The Fred Sanford "You Big Dummy" Award for this week has to go to Dallas Mavericks center Erick Dampier for his postgame comments as his Mavericks lost to the San Antonio Spurs in Game 2 of the Western Conference quarterfinals. After watching Spurs guard Tony Parker shred the Dallas defense for 38 points in one drive to the hoop after the another, the 6'11" Dampier lamented his team's defense and vowed to put Parker on his back in the next game. He publicly guaranteed that he will be the one to put a hard foul of Parker and knock him down when he goes to the hoop for the first time.
Well, as Fred Sanford used to say to his son Lamont, "YOU BIG DUMMY!"
Why was this so dumb for Erick Dumbpier to do. Let us count the ways:
1. As much as we hate it, hard fouls are part of NBA playoffs basketball, BUT, you don't go and telegraph what you are going to do. You don't tell everyone from the media, fans and worse yet, the NBA Commisioner's office that you intend on taking out one of the league's top guards the first chance you get.
2. All eyes will now be on Dumbpier and his teammates. Not only the game officials, but league commish David Stern will be watching closely to see if Dumbpier will follow through on his threat. Not only could he comprimise his own availability in a series that the Mavs have a good shot at winning, but he could comprimise his team's defensive effort.
3. Since when did the Dallas Mavericks get tough all of the sudden. Where was all this bravado and tough talk three years ago when Dwyane Wade was ripping their hearts out while personally taking the 2006 NBA championship away from the Mavs. "Where was the we gotta take Flash out yapping back then?" Perhaps, you were a little afraid of what Miami Heat musclemen Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem might do to your soft team in relaliation.
4. Tony Parker has been going to the basket strong every since he has entered the league as a teenager. Do you actually think a hard foul or two are going to stop him from doing what he has done routinely for the past eight years. To play the game that Parker plays and excel on a consistent basis, it takes a whole lot of mental and physical toughess. So, you take a few whacks at him. He's still coming to the basket at you, then what?
5. What if Parker got hurt from one of these premeditated knuckleheaded cheap shots?
Well, as Fred Sanford used to say to his son Lamont, "YOU BIG DUMMY!"
Why was this so dumb for Erick Dumbpier to do. Let us count the ways:
1. As much as we hate it, hard fouls are part of NBA playoffs basketball, BUT, you don't go and telegraph what you are going to do. You don't tell everyone from the media, fans and worse yet, the NBA Commisioner's office that you intend on taking out one of the league's top guards the first chance you get.
2. All eyes will now be on Dumbpier and his teammates. Not only the game officials, but league commish David Stern will be watching closely to see if Dumbpier will follow through on his threat. Not only could he comprimise his own availability in a series that the Mavs have a good shot at winning, but he could comprimise his team's defensive effort.
3. Since when did the Dallas Mavericks get tough all of the sudden. Where was all this bravado and tough talk three years ago when Dwyane Wade was ripping their hearts out while personally taking the 2006 NBA championship away from the Mavs. "Where was the we gotta take Flash out yapping back then?" Perhaps, you were a little afraid of what Miami Heat musclemen Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Udonis Haslem might do to your soft team in relaliation.
4. Tony Parker has been going to the basket strong every since he has entered the league as a teenager. Do you actually think a hard foul or two are going to stop him from doing what he has done routinely for the past eight years. To play the game that Parker plays and excel on a consistent basis, it takes a whole lot of mental and physical toughess. So, you take a few whacks at him. He's still coming to the basket at you, then what?
5. What if Parker got hurt from one of these premeditated knuckleheaded cheap shots?
6. Last, but not least, did Mr. Dumbpier that David Stern and the league office are not big fans of your franchise in the first place because your owner Mark Cuban has made a career out of antagonizing the league office and blasting the league officials every chance he gets.
Anyway, the first time Dumbpier hits Parker with a flagrant foul. The remedy is simple. Immediate ejection from the game and a heavy fine and suspension of at least one game, maybe more.
Folks, this is the National Basketball Association. This is not World Wrestling Entertainment. Get a grip.
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Image borrowed from Black Voices.
Anyway, the first time Dumbpier hits Parker with a flagrant foul. The remedy is simple. Immediate ejection from the game and a heavy fine and suspension of at least one game, maybe more.
Folks, this is the National Basketball Association. This is not World Wrestling Entertainment. Get a grip.
*
Image borrowed from Black Voices.
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