http://blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2009/01/fernandez_headed_to_las_vegas.html Trail Blazers guard Rudy Fernandez has won a fan vote to compete in the 2009 NBA Dunk Contest at All-Star Weekend in Phoenix on Feb. 14, The Oregonian has learned. For the first time, the NBA this season opened a slot in the contest for a rookie, who would be chosen by a fan vote. Fernandez won the voting over Milwaukee's Joe Alexander and Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook. Fernandez will compete against reigning dunk champion Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic, as well as New York's Nate Robinson and Memphis forward Rudy Gay. Fernandez initially said he would like to bring teammate and countryman Sergio Rodriguez to the event to throw passes, but Rodriguez at the time said he would decline in favor of vacationing. However, teammate Brandon Roy - who should be a shoo-in for the All-Star reserves - said if he is selected to the team he would assist Fernandez in the competition. The selection of Fernandez to the competition will be officially announced at a press conference Monday at 12:30 at the Blazers practice facility in Tualatin.
Psh, I told you guys he was more popular than the others. He might not better suited for it, but at least he won't be lost out there.
Awesome. I don't know how he'll stack up to the competition, but it will be nice to see a Blazer in the contest. It'll be pretty cool if Roy ends up being his partner. Like other people have said, I think Rudy would be better for the three point contest, but I'll take it.
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Wow, didn't think he would be voted in. I'm afraid that Rudy is gonna get embarassed out there. He doesn't have the hops of the other dunkers in the competition. I hope he dreams up some creative dunk ideas, because he'll need it.
although it's awesome he's in - he better have some heavy gimmicks lined up to get the crowd on his side cause his hops arent in the same universe as some of the other people out there....
Yeah, we need to help him come up with some ideas to do. I don't see many 360 between the legs or off the glass dunks he can do. But that'll be pretty awesome to see him in the dunk contest. Too bad Sergio already said he won't help him But GO RUDY!!!
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I'm sure it's b.s., but Rudy claims to have a 120cm vertical (that's 47.2 inches!) http://ballersnetwork.com/p/en/ballers/rudy-fernandez/
Can he do a 360 or a windmill or something like that? I haven't seen anything dunk contest worthy in any of those videos. I'm not trying to trash him, I just haven't seen him play much.
