New ESPN column today — here’s the link.
Meanwhile: As I was working on some other stuff late last night, I got an e-mail from reader Mark Surra, who had an interesting report to deliver:
On Monday evening, Arizona State’s women’s basketball team hosted Texas Tech for an outdoor game at Chase Field. Temperatures were pretty cold at game time with the roof retracted, so the NCAA allowed players to wear long-sleeve shirts under their jerseys [although some players chose to stay bare-armed. — PL]. In another twist, the game had to be called due to rain with 4:18 left.
This unlikely spectacle (additional views of which are available here and here) was reportedly only the second outdoor game in women’s college hoops history. (The first one was at this same stadium — then known as Bank One Ballpark — in 2000.) Gametime temp was 56 degrees — not so bad, although this news account says fans were “bundled up like Packers fans at Lambeau Field.”
This all recalls that outdoor game that the Canadiens and Oilers played three years ago, with Jose Theodore donning a toque to protect himself from the sub-zero chill. Anyone know of any other instances in which a nominally indoor sport has been played outdoors, leading to uniform adjustments?
Uni Watch News Ticker: Remember those electronic jerseys that I wrote about a while back? They were the subject of an NPR story yesterday. … Todd Kortemeier notes that the Reebok logo on Quentin Jammer’s sleeve was gold (instead of the usual white) on Sunday night. … Check out what the Wyoming football team used to look like (good find by Todd Krevanchi). … In case you missed it, Chad Johnson came out for pregame warm-ups last night wearing a “personal mural” on his shoes, but he switched to a regular pair when threatened with ejection (thanks to Peter Bonnett for the photo). … Seth Harris sent along this photo. “It’s from the Aztec Bowl,” he explains. “It’s Divison 3 kids, I think mainly from Texas, vs. Mexico college kids.” … Remember last week’s discussion of the Riddell Kra-Lite facemask? Interesting follow-up by Dan White: “I was doing some research and discovered that the only three players left in the NFL who wear that mask (Wayne Gandy, Willie Anderson, and Kendall Simmons) all went to Auburn. I wonder if that’s an Auburn-only deal where Auburn supplied that mask more than other schools? Obviously the mask isn’t Aubun-specific, but maybe it was more popular there than any other school.” Okay, but it’s worth noting that Greg Lloyd went to Fort Valley State, not Auburn. … While looking for that Greg Lloyd photo, I came across this (the article it appeared with is here).
#1 by CubsFanBudMan on 12.19.06 9:04 am |
I don’t get it… the place has a roof. How does it get “rained out.”
#2 by Robert on 12.19.06 9:08 am |
Why was that basketball game played outdoors? It doesn’t look like they really needed the extra seating capacity. Was it just a gimmick?
#3 by CubsFanBudMan on 12.19.06 9:08 am |
…unless having the “second outdoor women’s college basketball game” (or its first rainout) was more important to ASU then actually completing the game. This falls under the “stupid” category on a couple of levels. Close the roof!
#4 by WVU Tom on 12.19.06 9:10 am |
According to the article Paul linked to, there wasn’t enough time to close the roof. What I don’t get is why even bother to do all this in the first place?
They actually had to move an entire court onto the field just to play a game outdoors, and then the weather wasn’t even cooperative?!? Just seems a little unnecessary to me (and under-planned).
#5 by Seth H on 12.19.06 9:11 am |
Michigan and Michigan State played outdoors at Spartan Stadium in 2001. http://www.statenews... This was before the Montreal-Edmonton game.
#6 by N. on 12.19.06 9:14 am |
Quinten Jammer’s “gold” Reebok logo is a grass stain.
#7 by JJ on 12.19.06 9:16 am |
I attended Hebron Academy in Hebron, Maine for my senior year of high school and played on the hockey team. The rink was not covered and the boards were enclosed by chain-link fence instead of plexiglass. When the winds came across the athletic fields, up the hill and through the rink it made for some damn cold games and practices. It wasn’t until 1993 that the rink was enclosed with the current Robinson Arena.
