Mad Max Broke His Finger, but I'm Pretty Sure It's Not His Trigger Finger

Me'n my dearest wife were watching our Cleveland Cavs treat the Miami Heat like the little guy in the prison cell tonight, and she asked about Delonte West.

In case you don't know, the Cavs are taking the rest of the NBA--including your favorite team--and punching them in the face. In front of their woman. Not bullying, because they're too classy to bully, but your team thought the Cavs were someone they could pick on, and they're not. So they smashed your team for running their mouths and getting all up in they grill.

Sorry. We're also Browns and Indians fans, so we're rubbing the Cavs in everyone's faces. Until they suck again. Then we'll just watch the Browns, Indians and Cavs silently. At least we'll still have Ohio State.

Also if you don't know, Delonte West was arrested for speeding on his motorcycle. With guns. When they pulled him over, he had two pistols strapped to his thighs and a sawed off shotgun in a guitar case over his shoulder. At least the news called it a guitar "case". I think it was one of those soft guitar gig bags. But, if the news media knew anything about anything, they wouldn't be the news media.

Anyway, Delonte West is bipolar. He was off of his meds and had just separated from his wife. I found it fitting to dub him Mad Max.

Mad Max now faces charges, and we could lose him right around playoff time to either a trial or sentencing or both. This is not cool, because he is pound for pound one of the toughest players in the league. He has a gang tattoo on his neck. He dunks over guys inches taller--and he's only average athletically compared to other NBA players. He's left handed. He does that thing where he gets into someone's face, but his face is actually to the side, and he's just staring into space...yeah. That means it's on, and you're about to get bit before he knocks yo sorry self flat the F out.

There was something I noticed when he showed up for his first game. He was inactive for the beginning of the season, and they wouldn't even let him sit on the bench. When he finally did come back and his name was announced, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. Not because he's such a star player. He's a very good player, but he's no Lebron or Shaq. It was because it was made public he was bipolar. Even the worthless Cleveland news media reported the case differently when they found out that fact.

So what? So what. Except this does show that people are starting to accept the fact that bipolar is an illness. The outlandish behaviors are symptoms. Just like people with epilepsy can't help their symptoms, bipolar sufferers are not able to control their moods. This is scientifically proven. And some of those moods and actions are dangerous.

Just for comparison, the Browns had Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow, both gifted players. Both headcases, but in the selfish way. Well, Braylon was very big in the community and charity, but he complained. And partied. And punched one of Lebron James' buddies in the face. Winslow was traded early, and Braylon was traded nearly immediately after the face punching incident. And Cleveland fans gave them a helpful push in the back to get them the heck out of town. Very different scenario with Mad Max.

Now, Mr. Max should have been on his meds. That's why he had this episode. That's why people that are (relatively) stable do absurd things, because they ditch the meds.

Mad Max recently broke his finger and has been out. I don't think it was from overusing his trigger finger, but I don't know.

People speculate about what he was doing with the guns. He sped up when he saw the cops, like he wanted to be caught. They say it was a cry for help. But he was heading in the general direction of his estranged wife. He was off his meds. With guns. I think it's pretty obvious what was going on.

Dude is multi-talented and generous, I think. He's actually a singing cowboy, but just during the off-season and just for adorable little bald cancer patients. Brings a smile to their faces. The pistols were props. His wife was fighting for custody of the horse, so he had to ride the motorcycle. He had the shotgun in the guitar bag because he didn't want anyone to steal his guitar.

See. Pretty easy to figure out when you look at the facts.