basketball for the win!

If you don't know, I'm a pretty big fan of basketball. My team? The Detroit Pistons. I just love watching that DEEEE-TROIT BASKETBALL! Haha. Unfortunately this year, they made some personnel moves (which btw, i disliked very much), that resulted in them having a below .500 record. I pretty much hated my team this year. The moves they made were just, not smart. But it was cool though, there was still a lot of basketball on. Moving on, like I said, I'm a fan of basketball. I love the game. Even though I do have a team that I will cheer for every season (other than this year), I watch everyone else and admire and appreciate their game. This post-season has been pretty amazing. The first round was pretty boring, other than the Bulls/Celtics series. GOD! the baby Bulls are gonna be a competitive team in the East next season. Second round was better. Rockets took Lakers to the brink, WITHOUT Yao, and nearly won, the Celts went to another 7 game series, Denver killed the Mavs, and King James cruised right on through once again. And now, the third round. Both series' have been amazing. The 4 best teams in league are still playing and it can't get any better. Heck, did you see today's Cavs/Magics game?! Lebron just made amazing happen! You missed history if you missed the game.

But why am I talking all about this? It sounds like something that I should be talking about on a basketball forum right? Well, all that was just an intro. I really wanted to talk about fans (pretty long intro just for fans huh?). But yeah, fans. We're all fans of something or someone. Just check out people's Facebooks, lol. But I think one of the most passionate fans out there are sports fans. There are so many things that sports fans can do to keep up with or represent their team. Jerseys, season tickets, memorabilia's, watching the games on tv, and Sportscenter. Sports fans are constantly updated/representing their team all year long. (Jeez, I should get to my point. I guess I just have to say all this after all the hype of today's game and of some people that I'm talking about) But there is one thing that annoys the hell out of me about fans, they're obnoxious and biased. The fact that they will go to hell for their team is what makes them such great fans. But it also makes them annoying. Everything that comes out of their mouths are in favor of their team. I get that they're defending their team and want nothing but praises for them, but jeez! They go to the extreme. If you know New York fans, then you know what I mean. If you argue with them about the Yanks, you will NEVER win. I just think that you should support your team to the fullest, but don't let your love for them be the only thing that comes out of your mouth. If you're a fan of a team, you know as well as anyone if they make a mistake or they're inferior to another team. ADMIT IT. There ain't nothing wrong with that. I just think there are a lot of fans today that are ridiculous. Their minds only see their team and no one else.

Maybe I'm arguing about something I know I have no chance of winning. Maybe that IS the definition of a fan: to support and praise your team at no end. But I just think above anything else, being a sports fan means loving the game. It's something that I've been noticing lately when I talk basketball with my cousin and my brother. They hate players, for no reason. It's mostly with my bro though. When the Celts lose, "Yeah, Pierce, Allen, and Rondo sucks that's why." When they win, "That was luck!" With my cousin, he dislikes Lebron. I don't know why, but he does. I would argue with them, but I know the outcome will be the same, so I don't. I guess I just want them to be the same kind of fan as I am. I know that will never happen, because we're all different individuals. But if they're reading this and I can just say one thing to them, and to all the sports fans out there, it would be this: remember to appreciate the game. Appreciate the game of the other players and not just the players of your team. Yeah you're gonna want to have certain teams lose, but don't hate the players when you know they have serious game. The Celtics took 2 teams to 7 games without their best player and Lebron is becoming, if he isn't already, the new face of basketball. You can't even hate on them. Or anyone for that matter. Just think about it. When you're telling stories to your kids about the great players of your day, do you want to be talking about just 2 or 3 players who were in the same team? Or do you wanna have a lot of stories about ALL the great players that you had the chance to see play the game you love? And in the future, people will be comparing the new players with the players of today. You gotta have more than a few players to campare the new kids with right?

Keep on reppin' your team but don't be a hater. When your teams rival beats you because they score 60 points or beats you with a game winning 3 point shot, don't ignore what they did. Recognize what they did. Be a sport and accept it when you know your team lost to a better team for that one game. Your team lost because that player you hate so much in the other team is a GREAT player. The Kobe's, Lebron's, D-Wade's, Melo's, Dwight Howard's, etc. are are the kinds you should love to watch ALL THE TIME. Because those are the guys that are gonna make some little kid somewhere love the game of basketball the way MJ did for you when you were young.