04/19/24
November 11, 2008
Kevin Garnett’s greatness awes coach: OK, so it was a wonderful achievement for Kevin Garnett last season when the big guy stepped into the Garden, and into local sports lore, by helping lead the Celtics to their 17th NBA championship.
After all those years with the Minnesota Timberwolves, all those years of missing out on the NBA's grand stage, Garnett brought his talent, his desire, his smarts and his work ethic to Boston. And it paid off with a championship.
posted by BornIcon to basketball at 01:21 PM - 12 comments
Yeah, I watched that game too. How he managed to avoid a taunting foul for wagging his finger at Calderon is completely beyond me. I like KG too - he's the poster boy for "good high school drafted players" - but his "intensity" too often seems to drift into suspect sportsmanship. Let's give the man his due - he's a great team player, and all-time defender - but he's kinda a jerk, no?
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 06:13 PM on November 11, 2008
Kevin Garnett is no ordinary jerk. He's the kind of guy, say you're showing him the summer house in Liguria and he notices the hidden lock in the marquetry of the gun room walls; Kevin just pushes through into the dungeon without as much as a by-your-leave. And then when you try to ignore his questions he keeps pushing it, like being a big basketball player qualifies him to investigate your murder spree. Who cares who the foot belonged to, Kevin? We could've gone to Geneva, had a really good time together, really good. Jerk.
posted by Hugh Janus at 08:04 PM on November 11, 2008
Let's give the man his due - he's a great team player, and all-time defender - but he's kinda a jerk, no?
Not even close. KG is beyond respected in the NBA for the passion that he plays with. To have won the NBA Championship just last year and to still play at an extremely high level, how can you not respect him for that?
What transpired between Calderon and Garnett was what happens when an opposing player even remotely tries to jaw at KG when he goes into his zone. From the moment the game starts until the last buzzer, KG plays out of his mind. Calderon tried to talk back at KG since KG basically got under Calderon's skin which is what happens when a great player makes a player with thin skin, lose their focus.
posted by BornIcon at 08:22 AM on November 12, 2008
One can respect a man and his game while still thinking he's a jerk. Case in point, Michael Jordan. Everybody respects his game, his drive, his ability; few deny that he was a jerk on the court.
posted by Hugh Janus at 09:47 AM on November 12, 2008
Isn't that a contradictory statement? If I find someone to be a jerk, there is no way that I can show respect for that individual, but that's just me.
For an athlete, if that athlete has skills that are above & beyond those of his opposition but said athlete is a grade A jerk, respect for that athlete goes out the window.
I can understand an athlete as in KG, that pumps himself up by just saying random things but if an opponent thinks that KG is speaking directly to him and joins in with the talking, their game will falter unless they can also get pumped up from the verbal sparring.
Then again, that's just my opinion since I trash talk all the way to the bank when I play ball since I'm nowhere near KG's caliber. I use it as a crutch to take my opponent out of their game and sometimes it works and sometime I get my ass handed to me but regardless, I'll trash talk even if I'm losing.
Hey, I can always blame it on my teammates.
posted by BornIcon at 10:07 AM on November 12, 2008
Yeah, see, I think trash talkers are all jerks, but that doesn't get in the way of my respecting them as ball-players and individuals on and off the court. Hell, I think my dad can be a jerk sometimes, but I got nothing but respect for him and his game.
posted by Hugh Janus at 11:15 AM on November 12, 2008
Hell, I think my dad can be a jerk sometimes, but I got nothing but respect for him and his game
I'm sure you do because the he'll whoop your ass if you didn't.
...jerk.
posted by BornIcon at 09:20 AM on November 13, 2008
Hey, I'm the first to admit that I'm a jerk. Chip off the old block, ya know?
I dream of a day when jerks and non-jerks alike are judged not by the content of their character but by the strength of their game. Little non-jerk children playing with little jerk children until the bullying and teasing sends the non-jerk children home to a hug from mom, a hot chocolate, and a lesson in giving up. A land where no jerk will ever go hungry, or deprive someone else of his lunch money so that he in turn goes hungry, yes; I dream of jerks in bus stop bathrooms, boardrooms, and back alleys, jerks high on the mountaintop, voices ringing out the words of the old jerky taunt, "You're a punk, you're a dope, praise God almighty, you have no shot at all!"
posted by Hugh Janus at 11:42 AM on November 13, 2008
If I find someone to be a jerk, there is no way that I can show respect for that individual, but that's just me.
Those aren't incompatible qualities. You can't think of anyone who is an asshole but yet has accomplished something admirable?
posted by yerfatma at 02:01 PM on November 13, 2008
You can't think of anyone who is an asshole but yet has accomplished something admirable?
Sure, Bill Belichick. He seems to come off as an asshole but an asshole that finds a way to get the best out of his players and win....well, not last year but I'm sure you understand what I mean.
Hey, I'm the first to admit that I'm a jerk. Chip off the old block, ya know?
My bad. That was my poor attempt at being funny. Maybe I should just stick to my day job.
posted by BornIcon at 07:40 AM on November 14, 2008
You can't think of anyone who is an asshole but yet has accomplished something admirable?
We talking about somebody in this particular thread? Because I know nothing about his accomplishments.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:06 AM on November 14, 2008
"No, I'll do it one day when I retire, because I can't let up. I'm afraid if I stop and sit back, and enjoy some of what I've done, I'm afraid I may let up. And I can't do that."
This is reminiscent of Satchel Paige's famous line, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you."
It is a key to Garnett's greatness that he is always looking to make himself and his team better. I watched the game vs Toronto on TV last night. Garnett's intensity is frightening to behold, and it spreads to the entire team. Paul Pierce caught it, and scored 22 in the final quarter, one of his best hoops coming after a crushing KG pick freed him to drive for an up-and-under layup. It is evident to me that KG wants a repeat. Beware, NBA, he's not resting on his laurels.