#8 by Paul Lukas on 12.19.06 9:17 am |
If so, it’s the most localized grass stain ever, since neither his lightning bolt nor his sleeve uni number got even a fleck of green.
#9 by jesse on 12.19.06 9:18 am |
Sports Illustrated had a picture of that game while it was being played, it was really amazing, the stadium was completely sold out.
#10 by Pat on 12.19.06 9:20 am |
Playing basketball outside is a bad idea. Hockey, fine, Don’t have much issue with that because you play on ICE. If that basketball floor got wet from the rain it is ruined now. Good move Arizona.
#11 by Seth H on 12.19.06 9:20 am |
Here are more pictures. You will notice that both teams are wearing a special patch: MSU on the left shoulder and MU on the right shoulder.
http://www.cqql.net/...
Ohio State and Wisconsin also played outdoors — on the (really) frozen tundra at Lambeau Field — a few years ago. I’ll try to find some pictures.
#12 by Richard on 12.19.06 9:21 am |
Chad Johnson’s shoes were taped up after he had a talk with Merton Hanks, the NFL official on site for the game. Chad taped the shoes up so he would not get fined or told to sit out the game.
#13 by Seth H on 12.19.06 9:23 am |
While looking for Frozen Tundra game pictures, I came across this amazing photo of early Wisconsin hockey. Check out the stripes and the helmets!
http://www.replaypho...
#14 by Matt H. on 12.19.06 9:25 am |
not that it really matters, but who won that outdoor asu game?
#15 by Beantown on 12.19.06 9:26 am |
I played at (and then coached at) Northfield Mount Hermon in Mass. The rink is still considered outdoors with nothing but a chain link fence on both sides loosely covered by a tarp. Not only have they not enclosed it, they still used chain link fence for glass up until 1996. There were days when we played there that we had to wear togues under our helmets, and keep those warming hand packs in our gloves.
#16 by B on 12.19.06 9:27 am |
Here’s a picture from the frozen trundra game.
http://media.scout.c...
#17 by WVU Tom on 12.19.06 9:29 am |
Actually, he wore a completely different pair of shoes altogether. The shoes he wore were taped up (or “spatted”), but they were definately black shoes–whereas the customized shoes in question were orange and black tiger-striped.
During the game one of the sideline reporters actually had the offending shoes and was showing them off to the camera, so obviously chad wasn’t wearing them at the time.
According to sources during the game, he was in fact fined for even bring them out onto the field, but faced ejection if he would have worn them during the game.
#18 by Seth H on 12.19.06 9:34 am |
This picture from the Frozen Tundra game shows a goalie wearing a toque. But my guess is that this is the backup and he wore the cap on the bench to keep warm.
http://www.thefan107...
#19 by Jeremy on 12.19.06 9:37 am |
chad johnson started in those tiger striped shoes until the human bobble head (hanks) made him take them off. he then was wearing reeboks with black tape… and then it looks like he just took all of the tape off (nfl mandate?).
#20 by Richard on 12.19.06 9:37 am |
Interesting. They had reported it incorrectly before then. Gracias for the update.
#21 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 9:37 am |
HEY!! That’s Arizona State that pulled this stunt. NOT U of Arizona. Big difference for us out here, sort of like Michigan v. MSU or Florida v. FSU. etc.
Thanks, just wanted to clear that up.
#22 by Matt on 12.19.06 9:39 am |
the one thing I don’t get about playing bball outdoors is the wind factor… these players are used to playing in conditions without wind… when u play bball with wind you have to figure out how the ball travels with wind..
#23 by Shane on 12.19.06 9:39 am |
Nike’s apparently selling BCS Championship Game jerseys now.
#24 by jesse on 12.19.06 9:39 am |
Here is a link
#25 by Clevo on 12.19.06 9:40 am |
The No Fun League at its finest. If CJ wants to wear repulsively ugly shoes, why cant he? They were Reeboks, and they were kind of black (blackish, I guess…OK, not so much) They dont threaten to fine Reggie Bush for wearing his gold Adidas.
