The Blake Griffin dunk has destroyed souls all over the place.
Some are calling in the best dunk of the year (slow down, it’s early) but it got me thinking about what are some of the most disrespectful dunks in NBA history. I mean demoralizing and really was a stain on that person’s career. I give you my top 3.
3. Shawn Kemp over Alton Lister
This dunk is so awesome for a few reasons. He catches this at the top of the key, avoids contact by cuffing the ball and then has the explosion to take off and unleash an unholy baptizing on Mr. Lister. And the cherry on top is the point so he knows he got dunked on.
2. Dr. J over Michael Cooper
Now Cooper is one of the best defensive players of the 80s. And I am sure he thought he could alter the shot enough to make it a bright decision to jump, against a normal person it would have been a good idea. Not so much against Dr J. He takes off, rocks the cradle with ball and still has enough hang time to bring it DOWN!
1.Scottie Pippen over Patrick Ewing
My buddy Pete said it best: “this is the most diabolical yam job in the history of mankind.”
Truth.
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Showing posts with label NBA. Show all posts
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A Letter to the NBA
Dear NBA,
Hi, you may not know me so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brian Thompson and whether you know it or not I love you. Yes it’s true. I love you as much as it is possible for a young man to love a sports association. That’s why it is with much pain that I write this letter to you. You see my first love is basketball, and when you love something you have to let them know when they are making mistakes just like you applaud them when they do so something amazing. This time you’re wrong.
You see I remember the moment I fell in love with this game. I was a wee child probably no older than 3 or 4 years old sitting on the floor of my grandmother’s living room watching these amazing athletes glide like gazelles up and down the court with the ability to soar through the air as if blessed with the gift of flight all the while displaying the toughness of a gladiator. From NERF battles against my sister who was a stand in for the Detroit Pistons to annoying older cousins and kids from church to let me join in their games, some of the happiest moments of my life came from the joy the NBA inspired. And now because of poor planning, disregard for the fans and a lack of perspective you’ve thrown away the opportunity to affect another generation as you have affected me.
I am not going to choose sides, I think both the owners and the players are wrong and we the NBA fans are left to suffer. I could bring up that the owners never intended to have a season with their unreasonable negotiating tactics. Refusing to budge and wanting to be saved from themselves for handing out years of ridiculous contracts. I could bring up the players who should realize that they will never win the battle of public opinion as people are hungry and jobless and don’t want to hear how many concessions you have given during these negotiations. In times such as this, just play. I understand it’s a business, but at the same time you are already the highest paid athletes. Perhaps within your own union teach rookies to be responsible with money instead of buying your entourage tattoos and a fleet of hummers.
You’re both wrong for not finding a way to give people what they want. And while I openly realize that in a world with so much injustice a game is not the most important thing in the world, seeing my favorite sport played by the greatest players in the world does give my mind the break from heavy issues of the day that it so sorely needs. So NBA I will watch you when you return, but until you get your act together I will have to get by with watching your little brother College Basketball. He’s not as good but hopefully he’ll always be there as a backup.
Signed,
The Chocolate Puma
Hi, you may not know me so allow me to introduce myself. My name is Brian Thompson and whether you know it or not I love you. Yes it’s true. I love you as much as it is possible for a young man to love a sports association. That’s why it is with much pain that I write this letter to you. You see my first love is basketball, and when you love something you have to let them know when they are making mistakes just like you applaud them when they do so something amazing. This time you’re wrong.
You see I remember the moment I fell in love with this game. I was a wee child probably no older than 3 or 4 years old sitting on the floor of my grandmother’s living room watching these amazing athletes glide like gazelles up and down the court with the ability to soar through the air as if blessed with the gift of flight all the while displaying the toughness of a gladiator. From NERF battles against my sister who was a stand in for the Detroit Pistons to annoying older cousins and kids from church to let me join in their games, some of the happiest moments of my life came from the joy the NBA inspired. And now because of poor planning, disregard for the fans and a lack of perspective you’ve thrown away the opportunity to affect another generation as you have affected me.
I am not going to choose sides, I think both the owners and the players are wrong and we the NBA fans are left to suffer. I could bring up that the owners never intended to have a season with their unreasonable negotiating tactics. Refusing to budge and wanting to be saved from themselves for handing out years of ridiculous contracts. I could bring up the players who should realize that they will never win the battle of public opinion as people are hungry and jobless and don’t want to hear how many concessions you have given during these negotiations. In times such as this, just play. I understand it’s a business, but at the same time you are already the highest paid athletes. Perhaps within your own union teach rookies to be responsible with money instead of buying your entourage tattoos and a fleet of hummers.
You’re both wrong for not finding a way to give people what they want. And while I openly realize that in a world with so much injustice a game is not the most important thing in the world, seeing my favorite sport played by the greatest players in the world does give my mind the break from heavy issues of the day that it so sorely needs. So NBA I will watch you when you return, but until you get your act together I will have to get by with watching your little brother College Basketball. He’s not as good but hopefully he’ll always be there as a backup.
