<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">The game was over, the suspension served, nothing left for Kobe Bryant to do but wonder what happens from here. For the second time in 5 1/2 weeks, Bryant had been punished by the NBA for hitting a defender in the face on the follow-through from his jump shot. He sat in a Milwaukee hotel Wednesday and "monitored the airwaves," listening to what the TV folks had to say after the latest incident, in which he smacked Minnesota's Marko Jaric across the nose Tuesday night. When the Lakers played the Bucks on Wednesday, he couldn't go to the arena because of league rules. He couldn't watch the game in his room because his TV didn't have the right channel. So he went downstairs to the hotel restaurant and watched the Lakers lose their fourth consecutive game. Later, he returned a phone call and responded to a question: Is he worried about being known as a dirty player? "That's what I'm concerned about," Bryant said. "I don't want to have that reputation. "I'm concerned about that. For them to try to make an example out of me is upsetting." In the last minute of regulation in Tuesday's double-overtime loss at Minnesota, Bryant flailed his arms after his shot was blocked by Jaric. The officials called a foul on Bryant. "Not a flagrant," he said. "Not a technical. A loose-ball foul." Against San Antonio on Jan. 28, Bryant made a similar play when shooting in the last seconds of the fourth quarter, this time catching Manu Ginobili in the face. In that case, no foul was called, but Bryant was suspended for the Lakers' next game at New York. Stu Jackson, the NBA's vice president of basketball operations, said that in Tuesday's play, Bryant's arm went backward "in an aggressive manner" and said it was "not an acceptable movement." Bryant said: "This is ridiculous. To suspend me is to say, 'He did it intentionally.' Let's think about this with the rational brain. We have 10 guys on the roster. We're starting this road trip now. We've dropped two games on this [four-game] road trip. Everybody's out. It's a close game. Why would I intentionally hit this kid in the face and get suspended and take our roster down to nine? It makes no sense." I watched some footage of some of Bryant's game-winning shots on YouTube and in each case his follow-through was the same: arms dropping straight down. He acknowledged the Jaric play was different because he was looking for a call. "You try to draw contact," Bryant said. "You create a foul. "I was looking to draw some type of foul. What you do is try to draw something." He said Jaric did not foul him. "He made a good defensive play and got the ball," Bryant said. "To try to hit somebody that comes from behind or intentionally try to do that makes zero sense." Jaric echoed Bryant's thoughts in an interview with ESPN.com. "I don't think he did it intentionally, and I don't think players should be suspended for things that happen unintentionally," Jaric said before the suspension was announced. "I think he was trying to draw a foul, and he swung his hand out to make it look dramatic, and he hit me by accident. He apologized right after." The league took a harder stance. All of a sudden a new pattern is emerging, a new image battle Bryant has to fight, just when his team-oriented play and emphasis on community service seemed to have him back in the public's good graces. Bryant's off-court image isn't of concern to the Lakers. The Lakers are in the business of winning games, and that's where Bryant's potential new "dirty" tag could come into play. What happens to the Lakers and their playoff hopes (which are starting to feel weighted down like a light horse) if the officials start keeping a closer eye on Bryant and he finds himself in foul trouble night after night? I've spent a lot of time in NBA locker rooms, and with the exception of Raja Bell's stall in Phoenix, I haven't heard Bryant accused of being a dirty player. The funny thing about the NBA is sometimes you're better off having a reputation and sticking with it. Bruce Bowen has more hand-to-body contact than a masseuse, but he gets away with it more often that not, because it's acknowledged that it's his type of game.</div> Source
Fact of the matter........ whether hitting people in the face intentionally or not, Kobe needs to change his so called "follow through." Doesn't matter if it somehow is a natural movement for him..... he's injured 2 people in a little over a month. Lol @ "Bruce Bowen has more hand-to-body contact than a masseuse"
Be serious. Kobe is a jerk for saying it was unintentional. Look at the replay from that incident to the Ginobili. This guy will not learn his lesson untill he is suspended multiple games.
Just to compare, neither Manu or Jaric missed any games because of Kobe's follow through, however Marvin Williams missed last night's game, and could possibly be out for the next Hawks game after Shaq sent him to the hardwood on a dunk attempt. Marvin Williams was injured and had to miss a game, (possibly two), shouldn't Shaq have to miss a game for causing the injury?
Word to that shape. I love how some of you guys are coming in here and holding Kobe to such a high standard just because you probably don't like him. What he did wasn't nearly as bad as what Shaq did to Marvin Williams. However, do we see you guys saying anything about that? Nope. Or how about the fact that Mr. Bowen plays dirty, dirty defense and never gets busted for it? Nope, nothin there either. I think if the league wants to be consistent, they should start cracking down on other people. Why not suspend them for a flagrant? Kobe didn't get called for a flagrant on either of his suspensions (one of them he wasn't even called for a foul) and he gets suspended, Shaq pummels Williams and gets hit with a flagrant and gets nothing. Not exactly what I call fair if you ask me.