#26 by wooster, oh on 12.19.06 9:40 am |
Re: Aztec Bowl–it’s a bowl game for the best Div. III SENIORS in the country and is played every year in Mexico (locations within Mexico vary from year to year). Only two players who have played in that bowl are currently in the NFL.
Re: indoor/outdoor games–The Beanpot Tournament in Boston which is held annually between 4 Boston schools (Harvard, BU, BC, and Northeastern) has been in talks to hold the tournament at Fenway park in the future.
#27 by Clevo on 12.19.06 9:41 am |
sorry, it wassupposed to be threaten to suspend Reggie Bush, we all know they are fining him for the “offesnive” shoes (ie- they arent Reeboks)
#28 by Miguel on 12.19.06 9:46 am |
It would be a lot cooler if they used chain basketball nets for those outdoor games.
#29 by Matt on 12.19.06 9:51 am |
Wasn’t there talk about a second MSU/UM outdoor hockey game, in Ann Arbor?
#30 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 9:53 am |
Since I’m not a hockey guy (grew up in the SW) this seems to make sense. Those pics of the other outdoor games played in football stadiums look like the fans are miles away from the action compared to NHL arenas. Seems like a b’ball only park should be a little more intimate. btw, the configuration for that ASU b’ball game leaves a lot to be desired. Looks like the fans are only on 2 sides. Also, U of Arizona has a Muslim player who wears long sleeves for every game, and we typically play indoors.
#31 by Original Jim on 12.19.06 9:54 am |
Maybe someone else can confirm this…I heard that all the pictures that were on Ocho Cinco’s shoes before the game were of him scoring against the Colts. So not only were the shoes picture books, but the pictures themselves were specific to the opponent (the Colts).
#32 by Jason on 12.19.06 9:57 am |
I wonder if Merton does the turkey dance after busting uniform code violators???
#33 by Jonathon on 12.19.06 9:58 am |
I can verify that Gandy, Simmons and Anderson wearing Kra-lite helmets has nothing to do with them going to Auburn. None of those 3 players wore Kra-lites when they played at Auburn. Gandy finished up in 92 or 93, Anderson in 95, and Simmons in 97 or 98. No one on Auburn’s team wears Kra-lite helmets, either back then, or now. It’s probably that Willie started wearing one when he joined the Bengals. He’s a mentor to a lot of Auburn linemen who enter the league, and he may have recommended the helmet to them. I don’t have the photo evidence, but I’ve been to enough Auburn games in my life to know that the Kra-lite has never been wore by an Auburn Tiger.
#34 by Paul Frankenstein on 12.19.06 10:01 am |
Actually, I thought that Johnson changed his shoes twice–during warmups, he was wearing the tiger-stripes shoes with the photograhs, then in the first quarter of the game, he was wearing black shoes with a gray sole, and then when the Bengals took the field in the second quarter, he had changed his shoes again to white shoes with orange soles.
#35 by Scott on 12.19.06 10:02 am |
Our local paper has a story about a former basketball player at Kansas, now in his 80’s, who was the 1st equipment manager for the Dallas Cowboys (see it online at http://www.cjonline....; may require a free registration). The story claims that the gentleman “…devised three innovations in the football players’ gear: He said he had sweatshirt fabric sewn onto the front of the uniforms to create hand warmers for the receivers and other players and placed sponge rubber inside the front of the helmet to better protect players’ noses.”
After playing at Kansas he played in the NBA (for the Chicago Stags and the Indianapolis Jets) and was an assistant coach under Phog Allen. He helped recruit Wilt Chamberlain to play at Kansas.
Scott
#36 by Brian Crisp on 12.19.06 10:04 am |
I couldn’t help thinking last night that the Bengals’ uniforms would be more interesting if they followed the idea that “no two tigers’ stripes are alike.” What if each helemt/uniform was slightly different from all the rest?
