The Miami Heat and Cleveland Cavaliers will hold a preseason game in Brazil and they were informed that they may have to break an old habit…at least for this game.
According to SB Nation, the teams have been asked not to use the “3 goggles” sign that players throw up after making a 3 pointer. Reason being that this gesture is actually offensive to Brazilians. Chris Haynes of Cleveland.com goes in depth with how Brazilians view the gesture.
Well, around here, that gesture is not a form of entertainment. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. Holding up the “three-sign” or the “three-goggles” in a certain way while in Brazil could be mistaken for “f— you” or “f— off,” I was informed.
The league wants no trouble with their overseas brethren, so in an effort to play it safe the teams were told of these cultural differences. The “3 goggles” sign was not the only thing on the list of gestures that may be deemed inappropriate to use in Brazil.
For some, these signs are somewhat second nature so hopefully the players will be able to control their actions before they raise havoc in Brazil.