If You're Gonna Lose to the NBA Superpowers Anyway, You Might as Well Have Some Fun

Man, it can be hard to keep up with DeShawn Stevenson. Just when neck-beards and Soulja Boy have really started to permeate the mainstream, Stevenson calls in Agent Steinz, and firmly announces that he's switching it up for 2008-09. The key passages:

On his hair: "I've got a flat top, that's what I'm doing this year. Just the new thing. Just call it the J.R. Rider-slash-Kenny Smith. All year. No more beard"

On his wardrobe: "You know me, the season start, I'll be thinking about so many things, but right now it's just the flat-top. Oh, and I'm dressing different. I'm dressing '80s this year. You know, the bow-ties, the button-ups, the cashmere sweaters, roll the sleeves up, nice tight slacks, see-through glasses. Just wanted to do something different."

Now look, I know some of you young'uns see this as just another frivolous, empty-headed, maybe even cynical move by a talented -- but ultimately marginal -- two-guard. Well whatever. This man has found his calling, and it's all about honoring history. When serious people worked through serious issues, played serious ball, and had big, big fun, all in the indomitable shadow of Michael Jordan. If a team's stuck on the second-tier, they might as well spread their wings and fly sideways. Case in point: This Spike Lee Nike commercial, which I think made the rounds a few weeks back:
Think about it. LeBron, Wade, Kobe, and the Celtics run this planet. The Wizards, meanwhile, are friendly and fun, and can win a few games while comporting themselves thus. So why not harken back to an era when this didn't make them seem like maniacal misfits, or constant sources of distraction? It's not to say that someone like Stevenson has given up, but maybe, as it was during Jordan's peak, a little fun is the perfect antidote to inevitable failure. And in DeShawn's case, a chance to prove that history is indeed on his side.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.