#6 - Explain the irony of the chapter, "Rowdy and I Have a Long and Serious Discussion About Basketball." (Manu)

        Contrary to the chapter title, Rowdy's and Junior's conversation is short, insensitive, and sarcastic. After the Reardan basketball team crushed Wellpinit, Junior felt happy and confident, but he also felt a little guilty for turning against his tribe (and his best friend). He decided to send an apology email to Rowdy.  Rowdy responded with a nasty remark, but Junior had grown accustomed to the temper and mean comments being directed at him.  In fact, Junior thought there was a hint of friendliness because "it was the first time that Rowdy had talked to [him] since [he] left the rez" (Alexie 198). This is ironic because the conversation wasn't meant to be friendly at all.  The entire "discussion" consisted of three phrases that were filled with rude words. Even though Junior interpreted it in the best way possible, their talk was brief and cynical, not long and serious.
          The email shows how the friendship between the two is ironic itself. Rowdy and Junior are the most unlikely set of friends; tough guys aren't typically friends with nerds. Their relationship is similar to Bennie and Asagai's, from Raisin in the Sun. Asagai is a African man with lots of cultural pride and Bennie is a assimilated black woman. They are an unusual pair, with seemingly conflicting interests, but they support each other in ways no one else could.