Where ridiculous happens!
Dwyane Wade doesn't like to see Mario West dancing! (This fine photo is courtesy of my main man Curtis Compton of the AJC)
MIAMI - I know what the NBA’s slogan is supposed to say.
But after two weeks of great basketball in most cases, and relentless dramatics in others, the only thing that seems to be rising from the dust right now is foolishness.
From griping on and off the floor (more on that in a minute) to tough-guy antics (from as far away as the radio perch) in almost every single series to the continued assault on the game by an army of awful game officials, the playoffs seems more like where ridiculous happens?
At a time when the NBA game should be on full display for all to see, everything else is getting in the way.
I dare anyone that’s watched any of the Bulls-Celtics series to tell me they’ve seen more intense playoff basketball anytime recently. That’s what real lovers of this game deserve to see.
But it’s not happening these days.
Good luck focusing on what should be a frantic and fantastic Game 6 tonight between the Hawks and Heat here at AmericanAirlines Arena. Good luck enjoying yet another entertaining playoff series that’s being marginalized by the news of the weird that seems to be the flavor of every day this time of year.
And in true ridiculous fashion, verbal shots are being fired across the floor before the opening tip (and no, I’m not talking about the faux furor over Josh Smith’s missed dunk at the end Game 5).
Apparently Heat star Dwyane Wade didn’t appreciate Mario West’s version of the Ray Lewis dance at the of the possession just before halftime of Game 5. He lit West up to my man Mike Wallace of the Miami Herald and the rest of the assembled media here after practice Thursday. Here’s Wade going off on our man ‘Rio:
His celebration for his one stop? What is this game coming to? One thing I go back to is something my high school coach always told me. Act like you’ve done something before. He used to hate when I used dunk and pound my chest all the time. He used to tell me to act like I’ve been there before, act like I’ve done it. Win lose or draw, you have to be classy. There are some unprofessional things that they have to take care of. On the court, you show emotion, and that’s great. But celebrating after one stop, that’s funny.
The HP (Hypocrisy Police) might point out that Wade doesn’t seem to have a problem with jumping up on the scorer’s table and pounding his own chest after hitting game-winning shots or staring Joe Johnson down after making a deep shot off the glass in Game 2 or screaming for one of his teammates take Flip Murray out on a baseline drive for a dunk late in Game 5. But you be the judge? But Wade wasn’t done.
It appears Dwyane Wade has a few celebratory moves of his own!
He had more to say about not only Wade but the Celtics and Bulls, too: I don’t know what it was a sign of. I was laughing after the fact because I’ve never seen that before. Tony Allen did that the other night when he stopped Ben Gordon from hitting a shot to win the game. That’s what you do. When it’s going into halftime and you stop somebody, that’s a little different. But we’re not here to point out every little thing they do, you know. Who cares? It’s about what we do. And that’s the only thing we can control.
He said all that to point that there’s no bad blood brewing between he and ‘Rio and certainly nothing personal between these two teams (before all but instructing his teammates to stir it up):
First off, I have nothing simmering with Mario. He’s not been a factor in this series. It’s irrelevant to me. I have nothing brewing with him at all. It was one of those games, one of those playoff series. It’s just about do we have the team to come back and fight as much as they’re going to fight. Zaza Pachulia is knocking people out. It’s simple as that. I’m not telling my teammates to knock him out. But when he comes down the paint, just make sure he feels us, on offensive rebounds. We’re not the team that’s playing dirty. We’re the team that wants to play smarter and protect ourselves as well.
THE HAWKS’ CAMP IS FAR FROM INNOCENT when it comes to baiting the other side. It seems Hawks radio announcer Steve Holman has enraged the masses here in South Florida with some of his in-game rants, so much so that the folks at deadspin.com have taken a liking to him.
I’ll let you judge the for yourself whether or not Holman’s calls were out of line. It hasn’t nearly the firestorm in Atlanta that it has here, where it’s been dominating the airwaves. But I imagine it will be one of the underlying story lines from tonight’s game, particularly if the Heat wins and forces a Game 7 Sunday back in Atlanta.
PETA says lay off Spirit the Hawk! (This photo is another C.Compton special)
Apparently PETA WANTS A PIECE OF THE ACTION, TOO. The recent flap over Spirit The Hawk prompted this email (below) from the fine folks at PETA.
And we all know that they don’t need GPS to find their way to Atlanta since the Michael Vick story dominated the sports landscape.
PETA didn’t appreciate seeing the Hawks’ Hawk ridiculed after that unauthorized flight before Game 2.
In fact, they don’t want Spirit victimized at all, per the email they sent the other day (they also sent a different letter to Hawks’ part owner Michael Gearon Jr. expressing similar sentiment):
Good afternoon.
