November 23, 2004

BASKETBALL BRAWLS AND HUMAN NATURE

        Horsefeathers lost interest in professional basketball years ago, about the time when “palming” the ball stopped being an infraction. On the few occasions in recent years when the game intruded on our consciousness, we had the impression that we were watching the Rikers Island all stars vs. San Quentin. The finesse we had enjoyed was gone, replaced by brute physical strength and size. Sure there were great individual stars, like Michael Jordan, but the charm of basketball had been its team aspect, the old Boston Celtics or L.A. Lakers, the Knicks of Earl Monroe, Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Jerry Lucas and Bill Bradley. Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics embodied the aesthetically pleasing sense of individual talent subordinated to team goals.
        So when we heard of Ron Artest attacking a fan our immediate reaction was to assume that Mr. Artest was simply a hoodlum with a talent for basketball. He may indeed be a guy who is one jump shot away from a lifetime behind bars, but when we heard the loud lamentations from the MSM we felt compelled to check out the video and written accounts. Our suspicion that the moralists were spewing cant was confirmed by the basic observable facts of the incident. If you're a ball player and a drunken thug throws a cup of beer in your face you can anticipate that the media moralists will be shocked if you respond with a right cross to his jaw. They'll say "he's a fan, he paid to see you play", as though that requires you to transcend human nature. However, human nature being what it is, no one should be shocked, and the media's phony moralizing is utter nonsense. Assaulting someone who is not a follower of Mahatma Gandhi will very likely provoke a response. The personal injury lawyers may be lining up to sue you, and pacifists may condemn you. Horsefeathers, however, will understand that human nature is not likely to change, even when ESPN insists it should.