Basketball Brawl

Here's a really smart article on the basketball brawl, connecting it such issues of political divisive-ness, entitlement, and thug-wealth (both players and fans).

Something he doesn't bring up, but which undoubtled plays a role in this whole freaking mess of a world we're in, is entertainment. I've watched this brawl more than any basketball this season and I'm a semi-fan. Someone is making money. We watch this thuggary because it's entertaining - and we all have to admit it's entertaining. It's part of series of thug entertainment, the WWF, Jerry Springer, and even --- 9/11. What was 9/11 other than a reality program than out-Jerry Bruckheimered Jerry Bruckheimer?

We can try to explain why Islamic fundamentalism has taken root. We can try to explain the increased thug nature of the NBA and it's fans. We can try to explain the increasingly political divisiveness between the parties and the Red and the Blue. We can try to explain why America distrusts the world and why the world distrusts America...for socio-political and cultural and monetary reasons. But does anyone look at these things as ENTERTAINMENT. Remember Training Day, when Ethan first meets Denzel and nervously talks over breakfast. Denzel, annoyed, stops reading his paper and says to Ethan, "Do you know why I read the newspaper? Because it entertains me. 90% of the stuff in here is bullshit - but it entertains me. Since you won't let me read the newspaper, you entertain me."

We like picking scabs...