Good for Scott Van Pelt and everyone else who didn't reduce Lamar Odom with the simplest possible reduction of his life.
The ESPN anchor spoke for a lot of people who were stunned and offended when Odom was identified as a "Kardashian reality star" when news broke that he was fighting for his life after collapsing in a Nevada brothel this week.
"Kardashian reality star? No, no, no no. Lamar Odom, unlike those for whom fame is oxygen, whose fame comes in the absence of accomplishment, his fame was earned," he said on his SportsCentre show. "As sixth man of the year, as a multiple NBA champion. As the result of his significant role of the Los Angeles Lakers teams and being a beloved NBA teammate and peer."
There was a time when Odom's basketball talent was so formidable that he was compared to Magic Johnson. He won two titles with the Lakers and remains beloved by his former teammates. HoopsHype reminds us that only five players have averaged at least 13 points, eight rebounds and 3.5 assists per game this century and, yes, the "Kardashian reality show star" is one of them.
CBS's Ken Berger has interviewed Odom often and is as offended by the reduction to Kardashian accessory as anyone.