Garnett and LeBron compare badly to Kobe in one area.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 1:03 PM EST Comment 46 comments

I'm a big fan of Kevin Garnett, but he has one habit I find particularly annoying. It's nothing earth-shaking, but it is something he should dispense with. It's that whole pregame ritual of theatrically clapping resin over the scorer's table. It's demeaning to others, a crass act of self-glorification, and decidedly low-class. And yes, I know, Michael Jordan used to do it too, and yes, it was equally objectionable when he did it.

Now Lebron James has an entire Nike commercial devoted to celebrating this same stupid routine. How deplorable. To teach little kids this is the sort of nonsense you're supposed to indulge in when you think highly of yourself. Could anyone look more arrogant than James in this commercial?

I've mentioned this matter a time or two before on this blog, but I'm particularly glad a reporter has finally called out Garnett and Lebron on their behavior. Here's the link (which thankfully was supplied by Celticsblog). http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/01/18/lebrons-chalk-is-a-silent-killer-of-defenseless-laptops/9564/

The reporter made a handful of points, such as "the powdery stuff gets everywhere –especially in sports writers’ drinks when sitting courtside and even worse … in laptop keyboards". And, not surprisingly, he didn't mention how insulting it was to the reporters, announcers, and broadcasters it affected.

His final point was perhaps his best. He noted Kobe Bryant doesn't engage in this practice, but instead, after getting his resin, "bends at the waist to lower his hands toward the floor, discreetly dispersing it with slow claps that keep it out of harm’s way." Gee, when Kobe's out classing your behavior and looking less arrogant, it's time to change your act.

Be respectful and keep it clean. Thanks.

2 recs | Comment 46 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Welcom to one year ago

It’s a freaking routine. Who the heck cares?

by cordobes on Jan 19, 2009 2:01 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I care.

I cared a year ago. It’s a stupid, classless routine, and he should stop it.

Does something stop being low class because you keep doing it? No.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 2:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I care too.

Nice piece NK

God bless and good night!

by BrickJames on Jan 20, 2009 1:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

and 1

for me. now that’s it print it makes too much sense to disagree with.

by Brendan on Jan 20, 2009 6:20 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Out of all the things he does, this is what bothers you? never thought much about it…but yeah its dumb, I dont see how its any dumber than pounding his chest, cussing at the crowd, and making everyone know hes great instead of just showing them

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 19, 2009 3:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

We can sit around and discuss the merits of thumping your chest, and all the rest. But at least that falls within the context of the game and the other players. Tossing resin dust around on guys who aren’t in the game and who aren’t making one hundreth of what you’re being paid is simply low class behavior.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 4:23 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

i dunno

i prefer that habit to say, raping girls in Colorado or driving team mates out of town because I need to have all the glory to myself.

by CelticPride on Jan 19, 2009 3:17 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Exactly. The title of this thread was not a good one. Kobe has many, many faults.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 3:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

what r kobe’s faults exactly?

by lakers4life24 on Feb 8, 2009 1:45 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What, do we have a one check box standard of public decency? That is, Garnett hasn’t been accused of raping any resort staff personnel, so everything’s fine?

Sure, tossing resin dust around is hardly a felony offense. But it’s deplorable behavior, and should be deplored. No one’s asking anyone to start up a petition or to go on a boycott. I’d just like to see Garnett clean up this one matter.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 4:28 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Talk about nitpicking. I also disagree. It is a routine he has done for years and no one involved has said it is demeaning. If they don’t have a problem with it why should we? The only ones who should have a say are those that get the powder on them and none of them have said anything that I can recall.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 3:22 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Are you suggesting that someone couldn’t have felt demeaned, simply because they didn’t make a public complaint? That’s nonsense. But of course, that’s why I mentioned the reporter’s comments; just so you’d know there are people out there who don’t like having resin dust purposely thrown all over them. But of course, you already knew that. You simply don’t want to think about it.

