JOE NEUENFELDT: 5 Simple Ways To Avoid Being A Basketball Diva

I believe in karma. At some point in our lives, we've all done something we know is wrong. And we breathed a sigh of relief when there appeared to be no consequences to our actions. But we were really just prolonging the inevitable. It caught up with us eventually and we paid the price. And if it hasn't yet, I firmly believe it will. It's no different in the game of basketball. There's a right way to behave and play. And there are a lot of things that you just shouldn't do.

Lately, it seems like there are a lot of players out here in Vegas testing whether or not karma exists on the court. These guys don't believe that the Barry Bonds' and Randy Moss' of the world are title-less because of their bad behavior, selfish attitude and unwillingness to listen to that little guy in their head that said: "Don't do it." They are pushing the limits with the refs, their opponents and even their teammates. And in spite of seeing more than my fair share of games in this league, I have been left shaking my head and asking myself:

"Did that really just happen?"

I really didn't think it needed to be said. But apparently it does. Here are 5 Simple Ways To Avoid Being A Basketball Diva:

1. Don't Threaten Physical Violence Towards Another Player

First, I wish all of the players in the league knew just how unwise it is to test Life Time Fitness and how seriously they take threats of physical violence towards others. In fact, if you're interested in a one-year suspension from Ultimate Hoops and all Life Time facilities, the easiest way to get there is to threaten violence towards another. There is no bargaining afterwards. An apology won't fix anything. It's zero tolerance.

Further, be better than that. We're men and we get angry. But we're also adults. We have kids, wives, girlfriends, jobs and other adult responsibilities. There is no reason a situation on the basketball court should escalate into a fight. Fortunately, it has never come to that. But tempers are flaring. We're tiptoeing the line.


2.Don't Be the Guy That Refuses to Come Out When Someone Subs in for You

Seriously, what are you telling your teammates and everyone else watching by refusing to exit the game?

Oh, "You're good?" Good to know.

You're also an individual playing a team sport. Don't embarrass your teammate trying to get in the game by leaving him standing at the scorer's table. I don't know anyone in good enough shape that they couldn't use a few minutes of rest during a 44 minute game.

And if you're a guy that refuses to come out and is notorious for half-assing it on defense, you're just asking for the karma gods to step in and possibly leave you team-less in the future.


3. Don't Leave the Game Early in a Huff

Everyone wants to be in there at the end of a game. But most teams have 7-8 players. Which means 2-3 guys are going to be on the bench instead of on the floor when the game ends.

Don't be the dude who, at the 3:00 minute mark and realization that the game is over for you, unties his shoes in overly dramatic fashion and exits the gym just as dramatically. This guy typically pretends he didn't abandon his team the very next week. And usually, the dramatic early exit isn't the last one you'll see from him.

Unless you are injured, late for work or were kicked out of the game, be a good teammate and stay until the end.


4. Shake Hands After the Game

I get it. You're mad right after a game. At losing, playing time, individual performance or God knows what. Maybe you're tired also (see #2). Take the extra 10 seconds to shake hands with your opponent. Refusing to say good game to the players you just played is quite a slap in the face. It shows a complete lack of respect to your adversary as well as your "I'm better than you" attitude.

Don't think skipping the handshake is a big deal? I know a handful of very good UH Minnesota players that refused to shake my hand after a game that are still searching for that very first UH title...in any division. And they've been playing in UH for much longer than you have.


5. Don't Single Out and Humiliate One of Your Teammates

Last season, Superdry was winning down the stretch and I screamed at Chris Brown for attempting a wide open three pointer instead of holding the ball. Immediately after the game, I approached Chris and apologized profusely for yelling at a teammate (and my closest UH friend) like that. It was done in the heat of the moment and I wanted to win.

But is winning worth behaving like that towards a teammate and friend? Absolutely not. Chris wasn't angry with me. But to this day, I still feel bad about it.


Ask yourself what your goal is in this league? Is it to have fun? Is it playing basketball with your friends? Reliving your glory days? Getting in shape? Winning a title?

I think some UH Vegas players don't even know what they want anymore. Win a title and you get a plaque with your name on it. Apparently that's worth a lot to some guys. New team and teammates every season. Increasingly bad behavior with little to no remorse. Whatever the goal is, time to get our act together.

Or we'll pay the price down the road.


Week 3 Las Vegas Notes:

DO WORK 66, BAR 58:

What an awful loss for BAR. Their 3-2 zone is usually much better than it was in this one. Do Work has one 3 point shooter in Chris Lewis and BAR couldn't guard him. And if the season ended today, Mark Harris of Do Work would easily win Most Improved Player (he may win it anyway) in spite of his 9 turnover performance.

Eric Watts should show for a game on time for once. He completely shut down Sean Margulis of BAR in the second half, giving his squad the improbable win.

BALLING BAD 83, BALLS IN THE AIR 70:

Balls in the Air has played four halves this season. They are +25 in halves two and three. But -40 in halves one and four. And that equals two losses. A ton of personality on the squad and very little height. They are having a number of issues early on.

I don't think wins and losses will be on their minds much. Jacob McDonald of Balling Bad is quietly having a sensational sophomore season of Ultimate Hoops (21.7 points, 6.3 rebounds, 3.7 asssists, 50% three point shooting). The UH Vegas "experts" will continue to tell me that he isn't good because he doesn't meet their criteria of what a good basketball player is (or looks like).

But like usual, they're wrong.

And although this Balling Bad team isn't a title contender, they are going to win 4 games this season.

HICKORY HUSKERS 66, THOSE GUYS 64:

Ended up being the best game of the night even though neither team played their best. Those Guys badly missed Dan Madden in this one. It looked like Tod Bunker woke up about 10 minutes before tip-off and he wasn't as sharp as usual the entire game as a result. Big mistake by the iron five Those Guys by not playing a zone against the Huskers.

First, with the exception of offensive rebounding, the Huskers are trash against a zone in every way. And second, it would have kept Jason Johnston out of foul trouble as well as kept them from getting overly frustrated with the officiating. The Huskers are 3-0.

And I am going to be the first to say it; They are not a title contender.

I don't care that Those Guys beat Coast to Coast and then they beat Those Guys. I believe they will lose to both The Mob and Coast to Coast. Their team chemistry was good in game 1 only. Their offense has been awful the last two games. And they don't care about defense. They beat a free agent team and an 8 seed to make it to the title game last season. They'll need the same luck to get there this season.

THE MOB 85, RAINDROPS 59:

Too bad there wasn't a Rageaholics meeting going on in the Education Center immediately after this game. Most of the guys in this one could have used some cooling off. Raindrops hung in there the first half. And their spirited attitude about it definitely rubbed The Mob the wrong way. It was a trash-talking (by both teams) slaughter fest in the second half.

And the lackadaisical officiating certainly didn't help matters. Even one more minute of game time probably would have resulted in a serious injury for someone. As for The Mob, there is something missing from their team; joy. With the exception of Jamaal McCoy (and maybe Trevino), their whole team is upset.

Even in a blowout win.

Can you imagine if they had to endure what Superdry does (it's ok because I play for them) season in and season out? Maybe it isn't anger. Maybe they've just adopted this attitude towards the season. I wonder if any of them will smile in their title photo.