#37 by Mike W. on 12.19.06 10:04 am |
Back to the Kra-lites, is it a coincidence that Gandy, Simmons, and Lloyd are or were Pittsburgh Steelers?
#38 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 10:04 am |
One interesting thing that I’m sure Krevanch will catch, the floor is painted for the Phoenix Mercury of the WNBA. Quick Google search didn’t turn up pics. Unless they borrowed the floor… “Umm it’s a little damp, our bad.”
#39 by xyz on 12.19.06 10:09 am |
Cinncinati has been known for there frugal tactics in regards to facemasks. (They use Riddell helmets, predominately, which come with Riddell facemasks,obviously. Most teams/players prefer to use Schutt but they are an additional cost.) Refer to the HelmetHut.com under the Bengals in the NFL section for details.
#40 by Chris Hilf on 12.19.06 10:10 am |
Simmons hasn’t even worn that facemask the entire time he played for the steelers.
Also, that pic of Lloyd is from their charity basketball games they play, and the current ones are similar but have a basketball int he middle with their number in it. There’s a pic at the local CVS, I’ll see if I can snap a picture of it….
#41 by Banker Bill on 12.19.06 10:14 am |
I’ve been hearing rumors of a proposed Rangers/Islanders or Rangers/Devils game to be played at one of the baseball stadiums - probably Yankee Stadium. Nice idea, just rumors though. I’d go if it happened.
#42 by Banker Bill on 12.19.06 10:16 am |
Nice idea - provided you give me enough Dramamine to make it through watching the entire game.
#43 by Seth H on 12.19.06 10:17 am |
Re: indoor/outdoor games–The Beanpot Tournament in Boston which is held annually between 4 Boston schools (Harvard, BU, BC, and Northeastern) has been in talks to hold the tournament at Fenway park in the future.
There may be hockey at Fenway, but it won’t be the Beanpot. BC has been talking about playing a game there for a few years. The Red Sox have stated that any hockey game will not involve the Beanpot.
There is a Beanpot tournament at Fenway, however: The same four schools have played a baseball beanpot since about 1990. It has been at Fenway every year except 2004.
#44 by Pete B on 12.19.06 10:17 am |
Here is a better quality version of Chad Johnson’s Boots: they are very snazzy.
Pete
#45 by wooster, oh on 12.19.06 10:19 am |
More on games played where they aren’t normally played–The Emerald Bowl is held in San Francisco each year at Pac Bell Park which is designed solely for baseball use.
http://www.emeraldbo...
#46 by Rich on 12.19.06 10:20 am |
Yeah, but for authenticity you’d need one broken, and one completely missing. At least for my old neighborhood!
#47 by Daniel on 12.19.06 10:24 am |
Since when did New Mexico and Navy play in the Emerald Bowl?
#48 by Sammy44 on 12.19.06 10:26 am |
Actually Gandy wore the mask at Auburn. I think he was the only one on the team who did.
http://www.autograph...
#49 by Kenny on 12.19.06 10:26 am |
When then it wouldn’t be outdoors then would it?
#50 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 10:26 am |
Or, I could actually read the article, I’ll be in the corner wearing a pointy hat.
#51 by wooster, oh on 12.19.06 10:32 am |
In 2004. Notice all the Midshipmen? The Academy actually reimburses them for flying to bowl games sometimes. Not sure if this was one of those years. I know they did in 2003 with the EV1.Net bowl.
#52 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 10:33 am |
The Insight Bowl is played at Chase Field in Phoenix or at least it was until this year. The same place as the Scum Devils b’ball game last night.
#53 by WVU Tom on 12.19.06 10:40 am |
I saw at least one pick of him scoring against Baltimore.
#54 by Kenny on 12.19.06 10:41 am |
I remember watching this game and Navy had the ball for like 16 minutes during 1 drive in this game
#55 by WVU Tom on 12.19.06 10:42 am |
sorry, that’s “pic”, as in short for “picture”.