And let’s imagine neither the reporter nor anyone else had ever publicly complained. Would that make it okay? Of course not. And if they hadn’t, wouldn’t you suspect it was because they didn’t want to make a public issue out of it? Maybe because it might affect their ability to earn a living? And wouldn’t that be all the more reason why, as fans, we should voice a disapproval of such behavior.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 4:12 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They should quit

Are they forced to be there? Pick another job or something. Can’t they make a living away from covering NBA games? I mean, if it’s such an aggravating thing… Or perhaps they should try something more practical, like moving away a little bit when LeBron, Garnett and the other guys are doing that stuff.

by cordobes on Jan 19, 2009 4:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Public decency.

You can tell a lot about somebody’s basic decency by watching how they treat people who aren’t in a position to complain. When you see somebody at a restaurant treating a waitress like a jerk, it tells you something about them. And it tells you something about others when they’re ready to make excuses for that kind of behavior.

Cordobes, somehow I don’t see you as the kind of guy who’d it be fine with if a waitress was being rudely treated by some jerk.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 4:40 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

You know, there was an American statesman, a brilliant guy called Dean Acheson that once said a very interesting thing about the tendency to equate theoretically similar but different situations:

I am not in the slightest bit worried because somebody can say, ‘Well, you said so and so about Greece, why isn’t all this true about China?’ I will be polite. I will be patient, and I will try to explain why Greece is not China. But my heart will not be in the battle.

by cordobes on Jan 19, 2009 4:49 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

And just to be clear, I don’t think Garnett’s the kind of guy who’d be fine with seeing a waitress being rudely treated, either. Which is why he should drop this stupid routine. It leaves the wrong impression about him.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Why should it affect somebody earning a living. Don’t you think there would be an outcry if after they spoke out that they were fired? Think about it.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 4:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

All I am saying is these people have voices and if they don’t like it they have every right to say something. They haven’t.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 4:53 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’m confused. Did you miss the part about the reporter complaining about the resin dust being thrown over him and his laptop? Or are you saying he doesn’t count somehow?

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 4:59 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I guess I did. Was he fired?

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 5:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

No, he wasn’t fired. (Do you think he should’ve been?)

He simply stated the obvious. That is, it’s objectionable to have some “superstar” purposely throw resin dust over you and your belongings.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 5:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Maybe it'd help to look at it from the Lebron James angle.

Out of curiosity. If Garnett had never once thrown resin dust around, would anyone here be telling me that it was fine for Lebron James to be doing it?

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 5:37 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t care. This is not an issue I even care that much about.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 5:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If you don’t care about the issue, why are you discussing it?

I simply stated an opinion. Take it or leave it.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 5:48 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No. But you indicated, correct me if I am mistaken, that you thought that if anyone spoke up their job could possibly be in jeopardy.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 5:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Yes, you’re correct, I did impy that. I expect that if a support staff member of the Celtic organization publicly let it be known that he thought Garnett’s resin tossing ritual was boorish behavior, that yes, that would possibly endanger his job. Wouldn’t you expect that?

But again, more importantly, I’m concerned with the treatment of those who might not want to find out if their job status might be on the line.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 5:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Hilarious

This is off the chain. I’ve seen more public outcry and complaints in the last year about the most random things that KG has done for his entire career. This is such an incredible non-issue. Wow.

by drza44 on Jan 19, 2009 5:48 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It’s certainly an issue of minor importance. But how is Garnett’s public image of absolutely no consequence? I only care because I like the guy.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 5:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No problem on that front

It worked for Jordan. And for KG, who isn’t exactly a rookie. And for the first sportsman billionaire.

by cordobes on Jan 19, 2009 6:35 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I’ll concede, there’s nothing to suggest the resin throwing ritual ever hurt Jordan, Garnett, or James. And in light of the Nike commercial, the stunt apparently goes over well with the kind of people who overspend on basketball shoes. But then, if you’re shooting for that audience, you needn’t set the bar too high. Not too high at all.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 9:21 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Don’t you think that their would be an outcry if that were to happen? I just don’t think someone would be fired or that their job would be in jeopardy knowing that.

by NoraG1 on Jan 19, 2009 5:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Maybe, maybe not. I stopped trying to predict how things would work out after that Kobe Bryant rape situation suddenly went away.

by no kidding on Jan 19, 2009 5:52 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Kobe does a lot of things that KG doesn't...

