Some people have far too much money. Unlike those of us who decidedly do not have far too much money, those who have deep pockets can splurge on things that no human really needs, but who cares about that, because these things are incredibly cool and let you flex a little bit.
For example, everyone who liked basketball and was alive any time after 1993 would love to own an NBA Jam machine like the ones that existed in arcades way back in the day. Just imagine getting home after a long day at the 9-to-5 and running train on the rest of the league with Nick Anderson and Penny Hardaway. That’d be cool as all hell, right?
Lin-Manuel Miranda, a person who has the extra scratch to flex every now and then, apparently is someone who who fits that description. We know this because on Thursday afternoon, Miranda tweeted that he has achieved a childhood dream and purchased an NBA Jam arcade machine.
Me: success has not changed me
Also me: *buys this for my house* pic.twitter.com/U9bJtYZUPE— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) December 20, 2018
Miranda is a big fan of the game, which he’s tweeted about on several occasions.
Sometimes playing NBA Jam is the only rational response to life.
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) May 4, 2011
I read the first line of this and had an NBA Jam Patrick Ewing flashback. http://t.co/1lFHqjOIED
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) March 12, 2014
I spent the birthday evening with friends at my favorite place on earth…the NBA Jam arcade game pic.twitter.com/GtM9hg5Toe
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) January 17, 2018
I only have backgammon & NBA Jam pic.twitter.com/cKWKpPWrSs
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) September 18, 2018
I would absolutely love that. Also, Lafayette and King George in NBA Jam, big head mode https://t.co/vEdI3YHkRH
— Lin-Manuel Miranda (@Lin_Manuel) November 6, 2018
Ideally all this NBA Jam leads to Miranda penning a hip-hop musical about the mid-to-late-00s Detroit Pistons centered around high-scoring forward Richard Hamilton, but if it does not, hopefully he enjoys having this in his house … and he remembers to get a bunch of quarters, because nothing is worse than running out of quarters while you’re playing NBA Jam.