After learning that a live hawk used as a mascot for the Atlanta Hawks got loose in an arena, which forced a game to be temporarily stopped, PETA has sent a letter to Hawks owner Michael Gearon Jr. urging him to implement a policy to prohibit the use of live animals at Hawks games.
PETA points out that the bright lights, screaming fans, and loud noises (such as air horns, music, and amplified sound systems) that make sporting events exciting for fans can be terrifying for animals. Appearing at games can be frightening and disorienting to birds and potentially dangerous for birds and fans alike. The hawk is also subjected to the stress of transport to and from games.
“If the Hawks want to increase fan support, they don’t need cheap gimmicks—they just need to start winning games,” says PETA Director Debbie Leahy. “The only place where ‘birdies’ belong in sports is on golf courses, not at basketball games.”
Game 6 can’t get here fast enough for me. I just want to get back to basketball for a little while.
SPEAKING OF BASKETBALL, both Al Horford and Marvin Williams will watch Game 6 in suits. Neither one of the Hawks’ starters is healthy enough to play tonight.
Horford’s sprained right ankle will force him to sit while Williams remains sidelined with that sprained wrist on his shooting (right) hand.
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594 comments Add your comment
Volman
May 1st, 2009
4:07 pm
Eddie…Writing in short, one word sentences doesn’t make. you. look. smart. Got it?
The Hawks won game 5 without two of their starters… Horford will not be playing tonight, as well.
What is the excuse for the Heat?
SEKOU, I appreciate your PROFESSIONALISM with regarding this series.. but can you please back the Hawks some more? I know you have, but the Miami papers have been BLASTING the Hawks as well as our wonderful city. I think they must have too much hair gel in their eyes to see.
Mr. Smith, we understand you are friends with O’Neal and James Jones, but it’s not time to be friends anymore. It’s not time to keep quoting them and Dwyane Wade. It’s time to stand up and fight back..You are the voice of Atlanta Hawks fans. We need you to fight back.
Daniel
May 1st, 2009
4:08 pm
edie- if it takes a failed dunk attempt and a radio announcer to “awaken the one guy” then your team has already lost. Also, we consider calling people in Atlanta “homo” to be petty, ignorant and classless. If you can’t be more original and literate, then please keep your ignorant insults to yourself… LOSER
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
4:08 pm
I second that Volman…TIME TO RISE UP!!!!
Volman
May 1st, 2009
4:08 pm
Brandon, +1.
Horford > Wade
Actually, Mario West >>>>>>>> Wade.
eddieomaha
May 1st, 2009
4:11 pm
We’re all homos Daniel.
Brandon
May 1st, 2009
4:11 pm
Yes, Volman. Mario’s celebration at the end of the half was great.
darrell starks
May 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
D WADE STANDING IN THE STANDS FLIPPING HIS SHIRT IF THAT WAS JOSH SMITH STANDING THE STANDS IT WOULD BE ON TNT AND ESPN SAYING THAT JOSH HAS NO CLASS.GO HAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
eddieomaha
May 1st, 2009
4:12 pm
D Wade gives me goosebumps in all the right places!!!
Regards from your biggest fan (and secret crush!!)
eddieomaha
eddieomaha
May 1st, 2009
4:15 pm
I resent that comment. I also have nothing better to do on a Friday afternoon than make fun of the team that is going to beat us.
eddieomaha
May 1st, 2009
4:15 pm
“to be petty, ignorant and classless”
Please. You guys invented it. Your whole crowd was booing Wade when he was on the ground hurt. It’s not just your commentator Holman trying to get publicity, or Smith’s dunk attempt… it’s the premature celebrations and nutgrabbing.
eddieomaha
May 1st, 2009
4:18 pm
I’ll admit. I love hating a team again. It’s nice the refs are letting them play. BOS-CHI… MIA-ATL… finally we got some rivalries again. See you tonight after the Heat win.
tiltman
May 1st, 2009
4:19 pm
ZAZA Dirty?/?? He Hustles, fights, plays a man’s game and rarely cries.
O’Neal has taken cheap offensive shots on him the ENTIRE series!!! And has anyone recalled that ZAZa’s black-eye assessed nary a foul!!! Just watch tonight how Jermaine works against ZAZA, and the best part is that it’s so engrained in the Heat’s head that they’re over-pursuing their offensive attack against ZAZA and looking like Chumps at the end of the day.
D-wade can’t decide if his back hurt before or after the game
when to get up after bumping his head — note going to the locker room to sell the fact that he looked like an idiot after the refs didn’t stop the prima donna’s bluff . . .