Shaq is and will continue to be the darling of the nba. Shaq is ot fouling people unintentionally to rip their eyes out and than blame it on a follow-thru. A follow through is not swinging an arm sideways and attacking an opponent.
<div class="quote_poster">Duncan21 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq is and will continue to be the darling of the nba. Shaq is ot fouling people unintentionally to rip their eyes out and than blame it on a follow-thru. A follow through is not swinging an arm sideways and attacking an opponent.</div>Kobe was hardly trying to rip their eyes out. I'm relatively sure he didn't even have intent to hurt them. However, from what I understand, you seem to think that Kobe's two fouls are worse than what Shaq did to Marvin Williams a few nights ago. Could you explain to me how it's worse? Neither of them missed games and Kobe wasn't whistled for a flagrant. Shaq, on the other hand, WAS whistled for a flagrant and Marvin Williams DID miss games.
I think that's what I've been trying to get across, is the fact that the way Stu Jackson brings down suspensions/fines has been highly unfair. Some people that commit much worse fouls, such as Shaq and LeBron, haven't been punished whatsoever, yet if Kobe accidentally hits someone in the face, doesn't get called for a flagrant, and the player doesn't miss a game, he gets suspended. Yea...very fair.
James Worthy on the Lakers post game show on KCAL 9 he basically said that the NBA has changed and that they're handing out suspensions too easily - The players can't talk to refs anymore - Kobe is being singled out - Conspiracy theory against Kobe - Doesn't care if Stu Jackson is watching - He's seen that shooting motion various times - Reiterated Jaric's sentiments about the situation (that he didn't feel Kobe deserves to be suspended and that it was unintentional - If the player himself is saying it, then there's absolutely no need for suspension - No way to investigate this.. hard for the players to say anything about it because of fines.. they have too much power and there's nothing to do about it - He's glad he's not playing the game anymore
I have yet to see that Shaq and Marvin Williams video...... so I can't really comment. I have no idea what happened. And I think Bruce Bowen is an EXTREMELY dirty defender. I mean, when Ray Allen of all people singled him out, I knew it was true. Bowen should have DEFINITELY gotten suspended for that sh!t he pulled. I'm not sure why he didn't. Doesn't mean I don't think Kobe should have though. I call em as I see em...
The thing about the way the NBA is that, despite giving the refs more power, with the way they're handling suspensions, it's almost making refs calls irrelevant to a point. Stu Jackson doesn't care if there was a foul or wasn't apparently. He also doesn't seem to care if it was a regular foul or flagrant. My thought, if players aren't getting suspended for flagrants, something that deserves suspension, what's the point of them?
<div class="quote_poster">Marbire Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I have yet to see that Shaq and Marvin Williams video...... so I can't really comment. I have no idea what happened. And I think Bruce Bowen is an EXTREMELY dirty defender. I mean, when Ray Allen of all people singled him out, I knew it was true. Bowen should have DEFINITELY gotten suspended for that sh!t he pulled. I'm not sure why he didn't. Doesn't mean I don't think Kobe should have though. I call em as I see em...</div>While you haven't seen the Shaq on Marvin foul, what should be known is that Marvin never returned to that game and missed the next one (at least). Kobe's foul, on the other hand, hasn't caused anyone to miss games.
