PLEASE READ: This blog post is not for those that can read and are under the age of what is considered to be an acceptable level of maturity. While the comments related in this post are largely for entertainment and comedy purposes, they may offend some, while entertaining others. I'm just a guy, I'm just a fan, I'm just putting it out there. If you can accept this, read on...
This season has been an incredible roller coaster ride. Ups, downs, loop-the-loops... puking, crying, sweating. Any fan that has watched Pacers basketball this season knows what this ride has been like. The most interesting part of this ride, however, is that we aren't reaching the station to get off... we're just reaching the top of that first big hill.
Flopping has been the talk of the series against the Heat. On two occasions, at least, we can feel the chants of "He's a flop-per" throughout the fieldhouse, Penn, and Indianapolis. The act has became so absurd, on both sides of the ball, that Internet, radiowaves, and television have been taken over by it. Like many have said, it's an extremely unfortunate part of the game, but, nonetheless, still something that we must tolerate. Because, let's face it, James isn't going to stop - whatever he has to do to win (even if that requires an odd and confusing wind sprint the length of the court). Yes, it hurts the integrity of the game. Yes, it is wild to see an almost 7 foot man throw his body to the ground like a toddler. Yes, marine life out of water and wounded deer are the only things that should flop. West and Stephenson have been fined, James has been fined, James has NOT been fined... and the band plays on.
Speaking of fines... the biggest, and most controversial, fine as of yet on Roy Hibbert. A fine that included the use of the word "motherfucker" addressing the press when asked as to why he finished 10th in DPOY voting and the use of the term "no homo" when speaking about his love for Paul George (on the court) and essentially, what he has done and what he will do for him. What was said has been said, whether or not I or you agree with it, and like I said... the band plays on.
I do not condone Roy's comments. But, I am not outraged, either. Frankly, Roy is a grown ass man and he can say what he wants, when he wants, in this country that we call free. The consequences, whether or not he chooses to accept them, and whether or not they include a fine, are strictly on him. As long as his comments do not impact his game, his team, our family, our friends (which mine include homosexuals who were NOT offended by the comment but more offended by the sensitivity of the media - specifically citing that outrage of this sort is why the use of the word "homo, homosexual, or gay" is perhaps why the topic of homosexuality is somehow still a sensitive subject) or this city, then I say, speak your mind big dog. His comments were not an attack on homosexuality, by any means. Can't say he wasn't pissed at media, though.
Contrastingly, (with the caveat that "motherfucker" and "no homo" are in no way really comparable and this is strictly for comedy purposes) men and women alike are sometimes married, or in a consenting relationship, to the mother's of their children. They sometimes engage in the act that produces children. This clearly makes them "motherfuckers." They do not, in any way, take offense to Roy's use of the word "motherfucker" or consider the use of the word "motherfucker" an attack on all "motherfuckers." (If by now you're thinking, "Well, that's nothing like calling homosexuals "homos," please see above and pick yourself up a sense of humor).
What have we taken from all this? People absorb what they want to. The media reports what they want to report and PEOPLE - straight, homosexual, fans, non-fans, liberals, conservatives, blacks, whites, etc. - will do whatever they want to spin something - either in a positive or negative way. It happened last night, it happened all season, and it will happen until this Earth is swallowed up by a massive black hole (hopefully not before the Pacers get a championship).
The bottom line: None of this matters... none of this matters when it comes down to the brass tax of Game 7. Sure, there will be flopping tonight. Let's hope that any inappropriate comments are left out of the pre-game and post-game. Tonight will be perhaps the most epic night, for either team, after one of the most exhilarating Eastern Conference Finals series we have witnessed. These are clearly the two best organizations in the East with a truly cohesive team versus a future Hall of Famer. To say that tonight's game is the reason we watch basketball would be a gross understatement.
I have been downtown over the last two home games for pre-game festivities and could say with full confidence, on both occasions, that the Pacers were going to win. I felt the energy, the sense of community, and the sense of urgency that both the Pacers and their fans had. I had completely bought into that whole "there's no way we're losing tonight" mentality. While tonight's game is away, I still have those same feelings. The hate that I'm getting from Heaters at work, my facebook statuses being DELETED by admins, and the business I'm seeing on twitter is proof that we can win tonight and that we will give it our all to do so.
And the Band. Plays. On.
