Voice of the 'Fan

LaVar "Big Mouth" Ball has done it again. Worse, another coach is following his lead.

Back home in his native California, Ball was hit with a technical in a game over the weekend, and, predictably, pulled his team off the court, forfeiting a game they were leading by a mere six points. This was the 3rd time this summer that Ball has taken this ridiculous tack. He's accusing the opponents of cheating, though no evidence has been presented to corroborate these claims. Instead, Ball is acting like a spoiled child, and it's having a negative effect on not only his team, but the tournaments they're playing in, both in California and Nevada.

Like, seriously? Who does that?

In Kansas, Monte Harrison, upset over his team drawing a grand total of six techs, including one to Harrison, forfeited a game that his squad was losing. I would say that this would be out of frustration, not just because of the fouls, but because the team, which includes Manute Bol's son, Bol Bol, isn't playing up to expectations, or so it'd seem.

To the laymen, Harrison is simply copycatting what Ball's been doing out West, but it sets a dangerous precedent, one that shouldn't be followed under any circumstances.

Remember when Vince Lombardi said that winning wasn't everything, but the only thing? He didn't teach any bad behaviors to his teams. Most coaches don't. LaVar Ball is milking his 15 minutes by being a total ™™™™™™™ every chance he gets. Now, the clones are starting to come out of the woodwork, and we don't need that. Harrison should be ashamed of himself as well, taking on the mistaken notion that Ball was doing something cool. He most certainly was not.

How many more fools will follow? Lord only knows. Think of the lessons being taught here. This is not social activism disguised as sports. You have a stage parent acting like a fool, and a more established coach now decides to copy him, ruining his own reputation.

You learn from winning, and you learn from losing. The Big Baller Brand kids aren't getting that message. Just a bunch of gaga from a Kool-Aid swilling fool. To paraphrase Mr. T, don't pity LaVar Ball. All he needs is shame.