The fix is in, the NBA is rigged

The NBA is rigged.

How long have I known this?

I don't know, 2002, before that? I remember game six, and I thought it was crooked six years ago. It was obvious then, a great series, ruined.

Fast forward to Lakers-Spurs this year, when Fisher’s elbow came down on Barry’s head and the TNT guys said Brent Barry can’t take that shot at the end of a game because he won’t blindly fire up the ball and throw his arms out like he was shot in the back. You know why Barry didn’t do that? Because he wasn’t sure he’d get the call. Kobe Bryant gets that call, Ginobli gets that call. Brent Barry doesn’t get that call.

So I’ve had it. I can't follow the NBA anymore. I’m not tuning in tonight. I’m through. No more rooting against Kobe. No more bitching that KG had a chance to score six points in the last three minutes of game 5 and came up with zero. No more hoping the Warriors are able to draft Kevin Love, and no more Monta Ellis. I’m done.

Why shouldn't I be? There is no way the Lakers can come back and win two games in Boston. Not when Boston will get every break and every call going their way. Not with Bennett Salvatore looking the other way when Kobe gets slapped around and blowing the whistle everytime Pierce gets touched when he attacks the hoop.

That's the thing, I want Boston to win, I hate the Lakers. I hate Kobe, and I love the fact that he's missed every big three he's taken in this series and that it's blatantly obvious to everyone who's not a Lakers fan that he's a huge asshole.

(Can we put the Jordan comparisons to rest? Jordan won six titles on teams where he was the best player. Kobe won three titles on teams where Shaq was the best player, checked out in the 04 finals against Detroit and hasn't played that well against Boston, so let it go. He's not Jordan, he'll never be Jordan, end of discussion. With that being said, if anybody else pushes off like he did in 98 it's an offensive foul. The fix was in then)

There is something wrong with the NBA. Something’s not on the level. Kobe shot twenty three field goals in game 2, and went to the line seven times. In game 3 he shot twenty field goals and went to the line eighteen times. Eighteen. Now I’ve heard it said that he started settling for jumpers in game two but that’s a load of bullshit. I counted three drives in that game where Kobe went to the basket, got hacked and didn’t get a whistle. Which is fine if that’s the way the refs call every game, but there’s a clear distinction between a foul for the road team, and a foul for HOME, and you won’t find it in the rule book.

Anybody who watches the game accepts that you don’t get certain calls at home, that a foul against Kobe doesn’t have to be as blatant as a foul on Matt Barnes(Which makes no sense. How does it help competitive balance to give the superstars an edge over everyone else? Aren’t the superstars supposed to possess that edge with their ability? Isn’t that why they’re superstars?). That the refs stuff their whistles in their pockets during the final seconds of close games(Unless, you’re a superstar, the handicap placard of the NBA).

Why am i watching?
I just accept that professional basketball is played this way? As opposed to every other sport?

I just can’t do it anymore. I stopped watching wrestling too.

When i was ten, and I'm a grown man now.

Is there even an argument anymore?