#56 by todd krevanchi on 12.19.06 10:43 am |
youre right i did catch that.
you will notice that when an “out of town” team plays in an nba/wnba arena or when the local college team uses that same nba/wnba arena for a big game, the teams virtually NEVER use the NBA teams floor and uses the wnba floor.
If you have ever watched the AND 1 mix tape tour, they always play on the wnba court when in an nba city.
a team like villanova however, who plays an established allotment of games per year at the nearest nba arena (wachovia) has invested in floor inserts to replace that of the “logo’ed” nba team portion.
my question is how will that rain affect that floor? even if it was a slight drizzle, im sure it is not designed for any type of precipitation.
#57 by Rasputin on 12.19.06 10:44 am |
With all the hassle you gave Mount Union, I figured you’d be giving my old alma mater a verbal whooping too after seeing their uniforms.
Go Rowan! Buffalo Bills of D-III!
#58 by Pantherfid on 12.19.06 10:53 am |
I always wondered where Paul’s love of stripes came from…
Could it be from the cool uniforms he saw in his youth?
Or was it from viewing something else in his early teens?
#59 by Steve on 12.19.06 11:07 am |
At the 1936 Berlin Olympics, the first in which basketball was a medal sport, the games were played outdoors on a clay court.
#60 by WVU Tom on 12.19.06 11:09 am |
According to this article Paul linked to above, the floor was indeed “borrowed” from the WNBA Phoenix Mercury, who play at US Airways Center, one block away.
#61 by wooster, oh on 12.19.06 11:12 am |
Yup, that was the game. 14 and a half minutes and in resulted in a field goal!
#62 by Mike on 12.19.06 11:15 am |
I don’t know what more hockey/basketball games aren’t played outside. Hockey started outside, and street ball (a la Rucker Park) is usually outside.
There is a story about the famous Cuba, KY high school basketball team, a tiny country school which won the KY state championship during the ’50’s. Supposedly, during warm-ups, one of the players hit a half-court shot. Adolph Rupp happened to be watching, ran over and grabbed the kid by the collar. “How did you do that?” he yelled. The kid (allegedly) said, “It was easy. The wind wasn’t blowin’.”
#63 by Ken on 12.19.06 11:15 am |
The Kings and Rangers played an exhibition game at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. I think it was in 1990 or 1991. I seem to remember a huge insect problem.
#64 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 11:15 am |
Posted from yesterday: (good post I might add)->From Rovell/CNBC:
Horrendous Weekend For Brand Jordan:
Michael Jordan’s Nike brand took a big hit on Saturday. First, we saw the face of Jordan — Denver Nuggets’ Carmelo Anthony — fighting at the end of the game in Madison Square Garden, eventually landing a punch (if you could call it that) on Mardy Collins of the New York Knicks.
Then, we saw the postgame interview of Terrell Owens after he spit on Falcons cornerback DeAngelo Hall in the Cowboys victory over Atlanta. Owens admitted he spit at Hall, trying to explain to the NFL Network’s Rich Eisen why Hall deserved it, in his Brand Jordan Jumpman headband.
How Owens is still a Brand Jordan spokesperson is beyond me, though I do find it interesting that if you go to the website, he’s no longer listed as a member of Team Jordan.
As for Anthony, I think he’s replaced Kobe Bryant as the most conflicted athlete in sports marketing. Does corporate America take a chance on Anthony?
One minute he’s associated with an extortion plot and “Stop Snitching†and the next minute he’s donating $4.5 million to Syracuse and funding a youth development center in Baltimore.
Will the real Carmelo Anthony please stand up?
While Anthony — who is the NBA’s leading per game scorer this year — should be considered in among the league’s most marketable, there’s a sense that he’s a much more risky investment than a LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, and Saturday night certainly didn’t help. Neither will the 10 or so games he’ll now be sitting out.
-you forgot Kobe Bryant, the sex offender. Kids look up to these (convicts) athletes? Good luck to the ugh,,NBA.
