STAT AIN’T RIGHT!
Giannis pulls selfish numbers-compiling act
IFIGURED it would make a lot more news and noise, that it would make for hot debate on radio and cable TV shows, the kind on which entire afternoons are devoted to the discussion of who’s the best eighth man in the NBA’s Western Conference. But I didn’t hear a thing. Perhaps our standards are so diminished that such news doesn’t make noise, but Sunday in D.C. the Bucks’ “Greek Freak” Giannis Antetokounmpo — among my favorite NBA players for his skill, classy style and sense of humor — left me flat.
The game was all but over, a few seconds left. Milwaukee was up six with the ball, when Antetokounmpo, after grabbing a rebound (his ninth) dribbled the length of the court, totally undefended, until he reached the basket, where he suddenly stopped.
Then, with about one second left and still undefended, he tossed up “a shot” clearly designed to create for himself an offensive rebound, as he threw it beneath the basket, under the rim, in order to easily catch the ball ...
... and provide himself with his fourth triple-double of the season ...
... as if he needed such to affirm his greatness.
It appeared to be what it appeared to be: A cheap, cheesy display of excessively self-serving conduct, antithetical to professionalism and, or so I thought, to Antetokounmpo.
How did he even know he needed one more rebound to complete the feat? And once he knew, why did he care so much that he made a public pig of himself ?
Naturally, due to diminished standards and frightened pandering, the fellow calling the game on the Bucks’ TV network and fully realizing what Antetokounmpo was up to, delightfully declared, “I love it!” Really? Loved it? But ill-gotten gains are now frequently indulged — even applauded — to best endear oneself to the young and desensitized.
That final rebound, however, was removed from Antetokounmpo’s permanent record by the league, as per NBA rule: For a field goal attempt to count as official, the player must shoot “with intent to score a field goal.”
Thus, what Antetokounmpo should’ve dismissed as a matter of his class, professionalism and dignity, was entered into the “Annals of Why Even Bother?” as a self-inflicted wound.
Bottom line: Antetokounmpo left this fan extremely disappointed.
That same uneasiness has been tethered to DJ LeMahieu since he won the 2016 NL batting title with the Rockies. Frequently, during his four seasons with the Yankees, team and national broadcasters have spoken of that accomplishment.
But we were never told the significant side story: In order to protect his lead over the Nationals’ and former Met Daniel Murphy, who was out with an injury, LeMahieu did not play in four of Colorado’s last five games.
So, provided the opportunity to emulate Ted Williams, who in 1941 batted .406 and nobly eschewed the opportunity to take the last game off to ensure .400, LeMahieu traveled the far easier, but far more disappointing, road.
Tuesday, another disappointment:
While watching an NHL game, Henrik Lundqvist, one of the classiest to play any sport in New York, again appeared in one of those sports gambling ads.
He again reminded us that he’s now in the business of accepting money to encourage hockey fans — suckers — to lose their money investing in a business predicated on customers losing their money.
But just as “the small” of the back is found opposite “the large” of the stomach, such disappointments are the flip-sides of wishful expectations.