Sunday, March 10, 2013

Former NBA Player Makes his own version of March Madness



Dennis Rodman, Bill Laimbeer, Charles Barkley, Metta World Peace (formerly Ron Artest), Chris Childs, Bruce Bowen, and Carmelo Anthony, they all had one thing in common – trouble makers. Names mentioned above were renowned bad asses in the hard court that fans of the opposing teams would show disgust to them even by their mere presence alone.

Who would forget Rodman’s dirty plays on Karl Malone during their 2 finals matches? It is also important to note that prior to the Jazz-Bulls rivalry way back the Jordan era Rodman has already earned the moniker “the worm” for his dirty plays on the court. Rodman’s teammate, Bill Laimbeer, who he calls a thug in his book AS BAD AS I WANNA BE, was also involved to a lot of fights throughout his NBA career. Only few sane men would dare to ask for a fight against Shaquille O’neal who weighs more than 300 pounds and standing as tall as 7 feet, Charles Barkley was one of them. Metta World Peace, or forever remembered as the Ron Artest of the unforgettable ‘brawl at the Palace’, would probably be the most hated player ever to play in the NBA. Chris Childs, the dirty guard who punched Kobe in the face. Steve Nash’s best friend, Bruce Bowen, whose jersey got retired and hanging from the rafters despite not having exemplary numbers on his stat sheets but because of his lockdown causing dirty defense. The man who choked Maria Sharapova’s ex-boyfriend Sasha Vujacic and the same man who gave a jaw crushing right punch to Mardy Collins and then run away – Carmelo Anthony, who turns out to be my current my idol of the sport. They were known for initiating troubles, capable of inflicting excruciating injuries, and frustrating their defensive assignments but never did they attempt to annihilate the composure of people who are on the same jersey with them.

Well, Renaldo Balkman, a forward of the Puerto Rican national team uncharacteristically displayed a demeanour that gave itch to everyone that saw the game between Petron Blaze Booster and Alaska Aces.

“It was in the heat of the moment, I was frustrated, I hate myself for what I did. Everybody sees me as a bad person. But, that’s not me, that’s not me.” [...]
“I am a professional, I am not supposed to do that. I already apologized to Arwind (Santos), his family and my teammates, including our bosses."
 “Everybody does something once in a life, they’re not supposed to do. At the time I blanked out and went at it.”
 “It’s my first time ever in my entire life to do that."
Renaldo Balkman’s statement after the incident.  Really?
               
Even NBA’s notorious animal Latrell Sprewell who has reports of anger management issues has a very logical explanation for causing him to do such unrealistic acts. On December of 97’, Latrell Sprewell choked Warriors coach P.J Carlesimo, current interim coach of Brooklyn Nets, the submission took 10-15 seconds before other players could pacify the situation,  Sprewell then  returned to the court about 20 minutes later and punched Carlesimo, landing a glancing blow before  being dragged away.
"There was just a buildup of anger and frustration and having it all bottled up and not being able to express myself. At that point, it just came to a head," says Latrell Sprewell on ESPN Classic's SportsCentury series pertaining to the choke incident.

Spree was also reported to have fought team mates years before his assault to a defenceless coach, he was reported to have fought Byron Houston and Jerome Kersey, the former was said to have a Mike Tyson like demeanour and physique while the latter made him brought a two-by-four lumber and threatening him with a gun.

The choke incident ensued during a practice game because of instructions from coach Carlesimo to Spree to make crisper passes and the hot headed Sprewell warned the coach that wasn’t in the mood for criticism. When Carlesimo, as what most coaches do and to whoever is in-charge of an organization, approached Spree and the rest is history.

Oh, I remembered I mentioned logical explanation. I’m taking it back. Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spur is an absolute cool head on the hard court but in rare cases he also losses his composure. Same with Roger Federer from a not-so-relative-sport, tennis, was also seen to show anger towards officials. Even people outside the reigns of the sporting world would lose their temper but hitting almost everyone on their sight is totally unusual.

Renaldo Balkman, who was released by the New York Knicks on  February 17, 2012 to make way for the acquisition of spitfire guard J.R. Smith, is a benchwarmer in the NBA. I’ve also seen him on FIBA America playing alongside J.J Barea and Carlos Arroyo of Puerto Rico, he still sucks. It was a blessing for him to play overseas and averaging surprising numbers and also earning. Though I condemn fights in and out the basketball court whoever is involved, it was Balkman’s loss of discretion I hate the most. This has not just tapped the frontiers of human behaviour dealing with frustrations but also racism. Seeing this incident made me believe that western people, excuse to those who are not, see us inferior to their race, still.

He (Balkman) may have lost his cool, same with Sprewell, to all basketball bad boys, and including me but, would it excuse an individual to exhibit full disrespect? Hell no! Listed below are Spree and Balkman-manil’s differences and similarities based on my quick research:
  • Both Spree and Balkman played with the Knicks in their NBA venture; don’t pull out a joke. Okay? (laugh)
  • They’re both on dreadlocks (Spree at one point of his career)
  • Spree is a scorer and a terrific player. Balkman? You say it.
  • Too bad all of Spree’s meltdowns were never caught on tape. I just wish Discovery Channel’s ‘Lost Tapes’ would show one someday.
We all hate fights in sports we love, not unless if you love MMA or boxing. Even to contact sports if the brawls are not on the timing and places.To mention UFC’s Tank Abottt, when had a fight outsided the octagon, the Morales-Barrera weigh in, and more. We also hate outbursts of emotions discharged to the wrong people. And today, I already hate Renaldo Balkman who is now labelled as “Balkman-manakal” (mananakal).

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