****The Everything LaVar Ball Thread****

[jjs07]

Some backstory...Lavar Ball has three talented sons who play basketball. Lonzo, is a star at UCLA, Lamelo and Liangelo are both in HS (and UCLA commits.) Lavar Ball has done everything in his power to make his sons basketball dreams, his. He's talking real reckless and bumping his gums way too much. What sucks is that I'm sure his sons are good kids....but there will be so many people wanting them to fail just to spite the dad. Lonzo, I'm sure will have to answer countless questions about his dad when going through the pre-draft process this spring.

Anyways, this could have gone in S&T, but I think this is something that you can see in different realms of parenting when it involves kids. Whether it's the dance mom who's a little extra, music, fashion, etc. It's all out there. Any of you guys see this with your kids, OR do you envision you being that type of parent when the time comes?

 

[Spectacular23]

I saw the episode of First Take with this topic and i cant be mad at Lavar.

He wants best for his child, comparing him to Curry was a bit much, but if you want your child to succeed you set standards for your kid

It puts pressure on Lamelo, but it should also push and drive to be the best.

Either way, all 3 kids should have a good career in basketball.

 

[jjs07]

I saw the episode of First Take with this topic and i cant be mad at Lavar.

He wants best for his child, comparing him to Curry was a bit much, but if you want your child to succeed you set standards for your kid

It puts pressure on Lamelo, but it should also push and drive to be the best.

Either way, all 3 kids should have a good career in basketball.

I think it's 100% fine to want the best for your kid. I just don't think he's going about it in the right way. He's making more about him, than his sons. To me, it's ridiculously selfish.

 

[eracism]

The media is trying to keep a black father down.

Saw a headline last week on Yahoo's front page (the main headline!) that said something like "Lavar Ball Needs to Shut Up". Did anyone else see that or was I trippin? I closed the screen fast because I thought it was way outta pocket and I was trying to think happy thoughts that day.

 

[shogun]

He sounded dumb as hell when he said you'll see how good his son is if you switched him and Steph on ucla and the warriors. Whoever was talking to him should've said ucla would've been the national champ favorite and the warriors would've went down a few notches.

 

[jjs07]

The media is trying to keep a black father down.

Saw a headline last week on Yahoo's front page (the main headline!) that said something like "Lavar Ball Needs to Shut Up". Did anyone else see that or was I trippin? I closed the screen fast because I thought it was way outta pocket and I was trying to think happy thoughts that day.

Explain...

 

[cashbanks]

I don't mind how he feels those your sons I'd be hype as hell and probably pretty obnoxious too but just behind closed doors.

He just should fall back help his kids in anyway he can build them up let the work and your family name do the talking.

But i dont knock him for thinking his sons are the best thing since sliced bread, my son is 2 and if you ask me he's the GOAT

 

[hand2handking]

i think what he means is that when a black father is outspoken and unabashedly supports his son and holds him up as a bastion of black excellence, the white media tries to tear him down and denigrate him

like he is not supposed to speak out but to "know his place"

 

[Trey Bantz]

Let's put it this way because most of our kids aren't going to be pro athletes.

Say your kid was in his/her last year at Harvard Law School. He/she is a stellar student and is being highly recruited by top firms all around the country. Would you come out and publicly say that you only want your child working at so and so firms?

Personally, I wouldn't. Although the comments come out of love, my actions would be hurting my son/daughter throughout the interview and recruiting process and I might be closing doors that otherwise would've been open for him/her.

 

[eracism]

The media is trying to keep a black father down.

Saw a headline last week on Yahoo's front page (the main headline!) that said something like "Lavar Ball Needs to Shut Up". Did anyone else see that or was I trippin? I closed the screen fast because I thought it was way outta pocket and I was trying to think happy thoughts that day.

Explain...

View media item 2350565
View media item 2350576
Outta pocket.

 

[mw2889]

Are we really spinning this into a race thing?

Lavars just an obnoxious father living vicariously through his kids. He basically said his son is better than the 2x reigning MVP, and he hasn't played a single professional game yet. His own kids seem embarrassed by his behavior.

