AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2006 > October > 03 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USFinally, blood’s been spilled
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I was joking with another NBA writer over the weekend about what I needed to see at Hawks training camp to convince me that they were ready to take that next step, and I told him that I needed to see some blood. I needed a good fight or something to let me know that these guys were serious about climbing out of the NBA basement. (I hadn’t witnessed so much as a shoving match since I’ve covered these Hawks, nice guys all of them but no one strikes me as particularly rowdy or nasty).
Well, it didn’t take long for some blood to be shed. While pulling into the parking lot for practice this morning I spot Hawks equipment man Zach Walsh rolling past me with Zaza Pachulia in the passenger seat holding a bag of ice wrapped in a towel over his eye. Turns out Zaza caught an inadvertent elbow to the dome from Lorenzen Wright during a defensive drill. He missed the rest of the morning session but was expected back for the night session, with 20 or so stitches to close up the gash above his eye.
I know it wasn’t Hearns-Hagler or Tyson-Holyfield. It wasn’t even a skirmish. But blood has been spilled. And even when it’s accidental, it sets a certain tone for the way things are going to be. Wright is a veteran who has been in his fair share of scrapes during his 10 years in the league. So even if he didn’t mean to split Zaza’s skull open a little bit, what’s done is done. And now everyone knows they better watch out. I know this puts Zaza’s dreams of gracing the cover of GQ in serious doubt, for the time being at least. But it’s like one Hawks staffer told me during practice this morning, “welcome to the NPA - No Punks Allowed.” I kind of like the way that sounds.
Comments
By Matt
October 3, 2006 04:21 PM | Link to this
20 or so stitches? That’s not just an inadvertent elbow, that’s also an inadvertent brass knuckles and an inadvertent roundhouse kick, Chuck Norris style. Dr. Z, our thoughts are with your already massive brow.
-Matt from Hotlanta Hawks
By mountain_jim
October 3, 2006 04:25 PM | Link to this
They’ve needed toughening up, as you said.
Go Hawks!
By A Thinking Fan
October 3, 2006 04:40 PM | Link to this
Bump ‘N Grind Hawks! Bump ‘N Grind! My type of Bball - Ninja fightin’ like Doc and I, goin’ at it. Watch it Flash, you’re next…
By Astro Joe
October 3, 2006 04:59 PM | Link to this
I hope Lo is ready for Batista to play body guard for Zaza. How about a tag-team of Lo & Sheldon vs. Zaza and Batista? I’d put my money on the guys with the funny accents.
Hey Sekou, say something about the big Greek’s mother and see if he steps up to the plate. Let’s see who else is ready to bust heads.
By Sekou K. Smith
October 3, 2006 05:00 PM | Link to this
Zaza is sitting out Tuesday night’s practice and could be out until Thursday, though he could return as early as Wednesday night. And it turns out that he needed close to 30 stitches to close up that head buster. Ouch.
By TD
October 3, 2006 06:37 PM | Link to this
30 stitches from an elbow? Sounds like he got hit with the forearm! Pass the Advil! It does sound like the Hawks’ soft middle has gotten a whole lot tougher.
By Wedgie Evans
October 3, 2006 09:11 PM | Link to this
Good to hear that we got someone throwin’ ‘bows, first time that’s happened inside for us since Dikembe Mutombo. Hopefully Lorenzen saves some bows to throw at Shaq, Okafor and D. Howard. I still have this recurring memory from last year of people driving the lane and getting uncontested layups while Zaza stands around and watches them.
I think NBA - No B*** Allowed would fit a little better, but oh well.
By JimmyF
October 4, 2006 10:15 AM | Link to this
Lo Wright is bringing the intensity 1 hour into his tenure on the court, and to starter Zaza who looks like he muscled up a bit. Now if Marvin could punch Sheldon in the stomach we might be ready for a “no-holds-barred” match at center court of the Philips. Joking aside I like to hear this especially with the Woodson defensive scheme used, they have to be physical for 4 quarters in the paint and then keep running with the young guns and Claxton. Who is going to stop Smith on a fast break up the right side??
By z
October 4, 2006 02:10 PM | Link to this
does anybody know why zaza pachulia grew out his beard?
By Sekou K. Smith
October 4, 2006 02:36 PM | Link to this
He already shaved his beard. He was clean shaven (with a lump over his right eye) on the sideline at practice today.
By The Flash
October 4, 2006 03:39 PM | Link to this
Astroman, check out this web site: http://hoopshype.com/articles/camp_amico.htmNothing very deep in it but they do say that JW is going to try to beat out MW; they also pit our MW against our SW for playing time (I don’t see that myself). I am anxious to see how Jay Williams does, however, notwithstanding that i trust the good doctor with his prognosis as to his chances from a purely physical point of view. Hey, I always wanted a doctor in the family.
Thinkingman, don’t be considering doing any of that bumping style against me. With all the er, padding that I got, does the word “quicksand” mean anything to you. LOL boys.
By BT
October 4, 2006 04:09 PM | Link to this
One from left field Sekou, but are the Hawks ever going to call up David Anderson or the guard from Turkey they took in the second round a few years ago?
By ray
October 5, 2006 03:16 AM | Link to this
Ha! Let’s hope none of the other Hawks gets head-butted by Shelden…you see that forehead? Oh yeah, you’d need stitches alright…Sorry, couldn’t resist. He’s such a nice guy, hope he’s nastier than that on the court, though.