End of 2007-2008 Season Awards

Thu, 17 Apr 2008 18:57:48 GMT

The National Basketball Association (NBA) regular season is over and by now, the votes are in for the regular season awards for the Most Improved Player, Most Valuable Player, and the scoring champion among others. But I’m taking a different spin on those awards as I give out my premiere awards to some notable players and teams of the NBA:

1. The Classless One – For the folks who read a certain post by me a couple of weeks ago about an over seven-foot giant, this particular award should come as no surprise. The Classless One is none other than Shaquille O’Neal. My reasons were well documented so no need to rehash old news. How could one person who was so beloved manage to annoy a whole region? I’m not sure. But let me give Shaq a heads up: After your introduction when you play in Miami next year that I can almost guarantee will be met by boos, I offer you this advice from a family member – take the microphone and sincerely apologize for your foolish comments before the game starts to redeem yourself.

2. The Classy One – This is for the man who shows that nice guys can finish first. So my classy award goes to Grant Hill. I’ve been a fan of his game and more of his character since his days as a Detroit Piston. He is the antithesis of the dumb jock and may I say it takes a lot to impress me in the area of smartness and guys, not to talk of jocks. But more than that Grant, you showed a rare trait of perseverance with your constant (at one point) injuries and surgeries that many felt cut short the promise of greatness on the basketball court. At least you showed the class of character off the court, which matters so much more. And though you are a teammate of a “classless one,” I still wish the Phoenix Suns wins the championship to cap of the great season you’re having but just in case it doesn’t happen, know you’re still a champion in my books.

3. The Don’t Pick Your Own Nickname – Apart from Shaq who has picked countless nicknames for himself, people know it is tacky or shows a huge ego to give yourself a nickname. So imagine my surprise when I heard the “Big Ticket” Kevin Garnett wants to change his nickname to “Cobra.” Seriously? What kind of archaic nickname is that? Garnett, you were aptly named “Big Ticket” because people pay big money to see your prowess of the game and check out your current team, Boston Celtics who were in the pits last year. By swapping their losing ticket for yours in a trade, they became a contender.

4. The Dumb Leader – Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets wears this crown. I have lost count of how many athletes get cited for DUI every year and it seems they never learn, case in point Carmelo on his recent citation for DUI. Here’s my question: With all the millions you make, couldn’t you hire a chauffeur? So you said you were drinking away your sorrows because your team just missed the playoffs, big deal it wouldn’t have been the first time. Don’t you think you need to show a bit more responsibility as the face of the franchise? Now the police officers that tried to help you because your fiancée refused to pick you up might be in trouble for showing a form of favoritism. Another thing, what did you do to your fiancée to place you in such doghouse? Were you being a dog?

5. The Finally a great-teammate – That award goes to none other than Kobe Bryant. It took about 12 seasons for him to learn that lesson but hey, better late than never. They say, “winning changes everything” and maybe Kobe returning to his winning ways with the trade of Paul Gasol changed his sourly mood and his demand for a trade this past season. But didn’t he win three championships in a row with the same Lakers while being a bore in the locker room not to talk of how he threw his then teammates (and even a current one in Andrew Bynum) under the bus? Anyhoo, most sports commentators say he’s changed. I ask can a leopard change his spots? I’m not sure.

6. The Free falling – How the mighty have fallen? The free-falling award goes to the Miami Heat. Enough Said!

7. The Inspirational Team – Goes to the New Orleans Hornets. This is a team that was greatly impacted by hurricane Katrina to the extent of going between two cities of New Orleans and Oklahoma for home games for the 2005-2006 season. New Orleans is getting on its feet with many contributions but also from its home basketball team, the Hornets led by a floor general in Chris Paul. This guy, CP3 in my opinion, deserves the MVP and the Community/Citizenship Award this year.

8. The Most Stylish – Goes to Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade. Yes I’m a homer but hey, GQ and Esquire also back me up. I just hope he’ll be ready to dress for the basketball court next season as he pays attention to his threads off it.

9. The Trash Talker – Agent Zero, Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas, is this generation’s Gary “Glove” Payton (with less of the Glove’s basketball skills) for his brand of trash talking. The eccentric Arenas does his trash talking on his commendable blog and sometimes on the court. The latest trash talking is against a so-called beast of basketball Lebron James. Seriously? Arenas has been saying he wants the Cleveland Cavaliers as a first round playoff march, the same Cavaliers that went to the finals last season only on the cape of one guy, James. The same Cavaliers that beat the Wizards two years in a row in the playoffs with the defining first one when James whispered in Arenas ear while he attempted a couple of free throws that if he missed them, the game was over. Guess who choked? Arenas! Those free throws would have advanced the Wizards in the playoffs but gave the opportunity to the Cavaliers. Well Arenas got his wish and he will be seeing James and his Cavs in the first round; stay tuned if Agent Zero lives up to his big mouth.

10. The Warrior – This will go to the bicep flexing Alonzo Mourning. The Miami Heat Center shows the true essence of a warrior spirit when eight years ago he received a life threatening news of kidney disease at the peak of his illustrious career. Many felt he should have retired and yes he took a season off and later got a kidney transplant. But the tenacity of going after every regular season game as if it might be his last and putting guys half his age to shame (he-llo Bulls Tyrus Thomas, you still having a whiplash from that incredible block that landed you on your back last year which really welcomed you to the NBA?) makes him the ultimate warrior bar none. Also, if Zo decides to truly call it a career after this season, from a wide-eyed teenage fan to now, let me say a heartfelt thank you.

Afro-America Writer's space: Sports

End of 2007-2008 Season Awards