NBA Logo Troubles

This feels like a political pandering, given how the NBA is now these days. These superstars that act like fucking prima donnas and force the league to act like them or want them to. Kyrie Irving should worry about playing the game and less worry about the league's logo, which has drawn attention lately. He brought up that it should be changed to feature a black player. Specifically the late Kobe Bryant. While it is not an image of anyone per se, it was based on Jerry West when it was created in 1969. That's what many acknowledge.

I don't know if Irving is being dumb on purpose, but Bryant is a really bad idea. There is one specific thing that would make the NBA look even worse to add into all the controversies over the last year and a half. It goes without saying, but you have to mention it. The 2003 rape allegations in Colorado. Even though he didn't get charged, Bryant's image sunk down and it took a few years to even repair that. Not to mention repair his marriage and quit being like some high school jerk off. Even if he did look better and tried to change things for the better, that still lingers in many people's minds. Adam Silver does not need another stressful incident to occur. It's bad enough to be struggling during this pandemic, but it's also bad to keep having controversy after controversy.

There are far better choices if you were to pick a black player. A lot of people want Michael Jordan. Can't blame them, but I'd rather not. Not because of hate, but I'd rather see someone pre-1984. Someone like an Oscar Robertson or a Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Even Dr. Julius Erving. Someone that paved the way for the NBA. The only thing Jordan paved the way for was ratings on television and continue the success of the league throughout the world. Not trying to downplay a phenomenal career, but I'd like to see some of these pre-84 people get some love and more deserving chance to be the NBA logo if that were to happen.

I don't think there's an issue with the current logo. It's fine, But if change were to happen, I wouldn't flip out unless they create more controversy with Bryant. Irving should read up the rape allegation before opening his mouth as there are much black choices. 

The Ethics of Tabloids

We in society make our decisions based on what we know and the information given. When you're in a media whether its TV, radio, newspapers, anything, you have to present it in a manner that is professional. You have to put your thoughts on it based on evidence, information, and what people have said. You'll get positive and negative feedback, and that's what makes tons of stories of subjective, even if the information is true or false. A sense of ethics, morals. Then you have places like TMZ and Inside Edition that make it easy to hate journalism. I said this over a year ago regarding Kareem Hunt's incident. It's no different than ambulance chasers.

The first to report the death of Kobe Bryant was through TMZ. And the backlash they are getting is severe and rightfully so. When you have an LA County sheriff slam them for reporting it first, that's very telling. A petition on Change.org as of the 29th has over 400 thousand signatures for the TMZ show to be cancelled. It brings forth the story that happens every time. Whenever this site is in the news, they are usually in the sight of controversy. And this is something they have been doing since 2005.

A place like TMZ has no morals or values or any kind of professionalism. With the story being told immediately, it brings forth the question of their morals. All they are looking for is views, money, and notoriety. Of course, founder Harvey Levin is saying he was given permission to report the story. I don't buy it. Because if it was within the first hour, someone like Vanessa Bryant or the surviving members of the Altobellis, Mausers, and Chesters, would not have said anything. They would be upset and weeping instead of telling TMZ what happened. If it was a car accident, sure, but without confirmation of the identities of the deceased, it's premature within that first hour to say that Bryant was dead.

While TMZ deserves to be scrutinized, people like Ellen Pompeo make themselves look bad. Despite signing that petition, which I don't think will get it cancelled, she went into a rant that makes you wonder if she was talking about Levin or Harvey Weinstein. It was less a rant on how the site is run and more on women being abused and assaulted. Seems like an excuse to bring up a personal vendetta on guys, which is disturbing. For being a lead in TV for over 15 years, you'd think she'd have better judgement or at least be in the loop of what's happening. It makes for a bad situation. There's more bad stuff to TMZ than abuse and assault and stuff that happens to more than just women. Bad journalistic integrity.

I'll end with this. Sites like TMZ need to be held accountable for their actions when it comes to reporting. And there needs to be hefty fines for when they cross the line. It's sad that things can't be reported in a good manner because of wanting to be the first to cover it. But I hope they get cancelled or shut down one day. The less of these tabloids, the better.

Acknowledging Bryant's Past; Touchy?

