The Chronicles of an NBA Fan Free Agent
Posted on 15. Feb, 2010 at 10:00 am by bbryan in Beer + Stuff, NBA Basketball
While some of you probably still identify me as a Lakers fan since this was true during my entire childhood and into my early twenties, I’m here to tell you that is incorrect and has been for about 5 years now. See, the Shaq and Kobe split was not only huge because of the ramifications for both players and the franchise, but because it also made me an NBA fan free agent.
I went through the normal emotions that one would have after a catastrophic event happens in your life. First came Denial, as in know way this is really happening, you can’t break up the two best players in the NBA. As a fan I couldn’t fathom that they would throw away another 3 championships. I refused to believe it.
Then came Anger, and my target was one Kobe Bryant. I was a big Shaq fan at the time, so naturally I considered Kobe to be an absolute punk for demanding the spotlight over the big fella. Not to mention Kobe ratted him out after he got busted for raping having rough sex with that girl in Colorado. It was at this point that I severed ties with the Lakers and became a fan of Shaq and Shaq only. I was just so pissed that Kobe wouldn’t come in and play the good teammate for a few years until Shaq was over the hill and then the reins would have been passed to Kobe. But Kobe was impatient and had to force the issue costing Laker fans 3 or so more championships and even more importantly it would have propelled them past the Boston Celtics for total NBA titles.
Since I’m such an advanced learner I skipped passed the Bargaining and Depression stages and went right into Acceptance after the Heat won their first and only NBA title. I was happy Shaq got over first while Kobe was struggling to get out of the first round against the Suns. Shortly after the Heat’s championship I began to except the fact that Shaq was always out of shape and didn’t really care about being a great player or a great champion, he was just a great showman. While Kobe was shooting 1,000′s of jumpers a day in the off-season Shaq was eating potato chips and gaining 50 pounds that he would slowly melt off throughout the regular season. At the same time Shaq was the star first and Kobe didn’t need to force the issue and he certainly didn’t need to bring Shaq into the rape investigation. That was Kobe’s biggest mistake and is why I still hate him to this day. No one likes a dirty rat.
With my transformation into a fan free agent complete I now can sit back and just enjoy the greatness that is the NBA. I can enjoy watching the likes of Tim Duncan, King James, Dwayne Wade, Carmelo Anthony, CP3, Chris Bosh, Derrik Rose, Durnatchula, Greg O-done and a few other without a silly thing like team loyalty getting in the way. I hated Jordan during his time because he ended the Lakers dynasty and also shattered any chance of Magic Johnson being remembered as the GOAT. I will not make the same mistake with a future NBA great. And there is no better league to be a fan free agent than the NBA, a league that relentlessly markets their stars.
5 Responses to “The Chronicles of an NBA Fan Free Agent”
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goodplaye
15. Feb, 2010
well said. do like watching B Roy or are you not sold on him yet?
3D
15. Feb, 2010
Three things:
1) Definitely not as big a Laker fan now – but I will call you out on loving the struggles of the Blazers pre your move to Portland. Very Laker fan-ish.
2) The NBA is in an excellent league to be a lover, not a hater. Greater star power than any other league as there is usually a great matchup on TV every night. note: NFL refuses to let its players maximize their marketing potential, otherwise it would clown in this category.
3) Perhaps Scottie Pippen should get much more credit than he gets for the Bull’s 6 rings. If he went all ‘Kobe’ on the Bulls situation and broke up that duo, NO FUCKING CHANCE IN HELL THE BULLS WIN THAT MANY TITLES. His game complented Jordan’s to a tee. Now he certainly would not have ran Jordan out of Chicago, but he could have gone many places to try and be the man on a title team. another note: I think he would have failed miserably even in his prime a la his Portland stint.
bbryan
16. Feb, 2010
@ goodplaye – My thoughts on B. Roy: Good players, definately an all-star, but not a top 5 player that Portland fans and media try to make him out to be. I don’t really like watching his game becaues it’s rather boring, but it is very effecient. He’s one of the best mid-range perimeter shooters in the NBA. I also think he’s maxed out potential wise.
@3D – Some of my hate still lingers from being a Laker fan, but I remember watching the lottery show over at mom’s house when the Blaze got the first pick and I was excited for them that O-done* was coming, back when it used to be Oden . Heck I still like it when they struggle because it’s comedy to watch the city go on tilt. I do hate the Celtics still, but again that is more of a Boston thing when you consider I hate all the Boston teams.
*I actually don’t believe he’s finished, but it’s a pretty funny play on his name.
PKD
16. Feb, 2010
Wow!
I have to agree with you on one point Bryan, I too was not happy at the time when Shaq took his talents elsewhere, but being the patient person that I am I wanted to wait and see what would happen and having been a loyal Laker follower since the days of West-Baylor-Goodrich I didn’t jump ship. But that’s ok you make a valid point for the NBA Fan Free Agent.
Fellow Celtics Hater
bbryan
16. Feb, 2010
Yeah your fandom roots run a lot deeper than mine. More time put in, plus that is your home city correct? I tried getting back into them, but just can’t root with the same gusto I once did.
I’ll be a Celtic hater for life.