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Thursday
March 28th, 2024
L&T Opinions Page

larry phillips mugshotGUEST COLUMN, Larry Phillips, Kismet

 

Many of those who have read my columns throughout the years know I’m not impressed with the intelligence of the average professional sports players.

Time and investigations have not improved my opinions of those people. In fact, they not only continue, they have diminished even further.

A couple of weeks ago, the “intelligence” of pro athletes I have mocked was splashing around the world.

Golden State Warriors world-champion point guard Stephan Curry let the world know he doesn’t believe the U.S. landed on the moon. 

Say what?

Yes, and if you haven’t heard of it, maybe you need to get out more.

Here’s how it went down, according to multiple news sources:

“Speaking as a guest on the ‘Winging It’ podcast, Curry asked hosts Vince Carter, Kent Bazemore and Annie Finberg, as well as his teammate Andre Iguodala, whether they believed man ever truly made it to the moon.

“When the group voiced skepticism about moon missions – despite NASA’s insurmountable proof – Curry agreed and jokingly added, “They’re going to come get us.”

His public skepticism hit the new big time, but that didn’t immediately deter Curry.

“(The next day), Curry retweeted an article about his denial of the moon landings, sharing an emoji wearing a pair of shades.

Ironically, no so-called journalists asked those agreeing with Curry there was no moon landing, which was Atlanta Hawks guard Vince Carter and Curry’s teammate teammate Andre Iguodala? 

Three millionaire dolts on one podcast?

NASA went after Curry by challenging him to visit NASA and look at some of the “evidence.” Even an astronaut asked him to talk with him personally.

Finally, after a week or so later, Curry “apologized” for causing such a stir and was walking back his remarks. I never saw where he said he truthfully believes we landed on the moon, though.

And personally, I don’t care about any apologies or whether he has turned into a “believer.” He shows that even a three-time world champion basketball player has a the IQ of a dirt clod. Period.

And he’s not alone.

“Notably, Curry wasn’t the first NBA player to dabble with conspiracy theories. Kyrie Irving (a Celtics guard) famously stated that he thought the Earth was flat and spent years being mocked for that scientifically false conspiracy. Irving eventually apologized for the comments this year,” according to a Tuesday usatoday.com report.

In his – and Curry’s – defense, Irving was quoted as saying, “Obviously, we’re not as educated as – in terms of schooling, in terms knowledge of going to school to these universities, everyone … – I think probably that misjudgment is warranted, it’s natural. Everyone feels like they have a place in this world to question anything or question somebody.”

He tries to say pros are just put in a box by society and they don’t have any rights to think outside the box.

That’s because the public doesn’t want to hear their stupidity, just play the games – entertain us.

Curry and other “super stars” of the kids’ game of basketball have openly shown total disrespect of President Trump: The Warriors voting to not visit The White House; then when Trump disinvited the Philadelphia Eagles – who showed the same disrespect because those kid’s game players like to kneel and show their anti-American side before football games.

I could go on and on about how these pampered pros act exactly like little teenagers, and their “leaders” mouth off about politics or show their constant ignorance of U.S. history, traditions or the Constitution.

Why do we give any credibility – in any manner – to these “boys” who play “little kids’ games” and earn millions of dollars? Their only attribute is they play these games better than most.

That’s it. 

Nothing more. 

They’re entertainers. Period. They offer no redeeming service or progress to the betterment of the human race other than a few hours of “entertainment” – kind of, because their ignorance constantly rears its ugly head.

Have you ever been disappointed with “your team” when one of its millionaires can’t count to three and jumps offside at two huts? How about pushing an opposing player with both hands in the back during a punt return or kickoff?

How about watching these kids wrap both arms around a defensive player and take him to the ground, get called for holding – and then throw a fit because they get caught and are penalized?

We have to remember, these “kids” have been coached since childhood, groomed, told how to ascend in their chosen game, treated as someone more special than everyone around them through grade school, junior high, high school and college.

They have been told what to do all their lives, and when they get those millions, they are empowered to speak up and show their intelligence – or lack thereof.

I can’t take it that these millionaires don’t have the IQ to follow basic, simple rules. How smart do you have to be to know tackling a receiver before the ball gets to him is pass interference?

At least a rocket scientist knows how to put a man on the moon.

I choose to watch the real men in the world who put people on the moon, who build companies that employ hundreds and produce products that make our lives better. 

We can show these pros who is the real boss. We can change the channel, quit buying tickets to their kids’ games, and turn away from those idiots that can’t keep their eyes on the ball until it’s hiked.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR, Reita Isaacs, Liberal

 

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