AJC > Sports > Hawks > Blog > Archives > 2007 > February > 01
Thursday, February 1, 2007
R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m waiting for word on Rafael Araujo’s suspension today. The NBA set the precedent, costing Kobe Bryant a game the other day for cracking Manu Ginobili in the jaw. Araujo, the seldom used Utah center jaw-jacked Tim Duncan last night and it didn’t even make SportsCenter.
Now someone please tell me how that works. Come on Stu Jackson. Come on now. Give me that explanation that’s supposed to make sense to everyone at the NBA office but to no one else on the planet.
This is my problem with the NBA’s subjective approach to things that are supposed to be universal. Kobe’s lick was passed in a game broadcast on national TV. Araujo’s blow came in a game that few watched outside of San Antonio and Salt Lake City (Lang Whitaker says it was on ESPN but I don’t know a soul who watched the game). But if you go by the explanation given for Kobe’s suspension, Araujo should be out for the next game. But I won’t hold my breath waiting for justice.
I know this might cost me my All-Star Game credential, but the league owes us all an explanation for this one. Seriously, this is why people question the integrity of the league’s game officials and punishment staff. They continually do things that make no sense to the general public and don’t want to be questioned about it.
(I was going to take a day off from my malicious attacks on the league’s atrocious officiating staff, but Robbie Robertson’s awful showing last night ruined any chance of that. And when I tell you Robertson was bad last night, I mean he was as bad as Sean Corbin on one of Corbin’s best nights.)
Rant over. Now let me move on to some other more Hawks-centric minutiae.
Discussed the selections for the Rookie-Sophomore game during All-Star Weekend. No Shelden Williams for the rookies and no Marvin Williams for the sophomores. It could be viewed as a dramatic slap in the face for the Hawks, who haven’t been represented on either team in the past three years (check ajc.com later or a newsy item on this topic). It is just more fuel for the Hawks’ second half fire. And believe me when I tell you that all of Joe Johnson’s teammates will be watching TNT tonight to see if he makes the All-Star team. They’re already upset that there’s even a question about Johnson’s worthiness.
The omission of both Shelden and Marvin, I think, has more to do with the Hawks’ poor reputation around the league than it has to do with anything tangible. The fact is, it’s easy to overlook and disrespect the Hawks because they’ve been such a non-factor for so long. A lot of people around the league simply don’t take the Hawks seriously as an organization.
I know that might seem harsh. But it’s true. How else to explain all the no-calls that accompany Joe Johnson drives to the basket? When you’ve been the punch line to NBA jokes for so long, it’s clear to me that there is just NO RESPECT for the boys from Hawksville.
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R-E-S-P-E-C-T!
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
I’m waiting for word on Rafael Araujo’s suspension today. The NBA set the precedent, costing Kobe Bryant a game the other day for cracking Manu Ginobili in the jaw. Araujo, the seldom used Utah center jaw-jacked Tim Duncan last night and it didn’t even make SportsCenter.
Now someone please tell me how that works. Come on Stu Jackson. Come on now. Give me that explanation that’s supposed to make sense to everyone at the NBA office but to no one else on the planet.
This is my problem with the NBA’s subjective approach to things that are supposed to be universal. Kobe’s lick was passed in a game broadcast on national TV. Araujo’s blow came in a game that few watched outside of San Antonio and Salt Lake City. But if you go by the explanation given for Kobe’s suspension, Araujo should be out for the next game. But I won’t hold my breath waiting for justice.
I know this might cost me my All-Star Game credential, but the league owes us all an explanation for this one. Seriously, this is why people question the integrity of the league’s game officials and punishment staff. They continually do things that make no sense to the general public and don’t want to be questioned about it.
(I was going to take a day off from my malicious attacks on the league’s atrocious officiating staff, but Robbie Robertson’s awful showing last night ruined any chance of that. And when I tell you Robertson was bad last night, I mean he was as bad as Sean Corbin on one of Corbin’s best nights.)
Rant over. Now let me move on to some other more Hawks-centric minutiae.
Discussed the selections for the Rookie-Sophomore game during All-Star Weekend. No Shelden Williams for the rookies and no Marvin Williams for the sophomores. It could be viewed as a dramatic slap in the face for the Hawks, who haven’t been represented on either team in the past three years (check ajc.com later or a newsy item on this topic). It is just more fuel for the Hawks’ second half fire. And believe me when I tell you that all of Joe Johnson’s teammates will be watching TNT tonight to see if he makes the All-Star team. They’re already upset that there’s even a question about Johnson’s worthiness.
The omission of both Shelden and Marvin, I think, has more to do with the Hawks’ poor reputation around the league than it has to do with anything tangible. The fact is, it’s easy to overlook and disrespect the Hawks because they’ve been such a non-factor for so long. A lot of people around the league simply don’t take the Hawks seriously as an organization.
I know that might seem harsh. But it’s true. How else to explain all the no-calls that accompany Joe Johnson drives to the basket? When you’ve been the punch line to NBA jokes for so long, it’s clear me that there is just NO RESPECT.
