Oak vs. the Dubs

I'm sure you all heard this, but Charles Oakley told current players in the NBA to turn down that damn music and toughen up, saying "they are so sensitive. Some need to be wearing dresses." It's pretty hard to not read this as a shot at the Warriors, particularly given what we've heard from many of the players from previous generations and the ways in which they like to criticize and throw shots at the Warriors.

I also bring this up, in a bit of self-promotion, because I thought about this particular issue, thinking about how this Warriors team challenges the more traditional and rigid conceptions of masculinity that exist in our society. That's what's at the heart of Oakley's (horribly sexist) comments, that these players today are soft and sensitive (traits associated with women) and thus aren't as good as strong, tough, serious men (which, for those who think like Oakley, is the best way to be).

This quote from what I wrote really gets to the heart of why guys like Oak don't like the Warriors and how they basketball and getting into why that's such a retrograde and toxic point of view to hold (with a nod to the joy they play with in a way that calls to mind GoldBloodedKing's fan post on ).

But one thing I especially love about them is that they are bucking these more traditional notions of what’s important and instead reflect what really matters. Kerr has placed a premium on joy, on having fun (within reason) on the court, and the members of the team value the relationships they have with their teammates and seem to genuinely care about one another. In that regard, they are great role models for young men, and for all of us, regarding how to act and approach life. They’re showing us that these more traditional and conservative conceptions of masculinity and what it means to be "manly" or "strong" are incredibly flawed and should be modified. They’re showing us what’s really important.

I was happy with how this piece turned out and I thought, given Oakley's comments, it seemed like a good time to put it out there again so, if you'd like, give it a read and let me know what you think.