Just the fact that Alexander finally put it out there and now everyone knows he is pissed about it and it made ESPN's front page topics, should have the league and refs looking a bit more even if he doesn't get suspended for those actions they will be looking a lot harder... Or at least i hope they do.
Alexander calls for suspension on Malone because he pushed Yao? Come on....lets play ball! This is what the play-offs are about. No crying or whining because you get "pushed." This tough play is good for Yao. It should make him even tougher.
nothing wrong with a little physical play, but the point is Malone does not know when to stop. Shoving your prized player to the floor when the ball is no where near the zone is wrong. Couple bruises are ok, its when players get injured or permanently hurt is wrong.
Get up and playball. If you are hurt, then we can talk about technical or suspensions. But lets not turn this into the "Teletubbies" league. Please? This is good for Yao. No babies allowed! All I'm saying is lets not make such a big deal about this. Yao's fine.
Yeah, let's let Malone undercut people, throw elbows at everyone's faces, knock people unconscious like he david robinson, split Isiah's face open, etc, etc, etc and say "it's all good, playoff ball"...simply brilliant.
I'm sure it was more than a forearm, more like a good dose of elbow to Yao's lower back. Karla meant to do wrong. Screw Him!
I guess some guy just know nothing about fight. With the way malone did to Yao, You can be easily hurted for out of season. If you look at the training book from army, or somewhere. You will know why.
Didn't see the Mobley thing, but the forearm on Ming was nothing. Just looked like nothing more than any other post defender does on any given play.
DavidS: You're just wrong here. Why do you think that Malone consistently attracts this sort of criticism, while many other players that nobody would ever claim play with anything less than 100% do not? Malone is a dirty player. Always has been, always will be. To claim that his antics are somehow just "part of the playoffs" demeans the many, many guys who play all out, dive for every loose ball, and give every ounce they have - but don't deliberately, consistently, play violently. Malone's a ****ing cheater. Don't defend him behind a "the playoffs are tough" charade.
Getting shoved in the back like that could cause a herniated disc. With Yao being so tall, he could really permanently screw up his back. All it will take is one injury that will cause back surgery and then it's the end of his career. Malone should be drawn and quartered for his overboard physical play.
Veteran players get, or don't get in his case, veteran calls. It's always been that way and it always will.
