Happy Maurice Cheeks Day! Here's my annual column explaining why his gracious actions back in 2003 right before an NBA playoff game were so special, along with video of the heartwarming event. This is the annual reprint of a column originally written on The Huffington Post in 2009. And this year is the 21st anniversary of the actual event itself, Some stories simply demand repeating. Or better put, demand not being forgotten. This is one of them. And so, once again, here 'tis. One additional word. Happily Maurice Cheeks is still in the NBA!. And even more happily, he's back in his hometown. He's currently the assistant coach for the Chicago Bulls. He also had a strong career as a solid player, and is 13th on the all-time list of assists with 7.392. But though this doesn't count on that list, it may be his best assist of all... April 25, 2009 Oh, Say Can You Sing? A National Anthem to Remember As I prepared to write about an act of uncommon decency by a professional athlete, I realized that calling it that was unfair, that it diminishes what happened, because this was simply an act of uncommon decency, period. That it happened on such a high level and under such a bright microscope might likely stir the heart more, but it's the act itself that is ultimately what stirs us to begin with. Who it was and when it took place simply moves it up the pedestal. Today is the sixth anniversary of Maurice Cheeks' moment on the pedestal. There is in the American consciousness for notable performances of the National Anthem at sporting events. Jose Feliciano's evocative singing at the 1968 World Series in Detroit was the first to interpret the "Star Spangled Banner" before a national audience. Because 1968 was one of the most tumultuous years in U.S. history, many at the time were so outraged that it took his career years to recover. Today, the rendition not only seems tame, but one of the most tender and beautiful. (And among the least known. If you've never heard it, do yourself a favor and click here to listen.) Whitney Houston gets mentioned often for her rousing rendition at the 1991 Super Bowl, during the Gulf War. For many, Marvin Gaye's deeply soulful performance at the 1983 NBA All Star is the most memorable. But for sheer emotional joy, it's hard to top what happened on April 27, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs between the Portland Trailblazers and Dallas Mavericks. Context only adds to the story. So, once again: This was the playoffs. This is what all professional athletes live for, what their year is about. The regular season is a prelude, an effort to get into the post-season and be in place to win the league championship, to become a part of your sport's history. Everything centers on this. As the start of each playoff game nears, as the roaring crowd is at its highest pitch, as players put on their proverbial "game faces" and the battle is moments from beginning, all external thoughts get filtered out, and focus is completely, solely on their task ahead. The National Anthem, for most athletes, must be one of those external influences. More than most of us, who hear the "Star Spangled Banner" largely on special occasions, professional athletes have heard the National Anthem played before every single competitive game they've played. Game after game repeatedly each season, and season after season, for decades. Relentlessly. As meaningful as the song is, it is also just part of the ritual for a professional athlete, focused on the game, geared up for the game, anxious to start the game. Silent, not singing, maybe not even hearing the music. Waiting for the National Anthem to be played, and finished, so that they can finally start what they're there for. It's likely as much background noise as it is patriotic uplift. And so it must have been as the Trailblazers and Mavericks prepared for their playoff game to start. Stepping out onto the court was Natalie Gilbert, a 13-year-old girl. Just another National Anthem, just another youngster who won a contest, just another two minutes the crowd wanted to get past for the game they were there to see, to start. And she started fine. A little hesitant, since it's a frightening occasion for a child, with a national audience, flashing lights and a military guard. But in her wavering voice, she was prepared. Except that a few lines in, the high pageantry of the moment got her, and something went very wrong. She totally, thoroughly forgot the words. A young 13-year-old child, standing in front of over 10,000 people, lost. Alone. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Maurice Cheeks had had a very good NBA career as a player. He played for 15 years and was selected to four All Star games. When he retired, he was the all-time leader in steals and fifth in assists. He averaged over 11 points a game. And then he later became a coach, the position he was currently in for the Portland Trailblazers. It was Cheeks who was responsible for his team, responsible for keeping them focused on the game, responsible for guiding them. But he saw a 13-year-old girl in trouble. And that's when Maurice Cheeks showed the kind of person he was. Immediately. Cheeks always had a reputation in the NBA as a good guy. But he was about to prove it on a national stage. And what happened next - not just with Maurice Cheeks, but eventually with all the jaded players whose minds had been previously-focused on their game, an entire stadium of basketball fans there to see basketball, even the opposing white-haired coach Don Nelson - is just enthralling. The moment is wonderful, but how it builds and surprises is even better. And at the end, this tiny girl looking up at the giant of a man - who stayed around, refusing to leave her side and return to his team - with her face awash with relief, a huge hug, and the clear words mouthed, "Thank you," is all you need to see to why it's hard to top what happened on April 25, 2003, before Game 4 of the NBA playoffs for sheer emotional joy. Six years ago today.
