On Kwame, Booing, and Our Obligations to Sensitive Athletes
There's been a lot of banter over the last day or two regarding Kwame Brown, and how fans should be treating him. Many of you say he shouldn't be picked on. He needs to be supported because he's a sensitive guy, always aware of the reception he's getting from the home crowd.
Now I consider myself a generally empathetic, patient, and good-hearted guy. I help old people across the street, am kind to animals and children, and will occasionally well up watching the really emotional parts of movies (and not just at the end of "Miracle").
Fans should be careful about how they dispense their anger. They should use good judgment. If a guy is playing poorly but playing hurt, give him a break. If he's playing poorly because his kid's in the hospital, give him a break. If he's playing poorly but is averaging 35 points a game, it may not be the right time to boo- after all, a season or career of solid contribution should be considered when the Boo Devil is sitting on your shoulder and whispering in your ear (string together a few games of poor play and bad decision making and circumstances change). Guys who throw their bodies around with reckless abandon in an attempt to overcome a natural lack of talent also deserve a little slack. Rookies, too, assuming they have displayed a solid work ethic and practice habits.
If a player is dogging it? Boo away. Boo like you've never booed before. Think of clever, biting insults and hurl them at the court (but stay away from references to a guy's family- that's out of bounds), then take your seat with a smug, self-congratulatory smile and accept high fives from the fans sitting around you. Nobody who plays professional sports for a living should give anything but their maximum effort. It's an insult to all the people who work hourlies to pay their salary.
Does Kwame Kwalify in this category? I don't think so. I think he's trying, although he hasn't found that place within himself that would push his effort and commitment to the next level. There's another gear inside the guy that he hasn't discovered or is unwilling to use.
So that leaves performance. Should Laker fans get on him when he plays poorly? Let me ask you this- should they cheer him when he plays well?
I don't understand why Kwame Brown deserves extra sympathy from Lakers fans. The guy is a fifth year pro in the NBA, who has done very little other than disappoint. Fans shouldn't boo him for (lack of) achievement in Washington. That would be unfair. But he's built up a booable enough track record in his first 53 games in L.A. If Kwame Brown is playing like crap, I think it's okay for him to hear fans boo. He certainly hasn't done much to earn your sympathy (Full disclosure- I'm not sure I would. Honestly, I can't remember actually yelling "Boooo!" at an occasion that wasn't an elementary school Halloween party- certainly not at a sporting event. It's not me. I'm more of an "expletive laced tirade directed at the person sitting next to me" kind of guy. Different strokes for different folks, right?). Don't boo the first time he misses a rebound or bricks a layup. Don't do it if he's actually having a good game and makes a mistake. But if the guy is pulling one of his not-quite-and-let's-hope-it-never-becomes patented disappearing acts, boo away. You've paid your money, you've exercised good patience, you've shown good judgment by waiting for an appropriate time to express yourself.
From the little I've spoken to Kwame, he seems like a nice enough guy. He brings kids into Kwame's Korner every home game, which is a great contribution to the community. To paraphrase Tom Hagan in The Godfather, it's business, not personal. The fact is, if Kwame Brown wilts because the Staples crowd gets on him, he'll never become a good NBA player.
Sports is one of the only segments of society where poor performance is often rewarded with greater riches (Hollywood and politics are two others). If you sucked at your job, chances are you wouldn't have a phalanx of people surrounding and supporting you, trying to guide you through the tough times. You'd be fired. Why should sports be so different?
Call me insensitive. A callous, jaded member of the media. A cold-hearted soul.
You can even boo me if you want.
BK
Jon K,
You need to chill. I do agree with some of what your ranting about, but you're getting too heated toward BK.
BK,
You really opened a can of worms with this post....
My two cents:
I personally don't believe in booing any player that's on my team because they are MY team & want them to win, not throw them off the cliff. I will boo, curse, & yell at opposing teams and/or specific opposing players because I want to get under their skin and break their focus. (Sometimes, I really do dislike the person.)
However, if a player or coach on my team is playing bad or making stupid mistakes, then I'll yell at them to get their heads out of their asses. The difference is that I'll yell at them to get them (re)focused & to let them understand that I'm not happy with their current performance, but I'm still supporting them. The problem with booing, to me, is that it can make the player feel like you've turned your back on them or given up on them.
