Last week I chalked up negative comments made by Ty Thomas regarding his participation in this weekend's NBA Slam Dunk Contest as a rookie mistake. Sam Smith, famed Chicago Tribune NBA writer and author of The Jordan Rules, has observed Thomas first hand and offers a different opinion.
"[Thomas] has been often rude and condescending to the team's staff and the NBA. He often acts like he has little time or interest for anyone but himself...[H]ere was a player appearing to confirm just what many believe, that the NBA is composed of a wandering band of ungrateful thugs who are selfish, spoiled brats just in it for the riches they can gain. My experience over the last quarter-century is that is not true, that the vast majority of players, despite the occasional Rasheed-ish or Fortson-esque outburst, are decent people who truly appreciate and treasure the game."
Smith then tells the story about Bulls rookie Thabo Sefolosha, whom Smith descibes as "a wonderful young man."
"After games, the players are ripping off tape and dirty clothes, tossing them into a big basket or tub for good-natured equipment man John Ligmanowski to dispose of or clean. Despite the fact they are supposed to be some of the best marksmen in the world, Ben Wallace excluded, the clothes and tape rarely seem to hit their mark. Everyone gets up and leaves. But Sefolosha went over to pick up his clothes or litter and deposit them where they belong. He apparently didn't want to make more work for Ligmanowski."
Should Sefolosha ever find himself involved in any kind of controversy, the media will, I am sure, give him the benefit of doubt, rather than presume immediate guilt.
The media's job is to report. But before they report, they observe. Writes Smith:
"This is one of those things you hear at parties from reporters, the stuff we don't write. See, we are not as bad as advertised. In fact, we try to write about the games and try not to embarrass the players. We really are more guilty of romanticizing the players than tearing them down."
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