From Bob Raisman's column:
If this were a heavyweight title fight, Stephen A. Smith’s manager would have been hovering near the steps leading to the ring while watching LaVar Ball land punches in bunches. Then came the punches, er, words that would’ve caused SAS’ corner to throw in the towel.
Smith: “Something is wrong with you!”
Ball: “Yes, I’ll tell you what’s wrong. I keep talking to you.”
It matters not that LaVar Ball, father of UCLA hoops sensation Lonzo and high schoolers LiAngelo and LaMelo, scored a TKO win over Sir Loud on ESPN’s First Take last week. It matters not that bloodied but unbowed, SAS staggered to the radio microphone the same day to go another round with Ball, only to be whipped again.
The real end result is what matters. This father of hoops savants is no Ball of Confusion. If anything, Smith should be credited with getting Ball to reveal what fuels the “madness” those who actually take their sports seriously have accused him of. Ball laid it all out simply, including why he’s relegated the likes of Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James to second bananas in The LaVar Ball Show.
“...It’s not disrespect because it’s all entertainment,” Ball told SAS.
This is a truism that’s escaped many of Ball’s critics who prefer parents who stick to the “One Shining Moment” script. In fact Thursday’s “First Take” featuring Ball drew 480,000 viewers, topping the highly promoted “The Six” SportsCenter which drew 421,000. Ball is obnoxious and creepy but he’s no phony. That’s all that matters to us. With his big mouth and braggadocio (he recently claimed to SXM’s Adam Schein he buys 3,000 donuts a year), Ball has turned that March script of weepy inspiration inside out. This is a cat not made for CBS’ Julia Louis-Dreyfus Family Cam. Ball’s also made enemies of some columnists, basketball commentators (like Charles Barkley), and Valley of the Stupid Gasbags.
Good for him. They should thank him for providing fresh material. And in the process, this showman (think a young Don King) has inspired outrage and plenty of laughs. This is the stuff that galvanizes an audience. Ball’s “First Take” session produced electric TV. His radio joust with Smith on ESPN 98.7 was hilarious. Encore please.
All you blabbermouths who have expressed outrage after swallowing his lines about how he could beat Jordan one-on-one know this: You’ve been played. Ball’s aim is true. His only motivation is making sure his sons glom as much moo-la-dee as possible. Media fools who would bristle if you dare mention their kids, now are telling Ball how to raise his? There’s some hypocrisy there, right?
They can’t be that obtuse to not know this is all about the money. It just so happens that along the way, Ball’s mouth has spiced up the tournament. March Madness suits should kiss his tuchis. Watching those who oppose Ball’s views jabber away is lots of fun. What we have here are Gasbags with big mouths whining about Ball’s bigger mouth.
Maybe his way with words threatens them. He’s a highly polarizing figure. That’s why there is no doubt in what’s left of my mind that Ball would be a huge hit as a radio Gasbag. He would not put the audience to sleep or mail it in. Nor would he fall asleep at the microphone during a show. The concept of Ball getting paid to flap his yap may even be appealing to him.
For whether you like him, love him or loath him, LaVar Ball cannot be ignored.
If this were a heavyweight title fight, Stephen A. Smith’s manager would have been hovering near the steps leading to the ring while watching LaVar Ball land punches in bunches. Then came the punches, er, words that would’ve caused SAS’ corner to throw in the towel.
Smith: “Something is wrong with you!”
Ball: “Yes, I’ll tell you what’s wrong. I keep talking to you.”
It matters not that LaVar Ball, father of UCLA hoops sensation Lonzo and high schoolers LiAngelo and LaMelo, scored a TKO win over Sir Loud on ESPN’s First Take last week. It matters not that bloodied but unbowed, SAS staggered to the radio microphone the same day to go another round with Ball, only to be whipped again.
The real end result is what matters. This father of hoops savants is no Ball of Confusion. If anything, Smith should be credited with getting Ball to reveal what fuels the “madness” those who actually take their sports seriously have accused him of. Ball laid it all out simply, including why he’s relegated the likes of Michael Jordan, Stephen Curry, and LeBron James to second bananas in The LaVar Ball Show.
“...It’s not disrespect because it’s all entertainment,” Ball told SAS.
This is a truism that’s escaped many of Ball’s critics who prefer parents who stick to the “One Shining Moment” script. In fact Thursday’s “First Take” featuring Ball drew 480,000 viewers, topping the highly promoted “The Six” SportsCenter which drew 421,000. Ball is obnoxious and creepy but he’s no phony. That’s all that matters to us. With his big mouth and braggadocio (he recently claimed to SXM’s Adam Schein he buys 3,000 donuts a year), Ball has turned that March script of weepy inspiration inside out. This is a cat not made for CBS’ Julia Louis-Dreyfus Family Cam. Ball’s also made enemies of some columnists, basketball commentators (like Charles Barkley), and Valley of the Stupid Gasbags.
Good for him. They should thank him for providing fresh material. And in the process, this showman (think a young Don King) has inspired outrage and plenty of laughs. This is the stuff that galvanizes an audience. Ball’s “First Take” session produced electric TV. His radio joust with Smith on ESPN 98.7 was hilarious. Encore please.
All you blabbermouths who have expressed outrage after swallowing his lines about how he could beat Jordan one-on-one know this: You’ve been played. Ball’s aim is true. His only motivation is making sure his sons glom as much moo-la-dee as possible. Media fools who would bristle if you dare mention their kids, now are telling Ball how to raise his? There’s some hypocrisy there, right?
They can’t be that obtuse to not know this is all about the money. It just so happens that along the way, Ball’s mouth has spiced up the tournament. March Madness suits should kiss his tuchis. Watching those who oppose Ball’s views jabber away is lots of fun. What we have here are Gasbags with big mouths whining about Ball’s bigger mouth.
Maybe his way with words threatens them. He’s a highly polarizing figure. That’s why there is no doubt in what’s left of my mind that Ball would be a huge hit as a radio Gasbag. He would not put the audience to sleep or mail it in. Nor would he fall asleep at the microphone during a show. The concept of Ball getting paid to flap his yap may even be appealing to him.
For whether you like him, love him or loath him, LaVar Ball cannot be ignored.
