Le Basketbawl

Back on July 4, 1776 a fledgling nation decided to declare independence from the country that controlled it. After a long and bloody battle we established a democratic republic that we named the United States of America. Our ancestors came up with a system of one man one vote so that we would elect our own leaders and not be like the country we would break away from England which was ruled by royalty.

We fast forward 333 years to the present day USA and we still are electing our government leaders via a democratic process. So that means we have no Royalty here in the USA correct? Both you and New York Vinnie know better than that; we do have Royalty here in America in 2009. They are our Movie stars, our Rock and R&B stars, and our Professional athletes. We Americans love our Royalty and we fill their heads and egos with praise and their pockets with money. They get paid handsomely for things that most of us would gladly do for free; entertain the public.

As in all other areas of our society there are good and bad people in these professions. There are are many Actors and Actresses that support meaningful causes and use their celebrity to try to get others to follow their examples. Others are spoiled little babies that put up a hissy-fit if everything does not go their way. We have Recording Artists who use their status to help the world guys like Bono and Neil Young to just skim the surface.

Our Professional Athletes are the same way; you have talented players like D-Howard, Chris Paul and Brandon Roy who do great things on the hardwood and in the community. And then of course you have the PUDS like Stephen Jackson, Stephon Marbury, Allen Iverson and Ron Artest. Guys who who bring great talent to the game but are nothing but a constant headache for the teams they play for.

Players like that have what is known as a “Sense Of Entitlement” a feeling that just because they can perform these amazing athletic feats it puts them on a higher level than the rest of society. Who is to blame for these men thinking that they can do no wrong and can get away with the worst kind of behavior? Unfortunately to a certain extent each and every one of us.

From the time we are toddlers we realize that Pretty Girls and Athletically Gifted Boys can get away with a lot more Crapolla than the rest of us. And the older they get the better the perks; in a way it truly is surprising that so many athletes are truly quality people given the different sets of standards they have. A lot of that stems from the example the parents set from the start; or sometimes they just have a good set of internal values.

And in New York Vinnie’s eyes maybe the saddest thing of all these PUDS like Jackson, Iverson, Marbury and Artest truly believe that they are in the right. For some stupid Frickin reason Stephen Jackson decided to tell the Golden State Warriors he no longer wanted to be the team captain. Why would a grown man act in such a childish manner? Because in his mind he was disrespected by his club and this was his way of getting back at them! But guess what Stephen? The only one who loses is you; the Warriors will play no better or worse if you are the team captain or not. However you are now without your title, which by having it given to you in the first place was a Frickin sign of respect, right?

The athletes that New York Vinnie has named here are beyond our help at this point. However we can prevent future PUDS in the NBA by showing our children what is acceptable and what is not regardless of what they can do on the field or the hardwood. Let us end this “Sense Of Entitlement” by nipping it in the bud during childhood.