Boston's Kevin Garnett Fails to Shake Hands with Heat Following Series End

It’s time for someone in sports media needs to metaphorically punch the Big Ticket squarely in his potty mouth. 

Following a poor display of sportsmanship after Saturday’s Game 7 loss in the NBA Eastern Conference Finals in Miami, Kevin Garnett remains unscathed from media scrutiny for failing to shake hands with the victorious Heat after the game’s final whistle had blown.

This perennial NBA All-Star may have kept his constantly revving, profanity laced motor-mouth shut following Boston’s disappointing exit from the NBA Playoffs, but his post-game silence screamed loudly because of the customary sportsmanlike gesture following all sports at any level that he never attempted. 

Imagine if the proverbial hand was hanging from another All-Star’s arm, like LeBron James? Hurricane gusts of media criticism would have immediately blustered out of Miami’s American Airlines Arena.

When James stormed off the court in Cleveland a few years back after the Orlando Magic eliminated his Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals, the media excoriated LeBron. The onslaught of vilification continued unabated through last year’s NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and James’ new team, the Miami Heat. 

So, why crucify the King and allow skinny Kevin to skate? Not right. 

Although not the pop culture icon and basketball superstar that James has become, Garnett still carries clout as an accomplished player, a recognized Adidas spokesman and a respected, wizened face of the NBA. He needs to be accountable for his failed simple gesture when two-thirds of the celebrated Boston Big Three, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, exhibited grace and class in conceding the series to the rival Heat. 

Garnett needs to be called on the same carpet as James. His immature behavior was unnecessary which the media needs to reprove with the same reproach it meted out toward LeBron James a few years ago.

However, Mike Lupica missed the opportunity on ESPN’s Sports Reporters yesterday morning, SportsCenter never made much to do about Garnett’s lapse, Yahoo yawned past the topic, and Boston sports media, not normally considered a paradigm of impartiality, tossed KG a mulligan for his Saturday evening bush-league brush off.

So, that’s where I come in with metaphorical fists of fury, eager to punch Boston’s Big Ticket squarely in his potty mouth for failing to do what he should have known to do.

Straight talk. No static.

MIKE—aka Mike Raffone—thee ultimate talking head on sports!