NBA = No Basketball Action for REGULAR PEOPLE... ...even the so-called magenta carpet ...where the players were supposed to arrive in red carpet fashion was closed off to the public ..reinforcing the increasing feeling that nba basketball wants to be a high+priced exclusive club for the elite ..which, ironically, feels kind of "ghetto" to me ..the harder they try to make pro basketball something so "select" "elite" "exclusive", the MORE ghetto it gets ...more exclusive, the more ghetto..liike the latino ticket guy at staples center tried to act haughty and say the all-star game was a "private" event ..ha ha..I'm hearing that word more often in reference to things which "private" doesn't apply ..including the all-star game..anybody can buy a ticket & go ..its not invite-only..its ghetto when they do this wannabe exclusive nonsense..this is not good for the game in the long run..I think of the beginning of the end of honest basketball came when "celebrity basketball shoes" became vogue ..and these jordan shoes were selling for $100/ pair ..that marked a shift in the ethic of honest basketball..when nba started to be about flash & flair, & less about good honest basketball..it became a sport strictly for the camera..for hightlight reels ...slam, dunks & 3 -pointers ..all about excitement & pizaaz..whixh has its place, but if that's ALL there is too it, ..it actually b/c somewhat mundane ..ironically ..I'm sorry nba fans, but that's how I feel ..
