mindscope65-blog

[mindscope65-blog]

Janoris Jenkins the Magician.

-The art of producing illusions by sleight of hand-

On December 9th 2019, the New York Giants played the Philadelphia Eagles and loss 23-17.  During practice for the game against the Eagles, Corner back Janoris Jenkins would sit out and watch one would think since he couldn’t practice.  In his “downtime” Jenkins figured sending a Tweet is more important than watching this boring practice apparently...ugh.  Here we go again!

Jenkins, who originally started to tweet about his own statistics, responded to the fan who had asked him why the numbers he was citing were not contributing to Giants wins. New York is 2-11 this season and is one of the worst teams in the NFL, according to ESPN. He responded to the tweet by the fan by saying: “I can only do my job..retard.”  Oops, Jenkins thought.  He opt to send an apology to theGoatlife hours later with an apology, but as they say once its in the cloud it remains in the cloud.  “My apology for the word I used earlier, really didn’t mean any HARM.”

And just like that, abracadabra-alakazam (poof) a ‎5 yr/ $62,500,000 contract disappears.  Apparently, Jenkins does not watch the news or understand how social media works.  Every sports athlete that has gone up against fans in any capacity has lost...and loss plenty.  At the same time being on a losing team to self promote your on single accolades and achievements will certainly be challenged if your team has only won two games out of thirteen.

So after the fireworks comes justification from Jenkins to the media. the following is Jenkins justification for the entire exchange:  “Where I’m from, we use all kind of words for slang. If it offends anybody, I’m sorry,” Jenkins added (via ESPN). “It’s a culture that I grew up in where I’m from, you know what I’m saying? We use all kinds of words for all kinds of slang. If you don’t know, it’s a ’hood thing. Whatever. I’m not calling nobody no name or pick at nobody. It’s just something we use in the hood back at home.”

Its quite evident education is the missing element from Jenkins.  It is also obvious football is his strengths as common sense remains on vacation. Jenkins signed a contract in a job that mandates results.  No different than any job in society that is performance based.  The acceptance of constructive criticism is a tool that helps an individual improve.  Yet, if that individual is a part of a team, the evaluation is two fold. Individual contributions as well as team contributions. There is no “I” in team is a lost mantra from many of today’s sports athletes.

When I was serving in the military, soldiers were required to go to classes like sexual harassment and other training to educate young men and women on issues that could jeopardize their career.  Why hasn’t the NFL and other sports leagues educated young men and women in professional sports about the usage about using social media?  As of recent, millions of dollars in contracts has been lost due to tweets, videos and posts by athletes that feel they are expressing their beliefs or providing rebuttal to fans that demand results from a losing team.

Jenkins added a comment to say:  “My dad always told me, ‘Speak freely and own up to what you say.’ So I always speak freely as a man, and I speak how I want to speak.”  Respect to the advice from his father yet, those freedoms come with a price when you are employed by a business where everything you say will be questioned or challenged.  The words of rebuttal once given when Jenkins was back on the block now is received and analyzed by a vast audience.  One on one interactions will be open dialogue to an entire society.  Words spoken will be remarked upon by all walks of life.

Yet Jenkins career may still be alive...maybe.  The Tennessee Titans are in need of a corner back due to their injury woes at the position, but what message does the possible signing say to players and the league about players that exercise “free speech” to challenge the fans that pay for the tickets to see them and buy the apparel to support them? 

I support freedom of speech and social media 100 percent if it is to be used in a positive manner.  However, the way a person is brought up in their neck of the woods is not always socially acceptable by everyone that hasn’t walked the same paths and streets.  What may seem common sense to one may seem completely insidious to another. Parental advice is always a positive when a young man or woman is walking their journey in life, yet that sound advice is never concrete as societal factors alter just how certain messages are to be delivered.

Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter and Facebook was not existent back in the days of our parents.  More so, for some of us based upon age, these social media venues was not existent equally.  True, a person is to speak what their beliefs are in a respectful manner. Yet, calling a person a retard in any era is harmful and hurtful.  More importantly, in life we seek to grow.  A salary increase in one’s life or career reveals exposure among a different “caste” where different education levels collaborate and network.  Quoting the bible:  1 Corinthians 13:11.  It reads: “ When I was a child, I used to speak like a child, think like a child, reason like a child; when I became a man, I did away with childish things.”

Sound advice for Janoris Jenkins is to get God in his life and take the advice from his father and read the bible.  Fans will criticize you and when your game and team is not doing well, push buttons.  Learn to accept criticism rather than rebuke based on your emotions.  You have made it to a league that many young men dream to make it to.  Just as you were given that opportunity, you can very easily lose it.

[mindscope65-blog]

The Dallas Cowboys. America's team?

I've read the article about the highlight film narrator John Facenda labeling the Cowboys America's team due to the fact that the team appeared on television so often that their faces are as familiar to the public as presidents and movie stars. This label was given in 1978 and it became a new brand.

I've also read rebuttal claiming the Steelers was dubbed America's team first but owner Art Rooney dismissed the label. The Buffalo Bills claimed they should get the label due to their red, white and blue uniform colors. The Packers felt they should have the honor due to their unique ownership situation. They "are now owned by 112,120 shareholders who possess about 4.75 million shares of stock. A seven-member executive committee, elected by the board of directors and comprised mostly of local residents, operates the team.

The New England Patriots feel they have a right at the name since they dominated the NFL for the entire first decade of the new millennium, and by virtue of their team name and colors (red, white and blue) and having been formed in Boston, the "Cradle of Liberty".

There are a few MLB, NCAA football and other sports teams that also claim the label should belong to their organizations. Some may argue that the very first professional team the Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869, now the Cincinnati Reds should be entitled to the name America's team.

A team that no one has suggested be given the name is the Washington Redskins. Certainly the Redskins are not the oldest NFL team as the Bears and Packers are older, yet the Redskins are an older team than the Cowboys.

Delving into history, Native Americans was on this land well before it was labeled America. More so, the Redskins formerly called the Boston Braves still maintained reference to the only ethnicity born on this soil.

No need to go into argument about teams in other sports like the Atlanta Braves, Florida State Seminoles, Cleveland Indians or Chicago Blackhawks. Sticking to where the title is used, NFL football it should be given to a team that is in controversy of its name being changed.

Digressing a minute, in 1995 owner Abe Pollin changed the name of the Washington Bullets to the Washington Wizards. His reason was the name "Bullets" identified to violent overtones. Made sense so the name was changed.

The Redskins has had the same name for the past 87 years and until recent many Native Americans took offense to being mascotted during sporting events as they are mascotted in other sports where a Native American is the mascot of their teams.

Polls were taken and it's claimed that 68 percent of Native Americans are not offended by the name or the unofficial mascot of the Redskins "Chief Zee." Zema Williams. He recently passed away July 19, 2016.

A contradiction is present with the honoring of Native Americans yet calling the Cowboys America's team. If Cowboys fighting Indians was a myth in American history then why label a team America's team coincidentally named the Cowboys? Why so many westerns depicting gun battles between Cowboys and Indians?

68 percent of Native Americans are okay with their heritage being mascotted for sport? I don't buy it. That's like saying 68 percent of Chinese people are honored by Warner Oland depicted as Charlie Chan. Perhaps 68 percent of African Americans are honored by Al Jolson depiction of an African American while in black face.

Changing the Redskins name more than likely will never happen. The powers to be will find a creative way to smooth things over having those offended that the elephant disappeared. Yet everytime the Redskins face teams like the Minnesota Vikings, protestors will remind the league about the remaining 32 percent that feels degraded by the name and the helmet logo.

Perhaps a highlight narrator will watch a Redskins game one day in the future when the team is a dominate force in the league and label the Redskins as the New America's team. I am willing to wager that claim would never stick. Not if Jerry Jones has anything to say about it...

