We watch sports for a chance to witness the spectacular, whether it’s a game-winning, buzzer-beating, half-court heave or a diving, limbs-inhumanly-extended save.
However, the spectacular isn’t always something good. Failure can be just as spectacular as success, which leads us to Justin Melton’s ill-fated blindfolded dunk attempt in the Philippines Basketball Association’s Dunk Contest.
There is no shortage of failed dunks in the NBA, be it in a game — LeBron James jamming the ball on the rim, rather than through it — or the dunk contest — Nate Robinson taking FOREVER just to complete a between-the-legs slam. But Melton’s dunk is something special. There’s the build up, with his teammate aiming him at the rim; Melton’s legs pumping up and down in frenzied anticipation; the windmill through nothing but air, capped off with Melton’s look of incredulity at the basket afterwards, as if it somehow moved on him mid-dunk. Just beautiful.
Luckily, Melton had a good sense of humor about the whole thing, as he tweeted afterwards:
Mahsaket pwet nayong hah…mayoseph
— The Justin Melton (@jmelton_2) March 6, 2015
According to Ryan Songalia, translated into English, this means “my ass hurts right now.”
(Video via Inquirer Page)
