Counterpoint: Put MORE celebs on NBA sidelines
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We're on the eve of the NBA Finals, and the biggest story out of Toronto is ... Drake?
Yes, the rapper/ex-DeGrassi star is a huge Raptors fan. That in itself isn't a surprise. Drake has a way of edging into the shotgun seat of two or three bandwagons a year. He's sported the logos of half the teams in pro and college sports (and Kenny Chesney has sported the other half). Granted, there's no crime in being a front-running bandwagon-jumper; our own Hannah Keyser is happy to provide you with a suitable bandwagon to latch onto each week.
The problem with Drake is that he appears to think he's not just part of the fanbase, but part of the team. And not in the usual "we need to beat Golden State" way, but in a "massage the coach's shoulders during the damn game" way.
Drake's sideline antics are designed to draw attention — shocker! — and now they've done just that, bringing the watchful eye of NBA commissioner Adam Silver onto the Toronto sideline.In a discussion with Yahoo Sports' Chris Haynes, Silver noted that he and Drake have come to an understanding. “I think Drake understands that as excited as he is and as appreciative as we are of his support, that there’s gotta be lines drawn," Silver said.
Yeah, probably so. But hear me out. What if we go the other way? What if we assign celebrity ambassadors to every NBA team? Some icons are already in place — think Jack Nicholson with the Lakers and Spike Lee with the Knicks — and some are natural, frequent hookups, like Aaron Rodgers with the Bucks and Ludacris with the Hawks.
So let's take this to the next level. Every team can protect a celebrity or two, should it so desire. Teams in celebrity-free zones — what up, Oklahoma City — would have the right to draft from a pool of unclaimed celebs. Want Ryan Reynolds stalking your sideline in full Deadpool gear? How about Emilia Clarke in full khaleesi garb? The NBA can, and should, make it happen.
The NBA's the only sport where the fans can get right up in the action and trade jabs, verbal or otherwise, with the players. Why not ensure those fans bring something extra to courtside? Otherwise you're looking at a whole front row of trial attorneys, trophy wives and trust-fund babies, and come on, who wants to see that?
Do the right thing, NBA. Hold a celebrity fan draft, and own the sports media every night of the season.
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