Bubble What You Make It

Every time I hear that phrase "Home is what you make it" I automatically think of the movie Joe Dirt. So if you know, you know.

For 22 NBA teams, the Orlando Bubble in Disney World is going to be their home for the next 2-3 months. It's an experiment that is extremely innovative and quite frankly, one of the safest environments we have seen any corporation create for their employers during this pandemic.

All for the sake of entertainment. Will it be worth it? We'll see.

But it just gives all of us another reason to sit our ass on the couch and do our part to prevent the spread of COVID.

As the scrimmage's have begun, it has been difficult to watch the games without also keeping in mind everything that is going on in the world.

We are still battling a global pandemic. We are still fighting racial injustice. It's an election year. The murderers of Breonna Taylor have yet to be put on trial.

So while all of that is happening, we have these guys putting themselves at risk of the virus for the sake of entertainment, and also a shit ton of money. But they're not the only ones. In fact, they're head and shoulders above every other sports league in terms of health and social awareness.

They've put themselves in this bubble environment that has worked out pretty well so far, as we have only seen a handful of cases to begin with, and then 0% as they have progressed. Every single media member, player, coach, staff, and all NBA personnel went through a quarantine protocol to begin this journey.

Whereas the MLB is just taking their chances by playing in front of no fans, while their players and coaches are still traveling. The NFL just flat out doesn't give a flying fuck about anyone or anything but money (That's nothing new). And the NHL is still finishing the final touches on their plan.

So why go through all this just to play basketball?

Since Adam Silver has become the NBA Commissioner, he has listened to his players association, the fans, and his team of innovators to progress the game in a way that is second to none. The NBA is the most important and influential sports league in the world, and it's not even close.

And as someone who was extremely against them playing because of the situation our country is in, I finally get it. I understand why they're playing.

Of course they're playing for the money. These guys got families, and while it's easy for a casual fan to say "These guys make millions of dollars," it's simply not the case for a good portion of the league. You've got your 15% of guys making up about 50% of the salary across the league, and then about 60% of the league making around the league average of $8 million, and then an entire 25% of the league making near the minimum salary. And that's just players.

We have to consider coaches, media, staff, and anyone else employed through the NBA. And in a time where all the politics are about is "Opening up the economy" The NBA has done it in such a safe way, that there is no comparison.

What other billion dollar corporation could really do something like this?

And while they could easily just put on a show for the fans and make their money, they've gone like ten steps further. Blasting Black Lives Matter on the courts. Letting the players voice their opinions on social issues. Giving their athletes and coaches a platform.

Using innovation to bring in fans via Zoom. Putting microphones underneath the floor of the court so you can hear every squeaky footstep.

I just kinda wanted to give y'all a little perspective. This will be the only article like this. Going forward, it's back to strictly basketball talk. We gotta reward ourselves with some sense of normalcy.