Nate kind of started it in that corner, but I think he did it because he was trying to have his teammate's back. When JR was pushing Mardy, Nate tried to have Mardy's back. He was putting his hands up in front of JR, and then Melo came and tried to push/choke Nate. Nate slapped Melo's hand away. And out of no where JR tackled the mess out of Nate. But it just so happened that Nate landed on top of JR which made it seem as if Nate Robinson tackled JR but it was vice-versa. So Nate really didnt come out of no where and tackled JR. It was JR who came out of no where and tackled Nate while Nate was standing there pushing Melo's hand away.
I just saw the live version of the brawl on youtube. The announcers initially thought it was Jeffries that had gotten punched and thus he started chasing Melo like a maniac. I think the most surprising thing is that for what looked like a missed punch, Melo's swing actually sounded like it hit Collins really bad. The punch's sound was heard throughout the arena, although I'm assuming that's because Melo's punch was right underneath the rim where the microphone is located. The video also shows the "rare" close up view of Melo decking Collins...it's hilarious how fast he backpeddles. Melo should have been suspended for even longer, he was acting like an idiot out there. I mean, he was stepping over Frye and pretty much asking for another fight by acting that way. Frye played it smart though. Jeffries also was getting shoved around by Melo in the initial confusion. But I think by far the most annoying player in this whole thing was Nate Robinson...everytime I watch that clip and see him put his fists up like he's 50 Cent makes me want to knock the sh*t out of him myself. If I was a player and a little guy on the opposing team was acting like that and talking all that sh*t and shoving me and putting his fists up, I would have done the exact same thing. Think of it from J.R's perspective. You just almost got your neck broken on a really hard flagrant foul (if you see the slow motion reply of the foul, you see that Collins grabs his NECK), and then some little arrogant guy is talking sh*t, pushing you, and putting his fists up and challenging you. I'm all for suspending these guys and stuff, because they basically impeded what the league is trying to push for, but Nate deserved to get tackled. I'm a calm guy, but as a player, if I was in that situation, I would have gone after Nate as well. On the other hand, Melo shouldn't even have been involved. His punch was REALLY unnecessary and uncalled for, the situation had actually settled down. It seems like he was just doing what he did to solidify his rep or something (much like Nate). BTW, Carmelo wasn't running away from Nate, for all those who keep saying that. If anything, Melo should thank God Jeffries didn't murder him or something, that dude looked like he wanted to knock him out badly. I don't know how to directly paste the video so that the youtube screen shows up on my post, but here's the link to the live version: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVfPgYBqugM...=related&search=
You guys brought up how the league benefited from that hard-nosed, gritty environment in the 80's, but this isn't the same thing. If you asked any of those players about this brawl, they would've laughed and said it's even worse. There was an article in the Star today where Sam Mitchell basically said that today's players don't know how to fight and that shouldn't have been considered a brawl.
I can't believe they only gave Melo 15 games, that's ridiculous. A punch is a punch. Melo should of gotten a more severe punishment for throwing a punch though, but Stern has to give star treatment to him.
From what i saw Melo punched and then ran like a wuss, am i seeing this right? Sorry to change the topic but was it a cowardly move on Melo's Part?
Melo's suspension is just about right considering in the Piston Brawl, it was a lot worse but Stephen Jackson got only 30 games suspension from that. Anyway Melo shouldn't be the face of the nba right now with all of his action in this brawl.
"only 15 games"?//?????? "should have gotten at least 20??????????" you people are out of your minds. did you even watch basketball in the 80's? there were fights sometimes and they were a lot more brutal than that and no one suffered because of it. the fans didnt suffer, the game didnt suffer and life went on.
