Don't mess with Eduardo Najera. One game suspension

A "Flying Forearm Tackle"

hehe

anyone know if Nash was on the court at the same time? I'd like to see a replay of what he was doing.

also, just wanted to repost the admission by the Canada guy, who apparently has a history of this.

"It got real physical under the basket," Gaurasci said. "I basically lost my composure and lost my cool for a minute there. It was a selfish act on my part. <b>It was completely my fault and I apologize to my team and the Mexican team.</b>"

 

Too bad we traded him for Dan Langhi.

DD

 

dang from the pics it looks like he creamed that guy. does anyone have like a link to a clip of it.

 

Agreed, we would know we would have somebody who would respond every time a cheap shot was leveled on Yao and Wink.

 

Najera is a punk! I mean really, how much more different is he than John Stockton? Both have limited physical abilities and both cheat and do underhanded things on the basketball court. No thanks!

 

Do you know how much coaches love a player like that though?? Especially when they don't get caught.

If Eduardo wasn't good at creating havoc on the court, he would be a 12th man.

 

I don't know if all coaches like that kind of players !
I would much prefer the Mario Ellies over the Najeras and Ron Artests of the NBA . He played just as hard and never crossed the line like those punks!
My 7 yr old daughter watches the game with me and I don't like her to see those kind of players on our team, especially if they get cheered for playing dirty.

 

RF,

Say what you want, but IMO, players that are good at havoc/disruption and especially good at pseudo dirty tactics that fluster the opposition are an absolute desirable commodity.

The Najeras/Oakleys/Barkleys, etc. are all alike. If they aren't on your team, then they are dirty and easy to hate. When they are on your team, they are absolutely beloved by fans and coach alike.

Now, I am not speaking for everyone, because there is no doubt that there are hometown fans who frown upon a player like that. They are few and far between IMO. Dallas loves Najera and Philly, Phoenix and Houston, for the most part loved Barkley.

Go start a poll in the GARM and ask everyone if they would love to have Najera on this team. Youd be suprised by the results.

 

I am not saying those players aren't desirable to coaches. I do understand their value. But it does not mean I have to like it. I am just saying that *I* hate those kind of players. I would rather not have them on our team and I don't like to see their act on the court.

 

Even if they are key pieces on a championship contender??? Thats why I specifically mentioned players like Barkley. Heck, even throw Oakley and Mahorn in there. Dirty players have a place on winning teams moreso than they do on mediocre or lottery teams. A means to an end. The point is, winning makes you forget alot of things. Thats why I used the term "pseudo dirty tactics". Is it really that dirty if the refs dont see it?? Borderline???

I mean, if Najera was on our team and was harassing Dirk or Duncan to the point of frustration and poor decision making, and it was helping us beat them in the playoffs, how could you not root for him??

 

Another good example of dirty players/teams: Jazz with Stockton/Malone. Everyone hated their dirty play, but I know of very few people who would pass up having the assist king and the 2nd leading scorer on their team. Najera isn't at that caliber, but he's a hardnosed worker just like them.

 

Around the office here, Najera is known as the Yao stopper.

 

Barkley should not be lumped in with Najera (neither should Stockton or Ainge or Malone--other dirty players but also guys who usually don't physically intimidate or go out of there way to hurt people), let alone Artest, Oakley, Laimbeer class of dirty player (worse than Najera), or probably the worst complete thug I can remember, Rick Mahorn.

However sometimes you do need an enforcer--particular with guys like Yao and Francis that make prime targets (offesively gifted but neither are physically imposing). I won't go so far as wanting a Mahorn as a Rocket--but a younger Oakley, Kevin Willis or a Najera would bring some things the Rockets could use. The Rockets are an awefully soft team as it stands now. If a little extra dirtyness and win at all costs attitudes are needed to produce some more wins so be it--I am not looking for role models but rather Ws.

 

I would love a Najera or Stockton type of player on this team.

We have enough "P" players (pretty, petite and/or potential) we need someone to do the dirty work.

The closest player we had was KT. Even though he had problems passing the ball (or lack of passing the ball in the post) I would still much rather have KT or Najera than a Mo-T.

 

As a Mizzou fan who suffered through many years of Najera at Oklahoma, I have to say I do like his game.

I think that he is a very tough player that pushes the game to it's physical limits, but I don't think he goes out with the intention to hurt anyone. Supposedly he is a very classy guy off-court.

Anyone remember when Najera and Mateen Cleaves knocked into each other in the NCAA tournament? I think they were both out for a couple of minutes, but I seem to remember Najera getting the worst of it.

 

Who cares! This is the real news of the story:

Former St. John's player Rowan Barrett, the tournament's leading scorer, did not miss a shot, making 7-of-7 from the field and 10-of-10 from the line for 27 points in just 17 minutes.

 

Desert Scar,

I was only lumping them together to prove a point about all fans hating those type of players for their tactics unless they are on your team.

I whole heartedly agree that there are levels of dirtiness (BTW, I think that would be a good future threat topic "who is the dirtiest player to every play in the NBA?").

Stockton and Ainge are in a class together. Although, i feel Ainge is more of a punk than a dirty player. They are both cheap shot artists but Ainge is a lil baby compared to Stock (Ainge is a jersey grabber; Stock is a ball grabber )

Malone absolutely has to be considered someone who goes out of his way to hurt people (go ask Isiah and The Admiral).

 

True, but not to the level of Mahorn. Mahorn would win the contest (no contest really) from my perspective, but I can only go back until the early 80s.