New NBA Rules Suck

Carmello Anthony was ejected tonight during the Nuggets’ game with the Clippers. He didn’t fight or swing at another player (or fan). He didn’t get in the face of a referee over a call. He threw his headband. Stop the fucking presses! A player threw a small, sweaty little headband and got a technical foul (his 5th foul, and thus ejected). These new rules are ridiculous. Now I’d never say that a player should get violent or get up in the ref’s grill, but for tossing his headband?

These new rules seem like they are trying to make the players more conservative or “professional.” I can’t see that as good for the NBA, or any sport for that matter. These are guys with adrenaline rushing and emotions high, playing a game. Who really cares if they show boat a little or let off some steam on their headband? It’s what makes the games fun to watch: the players you love to hate or your favorite star. It’d be like watching those old black and white ESPN Classics of a bunch of white guys walking back and forth, shooting the occasional ball. I love that players actually care about what’s going on and that they too, like most people, have emotions and sometimes display those emotions. If things keep going the way they are, eye rolling might qualify as technical fouls. Are those referees infallible? No.

Some would say the current generation of “ballers” are ruining the spirit of the game. Most of those people are the rich white guys who run the NBA. I’d say, the current generation of proffesional ball players are embracing the game with more spirit and care than they realize. Most of those players are passionate about what they do. And if you take out the ability to express any kind of emotion, you take away a lot of that passion.

On a similar note, at a recent PSU football game, a lineman recovered a fumble and ran it into the end zone. He did a little jump/flip at the goal line and got called for unsportsman like conduct.

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Defensive lineman don’t get many chances to score. In fact, some never get to touch a ball, let alone carry one. So what if he showed a little excitement when he jumped in for the TD? He may never get a chance to do that again. The flag only takes away from that excitement. They are college kids playing a damn game. The football field is not a courtroom.

With the way things are going, we can look forward to emotionless players and fans losing interest in an uninspiring game.

EDIT: I’m watching the analysis of the game now, and King Charles agrees with me. I must be right.