team, playing a major role in Nelson's demise. Great investment, eh? Oh, it gets worse.
Last year we were given an inkling of Sprewell's true character when he refused to get rid of his four pit bulls after they tore the ear off his infant daughter. We got a further preview when he was stopped for speeding, and he ridiculed the officer's salary, saying he could buy him. Hey, this is not so bad, at least the officer did not push him, "to the point where (he) just couldn't take it anymore." On top of that, Coach Bob Lanier, who replaced Nelson, had to bench Sprewell for being a slacker on the court. A rumor is that Sprewell was the main reason All-Star Chris Mullin demanded a trade. And this year, Latrell rewarded us by refusing to talk to the press. Now if this is not a role model for America's youth I do not know who is.
Do not get me wrong, Sprewell's a first rate punk and his case is front page news, but the real problem lies in the greed that currently dominates professional sports. Players are selfish, owners are selfish, networks are selfish, promoters are selfish and people are getting sick of it . Ticket prices are up and attendance is down around the league. Michael Jordan, the NBA's brightest star for so many years, says he's hanging it up for good after this season and he doesn't like the state of the league he's leaving. There is even talk of mutiny, as Charles Barkley has suggested boycotting the NBA All-Star game or next summer's World Championships. Some players applaud Barkley's comments. Not so much in support of Sprewell's actions, but to show Commissioner David Stern just exactly who runs the league.
Sounds to me like the inmates are trying to run the asylum.
In further establishing the chaotic state of the NBA, I cannot resist mentioning a most recent occurrence. This past week in a Washington Wizards game, the referee charged a foul on Calbert Chaney even though it was clearly caused by Chris Webber. (Yes, this is the same Chris Webber who was charged with nine misdemeanors and resisting arrest a couple days later.) In explaining his action the referee claimed the star player could not foul out since that's who people pay to see. Excuse me if I am out of touch with today's NBA fan, but I like to watch basketball to see a quality game. Seeing a star display extraordinary skill is supposed to be an added bonus. While the NBA did fine the referee for his pathetic judgement call, the incident is just another example that the league has lost all grip on the concept of professional athletic competition.
To try to fix some of its problems, the NBA is considering breaking its current collective bargaining agreement with the players and starting new discussions this summer. No one expects those talks to go smoothly, and the NBA could have its first in-season work stoppage. After baseball and hockey fans deserted their sports after recent strikes, you would think the NBA and its players would be smarter. My prediction? Things are just going to get worse. Commissioner Stern and the Players' Union will continue to fight for control over the league, salaries will continue to soar, and alienation of fans will increase. Somehow, somewhere, greed must move to the back seat. Players and owners need to take a step back and realize that they originally fell in love with the game of basketball, not the money of basketball.
And if they don't?
Well, somebody better organize these clowns or people are going to stop going to the circus.