[mindscope65-blog]

Dana White States: “There Would Be No Women Fighters in the UFC...”

During those years where Professional Boxing took a nose dive, hand to hand combat in America needed someone to cheer for.  For awhile Laila Ali was battling with the likes of Christy Martin, then as of recent, Floyd Mayweather was going up against UFC fighter Connor McGregor.  Yet somewhere in between, boxing got lost and MMA/UFC rose to the occasion.  

Like most, my interest rose in the early 90s with fights between Royce Gracie vs Ken Shamrock.  It was something new and fresh, yet way brutal than boxing.  I didn’t have to wait a few rounds to see damage.  I didn’t have to see dragged out clenching, holding and dancing around the ring.  Unlike guys my age and older who found MMA to be humdrum, I was hooked...but I wanted more.  I wanted to see the women fight in this brutal combat.

I loss contact with MMA, Boxing and everything due to my working life and family.  I had no clue that in 1995 the first women’s MMA tournament took place.  I am sure it was small then as I did not see any coverage about it on sports channels, newspaper etc.  It was out there but it certainly was small scale.  By 2009 I heard of a fighter named Cris Cyborg but knew nothing about her.  in that year, it was all about the men fighters like Jon Jones, Georges St-Pierre, BJ Penn and Anderson Silva.

Years would pass and by the year 2013, I was on board with the female UFC.  The fighter was Ronda Rousey and she fought Liz Carmouche in UFC 157.  I heard about his fighter Rousey and her submission move called the armbar but never witnessed it pulled off.  As a matter of fact this fight would be my first women’s UFC fight I’ve ever watched.  Reminiscent to my days of watching Mike Tyson, I grabbed a drink and a snack and focused in on the fight.  Rousey punched a bit, though he game plan was to get to the floor.  A few tussling moves here and there, a few strikes to the head, and the next thing I noticed Carmouche’s arm was being bent in a move called the armbar.  After witnessing that fight I was completely done with professional boxing.

I would follow Ronda Rousey and become a fan.  I still enjoyed the men’s UFC fighting but I always kept a close eye on the female fighters.  UFC 193 was the fight that I watched my hero fall.  Ronda Rousey vs Holly Holm was suppose to be a competitive but a win for Rousey as I anticipated.  Like usual, Rousey came out with her focused mad woman look and I bought into it.  Bruce Buffer dragged out that it was time, so I was ready.  Rousey came to center ring and gave that look to Holm, no touch after the rules are explained by Herb Dean.

The fight was most on foot to the advantage of Holm as Rousey was certainly not a boxer or kick fighter.  In the second round with 4:08 on the clock, Rousey threw a sweeping over hand left that missed, she slipped and Holm caught her with a kick followed by a punch to end the fight.

That fight was the rise of women’s UFC and the fall of Ronda Rousey. She would stick around for a bit to fight again, and when she fought an opponent even tougher than Holm when she faced Amanda Nunes, her career was definitively over.  At UFC 207 Ronda Rousey vs Amanda Nunes fought to one of the quickest knockouts in UFC Womens history.  At 4:14 of the first round, Nunes sent a punched stumbled Rousey into retirement. It took 48 seconds to knockout Rousey and end her UFC career.

Amanda Nunes has already been dubbed the GOAT of female UFC fighting yet I feel its too soon to give her such a title. Her current wins are well highlighted as being unbeatable, but what about the losses.  UFC 178 Nunes gets knocked out in the third round by Cat Zingano.  In 2013, Nunes losses to Sarah D'Alelio by unanimous decision.  In 2011, Alexis Davis knocks her out in the first round and in 2008 she losses to Ana Maria 35 seconds by submission in the first round.  Unlike the win/loss argument in other sports when it comes to identifying the GOAT, Nunes still can achieve the greatest of all time status as her career progresses. Her current 18-4 record is a remarkable achievement.

