Tuesday, May 17, 2016

A Basketball Game Commentated by Key and Peele


In this parody of a basketball game by two famous comedians in Key and Peele, they highlight the stereotypes that are present in sports. Throughout this skit by Key and Peele, the two actors impersonate announcers of sports like basketball, subsequently highlighting the psychographics and demographics of athletes. The announcers not so subtly talk call the players "alleged rapist, convicted spousal abuser, drug addicts, and high-school dropout," while mentioning that the players "are playing a simple child game, while earning more money than the president." This satirical commentary reinforces the stereotype that many athletes in today's popular sports like basketball can be classified as thugs or inadequate role models. While this may be true for certain athletes in real life that have tainted the image of professional athletics, Key and Peele criticize the athletes that have made the wrong decisions, encompassing every athlete in the organization as negative connotative role models.





In addition, Key and Peele add that the athletes are genetically advantaged as they say that the players are "sweaty legal giants, 7 feet tall, and genetic freak." This shows that basketball players are more naturally gifted, leading up to their success in sports instead of hard work.

Not only are the athletes being criticized, but the society as a whole. Meanwhile, the commentators also fire shots at the audience by stating that "50,000 fans that are ready to binge-drink" are in the stadium, showing the negative connotation of the psychographics behind sports fans. Since this is a parody of a basketball game, these two comedians make a parody of all the participants of sports culture: athletes and fans alike.

This comedic skit was a tool to entertain viewers as well as allow others to be aware of certain blandness and routine that happens in sports. I think the overall message that Key and Peele are trying to convey is whether today's societies are spending too much time investing themselves in a sport. As a person who loves watching sports, I think that while it is not acceptable to paint an entire sports culture in a negative way based on stereotypes, people need to consider the certain repercussions and aspects from their sport.

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