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If you didn't see Last Week Tonight with John Oliver last night, the Main Story was on cryptocurrency. This is a follow-up to a story they did five years ago, but from a different angle. Not what it is, but a look at three particular companies that are involved in different areas of crypto, all of which are in serious legal trouble. The report doesn't delve into the minutiae of crypto details, so it's easy to follow -- but more importantly, beyond being interesting, it's very funny since the subject lends itself to scathing ridicule. For the past couple of years, the official Merriam-Webster account has posted tweets about different words -- and has been brutal in its sometimes subtle, sometimes blunt trolling of Trump. It's sort of a remarkable occurrence.
Here's one of their subtle ones from today, related to the Georgia investigation. So, and unfortunately I swear this is true, Mike Pence has defended the shootings of Ralph Yarl and Kaylin Gillis as a response to "the fear the American people feel about the crime wave" in the country.
What a cold, heartless, unthinking, pandering, robotic, empty piece of pond scum. And that's the polite version. There is a terrifying "crime wave. It's criminals who shoot totally innocent people who did nothing more than knock on their door by mistake or drove into their driveway by mistake or opened the wrong car door by mistake. And got shot to death. That's the crime. That's creating massive fear. Not pulling a car into the wrong driveway. That "fear" is created by the NRA -- to continually, relentlessly agitate their malleable customers to be so frightened of black people and cheerleaders and anyone accidentally entering their driveway that they'll buy guns and more guns, ready to shoot and kill innocent people, which (to be clear for those who don't know) is deeply criminal. And it is that fear which is picked up and nurtured by extreme right politicians like Mike Pence. And it's happening so often now that it is that which is becoming a crime wave. Just not the one that Mike Pence wants you to think about. Shooting to death innocent people by Republicans. In some ways, what Mike Pence (R-NRA) said in his interview on CBS yesterday was even worse, if that's possible. When pointed out to him that innocent people who shot for doing nothing more than knocking on a door, he replied almost as if writing from a script -- "Well, our hearts go out to the families of lost loved ones and the incidents in Kansas City and in upstate New York. I just can't imagine the pain that they're enduring in that tragedy." Oddly, it's the "Well..." that leaps out as making his words so empty, as if he needed a buffer before expressing the pain he can't imagine and then remembered his prepared speech. And while it's understandable to not be able to imagine such pain, what real empathy does is try to imagine it as far as possible, but not leave it at, "Well, sorry, I can't imagine the pain." And if his heart actually did go out to the families (presuming he had a heart, which isn't fully clear), he'd want to do something to ensure such tragedies didn't happen again. But no, not Mike Pence, because in his next words, he justified it happening again, saying -- "But tragedy should not require us to forfeit our liberty. And the right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms is enshrined in the Constitution of the United States." So, in the Gospel According to Mike Pence, when such shootings happen again, that's the way it should be, because it's the price you pay for living in the United States. He almost makes it like the shooting victims are heroes of America. So much for his heart going out to anyone... Of course, what Pence misses is that this is not about "law-abiding citizens." It's about those who who shot guns at innocent people and even killed some, which are crimes. And which also are enshrined in in our laws. And enshrined, too, in the Declaration of Independence. Y'know, the whole "Life" part in the pursuit of happiness. The only positive thing about what Mike Pence said is that he didn't add that there are good people on both sides. On this week’s ‘Not My Job’ segment of the NPR quiz show Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me!, the guest is Geena Davis. In her happy conversation with guest host Peter Gross (because she says she enthusiastically listens every week), she talks about her early career – and by “early” we mean as far back as when she worked at Ann Taylor (it’s a funny story…). And of course they touch on Thelma & Louise, and a really good casting decision she participated on. And more. She also gets what I think are the most-generous rulings from the judges the show has ever had when she plays the game, seemingly because she appears to be so happy getting a chance to participate.
This the full Wait, Wait… broadcast, but you can jump directly to the “Not My Job” segment, it starts around the 17:30 mark. On this week’s Naked Lunch podcast, hosts Phil Rosenthal and David Wild sit down to eat with comedian and Emmy-nominated star of Hacks on HBO Max, Hannah Einbinder. As they write, “Hannah -- whose mother is famed original "Saturday Night Live" cast member Laraine Newman -- discusses her life in comedy so far, how she landed the lead in Hacks during the Pandemic and the joys of working on the acclaimed series with the legendary Jean Smart. Phil calls another of his favorite comedians Alex Edelman -- who Hannah is dating -- which inspires Einbinder to share a unforgettable story about a harrowing yet hilarious event involving a long hike and a breakfast burrito that you have to hear to believe.”
I can’t embed the audio, but if you click on the link here, it will take you to the website, where you just click on the “Play” arrow underneath the photo. |
AuthorRobert J. Elisberg is a political commentator, screenwriter, novelist, tech writer and also some other things that I just tend to keep forgetting. Feedspot Badge of Honor
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