Be careful what you wish for.
In the early stages of the coronavirus pandemic, before the NBA closing completely and taking an extended break for safety reasons, the NBA sent a note to each team, warning them of the possibility of banning fans from continuing to participate in games.
LeBron James, the undisputed face of the league, still didn’t try to hear that shit.
“Do we play games without fans? No, it’s impossible, “he laughed during a post-game interview. “I’m not playing. If I don’t have fans in the crowd, that’s what I’m playing for. I play for my teammates. Game for fans. That’s what it’s about. If I show up at an arena and there are no fans there, I don’t play. They can do what they want to do. ”
By then, LeBron would finally arrive withdraw this statement and collects his fourth Larry O’Brien trophy along the way – without the presence of fans. But as the world learns to adjust to this new normal, fans have slowly reintegrated into the NBA experience we all know and love.
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As it stands, only a handful of teams allow fans at a reduced capacity, based on local coronavirus guidelines. Los Angeles is not on this list – I know this because I live two blocks from Staples Center – but of course one of them is Atlanta (the mythical country where nightclubs, day parties and for interior Zumba classes are still very important, despite the imminent threat of COVID-19).
On Monday night, as the Lakers and Hawks went to war inside Atlanta’s State Farm Arena, LeBron finally got the urge to play in front of fans and a select number of fans received their I want to finally participate in the NBA action personally. You’d think that after months of stinking Hawks from home, people like Juliana Carlos would be happy just to be in the building. But no! Because some of you missed the Proper Decorum 101 chapter of your adolescence – if you go into people’s refrigerators without permission, that includes, by the way – this happened:
The woman in question – whom LeBron would later call “Courtside Karen” – is Carlos, one of the four people expelled from the arena for engaging in a heated exchange with King James. And for those who are wondering what that “heated exchange” consisted of, You fuck already Barbie was kind enough to go up on Instagram and tell everyone.
Maybe realizing that the barking “Fuck, LeBron! You’re a fucking pussy! “It was bad for her botox, Carlos then regained his composure and apologized – like that.
However, LeBron seems to be completely disturbed by the whole attempt.
“I’m glad the fans are back in the building,” he told reporters. “I miss that interaction. We, as players, need that interaction. ”
Adding: “There was a back and forth between two big men. I said our song. He said his song, I said my song. Then someone else jumped into him and said his song. I didn’t think they should have been fired. But he might have had a few drinks […] The referees did what they had to do. ”
Not exactly the best way to start Black History Month, but at least we still have it second annual Blackest Awards.