It wasn't too many years ago when the Charlotte Bobcats drafted the All American champion (player of the year and scholar as well) out of Connecticut Emeka Okafor. At this point I had what could be described as a minor crush on the Knickerbockers and feelings towards the Bullets but no true NBA team. I got to thinking. Not long after that the Cats drafted two North Carolina superstars, Ray Felton and Sean May. My roomate and dear friend, Nick E Ritz, being a die hard heel fan got to thinking as well. We wanted and NBA squad and saw the door open. What would it feel like to bleed bright bright orange? We went for it.
Rooting for the Bobcats was never smooth sailing, the road was rockier than the driveway at Buckshot from the beginning, but there were moments. First off the team was owned by Robert Johnson who owned BET and was the first black owner of a major proffesional sports team. Very cool. Then Emeka got rookie of the year and stars such as Felton and Gerald Wallace!!! became a joy to watch. In 2005 the Bobcats Arena opened legitimizing the team. Then...well then...ummm...well, thats pretty much as good as it got.
At the end of 2006 Michael Jordan became a minority owner of our Cats. To many this sounds like a positive but if you ask any Bullet fan or Kwame Brown, as he wipes tears from his eyes, it is a mafia-style kiss of death. Next, the Cats made an interesting move and thought it wouldn't be too risky to draft a meth head from the Pacific Northwest (allegedly...by me) who doesn't play d. Then came the real payoff...the entrance of Larry Brown (with that the exit of J Rich and Gerald Wallaces high flying antics). Not cool.
It became obvious to the number one most sellingest cracker, Nick E Ritz, and to myself that we would need a new NBA team. Since the league is essentially blowing up with talent this couldnt be a better time to further the kaleidescope of color which is my blood. The search for a new NBA team is on.
Frankly and selfishly, I would love to go through the NBA team by team and analyze, in detail, all my likes and dislikes and discuss each teams attributes and qualifications for becoming "the Shza and Ritz's favorite NBA team", a very sought after title. But due to the fact that time has a direct correlation with money (the equation is time = money) I will spare everybody. But I will tell you where I stand...
*Before discussing this further, and in an effort to boil this process down to whats really real, let me note that the most important factor will obviously be personel. Nick and myself are not easily swayed by "dope" jerseys (although those yellow Cav throbacks be money), team history, or location. You got ballers who are fun to watch you may get some Shza love.
Final Four: Lakers (Ritz does not stand by this, I assure you), Cavs, Hawks, Hornets.
honorable mention: Griz (Gay/Mayo), Det (rip, AI, sheed the family man), and Blazers (Roy).
The Cavs and Lakers are obvious and this is to their disadvantage. Although Kobe and Bron are two of the most talented ballers to EVER lace em up the masses might find it predictable to fan (verb) these teams. Don't get us wrong, the Shza and Ritz dont sweat the masses but the Shza, in particular, has enough heat on him with the Yankees, a team that obviously does not take kindly to not making the playoffs.
This leaves the Hornets and Hawks. The Hornets have, arguably, the finest playmaker since Magic kissed Isaih and if you don't root for New Orleans you are a god damn commie. I could clearly stand by this team, and because of Peja's J and Hilton Armstrongs neck, become their new #1 fan if it wasnt for the fact that the ATL is the home of the crunk as well as Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. The only argument I need to make for Hotlanta would be the seven game series vs the Celts last year. They defined both heart and fight.
So there I stand, the search continues. I feel bad to the readers who may still be left leaving without a final verdict but my options are being weighed carefully. When someone asks me who I root for in the NBA my answer, at this point, is quite simply "Im a die hard Hornets or Hawks fan, what what". I will tell you this though...I am leaning towards....
HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYBODY!!!! Much love to you all!
3 comments:
check charlie villanueva in the background of the bush-emeka photo....scary.
Honest to god, this is the best post in years...on any blog. What a tough mine field to navigate through as the wheel spins around and around in our heart of nba's hearts.
My goal is to bring the league to the forefront in my life, and put a bit the NFL behind me this year. It is difficult to do, considering my current stated allegiance is with the Bullets. Nonetheless, I am forced to picture myself at a bar late in the playoffs watching my "new team" make a run as I look over at a lifelong bullets fan wearing an "out of service" pervis ellison jersey slug brown drinks and give me the stink eye knowing I should be next to him/her talking about the 1978 run or the creation of the outlet pass (unseld). Problem is with me, is my loyalty comes into question with a switch, and by all accounts, rooting for an expansion team will always be the ultimate gamble.
I guess in my heart, I am looking for a team that has personality and life. My ties to the league are stronger than my ties to my team and I simply appreciate all that comes with the nba, which includes youngins jumping out of the gymnasium (Joe Johnson) while donning some of the worst tattoos in the history of mankind (Delonte West. I particularly love it live and would be content to watch any nba game courtside.
If it wasnt for such a poor showing by the skins, I may not be looking so hard for a rebound date to the prom. My heart lies in DC, but my mind is firmly aligned with the great forgotten city of New Orleans. They have casinos, 24 hour bars, and a youung team (Peja excluded) that it poised to make a run. Gonna be tough to beat LA or Boston (cleveland will fall off) though.
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