Signed,
The Chocolate Puma
Friday, May 27, 2011
A Basketball Rant...In Three Acts
Act I: Miami Heat Fans
This is why people hated the Miami Heat
Allow me to clarify this section of my rant to those not versed in subtlety. This is not directed at true Miami Heat fans. To them I say congrats on all of your team’s success. I know a few legit Heat fans, some who were sincerely ecstatic when not only they signed Lebron James and Chris Bosh but also when they signed Carlos Arroyo. Yes visions of an Arroyo to James connection actually danced in their heads. This section is dedicated to those bandwagon chumps who last year cheered for the Lakers, the Celtics before them and so on and so forth. People who can’t even name the coach or the starting center on their supposed “favorite” team. You get no congratulations. You get no accolades and to me you are everything wrong with fans today. Cheer for whomever you want, but when you change who you cheer for more than you change your underwear I can not take you seriously.
Act II: The Chicago Bulls
Yes I am disappointed that the Bulls lost in 5 games in the Eastern conference finals. I expected them to win but the Heat were just a better team this year. But as my friend the wee man Pete Campana stated young teams only learn through losing. I had hoped my young Bulls would be different but alas the same fate that befell young Laker squads in the early 80s, young Bulls teams in the late 80s, and young Spurs teams in the mid 90s befell the D-Rose led Bulls.
With the young core Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng all learning from this experience not to mention bench players Taj Gibson, Omer Asik, C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer showing that for stretches they can hang, the bench mob and it’s starters will be fine if they can get a starting shooting guard. Keith Bogans played admirably defensively this series against Dwayne Wade but be honest the Bulls will not win if they can’t get a viable second option.
Act III: Derrick Rose
I can’t express how proud of this young man I am after this season. When being interviewed in the preseason and he boldly asked the question: “why can’t I be MVP?” and from that point on he went out and did whatever was needed for the team to win. You can point to his marked improvement in his 3 point shooting and the fact that he was the only player in the NBA in the top ten in both scoring and assists any notion that he should lose his MVP status is ridiculous. Using that logic Lebron should have lost his MVP last year when he quit against the Celtics. The MVP is a regular season award and no player despite what you will hear from talking heads like John Hollinger or Dan LeBatard was more important to his team’s success than Derrick Rose. The third year guard has ascended quicker than the would be MVP in James. You see young Derrick has led his team to the playoffs every season of his career, so if you want to compare Rose to James compare them in context.
Well that’s all I have to say for now. I am picking the Mavs to win in 7 possibly as a bitter Bulls fan but also because I’d much rather see Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry win a title than well anyone on the Miami Heat.
This is why people hated the Miami HeatAllow me to clarify this section of my rant to those not versed in subtlety. This is not directed at true Miami Heat fans. To them I say congrats on all of your team’s success. I know a few legit Heat fans, some who were sincerely ecstatic when not only they signed Lebron James and Chris Bosh but also when they signed Carlos Arroyo. Yes visions of an Arroyo to James connection actually danced in their heads. This section is dedicated to those bandwagon chumps who last year cheered for the Lakers, the Celtics before them and so on and so forth. People who can’t even name the coach or the starting center on their supposed “favorite” team. You get no congratulations. You get no accolades and to me you are everything wrong with fans today. Cheer for whomever you want, but when you change who you cheer for more than you change your underwear I can not take you seriously.
Act II: The Chicago Bulls
Yes I am disappointed that the Bulls lost in 5 games in the Eastern conference finals. I expected them to win but the Heat were just a better team this year. But as my friend the wee man Pete Campana stated young teams only learn through losing. I had hoped my young Bulls would be different but alas the same fate that befell young Laker squads in the early 80s, young Bulls teams in the late 80s, and young Spurs teams in the mid 90s befell the D-Rose led Bulls.
With the young core Rose, Joakim Noah, and Luol Deng all learning from this experience not to mention bench players Taj Gibson, Omer Asik, C.J. Watson and Ronnie Brewer showing that for stretches they can hang, the bench mob and it’s starters will be fine if they can get a starting shooting guard. Keith Bogans played admirably defensively this series against Dwayne Wade but be honest the Bulls will not win if they can’t get a viable second option.
Act III: Derrick Rose
I can’t express how proud of this young man I am after this season. When being interviewed in the preseason and he boldly asked the question: “why can’t I be MVP?” and from that point on he went out and did whatever was needed for the team to win. You can point to his marked improvement in his 3 point shooting and the fact that he was the only player in the NBA in the top ten in both scoring and assists any notion that he should lose his MVP status is ridiculous. Using that logic Lebron should have lost his MVP last year when he quit against the Celtics. The MVP is a regular season award and no player despite what you will hear from talking heads like John Hollinger or Dan LeBatard was more important to his team’s success than Derrick Rose. The third year guard has ascended quicker than the would be MVP in James. You see young Derrick has led his team to the playoffs every season of his career, so if you want to compare Rose to James compare them in context.
Well that’s all I have to say for now. I am picking the Mavs to win in 7 possibly as a bitter Bulls fan but also because I’d much rather see Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, and Jason Terry win a title than well anyone on the Miami Heat.
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