In Kwame's case, since there were such high expectations in D.C., the crowd turned on him often during his time their, so I think it broke his confidence. Remember that he was a young, unpolished buck coming straight out of high school into the harsh professional world. It's hard to build confidence if you're not having much success AND your own home crowd (and MJ) thinks you're worthless. Support leads to confidence, confidence leads to success, and success leads to more support (except for Kobe, where success leads to envy by many Kobe-haters). It's a cycle... and it can also be a vicious cycle on the flip side, like it was for Kwame.
I don't know what's actually in Kwame's mind. I'm just throwing out my take on things. I just think constructive criticism is better than simple contempt. Give Kwame time. I think with Phil, Kareem, Magic, Kobe, Rambis, etc. around him that he'll gain the confidence & skills to do well for our team. I like what he's doing defensively for us. If he can get double-doubles consistently, that would help our team immensely.
GO LAKERS!!!
Posted by: Stephen Ward | February 22, 2006 at 08:14 PM
The Grizzles play Dallas and San Antonio thursday and friday...great chance to see the Lakers gain some ground if we beat the Kings and the Clippers.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | February 22, 2006 at 08:17 PM
Andrew Z.
you're my boy, I was/am your best man, best friend, etc., and I don't necessarily agree with Jon K, BUT, in my opinion it does absolutely no good to boo anyone. Now Kwame has not lived up to expectations, granted. But whose expectations? The Wizards? well no, he was a bust for them. Ours? We took a serious gamble, and you know what? Honestly, I personally didn't expect much more than we've gotten. Did I hope for more? Yes. Was it a Laker fan pipe dream? Probably. So, here's the deal, my question is to anyone out there who cares to answer, are you going to boo a questionable third option? If it was Caron Butler, last year, who was averaging 6 and 6 would you boo him? Maybe you would, maybe not. Fine. My point ends up being: We are woefully inept at the 4/5 positions. But is that a surprise? Chris Mihm shows flashes, but really does anyone think we can count on him for more than 8(maybe 10) and 6? These guys aren't new. There comes a point when you just accept who you're dealing with. When I see Kwame fumble a post pass for umpteenth time, I think "Damnit Phil get him out of there"(unless he's guarding Shaq at the other end, which he rocked at), because until he shows us otherwise, this is who the guy is. He's not a star, and you know what? Everyone on that Laker team knows that, but he's all we got. So, boo him if you want, but realize you're doing it for you, to vent your frustrations, it's not helping him or the team. You have every right to do it, it just doesn't accomplish a thing.
oh, and please God tell me that Pincus and that jackass from the radio show are wrong and we didn't pick up Kwame's 3rd year.
thanks
Chris
Posted by: Christopher F | February 22, 2006 at 08:20 PM
IF we beat the Kings and the Clippers that is.
*KOBE FOR MVP!
*GO LAKERS!
Posted by: shaq_hater | February 22, 2006 at 08:22 PM
I will say this much. I don't care how badly Kwame plays on any given night. If any of those kids in "Kwame's Korner" boo him, that's just straight up wrong.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | February 22, 2006 at 08:53 PM
What Kwame have I've been watching? I've been watching Kobe shoot the ball like a mad man. I watched Michael Jordan, Rip Hamilton, and Gilbert Arenas shoot the ball like crazy. The only time they pass the ball to Kwame is when they're in a jam and need a bail out. And Kwame is suppose to be ready on those rare occassions? Yeah, right! Again, if I were Kwame I'd say...go to H*ll, bail yourself out you ballhogs. Watch the game tomorrow and watch Kobe, watch Smush and if we lose you tell me why.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | February 22, 2006 at 09:09 PM
One thing more, although I called kobe a ballhog it's because he is. I love Kobe and enjoy seeing him score tons of point but that doesn't change the fact that to do that he has to shoot the ball, which make him a ballhog. Anyone who averages 30 points in this league has to have an ego and in this case Kobe's ego is overshadowing everyone on this team and keeping them from reaching their true potential. That is just a fact and to say otherwise is just not true. In short Kobe stunts Kwame's game.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | February 22, 2006 at 09:15 PM
Gotta put my 2 cents in re Kwame Brown. Boo him if you want but to be fair, then boo Kobe whenever he is having one of his "I will take 80% of the shots" nights when he misses 2/3 of them. I saw Kwame play here in Washington and have a couple of basic observations:
1) He needs to have the ball in his hands on offense more than once or twice a game. I have seen him fumble early passes and settle in to be very productive.
