The NBA Finals are perhaps my favorite sports event of the year. Hardcore hoops fans have been hoping for a rematch between the Heat and Spurs and we got it. Game One was close until the Spurs blew it after the building's air dish went out, and, as a result of the extreme heat, Lebron James had severe leg cramps and couldn't play during crunch time. That's where the Twitter malakatude started.
There seem to be a lot of people practicing medicine without a license on the Tweeter Tube, They were shocked, shocked that Lebron left the game and didn't "man up" like Michael Jordan when he famously played through the flu against Mail Fraud Malone and the Utah Jazz in the 1997 Finals. The difference is that Lebron could barely walk, let alone run. Obviously, none of these manly men has ever had leg cramps. Additionally, Michael Jordan is sui generis, and he could stand up without collapsing that night.
This whole sorry episode is another example of stupid sports hate. Folks rooting for Miami were sympathetic to Lebron, the pro-Spurs crowd was ranting about Lebron's alleged wussiness. I am emphatically pro-Spurs, I love the way they play the game BUT I've had leg cramps and it's impossible to do anything when having severe spasms.
The blame for the loss should go to Lebron's team mates. Tony (The French Guy) Parker went down in Game 6 of the Western Finals and his team rallied to beat the Zombie Sonics. It's what great teams do. This could be a sign that the Spurs will win the series, but I'd never count Lebron James out.
I'll once again give the Finn Brothers the last word, this time with a live version of the tune that inspired the post title:
