LA Lakers’ choice of Fil-Am a relief

SACRAMENTO, Cal-ifornia—Thanks to a 22-year-old basketball player named Jordan Clarkson, our view of both celebrity and infamy became clearer last week.

Or did it?

Clarkson, whose mom Annette Davis is part-Filipino, was selected by the Washington Wizards as the 46th pick in the 2014 NBA draft. But the franchise was willing to part with its second-round choice for monetary considerations.

Enter the Los Angeles Lakers.

Sensing that the 6-foot-5 combo guard from the University of Missouri could be a major part of their rebuilding efforts, the Lakers acquired Clarkson from the Wizards for $1.8 million (P78.75 million) in cash.

The acquisition by the Buss family team, whose audience includes the biggest Filipino basketball fan base in America, captured the attention of the Southland’s Pinoy community.

“I am not as gung-ho as other Pinoy fans of the Lakers,” said Los Angeles-based Inquirer reporter Nimfa Rueda. “But I know for a fact that with a Fil-Am joining the team, the community is now going nuts.”

There is also no doubt that Clarkson’s good fortune extended beyond L.A. and came at a perfect time for our basketball crazed and politically riven country.

The Philippines seemed to have come to a halt while two senators—Ramon “Bong” Revilla Jr. and Jose “Jinggoy” Estrada, whose celebrity got them elected—were being hauled off to jail for plunder and graft charges.

In our tabloid nation, the infamous become famous and vice versa. The blur between fame and notoriety has intersected where they are practically the same in people’s minds.

Such scenario exists because we feed voraciously on celebrity and political gossip, government flimflam that is routine, and yes, star sightings.

And so it came to pass that Clarkson’s choice by Hollywood’s team gave us reason to reflect seriously about fantasy and reality and the difference between the notable and the notorious.

Clarkson has a long way to go before he suits up as a Laker and when that time comes, it would be a national feel-good moment.

In the meantime, he has to please his coaches and team superstar Kobe Bryant, who is said to be wary of rookies. It will be hard, but Clarkson will have his shot.

And judging from his first press conference as a Laker duly recorded by the social media, the young man is having a ball already.

“I was enthused. It’s a blessing,” Clarkson said of his second-round selection. “God has a plan for everybody. I feel like I’m in a good situation. It was a longer process and I worked real hard and I felt like I’m in the right situation. I just have to make the best out of my opportunity.”

Lakers’ general manager Mitch Kupchak is also gushing about Clarkson’s 185-pound frame, 6-foot-8 wingspan and versatility.

“He’s got great size,” Kupchak was quoted as saying by several media outlets. “Good athlete. Good defender. Excels probably at attacking the rim.”