Over the
past couple of months, my Twitter feed has been full of talk about the NBA
playoffs. And the overwhelming majority of the chatter has focused on the
ineptitude of the referees. I can understand an occasional bit of criticism toward
the “Zebras,” but I’m starting to think the complaints mark a cultural
transition that we ought to pay attention to.
Postmodernity
might have something to do with it. For those who aren’t familiar,
postmodernity is what comes after modernity (might not mean much to those who
aren’t familiar with modernity).
In the
modern era (1500-1960s), science and rationality ruled the world. Progress was
inevitable. We conceived of a day when we might be able to create a utopia
through invention, medicine, and industry.
But the
bloodiest century in history, the 20th century, put those dreams to
rest. World War I & II weren’t necessarily indicators of a world nearing
progress and utopia. Add the scientific discoveries of relativity, quantum
physics, and an AIDS epidemic that took the world by storm and you begin to
understand postmodernity.
So, what
does this all have to do with the NBA? Well, postmodernity included a strong
pessimism about authority. You can’t trust world superpowers that go to war for
resources. You can’t trust preachers who build growing empires while embroiled
in sexual and financial scandals. And as the divorce rate grew steadily, you
can’t even trust your parents will remain together.
And you
certainly can’t trust the refs.
We have more
information at our fingertips than ever before. And that information leads to
our doubts as well.
-Instant
replay makes us the instant arbitrators of truth.
-I remember
reading a stat I couldn’t believe anyone could know. During the Mavericks
playoff run in 2011, I heard a stat that the Mavericks were 2-18 when Joey
Crawford was officiating.
-Tim Donaghy
resigned as an NBA referee after allegations surfaced that he had bet on games
that he had officiated over.
Who can you
trust?
Certainly
not doctors! Admit it, 90% of the time you have already pre-diagnosed yourself on
WebMD before you ever step foot in the Doctor’s office. What could a doctor
know that WebMD doesn’t?
Certainly
not teachers! Years ago, parents waited at home with a spanking waiting when
the teacher sent a note home about their student’s bad behavior. Today, kids
have parents in the palm of their hand and the teachers have little support
from parents.
Certainly
not Little League coaches! Have you been to Little League baseball game lately?
There’s always the annoying dad who watched Fred McGriff’s training video circa
1994 who is coaching up the kids opposite the advice of the coach on the field.
Certainly
not preachers! Preachers: Just try disagreeing with the NIV Study Bible one
morning and you can be sure Monday night’s elder meeting will include a “heresy
trial.”
Certainly
not politicians! Wait, I’m not going to try to defend this one.
We’ve lost
our ability to let specialists specialize in anything. After one 30-minute
Google search, all of a sudden we know more than a doctor who spent a decade
training to give us informed care.
I get it.
Refs blow some calls. Some of those calls go against your team. And you found
an article that emphasized a certain stat that proves Crawford hates your team.
But all of
this questioning of authority cheapens the game. It’s not just the “floppers”
who are ruining the game. It’s the fans who “cry foul” on every replay they’re
given. And it doesn’t just cheapen the other team’s championship. It will
cheapen your team’s title next year.
So, lay off
the refs. And the doctors. And the preachers. And the judges.
Hey, did you
see that call?!?
