The Source of our Chuckles

Everyone enjoys a good laugh. And even though they’re oftentimes few and far between, we all deserve a hysterical laugh every once in a while too. The adage, “laughter is the best medicine,” has been around for centuries. And while laughter certainly doesn’t compare to the healing powers of Claritin D, Pepto Bismol, and Dimetapp (not mixed together, of course), I’ll concede that its everyday uses are highly important in making stress go away and life seem bearable. However, this brings me to one of the most primary sources of our laughter these days—YouTube. From movies to stand-up routines to specific sections of the newspaper, comedy has its place in most forms of media…but YouTube is beginning to reign supreme in terms of real, (oftentimes) explicit, uncut humor.

(WARNING: Some of the links to YouTube videos on this blog entry contain inappropriate language and/or situations. Viewer discretion is advised.)

Mel Brooks once said, “Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you walk into an open sewer and die.” Truer words might have never been spoken. The source of our laughs, most notably on YouTube these days, tends to come from the misfortunes, uniqueness, and life situations of other people. We chuckle while watching David after Dentist as a child receives pain numbing medicine at the dentist for the first time. We see the profession of people like Kentucky’s Turtle Man and sit in both shock and awe at the things he is able to do. And, of course, we ROFL (roll on the floor laughing, for those not down with the text lingo these days) at any children using curse words, one of the most popular occurring when a three year old is asked about monsters.

But have we stopped to think about when we cross the line from humor to exploitation? Not long ago, a close friend of mine refused to watch the full Rack ‘Em Willie video because he thought they were taking advantage of this (presumably) homeless man by pumping alcohol into him and chuckling at the results. However, I have witnessed this same friend laugh hysterically at Tourettes Guy struggling with everyday tasks in his home. I’m sure we can all remember chuckling at the infamous zombie kid announcing his love for turtles during a Halloween interview. Or recall the interview with Antoine Dodson after his sister was attacked and allegedly raped in his home while he was downstairs and she was upstairs (and then they turned it into an infamous song). Are we really snickering about a drunken homeless man? Are we really chuckling at the misfortunes of a man with a debilitating syndrome? Are we making fun of a little kid? Are we laughing at rape? LAUGHING AT RAPE?!

I think back to some of the videos I enjoyed as a freshman in college, and I have to concede that clips like Whistle Tips, Leprechaun Sighting, and Chocolate Rain are probably more exploitative than they are humorous. And even today, I’m a Snake and Trapped in a Closet on Acid serve as proof that this genre of humor has not only persevered, but probably strengthened over the past five years. Is this our legacy in the 21^st century? Are we hanging our hats on humor that tears people down and turns them into targets? My answer—No, I don’t think so. I’m sure the vast majority of these people are consenting to put these embarrassing videos online in hopes that they will get famous and go viral in a big way.

Are there exploitative videos out there? Of course. Heck, I even put one up when I was at a Steel Drum concert in Maysville, Kentucky and I happened to notice a woman dancing while the music was playing. But at the same time, anyone who has ever watched Dramatic Chipmunk (or any of the thousands of variations), Diet Coke and Mentos, and Christian the Lion knows that there is hope out there. Good, clean, kid-safe humor is out there…and it’s still really funny. Given that YouTube pretty much only prohibits nudity, I think it’s only normal for us to expect a huge selection of videos ranging from the Chinese Backstreet Boys to Charlie Bit My Finger. Everyone wants to be a comedian…

But me? I just want to be a daredevil (fast forward to forty seconds and marvel in amazement). And so I will leave the debate about what is ethical and unethical for each of you to decide when it comes to social media like YouTube. Regardless of whether you end up laughing at the things people do with their spare time, people with big dreams and small skill sets, or hidden camera humor, I say to each his own. And if anyone has ever watched the video on Kittens and not laughed, then you don’t know what humor is.

Stars Fade

In 1988, a year before I was even born, a man named Shawn Kemp was making history. After graduating high school and receiving a scholarship to play basketball for the University of Kentucky, Kemp was caught in a scandal after being accused of stealing two gold chains from the head coach’s son. He subsequently left the team and enrolled in Trinity Valley Community College in Texas, where he never played a single minute on the basketball court. Finally, in May 1989, Shawn Kemp entered his name into the National Basketball Association (NBA) Draft and was selected as the 17^th overall pick by the Seattle Supersonics. Kemp is widely believed to be one of the first professional basketball players who entered the league with no college experience, yet his statistics show he was ready to play the game at the highest level.

My affection for Shawn Kemp started naturally. While looking through trading card albums belonging to a high school guy when I was only four or five years old, I stumbled upon an amazing card featuring Shawn Kemp dunking the ball with authority. I fell in love with his game and his persona—The Reign Man. I didn’t know what “reign” meant, and thought they were talking about falling precipitation from clouds (big confusion) while referring to Kemp, but it didn’t matter. Around my sixth or seventh birthday (I think), my parents gave me a Shawn Kemp jersey and I was in heaven. Over his first eight seasons, Kemp led the Supersonics to the NBA Finals in 1996 (only to be defeated by the amazing Chicago Bulls), made the All-Star team six times, and earned All NBA Second-Team (essentially meaning he was one of the top ten players in the league) honors three times. He was a beast, and he was my hero.