This can actually be it's own thread, but I decided to put it in here rather than make 20 threads about one fight. Bill Simmons recently (like 4 hours ago) did a chat on ESPN regarding just the brawl itself. The chat was actually quite entertaining and I'm gonna post some of the interesting parts from the transcript. You can read the entire thing through this link: http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/chatESPN?event_id=14033 Anyways, on to the interesting parts: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Koby (New York, NY): Basically the way i see it was Melo got 15 games for sucker punching the 15th best player on the NY Knicks...terrible decision for one of the games best players. Bill Simmons: Agreed - bad decision and it hurt all the progress he made on and off the court in 2006. At the same time, it was NOT a sucker punch. They had been jawing at one another and Collins was clearly egging him on. The problem was that Melo punched him, then backed up 75 feet like a wuss. If you're going to punch someone, don't run away afterwards ... that was a cowardly move on his part. With that said, 15 games is ludicrous. Bill Simmons: I also don't like the precedent of punishing guys severely for sticking up for teammates. How does Melo get 15 games and Isiah gets nothing for basically being the John kreese of the situation? MSG had him on tape telling Melo, "You better not go in the paint." a minute later, his worst player cheapshots a Nuggets player. And Isiah gets off scot-free? </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Jesse (Hartford, CT): First 'Melo sucker punches a rookie, then he back peddles away from the skinniest man in the NBA in Jarred Jeffries, who would have blown out his knee throwing a punch. What I want to know is what Collins said to Anthony? You think he called him a snitch? Bill Simmons: You're right, it's bad enough to backpedal 75 feet after throwing a haymaker, but backpedaling from Jared Jeffries? What was Jeffries going to do, scratch his eyes out? Bill Simmons: One more thing: The camera angle of Melo's "punch" was deceiving, I don't think he closed his hand. It started out as a punch but ended up being more of a hard slap. If he had really punched Collins that hard, he would have broken his hand or broken Collins's jaw. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Les (Basalt, CO): It what sense does the video of Thomas warning Carmelo Anthony not to go in the paint, coupled with his response in the post-game interview, not represent "definitive information?" Bill Simmons: Totally agree. Personally, I think Stern didn't want to suspend Isiah because that would have made it harder for Dolan to fire him. Which will be happening shortly. </div> <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Bill Simmons: Agreed. he should have apologized for backpedaling and that's it. Watch the tape. Collins was basically begging for somebody to punch him - it was a cheap foul in the final minute of a blowout, and then he smugly talked trash afterwards and clearly called out Melo. At some point, the NBA needs to realize when people's manhood is being called into question. These are competitive guys with a ton of pride, you can't expect them to constantly turn the other cheek. isiah ordered a cheap shot, Collins delivered, and then Nate Robinson escalated everything... so Melo gets the most games? That's absurd. </div> Interesting read all around.
I have a problem with Jeffries only getting 4 games. Did Stern not see the picture where he is clearly choking Carmelo Anthony? I'm fine with Melo's suspension, honestly. I think Collins and Jeffries should've gotten 10 as well.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Jarred Jeffries, who would have blown out his knee throwing a punch.</div> LMFAO! This brought tears to my eyes from laughing so hard. olskool I agree with you, these type of fights took place all the time in the '80s and early 90s and I think they actually helped the popularity of the sport. It creates a rivalry and fans from both teams are just waiting for the next game to "see what happens next." Even the casual fan is likely to tune in to see if anything else transpires. However, if David Stern's true intentions are to clean up the image of the sport then this suspension isn't going to accomplish anything. 15 games is a slap on the wrist if he wants to get the attention of the players. What David Stern has to realize is the NBA product is so bad right now, this weak fight is dominating the coverage of the league. Compared to the NFL, where a player can cleat someone in the face not wearing a helmet and it gets forgotten and buried by other NFL league news in just one week.
Karma thanks for the video. I noticed at the end Melo and Isiah exchange words, has anyone mentioned what those two said to one another at halfcourt?
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Karma thanks for the video. I noticed at the end Melo and Isiah exchange words, has anyone mentioned what those two said to one another at halfcourt?</div> Zeke said stay away from the basket or you'll get fouled HARD.
<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Zeke said stay away from the basket or you'll get fouled HARD.</div> No that was before the fight. I'm talking about after the fight, they both walked to halfcourt and exchanged words. At the 1:50 minute mark of the video Karma posted ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVfPgYBqugM...=related&search
<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Zeke said stay away from the basket or you'll get fouled HARD.</div> Hmmm I'm having flash backs from the early 90's here.
<div class="quote_poster">MrJ Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Zeke said stay away from the basket or you'll get fouled HARD.</div> ^ Wow that was pretty cheap of him. That's basically saying "please dont kick our asses badly and if you score we'll foul you. Dont embarass us." You wouldn't friggin get embarassed if you had made a good team out of the Knicks. You screwed them up and when they get whooped you want to start brawls like that.
<div class="quote_poster">AllNet Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hmmm I'm having flash backs from the early 90's here.</div> Yeah, that Bad Boy Pistons era.
<div class="quote_poster">AllNet Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Hmmm I'm having flash backs from the early 90's here.</div> You mean when Karl Malone told Isiah not to drive down the lane and then split Isiah's forehead open with an elbow after Isiah drove down the lane and the very next Piston possession?
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You mean when Karl Malone told Isiah not to drive down the lane and then split Isiah's forehead open with an elbow after Isiah drove down the lane and the very next Piston possession?</div> Nicely done. Seriously though If those bad boy Pistons played now I doubt we would of been able to put out a team most of the season. It would of been suspension city out there. There's the difference between then and now. I love Isiah for what he did as a player but those kind of things can no longer be stood for in this era.
