I remember watching the epic LA-Boston matchups of the 80's. I forget which series exactly, but I remember James Worthy diving for a loose ball, crashing into the sidelines, and finding a way to toss the ball to either Kareem or Magic for lay up to win the game. It might be a made-up memory, for all it's worth, but it's what I use to justify my rooting for the Lakers (against Boston) among friends.
Somewhere along the way, after injuring myself in summer basketball camp, I decided I was non-athletic and stopped being a sports fan. There was, after all, comics, music and such.
Then I got older, and started following the NBA more seriously again. It helped that friends put up a fantasy league that got me interested again. This was around 2004, the year Detroit gunned for and got a championship. Not by carrying a superstar on their roster, but by exemplifying a team game of grounding opponents to a pulp and efficient play making. The Pistons made a believer out of me.
I like the Filipino expression, "bilog ang bola." An existential outlook has never been so succinctly and subtly expressed. Five years later, after a record number of consecutive playoff appearances, the Pistons are a shadow of their former selves.
They've traded away integral members of their 2004 championship team. Ben Wallace, though the heart and will of the famous Detriot defense, was really fading, and sending him away was a good move. But Chauncey Billups, the guy who carried the all important swagger and winning attitude, was moved this season. The Pistons still made the playoffs this year, but are down 0-3, and hopeless against the freak-of-nature that is LeBron James. James deserves his present and future greatness, but it's so sad to see it manifest and shine in the laying to waste of my Pistons.
One man dismantling my whole team.
[edit]. I'm still worked up about this. The irony is killing me. Also it's karma. Karma for trading Chauncey for the life-sucking, former-superstar that is Allen Iverson. And Darko? Who scouted that? Bosh would have been purrfect. Now they have Kwame. Good luck.
Somewhere along the way, after injuring myself in summer basketball camp, I decided I was non-athletic and stopped being a sports fan. There was, after all, comics, music and such.
Then I got older, and started following the NBA more seriously again. It helped that friends put up a fantasy league that got me interested again. This was around 2004, the year Detroit gunned for and got a championship. Not by carrying a superstar on their roster, but by exemplifying a team game of grounding opponents to a pulp and efficient play making. The Pistons made a believer out of me.
I like the Filipino expression, "bilog ang bola." An existential outlook has never been so succinctly and subtly expressed. Five years later, after a record number of consecutive playoff appearances, the Pistons are a shadow of their former selves.
They've traded away integral members of their 2004 championship team. Ben Wallace, though the heart and will of the famous Detriot defense, was really fading, and sending him away was a good move. But Chauncey Billups, the guy who carried the all important swagger and winning attitude, was moved this season. The Pistons still made the playoffs this year, but are down 0-3, and hopeless against the freak-of-nature that is LeBron James. James deserves his present and future greatness, but it's so sad to see it manifest and shine in the laying to waste of my Pistons.
One man dismantling my whole team.
[edit]. I'm still worked up about this. The irony is killing me. Also it's karma. Karma for trading Chauncey for the life-sucking, former-superstar that is Allen Iverson. And Darko? Who scouted that? Bosh would have been purrfect. Now they have Kwame. Good luck.
3 comments:
I have similar memories, except mine were of Larry Bird hitting game-winning jumpers. Except for Magic, I hated the Showtime Lakers. I'm not sure why; I was too young to have informed decisions about basketball. I'm guessing it's because I was suspicious of Pat Riley and his well-oiled hair.
True, it's hard not to respect that Pistons team. Detroit is generally a depressing place to be, and they gave the city something to be proud of. Now both the team and the city of Detroit have gotten so bad, no one wants to watch the games - and it's the playoffs! They're selling tickets for $11, and even offering seats to Cavs fans. WTF. Much as I love AI, it was a mistake to let Chauncey go. And Darko? Wow, epic fail.
I have more to say, pero ang haba na. Hahaha
Wow it's kinda cool how our suspect, foggy childhood memories affect the teams we root for now. Galeng, haha.
I heard about those discounted tickets for Cavs fans. So sad. I have a lot to say too, nagpigil na ko sa post na yan. Best to talk of bball over drinks and sisig.
Btw, di ko alam kung friends kayo ni Quinito pero check out Fire Quinito
Haha. Well, I wouldn't say we're friends but I've worked with him a lot. I wonder if Quinito knows about the blog, hehe.
And did I say decisions? I meant opinions. WTF.
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