Gaudy Numbers? Kobe’s Got ‘Em
A disturbing trend in sports: the misuse of the word gaudy. When a player has good stats, or when a team is doing well, players, coaches, fans, everyone is calling it gaudy. “Man, did you see that game last night? That fool’s stats were gaudy.” Even Flip Saunders said Detroit’s franchise-best 20-3 start is gaudy. Do they know that gaudy means “showy in a tasteless or vulgar way”? When did doing well become tastleless or vulgar? I guess if a team or player is doing so well that it puts the other team to shame, then it could be tasteless. For example, being up by a large margin, knowing you have the victory in hand, yet still going out there and killing them? Kind of like rubbing it in, maybe?
Well, if that’s the case, a 20-3 start is hardly gaudy. It’s stellar, fantastic, amazing, but gaudy?
On the other hand, what Kobe did to the Mavericks tonight was pretty gaudy. He destroyed us (62 points on 18-31 shooting, 22-25 from the stripe), and only needed three quarters to do it (if Phil Jackson left him in for the 4th quarter, that would’ve been downright gaudy. Man, that would’ve been wrong). That’s the Kobe Bryant I did not want to see against the Mavericks. Any other team besides the Mavericks, please!
Kobe reminded us why he’s still the best shooting guard in the NBA. Marc Stein reminded us that as long as his team sucks, Kobe should keep shooting lights out. Because eventually, he’s going to have a night like he had tonight, and anyone witnessing it (Laker fan or otherwise) will be in for a treat.
But for goodness sake, Kobe, why against the Mavericks?!?
We need a Kobe stopper. Is Artest still available? How about Ruben Patterson?
(Tongue placed firmly in cheek)