Much ado about nothing with Jennings video

By now, I'm sure most of you have seen/heard about the Brandon Jennings video where he disparages the New York Knicks, their point guard, Chris Duhon, and Milwaukee's Luke Ridnour. If you haven't, you should. It is fantastic.

Some background for the uninformed: Jennings was on the phone with rapper Joe Budden — he of the awesome Pump It Up video and severely underrated eponymous album — and as the conversation drew to a close, Jennings popped off with gems such as "F*** the Knicks" and "Duhon ain't gonna get it done."

The rest of the video is mildly hilarious, although expletive-laden. But I am OK with that.

What I am not OK with is some of the flak that is getting fired Jennings' way.

Michael Wilbon on PTI said Tuesday that this wouldn't be a big deal if it weren't for all the problems surrounding Jennings.

He is partly right, but only because it's not a big deal at all.

Bethlehem Shoals, of the awesome Freedarko.com, and Tom Ziller at Fanhouse.com have the right mindset, which is that it is disingenuous to want our athletes to be human and then slam them for their miscues.

I don't even think what Jennings did was a mistake. He was upset, talking to a friend and vented his frustration. You know, like a normal person.

And I don't have a problem with it.

I also don't have a problem with what former UCF star football player Brandon Marshall told police after his October 2007 arrest: "I hate Denver. I hope I get traded. I hate this [expletive] city."

That. Is. Awesome.

I also think it is great that people somehow find that offensive. I am sure there are plenty of reasons to hate Denver or the Knicks or anything else, for that matter.

I am all for athletes and other pseudo-celebrities speaking their mind, regardless of how unsavory it might be.

It's funny though, because before Jennings went off on his "I hate New York" tirade, he almost praised his coach, Scott Skiles, saying he was a tough guy but that he liked Jennings.

I don't worry about whether what Jennings or Marshall said was appropriate. I just worry if it is entertaining.

And, in both cases, it most certainly is.

It kind of reminds me of the Shaquille O'Neal "rap" when he asked Kobe Bryant how his, ahem, backside tasted.

In bad taste? Maybe.

Entertaining? Absolutely.

And Jennings wasn't the only rookie to land himself in hot water. Just take a look at former Louisville jack-of-all-trades guard/forward Terrence Williams.

I had read several comments and criticisms of Williams and his maturity because of things he said when he was at Louisville.

I read about how his lack of maturity was a problem, how he couldn't take anything serious, and how that would affect his future as a pro. That is ridiculous.

He compared another player — David Pagett — to a dinner plate and his coach, Rick Pitino, to a dog whisperer.

Both of those things are fantastic, and pretty much everything he says is hilarious.
Williams, Jennings, Marshall et al exemplify why athletes exist: for entertainment.

They are grown men playing with balls for money, and their professions exist for my enjoyment.

I don't care about them being treated fairly because they are humans or young men. I want them to be treated for what they are: entertainers.

I don't care about fake moral authorities trying to tell me that, somehow, Jennings or Marshall or anyone else has said something that is inappropriate.

What I care about is how funny it is.