"Sportscenter" details "The Punch"

I was leaving a post on Rudy's COY thread while SC was on. They finally got to the Punch segment. I've stated all along that Rudy should fess up. He just got hit first. Kermit said if he would have been white and Rudy was Black, he wouldn't have been made the scapegoat. Rudy's drinking may have been attributed to the lie of he didn't know why he got hit. It's a fight, stupid! Like Kermit said, if a guy is running at you full speed, he is not coming to shake your hand. 25 years later Rudy is playing the media! Kermit handle Patrick during the interview. A great segment on SC!

 

What the hell nineteen, how much have you read on this?

Rudy's drinking was attributed by his yearly nightmares about him dying. Kermit almost killed the man, and he was lucky he wasn't hauled to jail.

I'm not going to waste anymore time writing this.

 

Fan,

The reason KW goes to jail? Would you have him hit Rudy softer? It is a fight. What would you do if someone is screaming and running at you? You would defend yourself like KW. Watch the SC segment again. I can't tell what's your beef. My beef is that Rudy created a victim reality after he was hit by KW. He was not running at full speed to act as a peacemaker. Kareem and Kunnert were fighting five feet away. Rudy didn't run to help his teamate like he has lied about. He ran to KW. Watch the tape and read the book.

 

Nineteen- I plan to read the book, but the fact is that Rudy nearly lost his life. I don not ever recall anything in sport like this.

Also - Kermit Washington never really showed remorse. If anything, KW likes to play himself as a victim. A victim???

I really do not understand your contempt for Rudy. This is distorted....

 

I had the opportunity the read this book right before Thanksgiving. I was so into it, I finished it in 2 days.

Anyway, I feel compelled to share what I took from the book after reading some of the posts here.

For a good portion of the book, I not only felt sorry for Rudy, but for Kermit Washinton too. He had that all too familiar "rough childhood" working against him and succeeded against the odds. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Kermit Washington didnt mean to hurt Rudy and that "the punch" was just a reaction on his part.

What I found disturbing, was Kermit bringing the race card into play by saying something to the effect of "If Rudy were black and I was white", I would have never been suspended or fined or would not have been suspended for as long as fined as much. I found this statment to be very disturbing.

Furthermore, I dont remember one moment in the book where Washington took any sorta of responsibility for his actions. Instead, he CONSISTENTLY blamed Kevin Kunnert for the whole ordeal!!! (for those of you who dont know the details of what led up to the fight, Kunnert and Jabbar somewhat scuffled under the Lakers basket and then started to run backup the court .....Kunnert and Washington then get into it (Kunnert alleged that Washington grabbed his jersey and that he then threw an elbow to get Kermit away from him.....Kermit alleges that Kunnert threw TWO elbows at him and thats what started the whole thing.....Jabbar elleges that he saw Kunnert actually throw a punch at Washington (something both Kunnert and Washington say didnt happen) .....Jabbar runs in and grabs Kunnert from behind, pinning his arms behind him, rendering Kunnert completely defenseless ....Kermit punches Kunnert and Kunnert goes down (I dont remember if they said he was partially knocked out or completely knocked out) .....this is where Rudy comes running into the picture (with his hands down) and Washington spins and throws a haymaker which connects right under Rudy's nose). If Kermit should blame anyone, other than himself, he should blame Jabbar. This book documents very thoroughly Jabbar's reputation in the league as someone who felt most other players (especially white players) were beneath him and this caused him to get into quite a few fights and vice versa. Jabbar and Kunnert started the fight, yes. But how many other fights have started in NBA history between two players and ended with a sucker punch that almost killed a player? With the exception of this one, ZERO!!!!

In the book, Calvin Murphy has some great quotes. The best one is regarding this incident. Calvin, as many of you know, knew quite a bit about boxing and was involved in 17 fights during his career, which the book says he all won. Also, I believe Calvin was some sort of amateur boxer when he was young? Cant remember for sure. Anyway, in the book, Calvin says something to the effect of, when you feel threatened (Kermit's excuse as to why he hit Rudy), you put your arms up to DEFEND yourself, then swing back if swung at first. Kermit acknoledges in the book, that he was hoppin mad and full of andrenaline. The punch was a knee jerk reaction and not intentional. Regardless, one still has to take responsibility for his actions. Overall, Kermit, IMO, really doesnt. That, coupled with the fact that he left his wife (who from what I read, really tried to support him and loved him) for a woman that was young enough to be his daughter), make me feel alot less sorry for Washington than I did when I first started to read this book.

