Weasel of the Week: LaVar Ball

Should this surprise anyone?

LaVar Ball, America's worst stage parent, doesn't care if his youngest child, LaMelo, never plays a second of college ball. All he's interested in is exploiting his sons' talent as soon as possible to fatten his wallet.

I'm sure you've heard by now that the elder Ball has produced the next overpriced shoe from his Big Baller Brand, bearing LaMelo's signature. The retail price? $300. LaMelo hasn't started his school year yet at Chino Hills High in Los Angeles, and his greedy father, still looking to realize the money he never made as a pro, now wants to profit off him as well as elder brother Lonzo. In California, there are no rules prohibiting high school players from having their own shoes on the market---and what kid would, anyway---, but this would preclude LaMelo from ever playing for any college. At all. The feeling now is that if LaMelo can't play NCAA basketball, he'll take his talents overseas for a year before declaring for the NBA draft, and that's still about 3 years away.

It doesn't end there. La Loudmouth is also claiming that when Cleveland's LeBron James files for free agency after next season, he'll head for LA and play for the Lakers. Not even Fred Sanford was this delusional.

Add it up, and LaVar Ball gets this week's Weasel of the Week award. Oh, I think there'll be more of those, I'm sure, before his 15 minutes expire.