A Free Cure

I've been hooked on the NBA, and especially the Celtics, for years. I believe I found a cure for that -- after years of trying -- and I'm here to share it with you.

Since I have no intention of continuing to follow the Celtics, or the NBA, I suppose it does no harm now to talk about my profession, especially since it's part of why I'm writing this. I'm a physician... I work hard at healing people every day. And I'm going to share with you the cure for an addiction, which, if you're reading this, probably afflicts you too.

I'm talking about the addiction to professional sports, in particular and most especially the NBA. The cure lies in recognizing the NBA's problems, in understanding that:

(1) The officiating is dishonest and incompetent. The "errors" refs make are too numerous and too egregious to be caused merely by human fallibility. They are too often weighted to one side or the other. I have no idea, nor do I care anymore to know, why the referees act this way. But they do, regularly. Which means few games are fair contests. It's a show, a scam. So why should anyone care about the outcomes?

(2) There is too much money involved. The results: manipulation of outcomes, and most destructively -- players who don't care about the game. They're just hypnotized by the money. (Plus, they no doubt know that outcomes are often manipulated. How much can you care under those circumstances? What they do, then... is shut up and collect their paychecks. No one wants to derail the gravy train.)

(3) How do I know that most NBA players don't care? First, an ex-NBA player told me so. He also said that in private, most NBA players laugh at the public -- that would be you and me -- for getting so worked up over the silly game they play. This source is excellent and unimpeachable, as he played IN the NBA for many years.

I also know this from watching NBA games. It's obvious. Just look at the series that just ended. The Celtics, faced with ELIMINATION, saw fit to throw multiple careless passes, lose the ball over and over, and score 0 points ... all in the final few minutes. Doc also let the nearly-crippled, one-armed, bad-backed Rajon Rondo play in this game (amazing!). And then.... well... then they nonchalantly walked off the court. And this is a team we all thought was dedicated to winning at all costs.

Ahh yes... the Celtics used to care. Back in 2008, they cared a lot. They, like the Heat of today, had something to prove then. And they proved it. After which.... they stopped caring. Now it's a job. A very lucrative job. Oh, they'll still say all the right things in public... that's the business they're in. But do they give a damn if they win or lose? Nope, not really. Not anymore. Sure, it'd be nice to win... but hey, they have their rings, they have families, they have life issues and problems, and all they really want in the end is that regular paycheck.

And yeah, they do laugh at us for actually caring about silly things like "championships." 'Ha! Are you kidding? I'm making 10 to 15 million bucks a year. What the hell do I care if Boston gets another banner? Just keep those checks coming in, please. Do that, and I'll make believe this really matters. I'll put on a great show for all the suckers out there.'

Those suckers they're talking about? That's you and me. Well... not me anymore. It's just you now.

My hope is that by pointing out these truths, I can save at least one more poor soul out there who is addicted to this sport. If you recognize all these facts about the way things are... you can easily break your addiction, and say goodbye the whole rotten NBA mess forever.

(Just go out and do something healthful instead. Like PLAY basketball.)