Last, its hard to blame someone that:

a) Came running in with his hands down

b) Had nothing to do with the fight starting in the first place

c) Was NOT acknowledged as an enforcer, like Washington was

d) Had nightmares because of the incident

e) Had his career basically ended by the indident

f) HAD TO TASTE HIS OWN SPINAL FLUID because of the incident

e) Was punched so hard, that HIS BACK TEETH WERE PRESSED TOGETHER and Rudy couldnt open his mouth

Washington was suspended for 60 days without pay. Does anyone else thing that a similar incident in todays NBA would result in a much longer suspension and a much stiffer fine?

Washington shouldnt consider himself unlucky that he was black. He should consider himself lucky that this happened in the late 70s instead of in todays world and NBA.

 

Playing the race card and not taking responsibility for your actions (or the actions of those of your race) go hand in hand. It's nothing new. You can witness it today. Right here in this thread.

 

I just saw the piece on ESPN. Plus, I read the book.

The Kermit and Rudy of yesterday are way different than of today.
Plus, it was a different time (the 70's). There's no way that race couldn't
be an issue back then. It did influence peoples opinions of the situation.

Kermit has apologized many times for the punch (today).

Let it go.

 

nineteen, your statements are unfounded and mere conjecture.

Rudy is exactly the kind of person who would try and break up a fight.I don't believe he was planning anything other than trying to help break it off.

...Anyway thats all beside the point..I don't have a problem with what kermit did..could have happened to anyone but what I heard from him last night was disgusting.

 

you guys are wasting your time trying to convince 19 of anything. He hates RT. Period.

Washington should indeed consider himself lucky it happened when it did, in today's world...he would have been in a sh!tload of trouble. Possibly kicked out of the league permanently, possibly in jail for assault and battery(or something like that).

BTW, how many different threads have been devoted to "The Punch"? I know of at least 3 or 4 a month or so back..

 

Race is an issue today. It was yesterday and will be tomorrow. I swear I do not understand why it became an issue but it did and it will continue to be.

Rudy is right to forgive, and to move on. And he was right to be so upset at the time. KW didn't know what was in his mind. Someone running at me would provoke me, too. And dammit, Kermit is correct, a black man is more provocative than a white in the same situation.

Wouldn't it be grand if Kermit were an assistant coach for RT?

 

2K,

That's a silly statement. I don't hate Rudy. Don't know him. He just can't coach! Murphy had 17 fights. Makes his living from the NBA. KW denied a living from the NBA because of one fight? Codell thanks for your post. KW wheeled to hit Rudy. Logically, how did Kermit know Rudy wanted to break up the fight? Hands up or down? Silly. Rudy should have walked over. Rudy is one of the reasons they instituted the Don't Leave The Bench During A Fight Rule. Baseball players have used bats during fights in the 60s and 70s. Pitchers have ended the career of batters by throwing at their head. David, great point. It was a racially sensitive time. KW said the aftermath would have been different if he was white. There are no Black, Hispanic or Asian owners in the NBA. Just like it was when the NBA started. KW donates food and medicine to Africa. He has coached at Pete Newell's Big Man Camp for the last 20 years. Rudy's comments after the fight was out of line. He knew his true intention.

 

Dan Patrick is going to replay part of the interview on his ESPN radio show sometime this hour 3-4pm Houston.

 

Kinda still have the same persecution complex coming out of AI's mouth 20 years later. Some people don't get it and some of us just don't care any way. People will never stop trying to spin things their way. Call it spin doctoring or whining or what you will. The rest of us take the cards we are dealt and get on with life. Let's us do the same. End this. It's a waste of time.

