(having already made plenty of friends in Mexico, Kentucky coach John Calipari salutes his friends in Brazil)
With Cleveland and Miami preparing for an exhibition clash in Rio de Janiero, the Plain-Dealer’s Chris Haynes reports both clubs have been cautioned against an all-too-common way to celebrate a successful 3-point attempt :
Holding up the “three-sign” or the “three-goggles” in a certain way while in Brazil could be mistaken for “f— you” or “f— off,” I was informed.
The NBA sent the Cavs and Heat a memo with a list of questionable gestures that shouldn’t be used in Brazil, we’re told. The last thing anybody wants is for the stands to clear immediately after a player nails a 3-pointer.
Can you imagine a player floating and waving the three-sign from one end of the court to the other? That wouldn’t be good.
James Jones, the Cavaliers’ 3-point marksman, says he was not made aware of the memo and knew nothing about the gesture being an insult in Brazil.
“Hey, that’s why I just salute after I hit one,” James said. “That’s not offending anyone, right?”