<div class="quote_poster">Marbire Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I have yet to see that Shaq and Marvin Williams video...... so I can't really comment. I have no idea what happened. And I think Bruce Bowen is an EXTREMELY dirty defender. I mean, when Ray Allen of all people singled him out, I knew it was true. Bowen should have DEFINITELY gotten suspended for that sh!t he pulled. I'm not sure why he didn't. Doesn't mean I don't think Kobe should have though. I call em as I see em...</div> It's all I'm asking for from the league disciplinarians. I have no problem with the league suspending Kobe, but it has to be consistent across the board. Right now it's not, there's a blatant double-standard, which is why Laker fans and/or Kobe fans gripe about it. I think there's a video on ESPN of Shaq's flagrant foul. It was ruled excessive in real time by the officials, but for some reason Shaq's foul wasn't reviewed and he wasn't suspended. Which is ironic, considering Stu Jackson stepped in to view Jerry Stackhouse when he fouled Shaq in the Finals and overruled the Flagrant 1 foul to a Flagrant 2 foul which ultimately suspended Stackhouse for 1 Game.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Just to compare, neither Manu or Jaric missed any games because of Kobe's follow through, however Marvin Williams missed last night's game, and could possibly be out for the next Hawks game after Shaq sent him to the hardwood on a dunk attempt. Marvin Williams was injured and had to miss a game, (possibly two), shouldn't Shaq have to miss a game for causing the injury?</div> Comparing Shaq's flagrant to Kobe's flagrant doesn't make either one right. Kobe's was (as his others were) worse in my opinion. I think both plays were uncalled for, but Kobe's took more of a conscious effort. I cannot find a video of Shaq's foul, but if memory serves, he grabbed Williams on the arm and tried to hold him on the ground, keeping him from attacking the rim. Is Shaq, or is he not, a 7'1", 350 lb man who could throw another human through a brick wall? He wasn't malicious, and didn't seem to not care about what he did. He grabbed the guy, and he crashed to the floor, unfortunately. If 90% of other players commit the same foul, Williams isn't going to be thrown down. However, Shaq is an ogre. I don't think there was anything over-the-top about it. Kobe, however, swung his elbow in a completely unnatural way, and made contact with a guy's face while he was in the air. And it's the 2nd time Kobe's elbow has made the acquaintance of a defender's nose 'trying to draw a foul'. Add this to Kobe's little fracus with Mike Miller, and I don't think you need to read too far between the lines. Kobe plays like he's above the rules of everyone else, as do most NBA stars. And now he thinks he's mastered a crafty new way to foul guys who are overly aggressive defending him by 'trying to draw a foul'. I won't argue more, because plainly I don't care for Kobe at all, and anything further would just be me 'hating' on him. However, I do believe that the two incidents are different and hard to compare. Kobe blatantly swung an elbow at a guy's face, while Shaq got overaggressive trying to keep somebody from getting a dunk. Maybe I'm seeing that through a different color glass, but that's definitely the way I see it, and I think Kobe shows a total lack of class in trying to claim that his foul was more innocent than it was. You wanna take cheap shots at a guy's face, own up to your actions, don't claim you were trying to get a cheap foul because you're a superstar. That just doesn't sit well with me. I should say that whenever a player does something like Kobe did, they should be held to the same standard. As with the Hansbrough thing or Shaq/Williams thing, I have no problem with a good, hard foul. But a completely unnatural basketball action that involves a guy swinging his arm at a defender's face is unnaceptable from any player. If the league doesn't suspend other players who do the exact same thing, then it is a condemnation of Kobe and is wrong. No matter how much I dislike Kobe, he should not be suspended for something others get away with.
Invalid Video Link That was no Accident. He was frustrated because of the good D and took out jaric. This kind of play is why Raja bell clotheslines Kobe last year.
Schaddy I'm glad you brought up the Mike Miller incident, because it's just another example of the double standard. Let's not forget the Mike Miller busted Kobe's forehead open before Kobe decided to retaliate. Why wasn't Miller suspended? Invalid Video Link 41 second into this video For the record the elbow by Kobe was uncalled for, and I felt it warranted at least 5 games. However, Miller should have also received a game, if the goal is consistency, because it's clear Miller put a little extra on his follow through.
<div class="quote_poster">shapecity Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Schaddy I'm glad you brought up the Mike Miller incident, because it's just another example of the double standard. Let's not forget the Mike Miller busted Kobe's forehead open before Kobe decided to retaliate. Why wasn't Miller suspended? Invalid Video Link 41 second into this video For the record the elbow by Kobe was uncalled for, and I felt it warranted at least 5 games. However, Miller should have also received a game, if the goal is consistency, because it's clear Miller put a little extra on his follow through.</div> I agree Miller isn't without blame. However, Kobe's overreaction shows what kind of player he can be sometimes. And I agree that there's at least a little bit of a stigma that follows Kobe - he'll be suspended for something while another player isn't. And that's not right. However, I don't think Kobe has exactly done anything to rehabilitate his reputation It's unfortunate that he is held to a different standard, though. I want to make that clear. I may detest the guy, but that doesn't mean that I want to see injustice.
<div class="quote_poster">Duncan21 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">James Worthy on the Lakers post game show on KCAL 9 he basically said that the NBA has changed and that they're handing out suspensions too easily</div> I agree that Kobe's "hit" was unintentional, but don't use Worthy as an objective spectator. If Worthy was doing play-by-play 4 the Wolves, he might have a slightly different tune.
why do non-laker fans care so much? this doesnt effect you, get out of here if all you want to do is hang **** on kobe for what he did, the only reason your doing it is because you hate kobe for stupid reasons, none of this effects you but you still come in here and insult kobe, which, in turn, insults us laker fans. im sorry but thats just how it is, if you aren't effected by it then why are you complaining? anyway i think its a bit hard to tell if this is intentional or not, if kobe says it was unintentional the i believe him, and if jaric actually backs him up then ofcourse i will beleive that kobe wasnt looking to hurt anyone, but its hard to tell if jaric is only saying it because he has too much respect for kobe, or something like that.