#65 by jesse on 12.19.06 11:17 am |
2004.
Are both teams benches on the same sideline? What a strange configuration.
#66 by Ken on 12.19.06 11:17 am |
I did a bit of research. It turns out that the insect problem was related to swarming locusts.
#67 by Ian K on 12.19.06 11:18 am |
I remember Chase Field/BOB was designed with events other than baseball in mind. It was a publicly-financed stadium for the most part, and the fact that sticks in my head is that “85% of seats are located between the foul poles” (from Ballparks.com. It commonly holds concerts and other events (monster truck rallies?)
But the news that Pac Bell hosts the Emerald Bowl was news to me…I always assumed it was at Candlestick.
#68 by bg on 12.19.06 11:19 am |
Why they make such an issue on his shoes when the rest of the Bengals uni is so….’busy,’…is beyond me. No matter- look how much time RBK got on the tube. They KNEW he wouldn’t be allowed to wear ‘em- (see Jordan, Michael; Nike made hay out of the fact the first Air Jordan’s were banned by the NBA.)
#69 by Dan on 12.19.06 11:25 am |
Does anyone know if they replace the turf at Chase Field annually? I know they’ve had trouble growing grass there, and it looks terrible in that picture, like half of it is dead.
#70 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 11:26 am |
The NBA was more respectful when #33 played for the Celtics. Since then Jordan came in the league, performed amazing acts that nobody ever saw before, but it was still clean. Today the NBA is just happy to get through a game without players going into the fans and fighting people who pay top $$ to watch these goons.
What’s next, putting up a cage that surround the players so they won’t spill into the fans? That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars.
#71 by Smail on 12.19.06 11:35 am |
Yeah, Baltimore’s on outside of the right shoe, and it looks like the Tintans and Raiders are on there too. Can’t see the left shoe well enough from the pictures posted.
#72 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 11:35 am |
Looks like they sold out, I think the NHL just found another city to go to, let’s take the Florida Panthers out, and bring them to Wisconsin!
#73 by Banker Bill on 12.19.06 11:37 am |
I don’t see that as a viable option…although the proliferation of “streetball” style and antics might warrant it. I just laughed when Nate Robinson said they were getting their noses rubbed in it, yet when he showboated on a dunk, got called for a walk, and was told not to do it again, he said “I may do it again…if we’re up by 20.” I will say - I watched a little of the Knicks/Jazz game last night…didn’t mind the Jazz powder blue unis.
#74 by Stuby on 12.19.06 11:37 am |
Come on now, Pac Bell Park was two names ago. I think its SBC Park now after a brief stint as AT&T…nevermind, who really gives a crap.
#75 by Thorold Blair on 12.19.06 11:39 am |
Look at the first picture with the three goalies. The first goalie, who if i’m not mistaken is Buffalo Hairpiece goalie Ryan Miller, has eye black on.
#76 by RIch on 12.19.06 11:39 am |
Treasure trove of Colorado stuff here:
#77 by ashuman on 12.19.06 11:39 am |
Boths teams are on one sideline during the Emerald Bowl.
That Navy drive by the way was the longest drive in terms of time in NCAA History. I believe they started at their own 1yd line at the start of the fourth quarter and then kicked a field goal with 30secs left in the game. 14:30. Gotta love the Flex Bone.
I believe both teams were also on the same sideline during the now defunct Seattle Bowl which was played at the Mariners ballpark.
#78 by maximumK on 12.19.06 11:40 am |
Yeah, the Bengals’ unis are ridiculous. They showed a clip of Chad missing some catch a few years ago against the Colts. The Bengals still had the tiger-pattern ridiculousness on the pants, but the jersey had Chargers-style shoulder stripes with the tiger pattern and black block numbers with orange outlines. Those looked so much sharper than the drop shadows and inconsistent side stripes and whatever else is wrong with the Bengals’ current uniforms.
Also, how long until we get to buy the RBK CJ85 (yeah, I made that up. Reebok should really pay me for that) football cleats with stupid tiger stripes and picture frame ankle supports?
