The women in our lives.
They’re so supportive. They always believe we can conquer the world. And some of our queens are so confident they don’t mind telling anyone who’ll listen how great we are. The problem arises when their vocal exploits become so animated it causes their man to subsequently get his ass whooped.* Case in point Chris Bosh, then a member of the Toronto Raptors, on the evening of January 6, 2008.
Ironically, the Raps squared off against the Cleveland Cavaliers and – although no one knew it at the time – his future teammate LeBron James. The game was 915 days before they officially turned pop culture on its head by joining the Miami Heat. Cleveland sported a laughable 16-17 record, a sluggish start from the previous season which saw the franchise advance to its first NBA Finals. And for a good chunk of the game, it appeared as if the Cavs would fall to two games below .500. LeBron couldn’t hit the ocean if he fell out of a boat through the first three quarters. Meanwhile, the rest of Cleveland’s glorious starting five – Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Drew Gooden, the incomparable Larry Hughes and Sasha Pavlovic – were doing normal Cavs starting lineup things at the time.
Bosh and the Raptors entered the final frame up 70-57 in seeming control. Then, Chris Bosh’s girlfriend and cousin amped up their trash talk towards James causing the proverbial flood gates to bust wide open. Dunks, layups, jumpers and threes, the entire repertoire was on full display. After each basket, every loud bark hit with a little less intensity until the only thing left for the ladies to do was sit in their court side seats and devour a slice of humble pie.
“They the reason the Raptors lost tonight cause they ticked me off a little bit,” said LeBron after the game.
Chris finished with 23 points, while LeBron barely missed a triple-double with 39 points, 11 rebounds and eight assists, including 24 points in the final frame. In the grand scheme, Bosh would marry Adrienne Williams three years later at the Fontainebleau in Miami. Chris and LeBron went on to win two championship rings together while embarking upon a third this season. Meanwhile, the young lady who decided it’d be smart to joke on James’ hairline (or something like that) in front of him – presumably his first child’s mother, Allison Mathis – had no happily ever after story.
And she obviously never saw this game.
* – To this day, I believe had Gina never let Pam’s thirstiness take over and ride back in the limo with Tommy Hearns, Martin wouldn’t have never had to put his health and CBC title belt on the line.
Photo: Getty