Why Are We Still Chasing a Game That Doesn’t Want Us? (And Why the Frontline’s Silent)
The Game Was Never Meant for Us
They sold us a narrative: ‘Hard work leads to glory.’ But my grandmother used to say, ‘If you ain’t got people in the game, you ain’t got no seat at the table.’ I’ve seen it—drafted from live feeds no one watches. Coaches whisper stats like scripture, but they never quote your name.
The system doesn’t want your sweat. It wants your data points—your jump shot turned into pixels, your hustle turned into engagement metrics. They call it ‘talent development.’ I call it digital redlining.
Algorithmic Erasure
In Chicago South Side courts, we didn’t play for applause—we played because the rhythm felt true. The AI doesn’t care if you missed the layup because your brother was late or because mama said ‘keep going.’ It only cares if your clip trends upward on TikTok.
We are not viewers—we are visible subjects in a system designed to erase us.
Rebuilders, Not Victims
They told me: ‘Become an analyst.’ So I became one—but not for them. I analyze their metrics so you don’t have to. We don’t need their endorsements. We need our own narratives. The game was never broken—you just forgot how to play it right.
This? This is how they make heroes without ever seeing us.
ShadowSlick77
Hot comment (1)
Ang game ay ‘hard work leads to glory’? Eh puro data lang ang nakuha nila—sweat mo? Bawal na kasi sa table kung wala kang algorithm! Nung sinabi nila ‘talent development,’ akala ko ay papunta sa dunk shot… pumutol lang sila ng pixels mo! Sa South Side courts, hindi tayo viewers—kami’y visible subjects na binabale ng metrics. Kaya tanong ko: Ano ba talaga ang luck? O baka pa rin yung strategy? Comment ka na ‘win’ o ‘lose’… basta wag kang magpa-isyu sa coach. #BetWithYourSweat