There's a lot of great things to say about the career of Kobe Bryant. But we also have to touch the dark moments of the late NBA legend's past. But there's a time to say this stuff, and I believe we're past the grieving point to where I think it's safe to talk about the rape allegations that occurred in 2003. And unfortunately for Felicia Sonmez, she picked the worst time to bring that up. From reading the stories, the Washington Post reporter tweeted an article about the rape story not too long after his death. I believe it was within hours of what happened.

I said this on Twitter and I'll say the same thing. I have mixed feelings on what Sonmez brought up. I do believe we have to acknowledge that. It is a part of his past. You can't ignore it, regardless of where you stand on whether you think the rape happened or not. But it is the case of too soon. She was suspended, but reinstated. She admitted it was ill timed to bring that up, but held her ground a little bit. I don't think a suspension was worthy. I would have given her a verbal warning about this. She also said about wanting to tell the truth. That's a slippery slope to say because everyone has their own version of the truth. And obviously, it has triggered both sides of whether Bryant committed this crime or not.

There is also from reading comments about saying it because of sexual abuse victims. I think that's the worst thing to discuss because I feel like it would trigger bad memories. And with the high profile stories, it makes it hard to believe what happens to some people. A problem with today's world is stuff like the MeToo movement and any of that garbage. It makes it harder to know the truth and separating fact from fiction and whether or not some of them try to gain 15 minutes of fame through it. I don't think that's what Sonmez was trying to do on purpose, but like I said, too soon. Some other people are under fire for that as well.

It's as I said in the title, touchy. A very touchy subject. Even with where you stand, Bryant was not a perfect player. That's what happens when a brash and very young player joins the league before college guys get drafted in. Not to mention maturity and all that. But I'll end it with this. Sonmez was within her rights to bring it up, but should have waited until right around this time. There is such thing as sensitivity for any kind of incident, but you have to be very careful with how you talk about said incident to a victim or someone that knew a victim. This outrage on both sides is far from over.

A Mamba's Legacy (Reaction)

This shit feels surreal. It's going to dominate the headlines this week and maybe next week. But the fact that this happened, the disbelief is through the roof. Like many, the shock is still there for what happened to NBA legend Kobe Bryant. As the story has filtered in, he was on his way via helicopter to a travel basketball game with his teenage daughter Gianna. Something happened and the copter crashed, killing all nine people. Too early to determine until the NTSB investigates and puts out their report whenever that happens. Other casualties are reported to include Orange Coast College baseball coach John Altobelli and his family, which the daughter played for Bryant's team.

Quickly on his career, Bryant was drafted in 1996 by the Charlotte Hornets. However, the LA Lakers got him via a trade, trading away Vlade Divac. At that point, they were playoff contenders, but a far cry from where they were at the start of the 90s. With young guys and additional talent like Shaquille O'Neal coming from Orlando, the franchise was back, winning three Finals in a row. Even through struggles, Bryant found redemption after rape allegations. With better understanding, he was back in form at the end of the 2000s, winning another two titles before injuries late in his career, which he played his final game in 2016.

Before I say my reaction to what happened, obviously there is the basketball side we have to talk about. For guys like me in their late 20s, early 30s, this was the Michael Jordan of our generation. I'm not the biggest basketball fan and not huge on the Lakers, but you can see why they are coveted and hated. Bryant always had that knack for being in the tightest situations and delivering most of the time. One example is the 2006 game against the Toronto Raptors, scoring 81 points in the victory. It's hard to turn it into words, but there was a drive to him that made him put everything on the line just for the sake of championships and creating that legacy that inspire youth to be him.

When I heard about it, I was stunned. And at work, word spread. It's hit home to a lot of people throughout the world. You don't need to be a fan of sports to know how devastating this is. When you add in Bryant's daughter to the casualty, that makes it ultra sickening. Come mid April, and it will mark four years since his final game. This is the kind of shit that makes you reevaluate life. Not to mention that at 41 years old, there was more he was prepared to do. I think that's the most saddening thing about it. Someone that young to be killed without reaching his full potential in a post NBA life.

This is a huge blow for the NBA. Tons of current and former people involved the sport expressing condolences. Everybody and their mother being shocked at this tragic event. And the same can be said for the other victims involved with the locals of the towns that knew them. Hopefully, a thorough investigation finds results for the cause of the crash. Not a good way to almost end the month of the new decade