On The Fence Voters

Our friend Jerry over at Grumpy’s Grumblings has another post out today lamenting the continuing dangerous misinformation and disinformation spouted by so-called “experts.” Today, Jerry’s ire is directed at John Stockton, one of the greatest point guards to have ever played professional basketball. And, unfortunately, he now joins Aaron Rodgers as an athlete who comes across as nothing more than an anti-vax zealot who should have kept his mouth shut. I’ve included a link at the end to continue reading. Thanks Jerry!

Throughout the latter half of the 1980s and well into the 90s, I had what might be described as a love-hate relationship with John Stockton and the Utah Jazz. The diminutive—by NBA standards—Stockton and his primary partner, the massive Karl Malone, were a joy to watch, with Stockton’s breakneck pace and splendid passes complemented by Malone’s thunderous dunks and surprisingly soft shooting touch.

Yeah, I loved watching the Malone-Stockton duo—when they weren’t playing against Clyde Drexler and the Portland Trailblazers. All too often, the Jazz put a whuppin on my Trailblazers, despite Drexler’s heroics. Then I hated Stockton and his Jazz teammates.

But the thing I loved about John Stockton was that he was a quiet, seemingly humble assassin—just like Clyde Drexler. I never saw either of these two members of the 1992 Olympic Dream Team and all-time greats thumping their chests or bragging about their exploits. Both seemed like humble, genuinely nice guys.

Quiet Does Not Necessarily Mean Humble

But, as I’ve recently observed, quiet does not necessarily mean humble. John Stockton’s recent rebelliousness and rants regarding COVID reveal an arrogance hidden behind his self-effacing façade. Gonzaga officials were right to ban him from the team’s games. His basketball exploits and fame should not give him a pass when it comes to public-safety rules. He has the right to reject vaccines and mask mandates, but he does not have the right to put other human beings at risk for catching a dangerous virus. His assuming he has that right reveals a shocking arrogance.

I should not have been surprised, though. The whole anti-vax, anti-mask movement is propelled by arrogance. “We know more than the experts who have devoted their lives to studying and fighting these viruses,” is their attitude. Imagine a virologist at an NBA game running out onto the floor, shoving one of the players aside, and insisting another player throw him the ball because he knows he’s better at basketball than the athletes beside him who have devoted their entire lives to the game.

To continue reading, please click here: Grumpy’s Grumblings