So Jack Harlow is rocketing toward the Best NBA Celebrity Fan award. It is clear that he takes Logo threesome during the Celebrity All-Star Game, recording singles about Tyler Herro and took advice from Kawhi Leonard on how to improve his game. Part of the charm of the NBA is the celebrities in the courtside seats, under the basket, highly visible and part of the game in their own way.
While it’s good that Harlow is such a big fan of the league, he needs to learn some of the finer points of being a top-flight NBA fan. I would say he was a 1-3 yesterday and one of his misses needs to be played out to him over and over again so he never attempts a shot like that again.
Harlow attended the first game of the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks semi-final series. This could be the “true hoop fan”, pick a game to watch. It’s on the east coast and it’s the Celtics, one of the hottest teams in the NBA, with her group of young stars taking on what may be the NBA’s best player in Giannis Antetokounmpo. Not a bad choice from a basketball perspective, but man, you should be a hip-hop artist. Don’t be the only celebrity at a Boston Celtics game.
That’s not to say that Boston doesn’t have a hip-hop scene. Gang Starr was excellent (Ed. Note: Because Premier is from Brooklyn!) Joyner Lucas had some success. Bobby Brown and Bell Biv DeVoe are legends. That being said, unless you’re from Boston, Game 1 of the semifinals isn’t the time to visit Beantown for a team that’s decided not rocked in culture. The NBA Finals would of course be excusable – as would the Eastern Conference Finals – and even if that series goes the distance, Game 7 would be a great attendance. But Harlow, you’re about to play Woody Harrelational character in a White men can’t jump reboot. Let’s be wary of matches played by teams whose caps would never be featured in a music video.
Harlow’s victory was having fun at his own expense. His fan base is nowhere near NBA umpire age, so they won’t know who Harlow is unless they allow their grandkids to control the aux cord in the car. Scott Foster – who shouldn’t be anywhere near a Celtics game after fouling Jayson Tatum out of his last – pointed out to one of the other umpires that Harlow was in the crowd. Neither of them had any idea why Harlow is famous.
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He saw this as an opportunity to make a joke at his own expense. Harlow has been told that he looks like Mr. Tummus The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. Citing video ESPN aired of that moment during the show, he wrote, “Obviously these MFS have never seen Narnia.” Clever, although I had to scroll down the answers to get the joke.
What was definitely not smart was that he was pranking a cameraman. The cameras broadcasting the games are huge, so a number of switches were exposed. Here, Harlow did what the fans asked for more than anything else, he didn’t keep his hands to himself.
Harlow took it upon himself to play with some of the buttons on the back of the camera, knowing that was what the subject was focusing on your work and wearing headphones won’t feel or hear him messing around with things he’s not allowed to touch. I know he’s only 24, but while he’s young enough to still make a lot of terrible decisions, that should be out of a person’s behavior during puberty. Don’t disturb anyone at work, don’t walk around, push buttons and flip switches, and don’t touch things that don’t belong to you. He wouldn’t appreciate it if this cameraman pulled Jerry Seinfeld and retaliated by accosting him at work, or in this case, pressing random buttons on the mixer while he’s trying to record. The camerawoman had a sense of humor about the situation when she found out what had happened. In return, she doesn’t want much from Harlow, just a snack with possibly some honey-mustard sauce.
Harlow hasn’t apologized publicly, but he’s on record and says he’s got her on his chicken fingers. Public, don’t let him off the hook for this. She needs a 12-pack with extra sauce and a note.
Overall, Harlow’s NBA fandom was a plus. The game has always been at its best when celebs are literally and figuratively close to the game, making the games huge pop culture events. Now all he has to do is pick better games and keep his refreshments in hand, unless his arm wraps around a fan who wants a post-game photo or some hugs with the players.
The NBA is better with you around Jack, you just gotta act right.