Or so says the District Attorney’s office in Eagle, Colorado.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on Jan 19, 2009 9:33 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I agree with some that it’s a minor thing, but at the same time, it would definitely be appropriate if Garnett showed a little class here.

by zgers on Jan 20, 2009 12:04 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Just to add a side-note: this is a well-thought and well-written post. I completely disagree with the author’s POV on the subject, but it’s an issue that can be discussed and he supported his stance with some sound reasoning. Also true for Nickagneta’s post about the Bobcats, for example, and some others. Those are the kind of texts I’d be hoping to find in this section; if they were very rare, I’d be afraid of seeing this section of the site being reduced to insignificance. One liners and rants can certainly be written as comment somewhere.

by cordobes on Jan 20, 2009 1:27 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

A final word from me on this subject.

Thanks, Cordobes, for your compliment, and for developing the discussion (which we all can agree isn’t about anything very big).

But I want to throw out one last thing before I head out of town, literally.

Elsewhere, a certain respected poster on this site threw out a suggestion of finding a middle ground. He seems to agree about the questionable appearance of tossing resin dust on the occupants of the scorer’s table. Yet he noted that many fans simply like the basic ritual. So he suggested a compromise. He suggested that Garnett, after getting his resin, should turn away from the table, take a step or two towards the center of court, and toss the resin. In that way, no one’s dusted, and everyone can feel happy about it. (If necessary, a ball boy can swipe things up with a towel.)

I think that’s a swell idea.

by no kidding on Jan 20, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Isnt that disrespectful to the ball boy?

by action781 on Jan 27, 2009 11:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Wait Lebron is arrogant??

I had no idea…

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Jan 20, 2009 11:01 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Revisionist History

The LeBron rosin toss has nothing to do with class or arrogance. This is a sophmoric cheap shot at great players because the author chose to be annoyed by something harmless. I understand that is not uncommon here on the internet, but it should certainly be decried wherever it is found.

by CavsHQ on Jan 21, 2009 11:17 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Out of curiosity, what is the origin?

Again, I think from no kidding‘s link posted above, it isn’t entirely harmless to those around the area.

Is there some part of a ritual that would make it problematic for folks LBJ and KG to engage in the compromise idea no kidding suggests in the comments above?

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Jan 21, 2009 1:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

If it's classless...

Then was all of the big time writers who completely wrote off KG when he came into the league and seemed to be rooting for his failure.

I’ve read before that this is part of why he does it. The media taught him early on that they are a sharp, ruthless, double edged sword, and the chalk thing is one of his little stabs towards them.

by Big Ticket on Jan 21, 2009 9:49 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Good point. Media isn’t exactly always classy either. Last year in the finals they were pretty ruthless on KG when he had a bad game. He deserved to be criticized for some poor play but it was really over the top.

by NoraG1 on Jan 21, 2009 10:13 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I believe this is why MJ did it as well, don’t know about Lebron.

by NoraG1 on Jan 21, 2009 10:14 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Psssh

Listen, if Mike Gorman doesn’t care, why should you?

And yeah, all the complaints about things KG has done his ENTIRE CAREER are now being picked up by people that act like they’re seeing him play for the 1st time.

I realize the TWolves weren’t the most successful team, but if you like watching great players, you’ve seen KG do these things for the past decade.

by LuckyNumber07 on Jan 22, 2009 6:38 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hey watch it!

There are some Wolves fan transplants in here! The Wolves were pretty darn good for a long time when KG was there. Lack of exposure had nothing to do with success, it was just plain ole fashion marketing.

by Big Ticket on Jan 22, 2009 11:02 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

like a clown

While I agree that KG and Lebron’s powder act doesn’t show a whole lot of respect for the reporters and fans on the sideline, it has sort of become like the clowns at the circus. If you get sprayed by the soda bottle or having your popcorn spilled over your head. You’re there to see the act, and this is part of the act. I don’t care for it so much, but then I again I wouldn’t be so crazy about getting sprayed a clown either (my avatar aside).

There, I said it…KG & Lebron are clowns for doing this (not magicians or whatever the hell else they think they’re doing).

As for the Kobe comparison…apples and oranges I guess.

by redzdeadbabyredzdead on Jan 27, 2009 2:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs