The oddsmakers will set a line for almost anything if given a chance.
So let’s say hypothetically they were asked to give odds for UFC heavyweight champion [autotag]Jon Jones[/autotag] on the basketball court at Madison Square Garden. He gets four shots from 3-point range, and all he has to do is hit … SOMETHING … something other than the floor.
No pressure for nothing but net – but at least make the net MOVE, right? Graze the rim? Thud off the backboard? ANYTHING. Just hit something.
What would the odds have been for Jones to hit something? -10,000, perhaps? a +6000 type of comeback for him to shoot four airballs? It would’ve been crazy to think in four shots, he’d really come not very close.
But that’s exactly what happened (H/T Bleacher Report). Four shots before a Knicks game, four airballs. And it’s caught on film. Jones was at the Knicks-Utah Jazz game on New Year’s Day and hung out a little with Knicks guard Josh Hart – who even gently ribbed him to at least hit the rim.
@bleacherreport Jon Jones with FOUR airballs in a row 😭 (Via @ufc_korea/IG) #nba #nbabasketball #basketball #ufc #jonjones ♬ original sound – bleacherreport
Jones, considered by many to be the best fighter in the world and best of all time, also is, by default, considered one of the world’s best athletes. But apparently fighting prowess does absolutely nothing when it comes to the fairly simple act of shooting a basketball. Both Jones’ brothers are longtime NFL players.
True, tell the guy he sucks at basketball at your own peril if you’re about to fight him. But that said, ummm … don’t quit your day job?