"If you help, you shouldn't have to say anything," says LaVar Ball, father of UCLA basketball player LiAngelo Ball, adding, "Let him do his political affairs and let me handle my son, and let's just stay in our lane" https://t.co/CzyFZ2YTO1 pic.twitter.com/1XiXEg6Pl4
— CNN (@CNN) November 21, 2017
It’s 2017. Now, President of the United States Donald Trump is feuding with LaVar Ball, the outspoken CEO of the Big Baller brand, and overall big mouth hype man for his NBA player son. In this week of Thanksgiving, we are through the looking glass, people, considering the purchase of $500 shoes.
First, some backstory: After LaVar Ball’s son LiAngelo was briefly detained in China after being caught shoplifting, the State Department got involved and brought the UCLA basketball player home. Donald Trump demanded thanks. Liangelo and the other UCLA players that made it home thanked him. LaVar Ball refused. Then Trump tweeted that since Ball didn’t pledge fealty, the US citizen should’ve been left in a Chinese jail.
Now that the three basketball players are out of China and saved from years in jail, LaVar Ball, the father of LiAngelo, is unaccepting of what I did for his son and that shoplifting is no big deal. I should have left them in jail!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 19, 2017
So, LaVar decided to hop on CNN and talk to Chris Cuomo in one of the most insane segments ever broadcast. Here’s a minute of the two men talking about the nuance of thanking.
This is an impressive level of nonsense pic.twitter.com/pAEamAi74d
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) November 21, 2017
Spoiler: neither man thanked the other at the end of the interview, which was concluded instead with shouting, slight confusion, and a bright smile:
TWO WORDS! 😂 (via @KennyDucey) pic.twitter.com/n8LIHmRplg
— SLAM (@SLAMonline) November 21, 2017
As for the rest of the internet, there were takes on the madness that was this interview. Many takes.
LaVar Ball on why he didn’t say “Thank You” to Trump: “I would have said thank you if he would have put (LiAngelo) on his plane and taken him home…there’s a lot of room on that plane.”
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) November 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/realBigBalls/status/932807670247186432
Lavar Ball goes IN on Trump pic.twitter.com/vGm45xAooc
— Hoops & Brews (@HoopsNBrews) November 21, 2017
Shout out to Chris Cuomo for agreeing to be interviewed by LaVar Ball on CNN tonight. pic.twitter.com/eoLKfJfxpb
— theScore (@theScore) November 21, 2017
Lavar Ball is an embarrassment to himself and his sons. He’s sounds like a fool talking to Chris Cuomo right now. #LoudMouthAss
— Schlep23 (@Schlep23) November 21, 2017
This is the #M00N of LaVar Ball's TV appearances. It accomplishes nothing but is beautiful in the worst way possible.
— Jay Sarkar (@ByJaySarkar) November 21, 2017
For some, there are moments when a person has become destined to become president.
For Obama, it was the DNC speech in 2006.
For Trump, it was the correspondents' dinner in 2011.
Ladies and gentlemen, we've witnessed that moment for LaVar Ball.@CNN #LaVarBall pic.twitter.com/pSxuZd1VIt
— Alex (@fedfan1996) November 21, 2017
https://twitter.com/Sam_Vecenie/status/932813770245619712
https://twitter.com/Nigerianscamsss/status/932811361536630784
The winner and STILL champion of the world…LaVar Ball!!!pic.twitter.com/tC6NnlL9gB
— Clem (@TheClemReport) November 21, 2017
When the Lavar Ball CNN interview finally ends: pic.twitter.com/8cKoEOxKDr
— Chuck Naso (@ChuckNaso) November 21, 2017
Is Lavar Ball being exploited by the media, or is he exploiting them? pic.twitter.com/vJ0O42fuS5
— JRSportBrief (@JRSportBrief) November 21, 2017
Lavar Ball- "You trumps brother? You want me to thank you?" pic.twitter.com/zFqb1of0PR
— 💌 (@rabebez) November 21, 2017
Watching the Lavar Ball interview on #CNN right now. pic.twitter.com/F1efBALVYw
— Kevin Narvaez (@DefconJive) November 21, 2017