Have you guys heard this? http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/news/columnists/9540263.htm Pssst: At an informal workout the other day at Target Center, after Timberwolves rookie Rick Rickert made a nifty move to slip past his boyhood idol, Kevin Garnett of the Wolves, to score a basket, Garnett responded, without warning, by punching Rickert in the jaw. A cut required seven stitches to close, and Rickert also suffered a chipped tooth. The astonished 6-10 Rickert didn't retaliate against the 7-foot NBA most valuable player, who also had unkind words for the former Gophers player. Apparently, the rookie wasn't supposed to score on the MVP. Rickert received his stitches at University of Minnesota Hospital. Because the incident involved the Wolves' franchise player, the incident seemingly will make it even more difficult for Rickert to make the Wolves' final roster.
KG must think he was Jordan punching Kerr. Who punches people without provocation? I can't imagine Tim Duncan ever decking a guy unless there was some serious issues on the court that entailed him defending himself. Rocket players can sleep at ease knowing Yao's not going to go gangster on someone.
there must have been something else that led up to it. while you never really know what kind of person kg really is, i just cant imagine him being that much of an a-hole. i also cant imagine him being as big a chump as to just sucker punch a guy. maybe the rookie was jawing at kg and than did some chest thumping when he scored on him. there has to be more to it than just "he scored on kg and kg punched him". kg is my favorite non-rocket, but i still loose a little respect for him even if the rookie was taunting him. as the mvp and team leader he should know better.
This actually surprises me A LOT! KG doesnt seem like that type of person on and off the court from the things I have read about him in the past. Makes you wonder if there is MORE to the story than just that article.
regardless, if he was jawing its in the spirit of the game. They are just trying to get in the opponents head. KG's fault for not keeping them in check.
Maybe this is why Stephon Marbury demanded out of the Twin Cities, he didn't want to get iced in the face by that bonehead! Man, the more and more I watch of Garnett, the more and more I'm convinced Duncan is 5x the player AND the person. I guess all those $100 million contracts are getting to this prima donnas head, what a jerk!
I remember I read in Beckett Basketball Monthly (back in '01) that KG has a serious attitude problem. The article was about players that you shouldn't approach for autographs and KG was #3 on the list. They said that when they tried to get his autograph he snatched the pen and intentionally smeared the ink with his hand while he was writing... I'm really not that shocked that he would haul off and punch a rookie.
Does anyone got footage of Anthony Peeler elbowing KG in the jaw and KG was too scared to do anything? It's funny because after everything had been broken up you can see KG holding his jaw in the background.
I'm biased because KG is my favorite basketball player, but I gotta believe there was *something* leading up to that. Maybe Rickert jabbed KG for his Olympic snub or he elbowed his junk the previous play. Something.
I don't know how much background checking Jim Rome does before he runs with a story. But he opened with this today.
Here's a post draft quote from Rickert... "I grew up in Minnesota, so I've watched Kevin Garnett all the time. He's just a great player. He can shoot it, he can take it to the basket. He's just a great, fundamental, athletic player." Can you imagine having a tryout and playing against Kevin Garnett and then he belts you in the face? I would feel so humilated and pissed off that I would want to get even with this ass.
