On February 14, 2016, during the NBA All-Star Dunk Contest, Aaron Gordon, a professional basketball player for the Orlando Magic, delivered one of the most jaw-dropping dunks in recent memory. Known for his incredible leaping ability, Gordon executed a dunk that would leave spectators and sports fans amazed. In the second round of the dunk contest, Gordon ran towards the basket, took off from the free-throw line, and leaped over the Orlando Magic mascot, who was standing upright on a hoverboard. The timing and precision required for this dunk were nothing short of extraordinary. Gordon soared through the air, metaphorically defying gravity, and managed to clear the mascot with ease before slamming the ball through the hoop. This extraordinary feat showcased not only Gordon's incredible athleticism but also his creativity and showmanship.
In summary, it's about a boy who has no magical abilities, but instead he is very strong. The protagonist is not very smart (nicely expressed) and is forced to go to a magic school to become the best mage, without magic skills.
The villain of the piece is a cartoonishly nasty corrupt cop, made to be over-the-top cocky so that it s supposedly extra satisfying when Mash knocks him down a peg at the episode s climax. The opening and ending credits tease the introduction of one, singular female main character, who has been gifted the character trait of obsessed with the protagonist.
This extraordinary feat showcased not only Gordon's incredible athleticism but also his creativity and showmanship. The dunk was an epitome of the NBA's efforts to entertain fans, pushing the boundaries of what is possible on the basketball court. The leap over the mascot quickly became a viral sensation, with millions of people marveling at Gordon's remarkable display of skill and grace.
MASHLE: Magic and Muscle – Episode 1
Content warning: Brief/implied torture, police brutality played seriously and as a joke, brief depiction of an attempted suicide, an obsession with “pure bloodlines” as part of the fantasy worldbuilding
What’s it about? In a world where magic is commonplace, Mash is Not Like Other Kids by virtue of having no magic powers at all. But Mash has something else, something that might just be more powerful than the most intricate, legendary spell: he’s BUFF.
Fantasy allows us to ask exciting, imaginative “what if?” questions, like “what if this guy punched a wizard in the face? Would that be funny or what?”
I can’t help but feel like this show is phoning it in a little bit. It’s not a bad premise, especially for a series tinged with comedy, but there’s a distinct… lack of effort in the execution. One of the opening lines of this episode is “It is called the Magic Realm because it is a world that has magic,” so that’s the level of worldbuilding nuance we’re working with here.
Can we let my poor boy Emiya Shirou retire and make this the new “people die if they are killed”?Mashle pulls off my favorite (sarcasm) combo move, which is where characters dump information on the viewer in internal narration and yet, at the same time, I come away feeling like I know nothing about the place they inhabit or how it works beyond “eh, insert the generic rules and expectations from the last Wizard School book series you read.” Do not pay close attention to the anachronistic hodgepodge of medieval, Edwardian, and modern-day aesthetics in the clothing and technology. Do not ask questions like “why have they invented phones?” or “why do only some people need wands to cast spells whereas that guy over there seemed to be levitating stuff with his bare hands?” or “if everyone has magic, are the so-called ‘magic police’ not just the police?” No thoughts. Just vibes.
I’m latching onto these genre-specific gripes because every other element of the show gives me so, so little to talk about. Mash is deadpan and dumb as bricks in a way I think we’re supposed to find funny and endearing. He has an insatiable craving for his favorite food, cream puffs, which is at least one (1) character trait and personal motivation. His adoptive father figure is a generic Wise Old Guy with martial arts skills in one hand and a shallow tragic backstory in the other. The villain of the piece is a cartoonishly nasty corrupt cop, made to be over-the-top cocky so that it’s (supposedly) extra satisfying when Mash knocks him down a peg at the episode’s climax.
[carnival music plays, clown horn honks]Same as it ever was, same as it ever was. There’s nothing new or fresh here—just ideas so often reused that they’re starting to smell. The magic academy Mash visits at the end even looks suspiciously exactly like Hogwarts, as if this show said to itself “hmm, we haven’t done enough to put Alex off… I know! Let’s make them think about Harry Potter and J.K Rowling!”
The opening and ending credits tease the introduction of one, singular female main character, who has been gifted the character trait of “obsessed with the protagonist.” Maybe if Mash had a bit more personality I’d be inclined to suspend my disbelief. As it is, he’s just a plank of wood stealing Mob’s haircut, in a series that feels creatively bankrupt even in its attempts at humor. While it’s honestly not the worst thing out there in terms of goofy, unimaginative male-led fantasy shows, that’s a… pretty low bar to clear, and I can’t say that Mashle will be holding my attention.
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Even fellow NBA players and celebrities took to social media to express their awe and admiration for the dunk. While Aaron Gordon narrowly missed out on winning the contest that year, his leaping ability and dunk over a mascot will forever be remembered as a defining moment in the history of the NBA Slam Dunk Contest. The dunk solidified Gordon's status as one of the most exciting and electrifying players in the league, leaving fans eagerly anticipating his future performances on the court..
Reviews for "The Competitive Edge: Aaron Gordon's Mascot Dunk and Athlete Mindset"
1. John - 1-star rating - This dunk by Aaron Gordon was highly overrated and it didn't impress me at all. In fact, I am not even sure why people are making such a big deal out of it. It was just another dunk with a gimmick. The mascot was clearly crouching down and it wasn't even a proper leap over him. I expected much more from a professional basketball player like Aaron Gordon. Overall, I was disappointed and felt like it was a waste of time watching this dunk.
2. Sarah - 2-star rating - While I appreciate Aaron Gordon's athleticism and creativity, I have to say that this dunk left me underwhelmed. The mascot's participation felt forced and the leap itself didn't seem as impressive as the media hyped it up to be. It lacked the finesse and technicality that I usually expect from high-flying dunks. Additionally, the whole act felt like a distraction from the actual game. I would have preferred to see Gordon showcase his skills in a more traditional dunk rather than relying on a gimmick like jumping over a mascot. Overall, it didn't live up to my expectations.
3. Michael - 2-star rating - I understand that dunks like these are meant to entertain the crowd, but I found Aaron Gordon's leap over a mascot rather gimmicky. It didn't add any value to the game or showcase Gordon's basketball skills. The mascot's positioning and the execution of the leap felt choreographed, taking away the spontaneity that makes dunks exciting. It felt like a desperate attempt to create a viral moment rather than a genuine display of talent. I would have preferred to see more authentic and skillful dunks instead of relying on staged stunts like this one.