Not Enough Balls…
Genius. Albert Einstein. Steve Jobs. Michael Jackson. Michael Jordan. Eccentric, rare and often misunderstood. Often dismissed as crazy. In my opinion, crazy is a necessity for a genius. Greatness isn’t forged from used molds. It’s created with a unique spark, an uncanny ability to look not only recognize the Matrix but find a way to write new code. Make new rules. Your own rules!
Now trailblazers aren’t responsible for the trees that are chopped down and left in their wake. Their eyes and efforts are focused on the prize, clearing a new path. Any damage caused is collateral. It’s a path to the dream, and if you’re not on the yellow brick road, easing on down with the Dorothy the genius, then maaaan, fawk ya, let the wicked witch have your visionless ass. Enemies will be made along the way. Simply because the way one thinks is different from anyone else’s. One man fits the criteria. One man may be eligible for the title he has already bestowed upon himself.
Genius. Albert Einstein. Steve Jobs. Michael Jackson. Michael Jordan…. and LaVar Ball? Yes, you read that right LAVAR BALL!!! Is he polarizing? Yes. Is he off putting? Yes. Is he different? Unique? Creating enemies? Blazing paths? The answer is simple and it’s not A, B, or C. It’d D ALL THE ABOVE. YES!!
Is he a genius? Before I answer that question, let’s examine the man.
A black man in America, who has managed to raise, 3 sons who ALL have full scholarships to a top division 1 university. Not 1. 3! His eldest Lonzo is projected to be top 3 2018 NBA draft pick, after having a very successful year at UCLA.
Let me repeat, A Black Man in America! The chips are already stacked again him and the bad cards have been dealt before he even sat at the table. The big boys of the game already are looking at you with the “who are you again?” Face. Yet Lavar boldly spits in that Face of authority while yelling “I need 2 billion!!”. To Nike. To Adidas. To Reebok. To whomever.
And while we laughed at this man and told him he was crazy. He smiled and told himself he was a genius…a genius with a plan!! A father with a plan for his sons. A blueprint for the empire! Their empire!! Doing the very thing that any father should try to do. Make a kingdom for their princes to one day rule over. in the case of the royal Ball brother it’s not a crown they have been passed but a shoe company. Understand this, that $500 shoe – that even I will admit is a bit steep for my lower middle class pockets – is a crown jewel in the cap of King LaVar’s cap. He has made his first born, the FIRST black athlete, not with his own shoe. His own shoe Company!
The only draw back to genius is that its not recognized until results are shown. And the Ball family’s genius title rest heavily on the shoulders of its eldest son Lonzo. In the words of Skip Bayless, Lonzo has the target of a tattoo bigger than Lebron James’ “chosen one” emblazoned on his skin. Will he be able to carry that mantle? Will he be able to meet his father’s lofty expectations and predictions? Will he be better than Steph Curry and Lebron? Either way I’m not so sure he has to be THAT good, but he must be DAMN good!! But only time will reveal if the son truly must pay for the sins of the father.
As for the father, I often wonder what our real problem is with LaVar. Is it because he dares to defy the rules? Is it because we in the norm can’t comprehend what goes thru the mind of a mad man aka genius? Is it because we rarely see the image of a black man, demanding respect, commanding power, from those that he may be worthy to challenge, all while building a future for his family that is already making history? The irony is, he may be unworthy in the eyes of John Public, but in his mind and effort he is worthier than us, who dare to criticize. And that makes it clear to me, that there are not enough Balls in the world!
Genius. Albert Einstein. Steve Jobs. Michael Jackson. Michael Jordan. Eccentric, rare and often misunderstood. Often dismissed as crazy. In my opinion, crazy is a necessity for a genius. Greatness isn’t forged from used molds. It’s created with a unique spark, an uncanny ability to look not only recognize the Matrix but find a way to write new code. Make new rules. Your own rules!
Now trailblazers aren’t responsible for the trees that are chopped down and left in their wake. Their eyes and efforts are focused on the prize, clearing a new path. Any damage caused is collateral. It’s a path to the dream, and if you’re not on the yellow brick road, easing on down with the Dorothy the genius, then maaaan, fawk ya, let the wicked witch have your visionless ass. Enemies will be made along the way. Simply because the way one thinks is different from anyone else’s. One man fits the criteria. One man may be eligible for the title he has already bestowed upon himself.
Genius. Albert Einstein. Steve Jobs. Michael Jackson. Michael Jordan…. and LaVar Ball? Yes, you read that right LAVAR BALL!!! Is he polarizing? Yes. Is he off putting? Yes. Is he different? Unique? Creating enemies? Blazing paths? The answer is simple and it’s not A, B, or C. It’d D ALL THE ABOVE. YES!!
Is he a genius? Before I answer that question, let’s examine the man.
A black man in America, who has managed to raise, 3 sons who ALL have full scholarships to a top division 1 university. Not 1. 3! His eldest Lonzo is projected to be top 3 2018 NBA draft pick, after having a very successful year at UCLA.
Let me repeat, A Black Man in America! The chips are already stacked again him and the bad cards have been dealt before he even sat at the table. The big boys of the game already are looking at you with the “who are you again?” Face. Yet Lavar boldly spits in that Face of authority while yelling “I need 2 billion!!”. To Nike. To Adidas. To Reebok. To whomever.
And while we laughed at this man and told him he was crazy. He smiled and told himself he was a genius…a genius with a plan!! A father with a plan for his sons. A blueprint for the empire! Their empire!! Doing the very thing that any father should try to do. Make a kingdom for their princes to one day rule over. in the case of the royal Ball brother it’s not a crown they have been passed but a shoe company. Understand this, that $500 shoe – that even I will admit is a bit steep for my lower middle class pockets – is a crown jewel in the cap of King LaVar’s cap. He has made his first born, the FIRST black athlete, not with his own shoe. His own shoe Company!
The only draw back to genius is that its not recognized until results are shown. And the Ball family’s genius title rest heavily on the shoulders of its eldest son Lonzo. In the words of Skip Bayless, Lonzo has the target of a tattoo bigger than Lebron James’ “chosen one” emblazoned on his skin. Will he be able to carry that mantle? Will he be able to meet his father’s lofty expectations and predictions? Will he be better than Steph Curry and Lebron? Either way I’m not so sure he has to be THAT good, but he must be DAMN good!! But only time will reveal if the son truly must pay for the sins of the father.
As for the father, I often wonder what our real problem is with LaVar. Is it because he dares to defy the rules? Is it because we in the norm can’t comprehend what goes thru the mind of a mad man aka genius? Is it because we rarely see the image of a black man, demanding respect, commanding power, from those that he may be worthy to challenge, all while building a future for his family that is already making history? The irony is, he may be unworthy in the eyes of John Public, but in his mind and effort he is worthier than us, who dare to criticize. And that makes it clear to me, that there are not enough Balls in the world!
– SLANG HUGH
Slang Hugh can be heard as part of the Podcast “The Man Dem” alongside Sir Toks – and found on instagram @slanghugh
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