 

So Rudy should have just stood by and let his teammate get his ass kicked by two players? Nineteen, you are out of your mind man. I don't blame Kermit for what he did, he reacted. Believing that this guy was a scapegoat only because he was black is ludicrous. You just said it yourself, Calvin Murphy got into lots of fights, always won, and he had a great career and is still part of the NBA. Last time I checked, Calvin was black. Is it possible that Kermit could have been treated ufairly, of course, it was the 70's. The fact remains though, that he nearly killed a guy. How often is sports do you hear stories like that? If this happened today, white or black, a player would face criminal charges. Remember what happened to Marty Mcsorely when he hit Donlad Brashear with a stick to the head in a hockey game? He went on trial for assault in Canada, where Hockey is king. By the way, Brashear is black and Mcsorely is white.

It's obvious you do hate Rudy. You can say he can't coach all you want, but Rudy T has coached 2 teams to NBA championships while you will never coach an NBA team ever. Are you sure you are in the position to say that he can't coach?

 

19,

From what I understand, Rudy ran over with his hands to his side, not up. Also, Rudy saw that Kunnert had his arms pinned behind his back by Jabbar and that Washington had just punched him. Im thinking that if you are trying to help a teamate, you dont "walk" over, you run.

Also, if you remember earlier in the book, the groundwork was laid with regards to why Washington was punished in the manner in which he was (the whole part about the commisioners office gaining authority to levy more severe punishment than they had in the past and O'Brien's overall objective of getting rid of all the fights that were happening during that time?).

Also, in the book, it talks about how at the time, the NBA had nowhere near the media exposure it does today. Yet, complete strangers to the game of basketball would recognize Washington as the man that almost killed another player. Do you really feel the public, black or white, would have tolerated anything less than what Washington got with regards to punishment?

 

FA,

I just heard the interview. Kinda shook me up.

You can tell that Rudy really wants to just forget about this and that even though he tries to act like its all in the past, it really isnt. Rudy was very emotional during the interview.

Some highlights (or lowlights):

Rudy said that he didnt know how is face would look and that he was afraid he would scare all the kids in his neighborhood.

Rudy said that he felt he would have to just live in a closet so others wouldnt have to look at him.

Rudy said that Washington's apology never mattered to him because he felt he had to forgive Washington a long time ago.

Rudy said that the fight was over by the time he got there (because Kareem had pulled Kunnert away from Washington) and he was just running in to help keep everyone apart.

Rudy said his battle with alcoholism wasnt caused by or affected by the punch.

 

Codell,

You make excellent points. I was making a issue with the perception. Rudy was suppose to try and help a teamate. KW was an enforcer in the mold of Blazers Mo Lucas. I'm not glad that Rudy got hit. KW wishes the fight never happened. I think the severity of the hit is why the book was written. KW didn't care if Rudy was white or Black, he was on Kunnert's team. 2005, the suspension was warranted. KW swung like "his" life was in danger. It would be great if Rudy asked KW to be a helper with Ming, as it was earlier suggested. Juan Marichel or Orlando Cepeda picked up a bat during a fight. Ernie Brugolio (sp) died later after being hit in the head by a pitch. No jail time or banishment for the pitcher.

 

Nineteen,

I agree with all of what you just said with the exception of Washington being a tutor for Yao (there are others Id pick first).

Ive read The Punch and Rudy's biography and have followed the team since 1981. Knowing the things about him that I do, I just dont think his intention was to attack anyone when he ran in there. He ran to help a teamate and to separate them (in the same way that Jabbar pulled Kunnert away). He ran in with his arms down. He was running towards Kunner and Jabbar, not Washington.

Im sure you have seen just as many NBA games as I have and just as many fights as I have. With the exception of a pushing and shoving, and a few of the Heat/Knick brawls, you rarely see a player running towards a fight to try and blindside someone. Also, with all the fights Ive seen, I dont think Ive ever seen a player involved in a fight (like Washington) turn around and start swinging at other players unless provoked. This is why Washington was punished.

It would have been the same thing if say, John Lucas had ran in and punched Jabbar, who was trying to act as a peace maker.

Overall, I just think Washington would do better for himself if stopped blaming Kunnert and stop throwing the race card in when trying to justify why the NBA came down on him so hard.