#79 by RIch on 12.19.06 11:41 am |
http://photoswest.or...
http://photoswest.or...
#80 by Andy (#11) on 12.19.06 11:42 am |
Yeah, the league was so respectful and clean when Bird played…
#81 by ashuman on 12.19.06 11:42 am |
More on that Navy drive,
From its 1-yard line with 1:41 left in the third quarter following a rousing goal-line stand, to the New Mexico 5-yard line with 2:15 left in the fourth, Navy took 26 plays to go 94 yards and used up a staggering 14 minutes, 26 seconds — all for a lousy 22-yard field goal.
#82 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 11:42 am |
I assume so, they killed it once when N’Sync? played multiple nights on a stage set up in centerfield.
One of the neat features of the new University of Phoenix stadium in Glendale is that the turf is on trays that roll outside for optimal growing.
#83 by matt c on 12.19.06 11:45 am |
Looks like they’re in the wrong color - Ohio State is wearing their white jerseys in the championship game, though I’m sure Nike doesn’t care.
#84 by al on 12.19.06 11:49 am |
Marty McSorley or Barry Melrose?
#85 by Dave S on 12.19.06 11:51 am |
According to a report on NFL.com, the Bengals are considering a uniform redesign. They showed some preliminary skecthes, check them out.
http://i7.photobucke...
#86 by Jerry on 12.19.06 11:52 am |
First of all it’s UM not MU for Michigan.
Wisconsin and Ohio State played at Lambeau Field on February 11, 2006. It was a balmy 38 degrees at game time.
Bundling up for 52 degress, hell, that’s shirt sleeve weather at Lambeau.
#87 by Pat on 12.19.06 11:54 am |
Gee, have a little racism on your mind? NBA players are no more wrong with their actions than MLB players, NHL players and NFL players yet everybody thinks that NBA players are punks. Is it because they are flashy off the court (which is not illegal by the way). Is it because they are cocky and showboat (what the heck are NFL players then). MLB players have been cheating and taking steroids for years. NBA players fight about once a season and everybody throws a hissy fit. How many times do pitchers purposely throw at players and incite brawls? How many times do NHL players fight for no good reason. It seems to me that the NBA has the least amount of confrontations out of any of the major sports yet they take the most grief for it.
I am the biggest Celtics fan you will ever meet but even I know that Larry Bird was an asshole. He wasn’t close to respectful on the court. NBA games were much more violent in the 80s. The Hawks and Celtics got into a scuffle and Danny Ainge (supposedly) bit Tree Rollins. Kevin Mchale clotheslined Kurt Rambis and wasn’t even kicked out of the game, it actually inspired his team to come back and win the series. Larry Bird and Dr. J had eachother by the necks and Bird threw a punch at him. But today the players are punks because one isolated incident which was blown WAY out of proportion by ESPN and every other news channel that called it a “brawl.” One really wimpy punch was thrown and then the puncher ran away in the other direction like a wuss. But most of the players on the floor were young, cocky, flashy, rich black athletes so they are immediately labeled punks while Larry Bird is “respectable.” Does that make any sense to you?
#88 by Metsfan AZ on 12.19.06 11:56 am |
Blood gets thinner once you’re out here awhile.
#89 by Jerry on 12.19.06 11:57 am |
That is correct. He is walk-on goaltender Jeff Hendrickson
#90 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 11:59 am |
haha! ohh…that one guy has Larry in a head lock. I guess respect and the NBA just don’t mix.
But seriously though, the NBA has a tough time keeping these goons under control as it is, and isn’t Anthony one of the “faces” of that league?, then he pulls off something dirty and cheap like that?? come on. I really can’t see athletes like Wayne Gretzky or Brett Favre or Derek Jeter pull off something dirty/cheap like this. Isaih Thomas isn’t innocent either, now there’s a dirty rotten scoundrel.
