“Don’t believe everything you think.”
– Popular bumper sticker
As Markieff Morris flew to the floor, I admittedly stood up and started cheering and clapping. Nikola Jokic looked as incensed as I felt. My poor 81-year old father, who had fallen asleep in a chair across the room, was suddenly sitting up and trying to decide who was attacking and if he had peed a little when I jolted him from his late nap. If you are unfamiliar with the play in question, you’ve been missing the most widely-covered Nuggets news in some time. In my mind, Jokic had done unquestionably the right thing in standing up for himself after a play that looked double dirty. Morris stayed on the floor, but I was certain he was dogging it after doing his usual cheap shot bullsh–.
Moreover, I was RIGHT. I was obviously right. My initial assessment that Morris had hit not only Jokic’s ribs, but his knee, proved to be correct in replay, and I was sure his fall had been dramatized for impact, especially the second he was able to suddenly stand and walk off when a stretcher showed up. Just a big faker. Right? The following day, I went looking for opinions on the topic, and was gratified to find the stratosphere primarily agreed with me. Blog after blog and post after post agreed with me. Articles and video too. Shaq and Chuck even agreed with me. Hell, even dad agreed with me once he’d watched the replay and double-checked his drawers. I. Was. Right.
Right?
Well, sure I was, at least for 99% of the crowd I was hanging out with. All of my Nuggets reads were filled with commentary by Nuggets fans who *gasp* heartily agreed with me. In retrospect, maybe I’d stumbled over some national reviews that were also negative – some even ridiculous and hyperbolic – hollering about Joker’s swipe at half the Morii, but I just chalked that up to the internet’s need to feed the beast. I was right. I was right!
Right?
Hmm. I went out to a few Heat-related blogs and posts, and found a very different opinion. There was outrage not only at Jokic’s cheap shot in reaction to a “minor frustration foul”, but at the idea that he might just get off from any punishment whatsoever for being “Mr. aw-shucks MVP”. I mean, Morris was suffering from whiplash. That must have been pretty traumatic. Right? Everyone on that side of the coin was screaming bloody murder about their perspective, and simply putting up a fight for their guy. I mean, if their guy wasn’t right… does that mean… they aren’t right? Surely, they think, their guy is right.
Right?
“We are the hero of our own story”
– Mary McCarthy
When recently delivering some pretty tough news to a family member of a heartbreaking nature, I told myself that the heartbreak was an unfortunate side effect of trying to do the right thing after some truly agonizing self-reflection. In watching the devastation such terrible news can cause, I’m suddenly still not ready to embrace the idea that what I did was fully the right thing. Apparently the hero of my own story is self-soothing his angst with a lot of fast food and sleepless nights. But it was still the right thing. Still the right thing. Still the f—ing right thing.
Right?
To his credit, and showing what kind of a man he is, Jokic took his portion of the blame for the trouble that ensued after the Monday night fracas, relaying his sorrow over his actions, and hoping Morris wasn’t hurt. I’m sure Morris is also feeling similarly troubled by his part of the meleé, but apparently his regrets are… lost in the mail? Maybe he’ll do something grandiose, like renting a blimp. We’ll all just wait here while he decides… Since we all already know what’s right.
Right?
So, in addition to Nuggets Nation, Miami’s fanbase, Strahinja, Nemanja, Marcus, Marcus’ Momma, and every other hero of their own story who has picked their side, we all know what’s right. As simply as CNN watchers and Fox News watchers are sure, as simply as those staring hard at each other across borders or backyards are sure. We know we’re right, we know “our guy” is right. Thank god. At least we are right.
Right?
“Don’t let the wish be the father of the thought.”
– Charlie Skinner via Aaron Sorkin, “The Newsroom”
0 Comments (2 conversations)
MichaelShields
Fun read Mike! Right? Right.
gicuenitro
Very well written Mike. Thank you for that insightful piece that was full of facts, our own created facts and the facts we don’t wanna accept right?
I know I’m a Nugget fan but I whole heartedly agree well with you and your father now that we know he’s good down there. Hehe. But as heat fans disagree and some have a valid point. Jokić did let out his two-three year non-stop no call-beat up-frustrated self get the better of him only after he was really cheapshotted. We know him as a person who wouldn’t hurt a fly but in that moment. That tiny moment he had enough. And in my opinion he should in the back of his mine be like “im the #!@$ M-V-P and I dont make a big deal about it or even want the trophy but if they are going to anoint me then at least protect me like you would any other player let alone any mvp. How insane would jokers numbers be if he got just half or a third of the calls “he’s supposed to get” not calls that he “should get as mvp” because I don’t like that stuff at all. Yeah, there should be a certain amount of attention payed resulting in what should be a tiny uptick or huge uptick in his free throw numbers. And that’s only free throws.
I know. I’m still right I my own head and not necessarily right by the publics own admission. But I think it was “right” mainly because there comes a time as you know where you must stand up for yourself after having enough straw to break the camels back and your kind ways have gotten you nowhere but down in the eyes of competitors /coaches and the NBA itself. You see much Joker in their promos or any word of his feats even as they become historically unprecedented? Nope. And does he need to shoulder check Morris to prove that or change that? Also No. But does he deserve the right in that tiny moment to make the right or wrong decision based on your side? Absolutely yes he does damn the consequences!
I guess I’m just saying that I’m proud of our Joker. And not for the specific action he took in reaction to morris’ cheap shot and acting job. For the man and MVP he is and was after it happened. Apologized for his role. Wished the other man hood health and move on. Let Nemanja and Strahinja take over from there if that’s what the heat and Morris twins want. I promise you they don’t want any of that smoke though.
Anyways. Thanks again for such a great article. It really got ya thinking. And it shows how divided we can all be ok things we “know” is right. Right?
Hope you’re dad’s doing well! God bless you both! Great work Mike! ?