Monday, June 5, 2006
I Hate Mondays: The Case of the Ex
Leave a Comment
Send to Friend
Print This Story
Miscommunication, heartbreak, and drama.
No, this isn't another Liz Gateley-MTV hit, but this reality series does have similar undertones to "Laguna Beach" or "8th & Ocean."
As the NBA season ended for the Detroit Pistons with a discouraging 95-78 loss to the Miami Heat on Friday night, it was obvious that two rancorous broken hearts missed one another.
Larry Brown probably sat in a rocking chair gazing out the window, imagining what might have been had he stayed in Detroit to coach the Pistons one more season.
Like the thought of Jason incessantly lingers in LC's mind on her new show "The Hills," the fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills might be wondering how their team's season would have changed had they had their main man.
The thought must have also crossed the mind of the Pistons' players, as well, as their season came to an abrupt halt.
During the regular season, under new found love Flip Saunders, the Pistons looked untouchable. It seemed like love at first sight, as their relationship was compared to the 72-win, 1996 Chicago Bulls and a 37-5 start threatened to topple that glorious benchmark.
But at the first sign of adversity in the playoffs, that love was tested.
Much can and will be blamed on Flip as the Pistons did not look crisp out of timeouts, their game-to-game adjustments were half-hearted, and their lackadaisical play single-handedly got Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Mike Brown a contract extension.
But on some levels, it shouldn't have come to this.
On a scripted show, Larry Brown would still be the head coach of the Pistons, Teddy and Britt would be passionately in love, and maybe even Steven and Kristin would be going steady.
The problem is that this is reality television. Egos and emotions are incontrovertible factors.
The Pistons could have benefited from Brown's tutoring, particularly since he knew how to push all the right buttons. But it was their prerogative prior to the season that losing without him would be better than winning with him.
It may sound incomprehensible, but puffed-up personalities have destroyed dynasties before and they will continue to do so in the future. Kobe's Lakers sure could have used the help of Shaquille O'Neal against the Suns this postseason.
Love can quickly turn to hate upon the arrival of the breakup, and ex's always want to go on to bigger and better things to exhibit how much better off they are now.
That's what the Pistons did in the regular season, opening up their scoring game to show up Brown, who used to tightly restrain the offense.
When it came crunch time, though, the Pistons did miss their mate, the one who used to complement them and guide them throughout testing times.
Saunders is a good coach and what he did in Detroit this season was exceptional, but he is not the same caliber as Brown, just like Heidi is not nearly on the same level as LC.
The truth is that the Pistons were better off with what they had before they threw it away, but they won't admit it — very few ex's do.
The Detroit Pistons and Larry Brown mix like Mondays and me.
"Love is a perky little elf dancing a merry little jig, and then suddenly he turns on you with a miniature machine gun." — Matt Groening