I can only say you've got to be kidding with that statement. Get outside and talk to people every once in a while.
My intent was not to demonize the rich, but to point out that the people involved with the Rockets all have a golden parachutes, most fans don't. It is a matter of putting everthing in perspective. The Rockets are an entertainment venue, and if we as fans become overstressed with their problems, fantasy has gone too far.
I talk to people "outside" everyday... it's my job. I wasn't aware that rappers went around glamorizing being poor, rapping about their inability to purchase Bentleys and platinum chains. I didn't know shows like "The Apprentice" and "The Simple Life," about people who are famous for simply being rich, did so poorly in the ratings. I didn't know that flashing some bling or a wad of cash in the club won't get you blown by six or seven hoochies. I didn't know that rich people like Robert Durst right here in the Houston area can't get away with killing a man and chopping up his body. I guess I wasn't aware that people waste thousands of dollars every year playing the lottery on the ridiculous hope that they'll magically get rich, because being rich solves ALL your problems. I guess I SHOULD get out more. 'Cause I was under the impression that rich people, especially celebrities who were born into their wealth or lucked into it, don't have a whole hell of a lot to complain about. Solid, you said it, pal. I like watching the Rockets, and I liked JJ a lot. But a children's game made him a multimillionaire. He's an entertainer. I don't begrudge him his wealth; as I've said, I like the guy. But as I said before... he ain't losing his mortgage. JJ will be just fine, and good for him.
And what about the non-celebrity rich far outnumber the celebrities which you are limiting your argument to. Do they also receive the same worship? Hell no. Get real. In this society there seems to be a common jealousy or dislike for this kind of rich person and it disgusts me because it is simply people demonizing people that have what they don't, but want to have instead of these people getting off their lazy asses and doing something to get there themselves. I'm afraid the point of my first post was not about the perception of celebrities because, as you have so obviously pointed out, they are celebrated (whether they're celebrated because of their wealth instead of their talents is definitely up for debate).
We aren't discussing "non-celebrity rich" people. We're discussing basketball players. Some of the most celebrated, worshipped rich people on the planet. Thanks for drawing the distinction. As far as non-celebritities not getting worshipped, GOOD. They SHOULDN'T be worshipped. CELEBRITIES shouldn't be fawned over so damn much themselves. That's what solid's post was about. A year from now, Jim Jackson will either be playing basketball for millions, or be retired with millions. Not a bad life either way you slice it. So let's just cut out all the "injustice" and "not fair" talk. If life was fair, JJ would make a comfortable living and Martin Luther King and Ghandi would be living out their days in wealthy luxury. But I guess they should have gotten off their lazy asses, right? Jesus Christ himself said, "It is harder for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven." I guess he was jealous of all the things rich people had. It's a shame they weren't talented enough to become pro atheletes and didn't get off their lazy asses long enough to get through law school or play the markets; then they maybe would have had the cash to hire security to prevent them from being murdered. Oh well. Desiring "equal treatment" for the rich isn't the same as "demonizing" them. If my job told me to move to New Orleans or find another line of work, I'd have the choice to comply or lose my job. Doesn't matter how much I liked my job in Houston or whether I thought the move was "fair." Yet you believe asking the same of Jim Jackson constitutes demonizing him.
Well, I bought the seinfeld DVD. After every loss, I turned on the seinfeld show, after a couple of laughs, I usually found myself not that stressed. The other thing was that I stop watching every single game either live or tivo without knowing the result. I found it wasnt too bad that I knew the loss already.
I think you need to read Solid's post again. We're not discussing basketball players. We're discussing team ownership, that would be businessmen who worked their asses off to make enough money that puts them in a position to own major sports franchises. Stop trying to think up your next snappy comeback and stick to the freakin' issue at hand.
You really think they were snappy? Jim Jackson created this mess, not Les Alexander, at least from my view. As far as I'm concerned, he'd have to be *at least* included in solid's post. In any case, I guess we're just not going to see eye to eye on this issue, so I'll just (virtually) shake your (virtual) hand and let someone else talk for a while.
This BBS, provided for free by Clutch, is the best balm for this Rockets fan. My head would have exploded long ago were it not for being able to read the order and chaos posted here. The chaos certainly seems the most noticeable, but there is some order in here as well. (sorry, I'm reading a novel about order and chaos) I am stressed. Watching this team perform as it has, with the coaching it has, with the personnel moves it has made, with it's descent into more chaos than a fan should have to put up with, along with an insane inconsistency that seems to come from the coach on down the line, has me in a most stressed condition. I find that watching old Rockets games can be a stress reliever. Until you think to compare them with the product on the floor today.