Oh, how stars fade away! In 1997 Kemp requested a trade so he could make more money. I had to change all of my room decorations from the Seattle Supersonics to the Cleveland Cavaliers. When Kemp was with the Cavaliers, the team was terrible. Even his incredible abilities couldn’t pull them out of the cellar. And then the NBA Lockout of 1999 happened, and teams missed out on 32 games that season. When many players returned to action, they were clearly out-of-shape after being barred from entering the practice facilities during the lockout. Shawn Kemp was no exception. However, along with his weightiness, Kemp had also developed severe addictions to cocaine and alcohol.

For the latter part of his career, Kemp was in Portland and Orlando trying to make a revival. Unfortunately, his demons got the best of him and he was cut after the 2003 season, never to return again. Luckily for me, a growing interest in MTV, cross country, and girls had replaced my idol worship of Shawn Kemp. The guy tried to get back in shape and make a comeback in 2005, 2007, and 2009, but to no avail. He was busted for drug possession in 2005 (found with cocaine, 60 grams of marijuana, and a semiautomatic pistol), and his health continued to decline. Today his new hope rests with his son, Shawn Kemp Jr. (who, I should probably mention, is one of AT LEAST seven children that Kemp fathered from 1989 to 1998…with a number of different women), who is slated to play basketball for the University of Washington this season. The comparisons between father and son are certainly there, and I wish Shawn Jr. the best of luck.

Maybe the point of this entry should be that there are early, telltale signs that an athlete will get into trouble as his career progresses. Kemp’s alleged theft (two gold chains) at the University of Kentucky, followed by his immediate exit from Lexington, should have been a strong indicator. Maybe the point of this entry should be that the NBA made a good decision in 2006 by requiring all high school athletes to attend college for at least one year before entering their name into the springtime draft, since Kemp could have honed his skills and worked on his behavior at UK, or even TVCC. But that’s not my point. My point is that our heroes should never be concrete. A lot of teens idolized O.J. Simpson when he was plowing through defenses in the 1970’s. Tiger Woods basically revived golf from 1998 to now. And rapper Chris Brown was widely considered the next “big thing” for hip hop in 2008. Stars fade. And these are only a few examples.

It’s important to remember that the people we idolize are just that…people. They make mistakes, and we should never hang our hats on their personas or accomplishments…especially with athletes and artists. Money damages people. Fame damages people. And expectations can oftentimes be the most crippling vices of all. These days, I try to root for my sports heroes while still remaining relatively detached. I no longer place a high value on the top dollar people out there, but instead the people trying to make a difference. Let’s idolize the people out there spreading love and hope. When was the last time we reflected on the works of Ghandi and gave the guy a standing ovation, or praised the efforts of those who put in hundreds of hours of community service every year? Let’s prioritize, and let the stars keep thinking they’re above us.

Lord of the Gridiron: Fellowship of the Pigskin

My parents don’t get it. My girlfriend doesn’t understand. Even some of my closest friends are bewildered by it. Am I referring to my intense love of mint chocolate chip ice cream? No—I’m talking about Fantasy Football. I’m talking about drafting the best and brightest stars from all 32 NFL teams and then watching the games every Sunday in hopes that they will achieve statistical greatness. But beyond the mechanics of the game, I’m actually talking about fellowship, community, and good natured fun.

You would be hard pressed to find anyone willing to call Fantasy Football a “sport.” Aside from weekly depression, the injury risks are limited to joint pain in the clicking finger and moderate carpel tunnel. However, the skill set required for mythical success is one that includes matchup awareness (for example, NEVER starting Bengals QB Andy Dalton against the Pittsburgh Steelers—or any team, for that matter), savvy negotiation skills (for making transactions), and the mental toughness to overcome smack talk from opponents and projected point differentials estimating that you will lose by twenty.  

Despite its unconventional attributes, the payoff of playing fantasy football is undeniable. The bond created between twelve managers over the course of the season is one that is not easily broken. My primary league features family and friends spread out amongst Ohio and Kentucky (and Florida)—teachers, students, hospital workers, lawyers, bank tellers…even police officers. Some have families. Some live with their parents. Some live in a dorm. But they are all united through a fantasy football fellowship.

In addition, an appreciation is developed for the sport of football—for the talent and skill set that it takes to succeed at such a high level in the NFL. Before I had running back Jamaal Charles on my team, I never had a reason to watch, let alone root for, the Kansas City Chiefs. Now I care about the outcome of every game, every week (even Week 17, when many teams have stopped caring as their season is already either lost or playoff bound). And of course, the joy of winning a fantasy football league is euphoric. I only know this because I am the defending champion in my primary league. The taste of victory is sweet like honey.

Many argue that there are better things to do with my time. I could clean my apartment, read textbooks for my seminary courses, or even learn to play the piano. And while all of these options are viable, I can’t see them comparing with determining whether I should play Beanie Wells against Carolina or Sidney Rice against San Francisco. If you haven’t given it a fair shot, I strongly encourage you to do so. Even if you don’t necessarily enjoy watching football, fantasy sports has the ability to change you…for the better.

And don’t even get me started on Fantasy Golf…

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