Hard Fouls and Shocked by the Mannys...
What’s up everybody? It’s your boy B-Wood blogging for the first time! I’m excited to be the newest member of “the yard.” I’ve got a lot to say and look forward to saying it right here on my blog.
First off, you may have been wondering what I’ve been up to since the season ended! Well, like most NBA players not in the playoffs, I took a little time off but am right back in the gym (and weight room) working out to get ready for next season. My wrist is 100% percent healed from the surgery I had to repair the wrist ligaments that I tore in training camp last season. I’m pretty much back to the way I was before the injury – 100% healthy! I’m looking forward to October and helping my Washington Wizards to a successful season.
I’ve been watching a lot of playoff basketball and have been surprised at the big deal that has been made about the “hard” fouls guys have been committing. I think a lot of the fouls that guys have been penalized for have been “regular” fouls that have been blown out of proportion. The new league rules have made things worse in a way. I can understand teams wanting to protect their superstars but things have gone beyond that. .
Back in the days of the Detroit Pistons’ Bad Boys and bruising New York Knicks, hard fouls and intimidation used to discourage players from being so aggressive and attacking the basket. Those days are long gone! Nowadays, you’re going to get ejected, suspended or fined for a “hard” foul. It’s a shame.
A lot of was made about my “hard” foul on LeBron James during our playoff series last year. I still don’t think that was a hard foul and I didn’t have any ill intentions when I did it. But, I think we all know that anytime you touch LeBron James, you’re going to be sent to the showers! You accidentally bump into him and you’re going to be “rub-a-dub-dubbing” in the locker room bathtub! I’m not sure how that foul would have been interpreted this year. Who knows if I would have been suspended a game or not? Each case if different and you never know how the league will react, especially these days.
Speaking of LeBron, he fully deserved the MVP award this year. He was the most dominant player on the league’s best team – it was a clear-cut choice. Kobe played well (as always) but it was LeBron’s year. Same goes for Dwight Howard – he really deserved the defensive player of the year award. He was the best defensive rebounder and shot blocker in the league.
Jason Terry was also my choice for Six Man of the Year. He’s as important as Dirk is to the Dallas Mavericks. I pretty much agree with all of the leagues’ choices for awards this year...
You may not know it but I’m a big baseball fan. I was shocked at the recent suspension of Manny Ramirez! Like most fans, I didn’t see that coming at all! I was disappointed because it really leaves us fans in limbo because we don’t know whether to believe him when he says it was accidental or if he took the banned substance on purpose. Baseball can recover from this steroid scandal error but it’s definitely going to take time. At the end of the day, fans want to go to the games to be entertained and as long as players don’t continue to come out dirty, fans will support. .
I was also shocked by another Manny recently – this time it was Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao’s destruction of Ricky Hatton! I’m a huge boxing fan and was completely blown away by Manny’s domination and second round knockout of Hatton! Don’t get me wrong, I thought Manny would win but thought it would go at least 8 or 9 rounds. Manny was too explosive, too quick, too powerful, too everything in that fight! I haven’t seen anyone taken out like that since the early days of “Iron” Mike Tyson! I’ve been a big fan of Floyd “Money” Mayweather for quite a while and am glad that he’s coming out of retirement to fight Juan Manuel Marquez this summer. Most fans want to see Floyd and Manny face off after the Marquez fight. I don’t think anyone can beat “Money.” He’s always quicker and in better shape than his opponents. He’s also such a smart fighter and I’ve never seen him hit hard enough to be in trouble. For Manny to beat “Money,” he’d have to hit him hard enough to hurt him and I can’t see that happening.
Well -that’s all for my first blog! Catch up with you again soon .
Brendan
AlanaG said May 11, 2009
OopsPow said May 11, 2009
speedwell said May 11, 2009
sambot said May 11, 2009
ANYWAY, welcome to the yard!
Back_In_Time said May 11, 2009
You're definitely right that they're making way to big of deal about hard fouls. The NBA is way more interesting to watch when players are allowed to be more physical. The worst thing is when players are worried about being too aggressive and they don't foul hard enough. Then they end up giving up a three point play for no reason.
The Manny situation shocked me as well. I think its possible that it could have been accidental, especially since Manny seems so carefree/careless sometimes. But you're right that fans really have no way of knowing the truth.
truthaboutit said May 12, 2009
iamse7en said May 12, 2009
You'll probably hear from me on every blog post. I'm a die-had Bullets fan, so I'm dying to see you guys succeed. I'm siked to hear that your wrist is healed. I always knew how important you were to the team, mainly due to your numbers in the 07-08 season, but now the masses know how important you were to the team, because minus you and Roger, we went from 43 W's to 19!
It's funny with all these refs calling all these flagrants. I wonder if there's a correlation with that strictness and how LeBron has yet to be knocked down. 8 games with no hard fouls. Although we were the worst in the Eastern conference, we would have given the Cavs a MUCH harder time than any of their first two opponents. I can't wait to face them in the Playoffs next year. That whining, lip-dabbing, and traveling crybaby is gonna have it coming to him.
I do have a question for you: do you accredit Dave Hopla for the drastic increase in your FT%? I think your shooting improvement was at the backbone of your huge jump in efficiency. We now WANT you on that line!
GO WIZ.
kvilla said May 12, 2009
GoWizards said May 12, 2009
foneal said May 12, 2009
Just wondering, have you been watching any of the Capitals games. Ovie and crew has turned me (a sista) into a hockey fan. Love the Rock the Red they have going on. Speaking of which, I did make a suggestion for the Wiz to go back to red,white and blue uni's. Then we can continue with the tradition and "Rock the Red" for the Wiz too! I hope to see the phone booth ringing for the Wiz as it has been for the Caps.
By the way, do you think you can get Blatche in the weight room and gym with you :-)
Later
DieEaglesDie said May 12, 2009
steiny31 said May 12, 2009
pantslessyoda1 said May 12, 2009
aznzero said May 12, 2009
welcome to the blog life. since im filipino of course i cant stop talking about the pacman hatton fight. where u at the fight like caron??? but just cuz mayweather has been to a wizard game doesn't mean u need to root him on. j/k. got mad respect for mayweather. it would be a great fight b/w him and pacman but it took twelve rounds for floyd to beat oscar de la hoya and ten rounds to beat hatton. pacman beat both guys alot quicker. i would pick pacman at this stage but thats just me. i may be a lil biased haha ;-)
jbsm2000 said May 12, 2009
WizChick said May 12, 2009
jjjjjjjeeeee said May 13, 2009
SultrySista said May 14, 2009
~M
kcbrez009 said May 15, 2009
Your team tried to play hack-a-Bron. It didn't work for the third year in a row. Einstein said that the definition of insanity was to do the same thing repeatedly and expect different results. Maybe the Wizards should change tactics.