Boredom In WDW’s NBA Bubble?
So many of us would give anything to spend a significant amount of time within the confines of Walt Disney World; never mind The Grand Floridian.
However, it seems some of the players (and coaches) within WDW’s “NBA bubble” remain at odds with the concept.
Bored In The Bubble?
As the AP’s Brian Mahoney reported:
There was a novelty when teams first arrived at Disney. Players were happy to be back together with teammates to finish a season that was suspended in March because of the coronavirus pandemic. They fished, golfed and did other activities, documenting their exploits on social media.
The fun part has worn off. Now, it feels like work.
“For me, one thing I’ll say is that we play a game or we have a practice and obviously we’re in the bubble,” Bucks star and league MVP candidate Giannis Antetokounmpo said. “We don’t get to go home. We don’t get to be away from basketball, even for a few hours.
Personal Perspective
Now, having covered pro and college athletics for some time, there is a sliding, relative, scale of travel. Where the NBA lands today, at the Grand Floridian, is — believe it or not — not at the complete high end of accommodations. There are truly luxurious hotels around the world.
And, even this blue-collar blogger had my own favorite luxury hotel on the road (in Marina Del Rey). [Sigh]
Of course, having retired from all of that, Walt Disney World and Disneyland’s hotels rose to the top of my lists; both for family and avocational reasons. But also for the ability to be within the Disney bubble for a few days; to shut off the world and everything I encounter routinely.
However, more than anything — during downtimes — most athletes (and athletic management and staff) desire “stuff to do.” Movies. Restaurants. Golf. And, of course, bars and clubs. So, it doesn’t surprise me that getting to convalesce between contests isn’t exactly the A-number-1 thing on the list.
“I don’t know if it has the same feeling of going out in a city and getting away, but I think we’ve done some things to try to replicate that, get away from basketball, do some activities,” explained Milwaukee Head Coach Mike Budenholzer to the AP. “I think it’s good to have balance in life and the bubble makes that challenging, but I think us along with all the other teams are trying different ways to allow our players some balance and at least mentally maybe think they’re away from basketball.”
However, Head Coach Mike D’Anotoni added, “So, every day is going to be the same — like it is here in the bubble.
“Every day is Wednesday, but we have to understand the urgency of today.”
Bubble Not So Bad?
This wasn’t intended to be an editorial, but I will say this. Some of the above (and related quotes) come off a little tone-deaf; even though I can “understand” some of what’s going on (simply because I traveled with a playoff team for several years).
However, I think it would be wise for everyone who is bored in the bubble to take a look at CNN for a few minutes and then maybe take a step back. There’s actual “stuff” going on. Bad stuff.
Then, maybe, just maybe, Groundhog day in Walt Disney World won’t look so bad. #justsayin
Anyway, here’s a bit of what the NBA folks are encountering in “The Bubble.”
Coming to you LIVE from Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa Resort!
Posted by MickeyBlog.com on Wednesday, August 12, 2020