UCLA Basketball: The More LaVar Ball Talks, The More People Will Root Against UCLA

LaVar Ball, father of UCLA Basketball’s Lonzo Ball, likes to talk and the more that comes out of his mouth, the more people will root against UCLA, and that is a disservice to the Bruins.

The coaches and players of the UCLA Basketball team have done one hell of a job turning the program around in just 12 short months.

Last season, the Bruins missed out on the NCAA Tournament after going 15-17. Since then, a change in coaching philosophy and the addition of freshmen Ike Anigbogu, TJ Leaf and Lonzo Ball have the Bruins at 31-4 and into the Sweet 16.

Though the Bruins have done extraordinarily well this season, the addition of Ball came with some baggage. The unfortunate part is that Lonzo Ball is not the baggage, but rather his very loud father, LaVar Ball.

Related Story: Lonzo Ball is a Model Athlete

Since Lonzo arrived in Westwood, he has been all business. Since LaVar arrived in Westwood, he has been all talk (which half of has been about his business). At first it was cute, “UCLA is gonna win the NCAA Chapionship. You think I’m playin’?”

More from Go Joe Bruin

• UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
• UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
• UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
• UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
• UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show

But in the last four months it has grown to an annoyance, at best. LaVar has made some outlandish statements, but he seems to up the ante every time a camera or microphone is put in his face.

He has claimed Lonzo is better than Steph Curry, he has claimed he would have beaten Michael Jordan 1-on-1, he has taken shots at Charles Barkley and has even questioned the basketball abilities of the children of NBA Legends.

All of this originated from a good place of promoting his kids, but it seems he has let his mouth get the best of him and is now attacking those who do not agree with his perspective on basketball.

The unfortunate part in all of this is the fact that his son Lonzo and the UCLA Basketball team are taking the hit for this helicopter parent.

Because of LaVar’s self-promotion (you will always see him in his own Big Baller Brand clothing line and never any UCLA apparel), the Bruins, who should be a “feel good story” of the NCAA Tournament after their magical turnaround from last season, are being put in the role of the villain despite not having a villain on their team.

The Bruins are a special team and they have carried themselves very well all season long. We have not had any negative press about the players’ personal lives off the court and whenever the players are available to the media, they are always well spoken and very humble in their responses. There should be no reason why anyone should hate the team outside of natural rivals and casinos. But because of LaVar Ball, the UCLA Bruins now have a target on their back.

Charles Barkley is actively rooting for UCLA to lose. LeBron James will most likely be rooting for Kentucky Head Coach John Calipari in Friday’s game. And then do yourself a favor and quickly rummage through this Twitter search “UCLA Hate LaVar“.

It is unfortunate for the players who have busted their butts this past season to get to where they are, only to endure this hate that they had no part in the creation of. But you have to give it to the Bruins who have not let anything distract them.

Next: LaVar Ball Fatigue Syndrome... Do You Have It?

That is going to be important as they head into Memphis on Friday afternoon, to what will most likely be a Kentucky home game, and not only take on the #2 Kentucky Wildcats, but half the college basketball-loving nation. All while LaVar Ball sits laughing somewhere with his Big Baller Brand gear on. Go Bruins.