In January of 2011, Dana White said “Women will never fight in the UFC.”  Interesting as on December 14, 2019 champion Amanda Nunes defends her title in the females main card against Germaine De Randamie. Women are in the UFC and fighting in the main card, pre-lims and early pre-lims.  Female UFC fighting is exciting and in many cases, more exciting than the male matches.  The decision has literally buried female professional boxing as many female professional boxers are coming over to mixed martial arts.  The UFC is the present and future of professional fighting and thanks to Dana White, female fighting is stronger than ever. 

[mindscope65-blog]

One Little Tweet, Blog or Post Later...

Call me old school, but if I have something to say to someone about myself or another, I will be very selected of my choice of delivery.  My parents always told me, be careful what you say, and when you say it, mean it and don’t regret saying it as you have thought out what you were going to say.  Makes sense to me.

Introducing...social media.

No need to get into the dynamics of social media, as mostly everyone I know is on social media in some way or another.  For us “common folk”, social media is a way to interact with others, find people you went to school with decades ago, tell jokes, get advice, give advice, take silly videos dancing and singing about someone named Kiki, while your car drives by and the list goes on.  Yet, not all folks that do these things on social media are common folks.  Some people on social media are celebrities, actors, athletes, business tycoons and elite figures of society.

So what makes these above average people on social media any different?  Hold that thought...let’s get into other uses of social media by everyday people.  Let’s say a crime is being committed, or an employee had a bad experience at a job and decided to blast his/her former employer.  How about an argument between two or more people, or that neighborhood beat down, and the classic idiot bragging about a crime he or she committed.

Good or bad, social media in today’s society has become technology’s way to communicate and visual share an experience.  For the good it shows uplifting moments in life, and for the bad it has shown tragic memories many cringe at hoping to forget.

Then there’s that other side that social media does that challenges what we are really trying to say, yet text or visually it just doesn’t come out right. Those tweets, blogs or posts that was intended to say one thing but was totally taken another way because the deliverer of the message, failed to deliver it a clear cut message that was not taken the wrong way...failing to say what one means to say.

Let’s take an above average person in society that uses Instagram to say something through video delivery.  The person in this case scenario is Antonio Brown.  Before his Instagram post, Brown was already having legal battles about his rape allegations. Any smart and paid lawyer in Brown’s defense should have forewarned Brown to stay clear of social media and focus on his case.  Perhaps his lawyer(s) did advise Brown to stay away from social media, yet his continual inflammatory tweets suggest a totally different story.  Whatever the case, Antonio Brown digs into Rosenhaus and NFLPA Chief DeMaurice Smith in his assumed witty Roman satire on Instagram placing blame on them for not protecting him.  Is this man for real?

Antonio Brown has gone on Twitter claiming that the NFL is racist.  Reason:  Because they got rid of him during his rape allegations. He compared himself in his situation and used an example of a Caucasian player having legal troubles to be given lesser a penalty and able to remain in the NFL.  Brown pulls the race card as if that will change the mind of the NFL, and reinstate him to “get his paper and be out” as he so eloquently informs.

Here’s a thought...the NFL like any other job that common folks like myself is employed by has rules.  Rules that govern the employees that work for any particular organization.  Let’s say a person a person has a domestic issue with their loved one at home and gets into legal troubles outside of their job.  Let’s say the issue is an allegation that takes that employee away from work to go back and forth to court and other activities to miss many days at work.  Instead of a players union, this common folk works at a job that has a union even though in today’s society, union jobs are become extinct and non existent in many at will states.  Yet, we will say this employee has a union job.  Let’s put social media into the picture now.  

The person that is alleged for the domestic issue goes on social media and decides to question why his or her job is not letting them come back to work.  This individual exhausted their PTO (paid time off) and any other granted or donated time to the point where no money is coming in. This individual is living on the last of the family savings and  it too is on fumes. This individual goes on Twitter and starts to post inflammatory allegations about the job which had nothing to do with the domestic issue, though he is she does this to vent or hope that the company will invite them back with open arms after he or she tarnished the integrity of the company and what the company stands for.

