A Quick Primer on Flopping

As I write this email, I’m sitting in the lobby of a Las Vegas hotel. This is my first time in Las Vegas, but I have quickly learned that the lobby of every hotel also doubles as a casino. There are no fewer than 27 machines in my immediate vicinity.

If I wanted to, I could easily blow some money on a slot machine, a virtual wheel spin, or a game that I don’t even recognize, but the man using it sure seems frustrated while playing.

Between the flashing lights, the sounds of piles of coins falling onto other piles of coins, and the constant chatter of gamblers, it’s an overwhelming situation.

And yet, one thing is nowhere to be found. I have not seen a single person flop since stepping foot in the state of Nevada.

Perhaps it’s because no basketball is being played here, but it’s a refreshing change of pace. The NBA playoffs have had some exciting games (and a huge number of blowouts lately), but flops have been a recurring theme.

If a small man lightly taps a larger man, that man should not go flying into the stands as if he were struck by a cannonball. Similarly, if I breathe on another human being, they should not roll down the hill for all eternity like that scene in The Princess Bride.

Thankfully, I have a platform even beyond this newsletter to allow others to vent their sadness toward this alarming trend. And I’m happy to share it with you!

The latest Sports R Dumb episode features friend of the newsletter Sean in a disgruntled mood like you’ve never seen before. And it’s all because of flopping.

We’re also covering a silly sports cliche and an absurdly obvious tweet from Los Angeles Lakers (and Winning Time) legend Magic Johnson.

Click here to listen to it literally any way you prefer getting podcasts from your device to your ears.