DD, I agree with you on 99.9% of the stuff you say...but taking a snap shot of something does not tell the whole picture, at all. Sorry, look at other angles of the video...his hands clearly hit rudy's hands...not sure how he would be so accurate with that while attempting to hit Rudy in the head with his elbow. That would be some sick hand-eye coordination given the fact that both were moving at full speed.
Word... I don't understand how that is half assed. Maybe he said it without remourse but on paper that doesn't sound that bad. He said he hopes it doesn't happen and that it wasn't on purpose. What else is he supposed to say? Also, I don't understand how people say you've never played ball if you think thats a clean play. I play ball and I would hustle on a play like that if I was up 20 or down 20. I'm sure TMac and a lot of good players would have yielded to Fernandez on the play in that situation but other players would try to make a play. And a lot of people say 'oh if it was AB or Von going up for the layup you would think it was dirty.' What if it was Ron going for the block? You know its his nature to go for everything and play at a high level of intensity on every posession...especially defensively. NO LAYUPS! Thirdly, I don't think the circumstances should be considered (ie-how much you're winning by or losing by). You guys are acting like it was preseason or a scrimmage. We criticize NBA players for not playing with heart like college players on each play. This was just a play where someone hustled really hard and the outcome was very unfortunate. Lastly, let's just stop trying to read minds here. The video doesn't show clear intent because he was going for the ball...innocent until proven guilty.
If THATS the case, then probably Hakeems most famous block of all time was a dirty play. Who doesn't remember Hakeem racing down court catching Kevin Johnson and pulling his arm back and windmilling the block and knocking KJ to the ground in disbelief. Overly agressive, yes. He definately goes for the ball, he gets mostly the ball, it was a product of circumstances.
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My first time seeing the vid finally. And I don't get the controversy over Odom. It's a CLEAR suspension for leaving the bench. He reached into the ruckus! I slightly get it over Ariza. But to me, that's a pretty clear non-suspension. You can't read his mind. You can try and make your assumptions...but he doens't have a dirty history or anything the NBA can reference. He 100% swung for the ball. Yes, he probably knew he would likely make contact with Rudy...and maybe he thought he wouldn't. Doesn't matter to me.. he went for the ball. I don't care if he's down 28 points...he could be trying for a monster block cause he's a RickyDavis-selfish player who just wants his stats and highlights.
If that was me (and if I truly didn't have any intent), I'd probably feel like exactly what he said. But I might say something nicer in light of someone being potentially seriously hurt.
That roundhouse-type swinging block is quite effective when it's timed to perfection. I've seen Rafer do it a few times when he was with the Rockets, and when he pulls it off it takes everyone by surprise. Now when you time it badly, as Ariza did, it can lead to that sort of ugly situation. He was a split-second too late, and so he clocked him in the head. Otherwise it would have been a spectacular play. I think in the end everyone got what they deserved. Flagrant-2's should be an automatic one game suspension though...
Here is another vid (more closer) of the play, I think he did wanted to give a hard foul, but not to hurt him. Ariza I think never touched the ball, he hits Rudy hand, and then rudy throws the ball with the other hand. But why not ariza went to see if Rudy was ok, Farmar did. Here its the vid: <object width="480" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/LdZBcbSE0Pc&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/v/LdZBcbSE0Pc&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="295"></embed></object>
sportsmanship is hard to come by nowadays. that's the biggest problem i have with the younger generations of players and fans. ariza never bothered to check on the player he had injured (who might never be able to recover). his apology... well, if you call that an apology... it's not the intent, since you can never prove intent. it's the consequence of your action or wrongdoing. otherwise, the mailman can make a case for himself that every time he kicks someone in the groin or knocks someone out, he's just trying to get the ball, eh? in a way, it's similar to some capital crimes such as murder or robbery. one may kill for some "good" intent, but that doesn't make it right. "doing whatever to win" is a cliche that has been used way too much than it should. after all, sports are not a real war. it's about competition - in a decent way - not survival. and the high fives by the nuggets last night almost made me literally puke. i said it in a garm thread that it was also a flagrant, but yao was able to absorb that since he's just heavy. put it this way - if i were yao, i'd knock jones (or any nugget) out the very next possession to make a point; and if i were david stern, i'd fine every nugget who high-fived after that malicious foul. take the dirty stuff out there, they don't belong to sports.
I dunno, even after he swings pass the ball he tends to bring drag RF's hands down throwing him way off side ways style balance.
I said it in the other thread but Fernandez flopped on that play. The fall was much worse that the actual foul.
Flagrant 1: Unnecessary contact Flagrant 2: Unnecessary & excessive contact I think it was a flagrant-1, the way Rudy fell makes it look a lot worse.
your the ignorant one here,because did you know that Bynum waited hours outside of chariot bobcats bus, apologizing to the whole team. Also he even call wallace on his cell, telling him ......
accident but kinda rough The fact is he went for the block but his elbow caught rudys head. f2 the most hope rudy is okay
