In case you missed it (and I don’t see how you could have), that’s the play on Rodney Stuckey that got Shaquille O’Neal ejected from Sunday’s game. Shaq was subsequently fined 25 large by the league, but only for arguing his ejection on his way out, not as punishment for the play. [1] It’s Shaq, what did you expect the NBA to do? (via TH)
Despite the violent collision, Stuckey stayed in the game, and fortunately, he seemed no worse for wear at practice yesterday. From Keith Langlois:
Stuckey wore tape around both wrists at Tuesday’s practice. He got both hands down to break his fall, so the wrists bore the brunt of it.
“Look at these wrists,” he said, holding his hands out. “They’re taped. If it wasn’t for me putting my hands on the ground, my whole grille would have been messed up. My wrists are sore. That’s it.
“I haven’t been hit like that, but I’m going to continue to take the ball to the basket. Shaq’s a big dude. Whatever he said, it was right. I know he didn’t do it on purpose, but I’m going to keep going in there.”
good for stuck.
and thank you, george karl, for providing immediate bulletin board material the day before the pistons’ big game against the cavs. if that doesn’t motivate iverson to drop 40 and 10, i don’t know what will…
i think 25K actually .00125% of shaq’s salary.
25,000 / 20,000,000 = 0.00125 = 0.125%, no?
How can anyone argue that Shaq didn’t commit a flagrant? He jumped into Stuckey and dragged him down. I still like the guy though and I am sure it was a mere bout of red mist.
that was a good link to the mlive story.
totally off topic but does anyone else have an urge to check C-bill’s number in every nuggets game?
i can’t help myself…
I think shaq might make a teensy bit on his endorsements which would take that down even more.
Fines in general are far too low in the nba imo…I think they should calibrate to a player’s salary, tho the union would probably hate it (even if it lowered the fine for the avg player).
in a situation like this, intent is irrelevant. if you tackle a player out of the air or closeline him to the ground, then your judgement and respect for the safety of other players is lacking and you deserve to be punished accordingly.
How can anyone argue that Shaq didn’t commit a flagrant? >>
Well Kwame did
“This league is so sensitive about guys getting fouled,…., that was just a regular hard foul.”
“I think [Shaq] had his arms up, although Stuckey went down hard, that’s because he ran into Shaq,”
http://www.mlive.com/pistons/index.ssf/2008/11/kwame_brown_on_wdfn_shaq_foul.html
This would have been no problem for AI.
Check out AI playing quaterback, returner and safety (7 interceptions in one game in high school. lOL)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hCAkVvNFk-0
Here is a short clip of AI dribbling a football.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zyHWyRka8to&feature=related
FPCB’s stat line last night: 40 points on 19 shots, 18 rebounds, four assists, three turnovers, two steals and a block
Hat tip: Ball Don’t Lie
I don’t have a lot of respect for Shaq. This flagrant against Stuckey was a lot like the flagrant against Amir last year. This is just an old man who can no longer keep up with the youngsters and uses strength and intimidation to try to stay ahead. Because he is so big, the consequences are dangerous. He should have been suspended at least one game (one each for the flagrant foul and the fight with Houston just days ago. I believe when a player is suspended he is not paid, thus the “fine” is proportional to salary.
I would have liked to have seen Kwame take a swing at Shaq. It would have been dangerous for Kwame, but no doubt would have earned him instant respect.
Can you imagine if Laimbeer or Mahorn was on the floor when someone took out the Microwave? There would have been more than just the one ejection.
“in a situation like this, intent is irrelevant. if you tackle a player out of the air or closeline him to the ground, then your judgement and respect for the safety of other players is lacking and you deserve to be punished accordingly.”
Exactly. Shaq is accustomed to having the rules adjusted for him, and plays accordingly. He is used to toggling pivot feet, throwing down the shoulder, and wiping out with the off arm. As such, he may have felt he could get away with this, but it is no less gartuitous or unprofessional.
I also think Shaq’s foul was a cheap shot. But I think he did it because it appeared as though Stuck was bout to “posterize” Shaq. The homey announcers played it off, but if the same thing had been done to Nash by Sheed, they’d be singing a different story. I mean, Shaq went up and he didn’t even try at the ball very hard. I also think Shaq was pissed off because a play or two before he was poppin’ off down the court to the refs about making and F’n call.
I also think that this puts the league in a tight spot should something like this happen in the future and palyers point to Shaq’s non suspension.
jbstork: I just watched the video again, and I agree 100%. In fact, Kwame was actually giggling and smiling towards Shaq (at least that what it looks like) while Stuckey is obviously in pain on the floor. Fighting is bad for the league, and nobody wants to see another Palace-style brawl, but I think I would have liked to have seen our guys stick up for Stuckey (especially if he’s supposed to be our next big thing) a bit more than they did. But maybe I’m just too old skool. With a k, yo.
When have people stepped up and tried to fight Shaq? I’m sure there have been instances when it’s occured, but just like a veteran pitcher on the mound is formidable because of his experience, a wily Shaq, albeit a little older and slower, is not to be fucked with. It’s nice to say that Kwame should have swung, but 1.) he’s not yet Mr. Piston and 2.) Shaq is the biggest, baddest dude in the room. If Sheed, who does bleed Pistons blue these days, isn’t willing to step, why should Kwame?
Stuck’s one tough cookie. If that were Wade, he’d still be on the floor. Either that, or having surgery to get the bruise treated.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KMEQrspdPI
I was reading last night, that the Celtic’s have already offered Antonio Mcdyess a contract. And he denied.
If I can find the link I will post it.
Charles Barkley: Greatest. Athlete. Ever.
Scott Skiles went after Shaq in practice when they were teammates on the Magic.
Garret: I wasn’t thrilled to see Kwame laughing, either. In fact, I was a bummed that none of his teammates got in Shaq’s face.
Here is one of AI crossing over the Jordan.
Maybe AI can teach some of this stuff to Stuckey
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEmS8ZQIhTA
“In fact, I was a bummed that none of his teammates got in Shaq’s face.”
Agreed. I was definitely wishing Max was on the court. Sends a bad message to the Kendrick Perkins’ of the world.
Here is the video of Shaq’s flagrant last year on Amir. I think the Stuckey one was worse
http://suns.fandome.com/video/98304/Shaq-Flagrantly-Fouls-Piston-Amir-Johnson/
Say what you will about Ben’s decline. If he were here, I’m pretty sure he would have thrown down.
shaq is an angry man despite his riches fame and titles. the humiliation of the foul line shooting would make for good psycho therapy sessions. he hates normal sized men who can shoot and have flash and elegance. he is an unhappy ogre. the league always looks away when the big stars behave. middle fingers at the fans. haven’t kg and lebron gotten away with shit the last couple of years. i can’t remember the exact incidents.
I believe Brad Miller (while with Chicago) went at it with Shaq — or maybe he was just trying to avoid Shaq’s punches.
Regardless, it is precisely because Kwame is new to the Pistons that he should have done something (other than laughing). I am not suggesting that Kwame would win a fair fight with Shaq, but it’s not like he is going to get hurt either — see, e.g., Brad Miller and Shaq’s wild haymakers.
Mike, thanks for posting the Amir flagrant — eerily similar to the Stuckey flagrant, though less damaging. To me, what makes the Amir flagrant even more despicable is that Amir grew up in LA watching Shaq win three championships. When a young Amir has an opportunity to play against a guy that he grew up watching, that old guy lays a cheap shot on him.