The story of Draymond Green and the NBA finals.
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Part of the back story to the exciting National Basketball Association Playoffs 2016, is the one about the fairness of Golden State Warrior’s Draymond Green’s suspension from Game 5 of the Finals. All year long no player has spent more time on the basketball court for his team than Mr. Green,the team that won more games in the regular season than any other n the history of the NBA. How outrageous that he would be missing from the home game, where the Warriors could have beat the Cleveland Cavaliers and won the National Basketball Association Championship, had he been present and playing as usual. Without Green his team was lost.
Playing as usual for Mr. Green, includes discreetly kicking opposing players in the testicles. His repeated indiscretion in applying this strategy led to a one game suspension from being able to play basketball in Game 5.
As most men know, a bigger, stronger, highly skilled male opponent, who has dedicated themselves to honing their competitive skills, can be dispatched quite easily with a well placed blow below the belt line.
While such a move may be applauded in street fighting and self defense, it is generally frowned upon in professional sports. Causing pain to a man’s body in this way is always against the rules. Sometimes there are consequences for being observed not following them.
Boys typically learn, at an early age, that if they are misfortunate enough to “take it in the nuts,” that they can count on their peers to empathize by laughing long and hard.
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Many fans think the NBA got a little too carried away, after all none of Mr. Greens victims have needed to be carried off the basketball court. Is what he had been doing such a problem that he should have to sit in some “time out” place, and not even allowed to be inside the Warriors’ Oracle Arena during the game? Come on.
Hard blows to a man’s balls is generally hilarious. A very popular television show in the USA for many years called America’s Funniest Home Videos, has served up some of the funniest real life examples of this injury, hundreds of them. This is equal opportunity male comedy. Men of all races, ethnicities, creeds, colors, and gender identifications, all can evoke laughter in this fashion.
Women may never get the opportunity to provide entertainment in this way. This is more a matter of anatomy, than the politics of being born female. It has much to do with the culture of being a boy.
Boys typically learn, at an early age, that if they are misfortunate enough to “take it in the nuts,” that they can count on their peers to empathize by laughing long and hard. Boys quickly learn that the proper thing to do is to laugh along.
If there is a form of common male socialization that can provide a metaphor for the restriction of male emotional response in public, how to handle pain in the male groin area is that form.
Maybe one day, this happening to a man, will get few laughs and much sympathy and strong efforts towards prevention. As for today, Treyvon Green will play in the final Game 7, to determine the NBA Championship on Sunday, because he kept his arms and feet away from the balls of the opposition in Game 6, yesterday. His focus was on the big orange ball that should be his focus.
I would like to close with a funny story or two about a time when I got struck in the groin. I just can’t think of any right now. Not a single one.
I do remember how much I am looking forward to watching Game 7. Go Cleveland! I kind of like the Warriors too. However If they win, my emotional response will be restricted.
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