Subscribe Feed (RSS)Hard to believe, but there is an entire generation of basketball fans growing up thinking that when you introduce a team prior to a game, you must turn off the lights in the arena, play loud music, put together an elaborate video presentation, shoot off a few fireworks and then watch as the players leap in the air and bump butts with each other, or dance around, or whatever, as they are introduced. They look like a bunch of guys who just heard they won the lottery — or a date with Tony Parker’s wife.
I’m seeing a lot of acrobatics by the players and I would suggest it’s gotten to the point when somewhere, someone is going to sprain his ankle or blow out a knee just running toward the team huddle and leaping up to bump chests, hips or rear ends with a teammate — all of that, by the way, stuff that would make you an outcast when I was a kid. And no, I’m not one of those grumpy old guys who is yelling at the grandkids, “You’re going to put your eye out with that thing,” everytime I see them running around with a carrot stick in their hand.
Hey, all I’m saying is that it makes more sense to jump around like a fool when you have something bigger to celebrate than hearing your name on a loudspeaker.
I’m not going to even suggest players should stop doing that stuff – that train left the station quite a while back. I’m here merely to point out that it hasn’t always been that way. I mean, can you imagine Bill Russell, for example, being introduced prior to the game and then skipping into the huddle like Rasheed Wallace and then leaping up and planting a big butt bump on a teammate? He’d sooner retire. Same with Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar or any number of other great — yet dignified — players. I crack up when I try to picture Russell jumping up and bashing butts with Bob Cousy prior to a Celtics game.
I come from the days when cool was the rule, folks. You walked out, shook a few hands. absorbed the applause and then played the game. This brings us to Greg Oden, which a lot of discussions seem to do around here. I recently heard someone saying he didn’t look too “pumped up” or “excited” about games because during the player introductions he just kind of trotted out and slapped a few hands.
God love you, Greg. Maybe it will start a trend. Save every ounce of energy for the games. Protect your body to better withstand the punishment you get every time someone passes you the ball. Be cool . . . and let the other teams win the intros.
Tags: Bill Russell, Bob Cousy, Greg Oden, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, NBA player introductions, Wilt Chamberlain
I had thought that some of the celebratory sports gymnastics would have subsided a couple of years ago after one of the Gramatica brothers (NFL kickers) went into a frenzy and leaps and gyrations after kicking a field goal — and not even a particularly long or important one. Suddenly, he went down in a heap, having torn up his knee.
I never like to see anyone get injured, but there was certainly some poetic justice being served.
Kids!
I don’t know what’s wrong with these kids today!
Kids!
Who can understand anything they say?
Kids!
They a disobedient, disrespectful oafs!
Noisy, crazy, dirty, lazy, loafers!
While we’re on the subject:
Kids!
You can talk and talk till your face is blue!
Kids!
But they still just do what they want to do!
Why can’t they be like we were,
Perfect in every way?
What’s the matter with kids today?
Kids!
I’ve tried to raise him the best I could
Kids! Kids!
Laughing, singing, dancing, grinning, morons!
And while we’re on the subject!
Kids! They are just impossible to control!
Kids! With their awful clothes and their rock an’ roll!
Why can’t they be introduced during basketball games like we did
What’s wrong with Sammy Caine?
What’s the matter with kids today!
Right on!
I’m perfectly fine with Greg not jumping around like a maniac, especially after coming off of a serious surgery that still gives me flashbacks every time he tumbles to the ground in the low-pst – perfectly fine, indeed.
I like that they don’t even attempt to bump or high five Oden, they just ignore him. GO is O.G.
Can I add to that the showering of confetti after EVERY win? It brings to mind the quote, “Act like you’ve been there before”. Don’t get me wrong; I am loving the new Blazers just as much as anyone. It just seems like every win is celebrated like it’s the 7th game of the playoffs.
Its been a while Dwight but I 100% agree with you on this one. Put it on my list of things I wish they would change with the Blazers. It includes
-Their homer announcers (I really miss Steve Jones)
-Playing music or sound effect while the game is ongoing
-Blaze the mascot
-The horrible Blazer Broadcasting music (besides the classic Blazers intro theme which they seem to butcher every week with a new cover)
-Boomshackalacka. God I hate this one. I don’t listen to the radio for this very reason which subjects me to the other homers, Barrett and Rice on TV.
Even though it makes us all sound a little old, I totally agree.
And did someone just say they miss Steve Jones?
I miss JIMMY Jones doing the PA announcements.