Photo by the Associated Press

With stitches, broken noses and face masks, the NBA playoffs are looking more like pro wrestling gone bad. Fighting and deliberate hard fouls are a norm. They’ve gone past the simple “toe holds”, to use “full nelson’s” and “flying back breakers” to stop the drives to the basket. Dwight Howard’s elbows have broken more noses than the average prize fighter. And, some of those were his own teammate’s!

So what’s next for the NBA’s antics. Tattoos and spiked hair are the norms already. I foresee next year’s Dwight Howard wearing a cape and mask, lowered to center court on a caged platform, to be met by LeBron James, donning a gold crown and robe. Then in on a Harley, rides Chris Andersen, clad in a leather uniform from head to toe. Kobe Bryant is next, surrounded by a herom of painted ladies, he struts under a spotlight to center court.

Photo by the Associated Press

Gone are the days of teamwork and skilled defense. They move their mouths much more than there feet! The great players, like Larry Byrd and Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and Kevin McHale, have been replaced with egotistical, self-centered, pro-wrestler wanna-bees.

Three-on-two fast breaks, with fancy passes and layups, have turned into one-man shows, ending with “take-downs” and technical fouls. Will the National Basketball Association change it’s name to the National Boxing Association?

-Bob Hammerstrom

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