<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">t began as a veritable slap-stick routine . . . and might end with an unhappy one-and-done. Magic center Dwight Howard tells us he was so disappointed after his first all-star dunk contest that he might not ever compete in it again. "Sprite [the event's sponsor] has asked me to do it next year. . . . .I don't know if I will now," Howard said. Howard placed third in a field of four dunkers Saturday night in Las Vegas, finishing ahead of Tyrus Thomas and behind Nate Robinson and winner Gerald Green. Howard felt judges short-changed him on a dunk in which he leaped to near the top of the backboard to slap a sticker of himself on it while throwing down an alley-oop slam. Teammate Jameer Nelson measured the sticker on the glass at a jaw-dropping 12 feet, 6 inches, but the five judges awarded him a score of just 42 out of 50. Asked if he had soured on the event, "Kind of. I just don't think it's for tall guys." Howard's camp was hoping a dunk title, coupled with a credible debut in Sunday's all-star game, would heighten his fan appeal and marketing profile. "I was mad," Howard, 21, said. "I just sat in my room after it was over and watched the [replay highlights of the dunk] contest on ESPN. It was a little sad." Julius Erving, Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant were the judges. Bryant said Sunday, "Vince and I were actually talking with Mike and Dr. J across the table because we felt like they were way too harsh on [Howard]. "But you are talking about Michael and Dr. J. It doesn't get anymore serious than that." At a Legends brunch Sunday, TNT reporter Cheryl Miller called out Dr. J. on Howard's behalf. While accepting a humanitarian award, she asked Erving why he didn't give Howard a "10." Erving said something about the dunk being easier for taller players, embracing Howard's fear. Howard said the judges, "Just didn't get it."</div> Source
I agree with Dwight though. They didn't cut him any slack. He also might be right about it not being for big guys. I hope he comes back next year regardless.
Great to see that Sprite offered him a chance to compete next year. There were some people saying he wouldn't be allowed to compete since he was in his fourth year but I guess this puts an end to that debate. I think Howard will want to showcase some of the dunks he didn't get to show this year and his teammates and friends will convince him to compete again next year. I would love to see Dwight again because it gives the Magic fans another player to cheer for on All-Star weekend. Having your favorite player in a bunch of events makes things more exciting and hopefully Dwight gets over his loss and comes back strong next year.
Well let's be honest about it. We all had the benefit of instant replay, the judges don't so I can see why he got lower scores than he expected. I didn't notice the sticker until after they showed it on the replay and zoomed in on it. Those dunks happen so fast, watching them in real time doesn't do them any justice. Dwight should have done a better job of selling his dunk to the judges so they had an idea what to look for. Just like Gerald Green's version of the Dee Brown dunk. It wasn't spectacular at all, but he sold it and hyped it up. The judges knew what to expect and gave him highmarks for pulling it off.
Actually the judges did have the luxury of instant replay. As part of the rules the judges could watch the replay. They just didnt. I think big guys get shafted because everything is "suppose" to be easier for them. Nate did the same dunks over and over again, and because he is a midget he gets points. If that was the case, then they should have let Howard put the rim to 12 feet. That would put them on an even field, but NO... Howard deserved to be in the final, who knows what he would have done. Nate gets too much credit, ok he is short and he can dunk, thats about it. He really cant do much more than he already has shown us. His size limits him from doing complex dunks. Oh well hopefully Howard uses this to fuel the second half of the season. It worked for Agent 0.
Well, he does point out a double standard. The judges are harsh on taller players who do difficult things (eg: slapping a sticker near the top of the backboard), but at the same time give more marks to shorter players for doing relatively simple dunks.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post"> Those dunks happen so fast, watching them in real time doesn't do them any justice. Dwight should have done a better job of selling his dunk to the judges so they had an idea what to look for.</div> I thought he did a great job of selling. Right after the dunk he pointed to the sticker, and Jameer got out the measuring tape. VC and Kobe knew what happen, I even saw footage (or an image) of VC and Kobe pointing out the Sticker to Pierce.
Yeah, Carter and Kobe were trying to show the other judges. They were yelling to MJ and Dr. J trying to let them know what just took place. Oh well.
Howard had the best dunk of the night and placed 3rd what a joke. His dunk was the only dunk that was new. Oh well you wont be seeing those guys judging again.
<div class="quote_poster">MainMan Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">the best part is how his first dunk got more points than his second dunk (sticker dunk)</div> Yeah it got a point higher. A windmill dunk got higher then a well thought out dunk that was funny cuz of that big ass smile he had on it. Maybe he should've stuck his elbow in the rim on the first or second dunk. Cuz I was praying to see him in the finals. Cuz I knew Nate would keep missing a dunk that he can only do once in a great while.