My questions are quite simple...should the union continue to represent and fight for this person’s job?  Should the company invite this person back to work?  If your answer is yes on either question, then Antonio Brown should be playing in the NFL again.

Fifteen million a year or fifteen dollars an hour does not give a person the right to post inflammatory comments or videos about the organization that fills your refrigerator and keeps gas and electric in your home.  Don’t bite the hand that feeds you is a metaphor that gets challenged daily on social media.  I recall a bit back being in a job interview and the interviewer asked me, “Do you think social media is bad?”  I responded to say that social media is a good and bad tool we have in today’s technology.  Good because social media has allowed me to find people I went to elementary school with nearly 40 years ago.  It has allowed me to interact with fellow veterans that I have served my country with decades ago.  I have been able to interact with non profit organizations that help others in need.  As for the bad, there are many wrongful uses of social media in today’s society as I mentioned previously.  Perhaps I gave the answer they was looking for with my response, yet I said what I meant and never regretted it.  If Antonio Brown had used social media for the good instead of to degrade and humiliate, he probably would still be playing in the NFL.

[mindscope65-blog]

Once Upon a Time...

A story was brought back to life, that endured a slow and silent death.  The “victim” as many would attest to, was testified by many as being blackballed by the National Football League.  He goes by the name of Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick, a once San Francisco 49er quarterback stole the hearts of many fans by doing things on the field last seen by former NFL player Michael Vick.  Yet the second round, 36th pick of the 2011 draft was merely a backup quarterback behind number one pick of the 2005 draft class Alex Smith.  The starting quarterback that the Niners signed, though many questioned taking him over Superbowl XLV Champion and MVP Aaron Rodgers.  

In mid season of the 2012 season, Smith suffered a concussion and on comes Colin Kaepernick.  No scouting report on this guy.  No one knew what to expect from this second rounder from Nevada.  Not the greatest passer, but boy could he run.  He ran on any given Sunday against any top shelf defense.  When Alex Smith returned from injury, promises were made for him to be the starter again, though that never transpired as Kaepernick led the Niners to Superbowl XLVII to face the Baltimore Ravens.  Dynamic game with a dynamic finish hailing the victor to the Ravens 34 to 31 as the final score.

The 2013 season brought on a new year and outlook.  Alex Smith was traded to the Kansas City Chiefs for draft picks, and Kaepernick became the starting quarterback for the entire 2013 season,  From 2013 to 2016, Kaepernick would be the starter and lose his job to Blaine Gabbert for a variety of reasons.  Those reasons were based on injuries, disciplinary and lack of performance. At the start of the 2016 pre-season,Kaepernick began taking a seat during the play of the National Anthem that went unnoticed for a couple of weeks.  The media caught hold of it and it made the news.  Questions were asked and deflective answers were given, though his mantra was to “stand up” for those that he felt were oppressed.

Kaepernick went from sitting to kneeling during the regular season.  He began his crusade.  He received support, as well as stern harshness from many.  In a sense it led to racial divide.  His peaceful protest led to many opinions from all cultural backgrounds of life. Everyone at some point had an opinion, and in the conclusion of this story, I will shortly provide my own.

Moving forward to November 12, 2019 Colin Kaepernick is invited by the NFL based upon music artist Jay-Z business alliance with the NFL for an open practice at the Atlanta Falcons training facility. The idealism is to give Kaepernick a chance to show off his skills with the intention of returning to the NFL and join a slew of teams in desperate need to replace their quarterback situation or enhance their current arsenal if his skills were indeed impressive enough to become an NFL star again.

Four days later, on November 16th, Kaepernick decides he does not want to sign waivers or questions what teams would be present.  He opts to move to a local high school field a mile away and perform his workouts there.  Eight NFL scouts are present for the smaller venue and no job offers or signings are further discussed...surprised?  Hardly.