#91 by Pat on 12.19.06 12:07 pm |
I’m sure Todd Bertuzzi, Albert Belle, and Bill Romanowski are all upstanding citizens in your mind too right? It’s only NBA players that do wrong in this glorious sports world, right?
#92 by Brian on 12.19.06 12:14 pm |
Maybe Chad should spend a little more time practicing catching his passcatching and a little less time worrying about his shoes. Those weren’t his feet dropping passes last night - they were his hands.
#93 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 12:15 pm |
Your first line said it all:”have a little racism on your mind?” I stopped reading after that, let’s get serious.
#94 by maximumK on 12.19.06 12:19 pm |
I don’t think NBA brawls were all that big a deal until the Pacers-Pistons thing two years ago. I remember when Jeff Van Gundy would throw himself into on-court brawls and we’d all laugh because he’s so damn short and he’s trying to break up fight’s between 6-8, 240 lb. guys.
I, for one, really hate basteball fights because of the resultant damage to the uniforms. The jerseys always get stretched to the point where they look like women’s low-cut tops afterwards. Waste of about $150 worth of jersey.
#95 by dchis on 12.19.06 12:19 pm |
The biggest prroblem that the NBA faces with trouble either on the court or off is that they have the fewest amount of players in the league than the NHL, MLB, or NFL. So their percentages of problems is worse. Like this summer when Stephen Jackson and 3 teammates were in a bar fight and he pulled out a gun in the parking lot because he was almost ran over by a car. The problem here is that it’s magnified because this happened to atleast 25% of the team. The NBA only allows 15 roster spots and only 12 dress every game. The NFL has 55 roster spots plus a practice squad, MLB has 25 plus the minor leagues and I’m not sure how many roster spots the NHL has but I know that every night they dress 18 plus 2 goalies and most teams carry well more than that on their rosters.
#96 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 12:20 pm |
Did you not get the similarities between the athletes I mentioned? THEY’RE ALL FACES OF THERE RESPECTABLE LEAGUES.
#97 by Richard on 12.19.06 12:21 pm |
AND NOW BACK TO UNIFORMS…
#98 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 12:24 pm |
Like this summer when Stephen Jackson and 3 teammates were in a bar fight and he pulled out a gun in the parking lot
geez, do those NBA’ers ever stop :P
#99 by maximumK on 12.19.06 12:29 pm |
Everyone’s making such a big stink about Ocenta y Cinco’s shoes, but what about his French soccer jersey and shiny red soccer ball that he was messing around with on the field instead of practicing how to not drop an American football?
#100 by Pat on 12.19.06 12:30 pm |
Carmelo Anthony, Nate Robinson, JR Smith, Jared Jeffries, and others are not the face of the NBA either. Lebron James and Dwyane Wade are CLEARLY the faces of the NBA right now.
And yea, Broker75, I do think that there is a hint of racism in your comment and everyone else’s overreaction to this incident. Nobody goes crazy when benches clear in a baseball game. They don’t discuss the moral issues with the players involved for over a week. But, there happen to be a lot more white players in major league baseball than the NBA.
I’m not going to argue the racism/not racism issue with this incident but I see a little bit of a double standard in the two sports. And, as a huge NBA fan, take offense to your “That’s where most of them belong anyways, behind bars” comment.
#101 by Teebz on 12.19.06 12:30 pm |
In no way am I defending any of the men listed in the quote above, but, Pat, have you seen the Bertuzzi incident? It is far different than the Nuggets-Knicks brawl. Stop with the comparisons of completely different sports and situations. Each are isolated incidents with no correlation to each other.
#102 by Broker75 on 12.19.06 12:39 pm |
It sounds like you are r*****, what with comparing whites and blacks. If this conversation goes in the r***** direction, have a good life pat. I don’t speak that language.
#103 by Johnny on 12.19.06 12:40 pm |
I think “N.” (#6) is correct — Jammer’s Reebok logo has a grass stain. Either that or it’s an effect of the lighting/photo. Evidence: this photo from before the game (which I got from this slides