I am not a Russell Westbrook fan. In fact, I’d go so far as to say that Westbrook is the player I like the least in the NBA. I believe he’s a selfish, inefficient player who is all about padding his own stats.
It frustrates me that his flaws are often overlooked by the national media and by basketball fans in general because of the highlights he generates. We tune in to “Sports Center” and see his vicious dunks and explosive drives to the basket. They are amazing, and he’s a generational talent. Because of those highlights, though, the general public and media often ignore his arrogance, abysmal assist-to-turnover-ratio, and hapless shooting percentage.
I offer my opinion about Westbrook to hopefully demonstrate that I am by no stretch an apologist for him. In fact, it is my disdain for him that makes it so painful to agree with his postgame criticism of Utah Jazz fans.
As fans, we want to dismiss his comments about the vulgarity and personal insults he hears from fans “especially in Utah” as “sour grapes” and being a sore loser. Maybe he is just being a poor sport. It certainly matches his pattern of behavior. Whether he’s being a sore loser or not, his comments should cause us some pause for self-reflection.
I have attended hundreds of sporting events live throughout my life — Jazz games and otherwise. Nearly every time I attend a Jazz game, I have left embarrassed about something that a Jazz fan did or said. I have heard the most vile insults under the roof of the Salt Palace, Delta Center, Energy Solutions Arena, Vivint Smart Home Arena, etc., that still make me cringe just thinking about them — racist epithets, homophobic slurs, personal insults and more.
Westbrook’s comments Friday night felt especially apropos given my experience at the same game. I spent a lot of money on tickets and arranged babysitting. My wife and I were excited to watch our Jazz close this series out.
Seated clear up in the upper bowl, two men next to me began hurling personal insults and vulgarities at players and Oklahoma City fans even before tipoff. It was offensive and embarrassing.
After the first quarter, I finally asked them politely and calmly to stop using the word “fag” and making other derogatory comments about LGBTQ people. They immediately turned on me, trying to get me to fight them for the rest of the game.
Seriously, I felt as if I were facing a bully in high school as I had these men in my face saying, “Come on! Fight me!” I’m embarrassed for them.
Jazz fans: Cheer, yell, boo, go crazy when Westbrook chucks up his fourth airball of the game! I just ask you to be aware of the line. It’s painful to admit it, but Westbrook was right.
Ben Belnap
Ben Belnap, Heber City, creates and conducts professional development courses for educators and is a practicing psychologist.
