What you’re about to read (or, more likely, stop reading about a quarter of the way through) is a word-for-word collection of text messages I sent out during the Milwaukee Bucks brief stay in the bubble.
Other than a brief statement here in my intro, I offer zero political or social justice commentary, and not one word on COVID 19.
I’m just a true-believer Bucks’ fan commenting, criticizing, and ultimately crying to my friends and brothers about meaningful Bucks’ basketball.
It’s unfiltered gut-wrenching heartbreak wrapped in another Wisconsin sports disappointment as it became painfully obvious Giannis and Co. weren’t raising the Larry O’Brien this year.
This is my annual Buck’s Obituary. You can read the other ones here:
Bellykingbelly.com
The other obits wrote themselves.
This one, for whatever reason, proved infinitely more difficult to write. (FYI, my writer’s block had nothing to do with their boycot of Game 5 against the Orlando Magic. My only hot take is they’re the only NBA team with true balls in this matter. They were willing to sacrifice a playoff loss for their statement. (I’m guessing they weren’t conferencing with David Silver before they walked out.) No matter your politics or opinions on our current state of affairs, that took some fucking balls.)
Ultimately, I decided to express my unfiltered broken heart by copying and pasting text messages addressed to some of my closest people.
It’s a super creative idea that involved very little creative juice to publish.
No harm. No foul.
Enjoy the ride.
(Circa early August, 2020):
“DJ Wilson actually doing something! Holy shit!”
“Big Ragu has been awful tonight.”
“Yeah, he (BLEDSOE) looks tired and confused.”
(Against MIAMI in the regular season):
“I took at nap at halftime. Woke up in the middle of the fourth. The fuck happened?”
“I saw the end of a 20 point run and Giannis spinning for a bunch of dunks. They finally start guarding Tyler Herro in the third?”
“Wearing the Midds jersey all weekend. HUGE WIN TODAY!”
(Regarding the national announcers fawning over Luka and the Bucks’ loss to the MAVS):
“It’s an insignificant game but I’ll still be pissed if they lose. Either way, they need to close games better.”
“It’s irritating.”
(Regarding the regular season loss to the Raptors when the Bucks were without Giannis due to last minute dental surgery):
“I hear you. I missed the highs but enjoyed not suffering through the lows. The Bucks game meant nothing, but I’m still pissed. I hate those Toronto fucks. And fuck Nick Nurse!”
(About a week or so later):
“Giannis just head-butted a guy. Great.”
“Bucks have one more regular season game. I think he absolutely sits out Game 1 of the playoffs.”
“One game for Giannis. No harm, no foul.”
(Before Game 1 against ORLANDO):
“Spoiler alert: DJ Wilson scores in double figures while playing the majority of the 4th quarter and the Bucks win by twenty.“
(After Game 1 against ORLANDO):
“Nightmare of a game. Classic Middleton and Lopez game. When they’re cold we’re done.”
“And apparently they forgot to pack their defense when they traveled to the bubble.”
“Remember when the Magic beat Toronto in Game 1 last year? Remember when VanVleet couldn’t hit a shot in last year’s playoffs and then couldn’t miss a shot against the Bucks? Some positive regression coming Milwaukee’s way starting Thursday.”
“Exactly my point. They’re due. At least they’re not peaking too early.”
“Let’s grade Middleton’s handle: C+ ?”
(A week before the Bucks vs. Heat series):
“Total pacifist over here but I really want to punch Duncan Robinson in the face.”
“Jazz need to get other people involved to keep up with the Nugs. Just like the Bucks. They need Midds and the bench mob to hit some shots.”
“Bledsoe seems awake today.”
(Game #1 against MIAMI):
“40 point quarter. Good start.”
“I’m holding on way too tightly with this.”
“And my emotional investment is peaking with the Bucks. Didn’t handle their Game 1 loss well and now this one. My entire body feels chemical rushes I shouldn’t be feeling. It’s a gross drug. I hate meaningful basketball.”
“The basketball is real. These dudes are trying hard to win the games. The whistles on every other fucking possession are what bothers me more than anything. These games may lack meaning to others (if this is your opinion and belief, more power to you) but not me. When they win I get a natural high. When they lose I feel extremely upset and sour.”
“Yeah, they might be getting tired, too. Playing every other night at max effort. Look at Harden. He couldn’t hit a shot to save his life last night.”
(After the ROCKETS defeated the THUNDER):
“Go Rockets? Is James Harden a little chubby?”
(Before Game 3 with the HEAT):
“Can Bledsoe just drive and at least try to score? Our offense needs someone else to ease the burden of Giannis and Midds. I think keeping Matthews on Butler works. Bledsoe can drive at will on theses fools.”
“And is Bledsoe high out there? Wouldn’t be surprised to learn he played this entire series on shrooms.”
“I’m just worried about Duncan Robinson. I fucking hate that dude. And he’s been quiet.”
“I wasn’t going to watch the last game and then ended up watching the whole thing. Bucks haven’t been their best basketball selves in The Bubble. Can they rise up and get their groove back? Will The Big Ragu ever hit another jump shot?”
(After the Game 3 loss when the Bucks shit the bed in the fourth quarter):
“I was more upset with the Games 1 and 2 losses for some reason. Ain’t about Coach Bud. It’s about GRABBING THE FUCKING BALL!!!!!!!”
“Celtics crush us anyway. This sucks.”
“No drastic changes. Just sign Giannis to the super max. That’s all I care about.”
“I’d rather watch him play and win zero titles than watch him go, even if we win this year or next.”
“Just hope Giannis stays. Don’t care if they ever win a title. Dude is fun to watch. Helps with the doldrums of winter. It’s pretty obvious ‘the journey’ is a hell of a lot better than the destination with these here Bucks.”
(Regarding Game 4 when Giannis left the game early to injury and Middleton and Co. ascended to a somewhat miraculous win):
“Didn’t watch a second. Was in the middle of a massive fence building project. Checked my phone a few times and then listened to the radio for the last minute of the game. Midds three point dagger choked me up a little bit. Not going to lie. Ain’t Coach Bud’s fault they can’t handle the fucking ball anymore. GRAB THE BALL!!!!”
(After very little little (if any) text chatter before Game 5, here was my only text after their season ended. Giannis didn’t play, the Bucks fought hard, but they just didn’t have enough):
“Starting the drum beat for CP3. He’s the fourth quarter alpha the Bucks need.”
THE END
P.S. I’ve since steered away from the low hanging fruit of the Chris Paul panacea.
P.P.S. Here’s a mid-bubble fantasy football take I wanted to put on the record for a good laugh. Definitely a ROJO truther over here:
“Spoiler alert: Fournette will NOT be the alpha unless Jones gets hurt. They’ll cut McCoy because he’s toast. Dude didn’t even dress for the Super Bowl. Fournette is their veteran backup because Brady is a little bitch and can’t handle a rookie as the main guy if Jones gets hurt.”
bellykingbelly 