“Never blame the supplier, blame the user”
Someone told me this a long time ago and it is something I keep in mind when dealing with situations like LaVar Ball. You can’t speak without a platform, because then you are just talking to yourself. You can’t be heard unless someone is listening and reacting.
That is why trolls have to bait popular people on social media or no one would ever see their trolling.
Hence the phrase don’t feed the troll.
LaVar Ball is trolling, it is marketing style trolling that frankly isn’t that much different from the hot takes media we live in now.
Is there much of a difference between Skip Bayless still trying to convince you LeBron isn’t great and Ball saying his kid is better than Steph?
The media loves LaVar Ball the same way they love players who are outspoken. They will continue to put cameras in your face and let you say whatever you want, but if you slip up they will be the first to bury you.
That is what always got T.O. in trouble. They were quick to let him speak or mic’d him up, but quicker to use his words against him regardless if he was speaking the truth or not.
LaVar Ball is using the media and the media is using LaVar Ball. The question begs who is going to be the big winner in all this?
A lot depends on Ball’s sons, the greater they are, the smarter he looks, but if they are to falter or become busts in the NBA who do you think the media is going to blame for that?
All these LaVar Ball quotes are being archived, because media people understand the game. You need people to talk big because that drives ratings, but it also drives potential storylines down the road.
I believe LaVar Ball understands this, but is also banking on his hyperbole turning him into a big star where he can generate money off his personal and professional brand. This is like free advertising to him, I never heard of Big Baller Brand until a couple of weeks ago and now it is in my face everyday. LaVar doesn’t just care about basketball, he wants to be a mogul and is using his sons and media to help achieve that goal.
Two months ago only if you were a true college basketball fan did you know who LaVar Ball was, now even casual fans of any sport do. Media doesn’t care about the Ball Brothers or LaVar Ball, they care about who is watching their shows. When LaVar is on people are watching or listening because you don’t know what he is going to say. I am not mad at LaVar Ball, I am intrigued.
It is brilliant gamble on his part and if you want to be upset with someone don’t be upset with LaVar, be upset with those who say he is detriment but continue to let him speak on their platforms, but once again a troll can’t eat unless you feed him.