 

[freeze]

Bro said his son is ONLY gonna play for the Lakers dough...so to the 29 other teams they like, oh word? That's how it is? cool.

and then what if Magic isn't interested?


His pops def needs to fall back. Agent will/should nip that in the bud fairly soon.

 

[Trey Bantz]

There are helicopter parents of all colors. Don't see why you guys had to make this a race thing.

 

[jjs07]

The media is trying to keep a black father down.

Saw a headline last week on Yahoo's front page (the main headline!) that said something like "Lavar Ball Needs to Shut Up". Did anyone else see that or was I trippin? I closed the screen fast because I thought it was way outta pocket and I was trying to think happy thoughts that day.

Explain...

View media item 2350565
View media item 2350576
Outta pocket.

Not really seeing why the media is outta pocket for this. Would be one thing if Ball wasn't saying some off the wall stuff...but he's not. He's given folks PLENTY of ammo here. I don't think this is a race issue at all.

 

[jjs07]

i think what he means is that when a black father is outspoken and unabashedly supports his son and holds him up as a bastion of black excellence, the white media tries to tear him down and denigrate him

like he is not supposed to speak out but to "know his place"

He's been criticized by folks of all races.

 

[sfc415]

It's not exclusive to any race. Growing up with many Asian friends/relatives and going to a private school for privileged white kids, I constantly saw parents with no talent trying to force their children to be excellent at things the kids had little to zero interest in. You'd think that it's because they wanted the best for their kids, but to me, it was always about improving their own status and living through the achievements of their children. Always bragging about what their kids accomplished at parties, meetings, etc. as if they personally had something to do with it

 

[stillin729]

i think what he means is that when a black father is outspoken and unabashedly supports his son and holds him up as a bastion of black excellence, the white media tries to tear him down and denigrate him

like he is not supposed to speak out but to "know his place"

every thing doesn't need to be about race

I have heard plenty of African American media members criticize him

he does his sons no favors

 

[jaymosenvied]

I'm not mad at his dad because thats what a father supposed to do. It's sportscenter thats giving him the outlet. Why are they interviewing him?

 

[lamekilla]

Even though he's talking too much, I have immense admiration for a black man not only in his children's life but pushing them to be the best ever. Literally banking on his kids and personally taking the L if they fall short as if it were themselves, how every parent should be.

Richard did this...and we got Serena

Joe did this...and we got Mike

Ain't mad it.

 

[jthagreat]

Elway, Manning, ....

 

[Trey Bantz]

Even though he's talking too much, I have immense admiration for a black man not only in his children's life but pushing them to be the best ever. Literally banking on his kids and personally taking the L if they fall short as if it were themselves, how every parent should be.

Richard did this...and we got Serena

Joe did this...and we got Mike

Ain't mad it.

Pushing your kids so they maximize their potential is fine.

Going on record to his potential future employers and saying you only want him to play for one team isn't. It's potentially limiting his opportunities.

 

[RyGuy45]

Honestly, I find it hard now to weed through what I should be really annoyed about in sports (or celebrity) and what is really no big deal... it's almost impossible now because we have to be angry at everything, and one small sound bite can be blowing up on twitter like it's WW3. I've heard about Ball's dad commenting on his career but haven't paid enough attention to it to determine whether it was him just answering questions from an interviewer or if it's been him holding a press conference at a park with his own bullhorn. It's a difference. In today's world though we pretend it's not.

 

[stillin729]

I didn't care about his dad until he said he will only play for the Lakers

F that noise

 

[quise2024]

I don't think this is a race issue at all.

Its not

It's sportscenter thats giving him the outlet. Why are they interviewing him?

Exactly hop the F off all 4 of these dudes' nuts. I hate all this attention they give amateur athletes now.


At the end of the day majority fall short and the only ones that are going to have to live with all that hype that never panned out will be the kid, not the parent.

 

[Clyde Frog]

He's also trying to start his own clothing brand, create his own shoe brand, and said Lonzo wont have an agent and it will be all in house.

He's gonna take so much of Lonzo's money. Feel bad for him because he seems like a real level headed kid. The other 2 aren't gonna do anything.

Lavar is a clown.