What Jeffrey Gamblero Knew About the Nets: Bryan Joiner remembers Brooklyn Nets fan Jeffrey Gamblero: "For those two years, our seats were in the upper level, but it was impossible to miss him. He was always on the Jumbotron and fluttering in the aisles, constant movement and energy and action. ... In this sea of blandness, Gamblero stood out. He seemed to care, even if wasn't clear quite why or how. It's clearer now."
posted by rcade to basketball at 02:14 PM - 1 comment
The Celtics have 3 or 4 "personalities", season ticket holders who make the Jumbotron every game. Each has a style of dress ranging from an odd hat to a full green jacket, slacks, shirt, and tie. One wears a green "afro" wig, another sports a full beard and always a Celtics jersey. They are usually shown in an attempt to stir the crowd into noise. As far as I have seen at the games, they usually stay in the neighborhood of their seats. I can take them or leave them, but they are not annoying. My guess about Jeffrey Gamblero is that, much like the Celtics' "superfans", he wanted very badly to be seen as part of the Brooklyn Nets organization even though there was no official connection. It must have grown to the point of obsession, and when reality struck him so forcefully, he could not cope. Who knows what other demons were taunting him, but he could not overcome them. RIP.
posted by Howard_T at 04:56 PM on December 22, 2014