What did the poor asterisk do to deserve such scrutiny?
All this poor character ever did was sit peacefully atop our keyboards amongst all the others, minding its own business and pestering no one. Yet somehow, throughout the course of history, the asterisk landed itself a raw deal, walking hand in hand sports’ most skeptical accomplishments, as if to say, look at me, I don’t want to be here, why did I get this invite?
When Miami Heat center Bam Adebayo dropped 83 points this season, the NBA world murmured, some in awe, others in protest. It wasn’t that Bam’s was an NBA record, one that memorably still belongs to Wilt the Stilt, but his 83 topped a hallowed mark by a man we all still revere, Kobe Bryant.
History has been kind to Bryant, his unfortunate and tragic passing almost immediately changing the collective fondness of his memory.
Bryant once poured in 81 against the Toronto Raptors. His performance became the second highest point total scored in an NBA game. When Adebayo topped that, everyone was quick to show their asterisk.
Critics claimed Bam’s 83 didn’t come within the context of the game, whatever that means, as if scoring 83 against anyone is a simple feat.
We immediately assigned an asterisk to Bam’s night, as if to give it less meaning, to diminish his accomplishment in some feeble attempt to put the performance in its place.
I’m here not to talk about Bam’s night, which was impressive, or the tanking that caused this night to happen, which is unfortunate, but rather what the poor asterisk did to deserve any of this.
In the world of characters, the asterisk has been dealt a losing hand.
Look at all the others. The exclamation point, demonstrative, emphatic, shouting from the mountain tops, look at me! What I have to say is important!
The question mark, interrogative, inquisitive, relentlessly looking for answers.
The dollar sign, rich, lucrative, one we all love to see, smell and feel. One we all wish we had more of, not less.
Relatively recently, thanks to the internet and a slew of hysterical Jimmy Fallon skits, the hashtag has crashed the party, highlighting catch phrases and becoming super utilitarian. You can even use it to shorten automated calls. Who doesn’t like that?
Even the @ is now used to address people online, saying, hello, are you home? I have something to say to you whether you’re listening or not.
But the poor asterisk, all we ever do is attach it to things we don’t care for. All the baseball records, Bonds, Clemens, McGwire, Sosa and Palmeiro have been wearing asterisks for years, so much so that the character should have its own wing in Cooperstown. Pat Riley once said the 2012 Spurs title should have an asterisk because it took place during a strike-shortened season. Others have said the same about any title won during the pandemic. The asterisk has become an escort for the unwanted. It is used to symbolize an afterthought or delineate a footnote, one that says “this happened, but…” The asterisk’s burden knows no end.
Now, for whatever reason, Bam’s 83 carries one, the spiny little asteroid has planted itself atop right another impressive achievement as if to signify a permanent blemish, a zit before prom that turned into a pockmark for life.
It’s unfortunate what happened to this poor asterisk. Others in its class, like the ampersand, fear what’s coming like the animated food in Sausage Party waiting to be eaten. The asterisk needs company. It’s only a matter of time before we come up with something worse. It’s how we roll.
I say, free the asterisk and its accompanying works of forced fiction. These feats happened. We saw them with our very own eyes. Celebrate, don’t segregate.
At the end of the day, I suppose the asterisk laughs last. While others do with it as they see fit, the symbol has had a front row seat to some of the greatest accomplishments of all time.
and the ironic quotation marks deserve a little attention too. “a front row seat to some of the greatest accomplishments of all time” 😉