Where's the Peace?

It was the elbow heard 'round the world.  It was a move you would expect to see in hockey, or maybe in soccer.  But not in basketball.  During the Los Angeles Lakers/Oklahoma City Thunder game last night, Metta World Peace (formerly known as Ron Artest) delivered an elbow to the head of James Harden that would make a boxer jealous.  He claims it was an accident, that it was an unfortunate incident, that he didn't know Harden was there.  I call bullshit.  This is coming from someone who served almost a full season suspension for a brawl during a game that involved not only players from the other team, but fans as well.  In the video replays, it was clear that MWP bumped into Harden before he raised his arm to "bump his chest in celebration."  He runs into Harden and while they are still touching, he raises his arm and delivers an elbow to the back of Harden's head.  Luckily, Harden was able to get up and walk off the court on his own, but who knows what could have happened.  Metta World Peace is an incredibly strong guy, and I don't think he realizes the damage he could have caused.  All of his effort was thrown into that elbow.  James Harden will be lucky to miss only a couple games with a concussion.  No one will know the full extent of his injuries for a while.  One can only hope for a mild concussion.  Maybe a headache that lingers.  That would be the best possible outcome for how strong of a hit it was.  And World Peace is hoping for a one or two game suspension?  Tell me Metta, where was the "peace" in that move?  I truly hope you do not play again this season.  What you did was disgusting and despicable.  You do not deserve to play this game that you claim you love, not if you are going to pull bush league moves like that.  You are pathetic.  As a Blazers fan, I have never been a fan of Oklahoma City, but if there is a Lakers/Thunder match up in the playoffs, I hope that the Thunder destroy you, simply for that move alone.

Sports Fans vs. Team Fans

Living in a "baseball town" like St. Louis, I have been thinking a lot about the difference between a true baseball fan and simply a team's fan.  The truth is, I would not call St. Louis a baseball town.  Yes, it has a great team and a great baseball history.  But the truth is, people here only care about the Cardinals (and only when they're winning) instead of the game of baseball.  When I moved here, people expected me to stop being a Mariners fan and automatically become a die hard Cardinals fan.  Yes, I will go to games and root for the Cardinals (as long as they aren't playing a team I like better), but I have been a Mariners fan for 17 years...I won't just "give them up."  The difference between a baseball fan and a team fan is the team fan will only go to a game if their favorite team is playing.  A baseball fan will go to a game no matter what team is playing.   A team fan will wear team gear and cheer for their team when the team is doing well.  A baseball fan will wear their team's gear and cheer for their team, no matter how the team is doing.  A team fan will say "I knew we had it" when their team does well.  A baseball fan knows when their team isn't the best, but still has faith.  I am proud to be a Mariners fan.  I will cheer for them every day of the year.  Yes, they may not be the best right now, but when they do eventually do well, I will be proud to say I have been a fan all along.  Team fans, where are you when your team is not playing well?  Now I'm not lumping all Cardinals fans into this.  There are some who are true baseball fans.  But I have noticed there is a difference between small market fans and big market fans.  That is why people who wear a Seattle hat, or a Toronto hat, or even a Tampa Bay hat will always get a little more respect from me than someone wearing a Cardinals, Red Sox, or Yankees hat.  Why?  Because you know that small market fan is truly a fan.