“The season is likely to slip away.”
-NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman on the current lockout.
Depressed that it’s starting to get dark around 5 p.m.? Bummed that the election didn’t quite go as hoped? Disappointed that you probably won’t see a hockey game ever again? Well, we here at the Serm aren’t loving life these days either, but there is always one thing that puts a hop in our step: the start of the NBA season.
In what was one of the greatest off-seasons in history, several of the league’s best players traded teams, often with great consequences. The dramatis personae in the Lakers-Heat games will rival that of any Shakespearian drama. Kobe Bryant has proved that he is capable of doing anything imaginable-on and off the court-so any game involving him will be of great interest. Kobe has already commenced talking smack with another great guard, Ray Allen. Then there is his old nemesis: O’Neal. Shaq has something to prove for the first time in about five years, and his level of play and intensity will be closely watched, especially when he goes up against Kobe.
And that’s what’s so great about the NBA. More than any other sport, the personal rivalries dominate its sport culture, which stems in part from the one-on-one nature of the game. The result for fans and sports reporters alike are fierce rivalries that spew hatred, and there’s nothing better than watching that.
The flip side is equally interesting, because the league is, simply put, full of characters. While no other league is as good in marketing its players, NBA stars are especially good at crafting their own image in public without the help of league consultants. Good or bad, fans know more about basketball players than any other sport. Whether you watch Ricky Davis shoot on his own team’s basket to miss and get the rebound needed for a triple-double, or any interview involving Rasheed Wallace, the result is high comedy.
So for those who are a little depressed this time of year, turn on an NBA game to pick your spirits up. That is unless its you’re a Knicks fan, in which case your Zoloft prescription should be in the mail.