“Where we stand depends largely upon where we sit.” This quote sums up many of these assumptions based on the misinformation these posters seem to have been fed. The few games they’ve seen of Kevin Garnett and the few things read about him display a small part of him as a person and as a player. Undoubtedly some of it is associated with negative, emotional, immature outbursts. Frankly, it seems outright ignorant to judge a man based on watching a few months out of his almost 15 year career. Let’s not hold these men to standards we couldn’t hope to measure up to ourselves. Players like KG, Sheed, Artest, AI, Kobe, Josh Howard, Plexico, Randy Moss, etc. are all players that are great at sports and because of that are scrutinized for everything they do. Nobody gives a shyt about the good things they do, the leadership they exhibit, or the ubiquity of altruism oozing from some of these men’s pores. We simply catch them during human moments and proclaim them unfit to be role models.
I’ve followed KG since 95. I followed as he toiled in obscurity for 12 years without faltering ONCE in the ways that so many others in the spotlight have. As Randy Moss was judged for not being the perfect role model KG just kept it moving, giving us solace in the fact that we’ll never wake up to find out KG’s out on bail for gun charges or for running over a parking attendant. We knew that no matter how selfish Marbury would become, no matter how inept McHale would prove to be, how unaware Glen Taylor would be, how stupid Spree would be, how fragile Terrell Brandon would be, or how bad the franchise would be, KG would be an unwavering sign of commitment. He wouldn’t bad mouth people in public, but might periodically punch a teammate in practice.
I matriculated through high school and college finding some comfort in the fact even though KG took a ridiculous contract (oh no, another sign of him being human) he displayed a sense for his social responsibility unseen in this state, ever. As other celebrities spent their time occupying our gossip conversations KG spent time being courted by Oprah and in the communities, carrying out what Oprah proclaimed a mission by a man big enough to realize just how small he is in this world.
On the court, I’ve watched a young man do some impressive, unfathomably athletic, and talented things. I’ve watched him do some straight out strange things. I’ve watched him do some stupid things. After watching him never throw in the towel even when he was surrounded by Ricky Davis and Mike James as second fiddles (I’m embarrassed to even say that) one gains an appreciation for his commitment to the game. After watching his countless emotional interviews, most memorably the John Thompson interview, one understands how dedicated to achievement he is. Then I’ve also seen him get down on all fours, something he started in the late 90’s (to the best of my knowledge) and has done when he is pumped up and intent on imposing his will on the defensive end. Disrespectful or not, it’s fun(ny?) to watch and always makes me chuckle. There could be much more disrespectful situations than that.
I remember KG crossing AC Green over so bad he slipped out of bounds, then continuing to the hoop for a dunk only to get thrown to the ground by the Big Fella. He got up clapping in Shaq’s face to let him know he wasn’t fazed. Shaq proceeded to dunk on him a few possessions later, proving that he’s not the one to aggravate. KG has since learned his lesson there. He also slapped Duncan in the back of the head after Joe Smith and The Admiral got a little heated. Duncan responded by sheepishly growling at KG and running to Pop to ask if he could file a police report or something. KG’s continued to be an annoying pest to Duncan as he gets away with it. He’s punched Wally and Rickert. As a Wolf he’s gone face to face with A. Peeler, McDyess, Sheed, Christie, Clifford Robinson (probably because he could NEVER score on him, fyck I hated that), and countless others. When the confrontations worked, he kept it up, when it didn’t, he quit. I suppose that makes him a bit of a bully on the court. He messes with people if it intimidates them and doesn’t if it’s not worth the hassle. Anyway, these situations don’t even account for his post Wolves’ altercations, which have been much better documented because he’s now in the spotlight.
The above paragraph proves he’s prone to the immaturity of a man as flawed as the rest of us. He's less prone to ever provoke Shaq again because he visibly lost that battle. He's more likely to prod Zaza Pachulia again. But then again Kobe got beat up by Reggie Miller and Chris Childs. Michael Jordan was the biggest A-Hole of all time...and he cheated on his wife. Shyt, even MLK Jr. compromised his fidelity time and time again while on the road. That's called being human. I know my place, and it's not in passing judgments on others' lives based on what they don't do, because then I'm missing out on what they have done.
“Let everyone sweep in front of their own door and the whole world will be clean.” Let’s worry less about what others aren’t perfect at and start worrying about what we, the everyday people who are no less important in straightening our spokes in the wheel of life, are doing to make our contribution felt.
