Remember a few years back, the WWF - World Wrestling Foundation, was forced by the WWF - World Wild Life Fund to change their name, I think the NBA - National Basketball Association, should be forced to change its name to the NBE - National Basketball Entertainment.
If anyone has been watching the playoffs and the commercials that air during time outs and game stoppages, there have been a disproportionate amount of Lebron and Kobe ads aired. So much so that Dwight Howard had to say something about it and later designed, produced and starred in his own commercial for Vitamin Water. Pause.
Dwight Howard, self-proclaimed Superman and it seems like he is at least of the series that have been played throughout this playoffs. He willed his Orlando Magic past the NBA MVP - Lebron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers. A Cavaliers team that had either the best or second best record in the league and the best home record. Aside from that, Dwight Howard is one of the most loveable, happy go lucky players the NBA has ever seen. He genuinely plays like he's enjoying himself, smiling almost more than he is dunking. Pause.
Let me point out that I watch these games on satellite, directly through ESPN, where we see all the American commercials and mini-movies and hype that they pump through the airwaves. Everything I see is 23 vs. 24, the legend vs the chosen one ... blah blah blah. More than that Spike Lee even produced a mini-movie on Kobe Bryant and ESPN had a special on the friendship that Lebron and Kobe formed while playing for Team USA in the Olympics.
Long story short, it has been very obvious that the NBA wanted to see a Lebron vs. Kobe final. Oh wait, ... I mean Cleveland vs. Los Angeles final, but you know what I mean. Even the Nike muppets commercials, even know that Lebron isn't in the finals, the commercials still persist.
Furthermore, if you watch the Lakers - Nuggests series it was obvious that the Lakers, where being favoured in the way the game were called. (Note: I'm not affiliated with the NBE, so I can state my opinion without fear of being fined). Well the Cavaliers-Magic series, they tried to help Lebron along, but the officials didn't disappoint, trash talking diva players were their demise; they left Lebron to do it all on his own, contrary to what got them to the playoffs in the first place and what afforded them so much success all season.
For an avid basketball fan, it's frustrating to watch this entertainment and spectacle that the NBE is trying to pass off as competitive sport. This serious is less than exciting, last night's game 3 win was a formality, a game that Orlando definitely one, because the officials forgot to whistle double dribbles, fouls and travels as they saw fit. When the Lakers win yet another championship to make Phil Jackson the holder of the most championship rings, the story will be complete, because Kobe would have been able to pull it off with out Shaquille O'neal and despite all the "adversity" he has faced along the way.
That Guy ... reluctantly says, happy waching.
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