2) One of the reasons he did not do much on offense in DC was because the Wizards offense has and continues to focus on outside players, regardless of who plays underneath. Seems like the Lakers have the same problem.
3) I have always thought that it would be worth spending some $ for Hakeem O to tutor KB on his underneath post-up moves. The kid has enough athletic talent to be dangerous under the basket if he learned how to play a post-up game.
4) That being said, he definitely needs to play more agressively even if he makes more mistakes that way. How about more offensive rebounds? Scoring opportunities can come that way if he wants to rack up points
Posted by: George | February 22, 2006 at 09:21 PM
Mike,
That is just making excuses for Kwame. Which is what he has done his whole career. The guy doesn't work hard enough at his game and he expects to become a superstar through osmosis.
The way he's built he should be a stud, but he's been eveything but. It's one thing to have your talent be unused or underused. It's a whole other thing when the guy has no real offensive game to speak of. I can't tell you one good thing Kwame can do on the offensive end other than get good post position but waste it because he can't handle the ball or dunk the ball instead of trying some awkward layup. If that's where he's going to try to do his damage on the offensive end he needs to work with Kareem instead of passing on it, since as Kareem says he "sees himself as a facing the basket player."
That right there is Kwame in a nutshell. He's not willing to put in the exta work to make himself better.
Posted by: xodus | February 22, 2006 at 09:25 PM
xodus,
Did you read Georges post? He saw Kwame in Washington. What he said is exactly what I'm saying. That is the truth.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | February 22, 2006 at 09:43 PM
I wish Kwame had KOBE'S mentality kobe mind. By know and after all the boo's he would have been the greatest player to ever play the game. even better than jordan or anybody else. cause you know everytime kobe gets booooed he comes back ten times stronger and smarter. imagine if Kwame was like that man after two years of boooooooooooing nobody would have stopped him right now. but i guess am just DREAMING. man if feel bad for the guy he really tries. not to make my self look good but i have played every sport there is and i loved all of them specially soccer and basketball. right now i play soccer for a university. i know how hard you have to work to get on the top and i think Kwame needs to wake up everyday at 4 am and run until he's body gives up and then show up in practice while hurt from the running practice harder than anybody in the gym and after he's done with the team. he should stay two or three hours more and work out then run some more, after a month if he is not called a(great player, or hard worker,) i will shoot myself and i will never play sports agian, i wish i get the chance to just sit down with him of if he has the chance to hang out with me for a week i will change him. and instead of you guys boooing him you will bow down to him
Peace
Love
Respect
To all good hearted humans
Posted by: Hazher | February 22, 2006 at 09:58 PM
Michael Teniente,
Kwame was a dwarf, when he got here. Nobody is stunting his growth.
THE KOBE
Posted by: The Troll | February 22, 2006 at 10:41 PM
Mike,
Well I just read George's post and I agree with him but we can't pin too much the blame on not playing in an offense that emphasizes inside players.
What about Jermaine O'Neal when he was in Portland, forget about not getting the touches in the offense he wasn't even getting in the game. He worked on his game and now he's an all-star. You have to work on your game and improve whether or not you're getting the minutes or the touches.
Posted by: xodus | February 22, 2006 at 10:47 PM
Ok, I'm all talked out on this Kwame debate. But realistically, as much as I love Kobe...come on, tell he doesn't shoot too much and I think we're not watching and breaking down what we're seeing correctly. I'm done with this conversation.
mike
Posted by: Michael Teniente | February 22, 2006 at 11:05 PM
The criticism towards Kwame about dropping passes and missing layups / not dunking the ball is overdone. Because people are making it seem like that's an easy facet of the game. I've played my share of basketball and I would much rather come off a screen for a 15 foot jump shot, or spot up for a 3 pointer than have to catch a pass in the traffic and then convert. Catching a pass in traffic and converting is a way more difficult. You might be closer to the basket, but there's arms a lot closer to you, and you don't even really know which direction they're coming from.
Here's my proof:
Remember Mike Penberthy? Couldn't do anything, but spot up for wide open 3s.
Today's version: Sacha Vujacic.
Horace Grant? My buddy and I would always yell at the TV because he wouldn't dunk it and then miss the layup.
AC Green? Only shot 15 foot jumpers in the 80's and 90's and 2001.
Samaki Walker? That guy dropped passes chest high and waist high.
Mychal Thompson? Missed hella layups because he couldn't dunk the ball. He was 6-10 and also a #1 pick.
