Welcome to society, Kevin Garnett.
For more than a decade in Minnesota, you were beloved. People marveled at your ability. People loved your intensity. People used your loyalty as an example. You had everything. Why else would someone stuck on mediocre teams in a small market become a marketing God? Your intense emotions on the court were tempered by an infectious smile and polite demeanor off the court. Perfect.
Then you came to Boston. And you didn't notice it right away, but that's when people started to tear you down. Sure, people were happy to see you get your ring, but some people suddenly started scratching their heads about you.
"Did KG really get down on all fours?"
"Does KG really need to yell like that?"
"Does KG shut up at all on the court?"
What has changed about Garnett? Nothing but his address, really. On the court, he's still the same guy. But he's the same guy on a team that gets more attention. Celtics games are on national TV all the time. They're the champs, so their highlight packages are a little longer. There are more opportunities for people to see what KG does and how he acts. He's doing nothing different, it's just more people are finally seeing the things he's always done.
And that's part of the problem with humanity. People react to something they've never seen before as if it's something new that's happening. The treatment of KG is like someone coming out of a locked room after 30 years, seeing his first ever sunrise, and then writing 500 words about a giant fireball that will surely kill us all. To the people who have seen it forever, this person comes off as a kook. But the people who have also never seen it think "maybe he's got something there."
Many words are being written about Kevin Garnett lately. Fewer of them are positive. The phenomenon was broken down by ESPN's True Hoop and mocked by Dime's re-writing of a classic Chapelle's show skit to include Garnett. Some of the shots at Garnett are pretty funny and harmless. Some of them are downright advocating hatred. And while I won't sit here and defend everything he does (chasing Jose Calderon down the court probably should have been a technical foul), I will defend the things people don't understand (Glen Davis' reaction aside, an emotional outburst on the bench helps his teammates).
I never knew the full extent of Garnett's emotions and intensity until he joined the Celtics. It's his fuel. He can't turn it off. Not only that, it feeds his teammates and makes them raise their games (exhibit A: Kendrick Perkins). But human nature being what it is, people will at the same time criticize Tim Duncan for not having enough emotion and KG for having too much. The masses, sadly, are never happy. Kevin Garnett may be exceptional on the court, but off the court, he's no exception to the rules of fame. He was built up for years in Minnesota. Now that he's reached the top in Boston, he's being torn down.
Comments
I think the issue arises from him no longer being the underdog. He was the Red Sox; the lovable loser. Now that he has won and is successful, people's jealousy shines through.
We love to root for the underdog, but just as much many people love to see successful people receive their comeuppance.
KG feels it and delivers it! His emotions key the actualization of his potential as a player and it elevates his teammates as well. It probably elevates opponents to a certain extent. Watching someone whose extraordinary spirit is so close to the surface is raw and rare. He shows us so much more than what we are able to produce. Maybe we feel it, but we cannot do it like KG. I am just so grateful to have the chance to watch him in all of his profane and human glory here in Boston. What these guys are doing is very very special and we should all enjoy it and marvel.
The Celts are under a huge spotlight. They delivered probably the biggest, most successful, blockbuster trade in the last eight years, and any possible flaw this season will surely be magnified by the media.
That being said, a balanced, fair approach to how they are treating the emotional KG.
Some would disagree with me on AI, but if I had to choose, I'd always have AI and KG on my team.
People complain when athletes aren't genuine.... then complain when they are. People just won't be happy
I love the guy and so does my 12yr old son.My only problem with him is his dirty language on the court.Children are watching and you can clearly read his lips.I'm not a prude but surely he can think of something more appropriate to yell out when he is exited.He's so talented and it takes away from it.My son loves playing and is on 3 teams and I always tell him no matter what happens good or bad act like a gentlemen.
Well... I can't really defend that. KG probably has the foulest mouth in the NBA.
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