At one point of my life I was somewhat a fan of the San Francisco 49ers.  That point came in the year of 1979.  I was hyped for two reasons:  The drafting of Joe Montana and the signing of traded O.J. Simpson.  Turned out to be a horrifying year as they finished with a record of 2 wins and 14 losses but I was happy to see more so than anything O.J. Simpson end his career with a championship ring...that would never come to be as he retired.

I remained a 49ers fan from 1979 until 2017 when Kaepernick opted out his contract.  I felt sorry for him in some strange way even though I disagreed with his purpose to kneel.  I felt he was good enough to at least be signed by another team, yet I still again did not agree with his protest.  Why?  Because as a US Army veteran that has served my country and a 9/11 survivor, the flag represents more than standing up for the oppressed,  For me, it represents the freedom to be able to freely speak of my indifference but in a different venue.

Social media is no stranger to anyone on his level and his money could have afforded him options well beyond my money to speak or blog about his beliefs...away from the game.  The National Anthem has many meanings at the start of any sporting event yet its primary purpose is to eulogize history, traditions, and struggles of its people.  Yet that belief can easily be argued and challenged though I have been in countries where a kneeling to the anthem of the flag of that country would have had a fatal ending.

As for my thoughts about Kaepernick, I bought into his talent, as I did in the talent of Michael Vick and Cam Newton.  As for his choice to relocate to show off his wares rather than show up at the Atlanta Training facility, it tells me he never wanted to come back.  He was just promoting his brand and no one bought it.  In such a short span the NFL has younger and fresher scrambling quarterbacks currently in the league...with a better passing accuracy.  

As for me returning to be a Niners fan, I have given up that desire even with a winning season as of current.  Like many, I have gotten into Fantasy Football to build my strategy on individual weekly efforts.  I have focused my attention since 2013 to college football as I still feel that competitive nature still exists there.  As for Colin Kaepernick, his last effort of be my starting QB on my Fantasy Football will never come.  Nor will his induction into the NFL Hall of Fame...the end!

[mindscope65-blog]

Undermined, Overlooked and Bypassed.

In 2011, former NBA New York Knicks point guard Mark Jackson became the coach of the Golden State Warriors. During his tenure, until 2014 he coached the Warriors to making three consecutive playoffs. A feat that has not been accomplished in over 20 years. Amazing...

In 2014, as a coach Jackson had a .526 win/loss average, finishing second in the Pacific Conference. His replacement was Steve Kerr.

Amazing...

On May 6, 2014 Jackson was fired. A couple of weeks after Mike Woodson then coach of the Knicks was fired. Soon as word hit the media of Jackson's firing two names amongst a few others came up to become the next Knicks coach: Patrick Ewing and Mark Jackson. Ewing based upon his stellar career as a Knicks player and fine performance as an Assistant for the Rockets, Magic and Bobcats. Jackson based upon his putting Golden State on the map and a fearless contender.

Justification was given why Jackson was fired. From not getting along with management to hiring the best assistants under him. Yet there is no justification why Patrick Ewing never got a shot as a NBA coach. After every hiring/firing from: Derek Fisher to Kurt Rambis to Jeff Hornacek to David Fizdale to current Mike Miller. Within days two names still enter the conversation...Mark Jackson and Patrick Ewing.

Irregardless of articles written in negative light of reporters, the numbers don't lie. Jackson is a remarkable coach. The numbers don't lie as Ewing is managing a successful tenure as head coach of the Georgetown Hoyas. In 72 games he has a .556 percentage over 3 seasons.

Now that Steve Kerr's Warriors are in the cellar, do management fire him or give him a pass since his all stars are either injured, walked away through free agency or traded? The same Steve Kerr with comment about the Fizdale firing claiming he made the right choice to become the Warriors coach over becoming the Knicks coach. Stating that if he had become the Knicks coach he would already have been fired. He speaks as if he has carte blanche with the Warriors after the end of this year's anticipated dreadful finish.