Any power forward who can do that, automatically is a top 15 power forward. Until then compare Kwame against the rest of the power forwards who can't convert in traffic: Brian Grant, Udonis Haslem, Danny Fortson, Kenny Thomas, Troy Murphy, Vin Baker, etc...
There's a reason Brian Cook, Troy Murphy, Robert Horry shoot outside. It's easier.
Posted by: g-dub | February 23, 2006 at 12:25 AM
This JOn Kavulic has IQ of about 55. Will someone stop that moron from posting here. Soccer hooligans have more inteligence than him.Will somenone say to this poor specimen of human race that lousy team won`t get better if you close your eyes in front of TV and pretend that nobody can see you.
Posted by: deyan | February 23, 2006 at 01:13 AM
dude, kwame is horrible. cant catch ish....i think his hands are smaller than a 2 year old...damn it...grab the ball man!!! with that said, i still think kwame will be good eventually and he is part of the laker future!
go kwame and lakers!!!
Posted by: jonblaze | February 23, 2006 at 01:15 AM
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO !!!! KWAME
KWAME SUCKS, SUCKS SUCKS BOOOOOOO
And kavulic is sad moron.
Posted by: ivan | February 23, 2006 at 03:51 AM
I find it extremely interesting that people have begun to "boo" me for being negative.
The fact of the matter is that I was being EXCEEDINGLY and PURPOSEFULLY negative to make a point.
I began insulting BK to make a point.
Now a lot of people have turned on me.
Well, in me you Kwame booers should see a reflection of your self.
There's little point in being negative to try and support someone on your team.
It doesn't make sense.
Whatever. I'm leaving this blog for a while.
Go Lakers.
Posted by: Jon Kavulic | February 23, 2006 at 08:15 AM
Boo this man and Luke Walton and Brian Cook, and Lamar Odom for having off nights and for what we see as IDDIOT PLAYS. Hell, start replacing BOO with SUB as in sub him out! Trust. These guys get enough smoke blown up their A*@ and most don't really read the papers nor do they really care what anyone has to say. They know at the end of the day they got the cream of the crop of luxuries, just like the front row court side fans who can afford them and afterward they go home happy. Stop feeling sorry for him. He's grown and needs to puff out his chest. He's the difference between flag football and the actual sport. I'm over it, and the sensitive rich boy issues.
Posted by: Eric Kelso | February 23, 2006 at 09:04 AM
hahaha =***(
dude you guys scared jon away...
Posted by: Lefty | February 23, 2006 at 09:18 AM
Jon Kavulic,
Go back to your Clippers Band Wagon. Don't come back.
Posted by: Disgruntled, Frustrated Laker Fan | February 23, 2006 at 12:32 PM
Jon,
I see the reflection when I'm up in the morning and getting ready to go to work. I got to tell ya, I look damn good (that's because I have confidence which I why I never fumble the toothpaste (direct refrence to Kwame) some things are just second nature, just like doing a good job at work that I'm paid to do). I guess after you get done watching Mr. Rogers re-runs and making play dough dolls and finger painting Kwame pictures you see the real reflection of yourself as well.
Awe, I'm sawee...but BOO YOUR ASS FOR MAKING THAT WEAK COMMENT. Isn't there a coom by yah song you should putting that cute voice on, you're too buisy dancing with wolves!
This ain't the blog for you. Back to the self esteem board for you.
Posted by: Eric Kelso | February 24, 2006 at 08:53 AM
The NBA is so boring and meaningless.
Lakers are terrible. Jackson is the most overrated person in sports..period.
Triangle offense..blah blah blah.. total hype, marketing nonsense.
Jackson wants credit for wins and blames players for loses...
NBA is a players league...thats why the coach in Det looks like a genius...whats his name anyway?
Posted by: Ken | February 25, 2006 at 01:38 AM
Kwame is a BUM.
Posted by: Mike Wilbon | February 27, 2006 at 10:57 AM
kwame is awful. words can't describe how awful he is. he si making 9 mil and i would rathe rhave mihm in the middle than him. he has the worst hands i have ever seen, his fotowork is terible, his FT% is worse than shaq's, and he doesn't jump. i can't wait until we cna dump him and use that bgi salary to pick up someone decent. wiht the current team and that additoin, we'll eb pretty good if kobe and bynum stay healthy.
Posted by: | January 17, 2008 at 11:01 PM