It seems coaches like Ewing and Jackson aren't fit for the NBA brand. Perhaps it's their style of coaching is not what teams need. Anyone would argue that the team that Kerr inherited is the team that Jackson built, and Ewing just never got a shot... Not even under Michael Jordan's team.

Patrick Ewing seems quite happy and content with his alma mater with no interest in becoming an NBA coach for now. As for Mark Jackson, I'm quite sure he would love to coach the Knicks. Unlike most cowards to take on a losing team, Jackson welcomes the challenge. At the same time, Jackson has embraced his multi year signing with ESPN as a broadcast commentator. Even though during those glory days of the stacked Warriors and praise given to Kerr, I am quite sure this season he wonders why they are dead last after getting decent players in the loss only to have achieved a handful of wins.

Jackson will always be the smartest choice to become the next coach of the New York Knicks each and everytime another coach gets fired, with Ewing as a honorable mention. Yet, no matter how much Stephen A. Smith endorses the move, Mark Jackson will remain undermined, overlooked and bypassed.

[mindscope65-blog]

History Doesn't Always Repeat Itself...

As I grow older in my mid fifties, I find myself as lesser of the sports fan that I once was.

I remember when I was young, and when my dad was alive, his love for sports in his fifties. We had different love for baseball teams, as he was a Dodgers fan since their days in Brooklyn and I was a Mets fan as I grew up in Queens and I loved that year when an aging Willie Mays became a Mets outfielder. Yet beyond baseball indifference, we shared one love for one team and not in Major League Baseball. We both shared a love for the New York Knicks.

The years of 1970 and 1973, Red Holzman would coach the Knicks to two titles. I was five years of age with the first championship, and I faintly remember the win though at eight years old I clearly remember that second championship.

That year in 1973, the Knicks beat the Lakers four games to one against that giant of a man named Wilt Chamberlain. We had our man too...Willis Reed. Beyond those two players, both teams had competitive players at every position bringing excitement to the fans. Each team played with heart and gave the fans hope as no one knew what the possible outcome would be.

Fast forwarding to today's NBA, history hasn't repeated itself because many of today's NBA players don't believe in team loyalty. Today's NBA players on the most part are more focused on individual achievements to sell their brand, shoes and marketability to go to a team where other NBA players exist with similar individual achievements.

This practice kills the league in more ways than one. Besides going from top team to the cellar, team stacking destroys the competition of the sport. More so, former NBA players of one team, example: Carmelo Anthony a former Knicks player goes to the media and tells why Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant didn't go to the New York Knicks. The same player that was basically wrote off by the NBA and the Houston Rockets.

Many believe Lebron James is responsible for team hoping, yet that is not true. He is just labeled as such because of his self promotion as being better than a player in Michael Jordan as many still identify as the GOAT. Realistically, Charles Barkley team hopped to win a ring and Karl Malone also gave it a shot toward the end of his career with the Lakers.

The idealism of history not repeating itself is based upon team loyalty and competitive teams to battle for the championship. So the argument many have is "Why can't we win one too?". "Why does the Celtics, Pistons, Bulls, Lakers, Sixers and Spurs have to always win?". "Why can't we bandwagon to be on the Golden State Warriors?". "So what Lebron plays only on stacked teams while claiming to be the GOAT?"

History is not repeating itself because some fans that enjoy competitiveness are being robbed. Some of us wasn't too happy with the first Dream Team that went to the Olympics but it was fun to watch. Ideally, we took that route through excuses like the competition we faced were grown men versus young college players. Do you buy that excuse? If you do, then riddle me this...why do we recruit "boys" out of high school to play in the NBA then say they have to wait until their 19th birthday to play amongst men? Guess what, that prep to pro rule may end soon because history is just that... history.