I could go on — the first two games of the series we couldn’t get a foul called and Coach W led us right –keep attacking, the shots will fall, the calls will come. Bottom line is this is NBA playoff basketball, physical and wired for the MAN who wants it the most. Let’s see you man-up D-wade quite crying and forget the fade-away J if you want to make this game 6 a contest.
Volman
May 1st, 2009
4:20 pm
Eddie, was he really hurt? PUHHHHHLEASE. He was not hurt one bit. It’s all a stunt. I was surprised they didn’t bring out the wheelchair.
If I wanted to watch a soap opera I could have turned it onto ABC. Dwyane Wade is SUCH a baby. Honestly, Wade laid on the ground MOTIONLESS like he was paralyzed or something.
Give me a break. Wade deserves the boos.
I’m assuming that when the Heat “fans” boo the Hawks tonight it won’t be classless?
Trust me, Holman needs no publicity. You’re a blabbering idiot. You have ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA what you’re talking about. Quit reading ESPN and Miami Herald articles…stop being so ignorant. Holman has said stuff like that for years. If you wanted to do a little research you could have known that Holman did this to Garnett last year.
Eddie, get a life…or atleast don’t be so ignorant.
Volman
May 1st, 2009
4:23 pm
Eddie, the only “nutgrabbing” going on was when Josh Smith teabagged Jermaine O’Neal on that incredible dunk!
Eric
May 1st, 2009
4:32 pm
Ugh oh.
http://www.cleveland.com/sports/plaindealer/bud_shaw/index.ssf?/base/sports/1241166638230340.xml&coll=2
MannyT
May 1st, 2009
4:38 pm
Things that I would love to see (but know I won’t)
During introductions, let Mario come out in a Ray Lewis college jersey (since he played at the U), then he does his dance, and tears off the jersey, stomps it to reveal his Hawks uni. Of course we need to prep Steve Holman to be ready for this so he can get into a frenzy before tip off.
The first time Wade touches the ball, every Hawk just point to the basket and let him go in for an uncontested layup/dunk . The next time he touches the ball just go knock him on his rear. Why, because the Hawks are like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get…right Forest Gump!?
Have a cartoon version of Spirit the Hawk swoop in and camp out over the Heat basket. Each time they shoot, he pecks the ball away. Afterwards, he could “decorate” the windshield of a PETA person. The poop would spell out Let’s Go Hawks!
At the end of the game, I’d like to see Josh make that between the legs dunk in Miami with us up by 20.
I guess I’ll have to settle for a win tonight.
Let’s Go Hawks
BWAF
S. Jones
May 1st, 2009
4:39 pm
Oohhh, please don’t pick so much on my little pooh bear, Dwyane!
He just was missing his cougar when he had his tough little night in Atlanta this past Wednesday–and got a little cranky. Grrrr.
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
4:40 pm
VOLMAN YOU STILL HERE BRO DO YOU HAVE A GIRL?
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
4:42 pm
COME ON BOLDMAN SAY WITH ME LEST GO HEAT
Sekou Smith
May 1st, 2009
4:43 pm
You’re my guy Volman, but I won’t do anything of the sort. This isn’t some fight between the media from both cities. You should know by now that I won’t participate in any of the petty foolishness that’s going on. Let these teams play ball and we’ll see which team is still on its feet when it’s over.
Volman
May 1st, 2009
4:43 pm
Gusman, don’t call me bro. Ever.
EAST ATLANTA HAWKS FAN
May 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
YOU ARROGANT MIAMI SWEET FANS IF SHAQ DIDNT COME TO MIAMI, D.WADE WOULD NOT HAVE A RING RIGHT NOW,WHICH THIS SERIES IS SHOWING WITHOUT SHAQ YOU GUYS CANT GET OUTTA THE FIRST ROUND AGAINST THE HAWKS.
P.S.IF D.WADE CAN GET A RING WITHOUT SHAQ,HOW BOUT HE START RIGHT NOW TRYING TO CRAWL BACK FROM A 3-2 HOLE,IF NOT D.WADE IS JUST LIKE KOBE,WITHOUT SHAQ NO RING,SO D.WADE PIT UP OR SHUT-UP!
CRYBABIES DOWN IN WADE COUNTY!
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
4:50 pm
OK BRO I WON,T
Dwyane Wade
May 1st, 2009
4:52 pm
I SUCK
KevinA
May 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
Sekou, why are you blocking my stuff.
SouthAfrican09
May 1st, 2009
4:53 pm
He told a teammate to take out Flip? Were u front court Sekou? ha!
Rick Sund
May 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
It doesn’t matter if we win tonight or Sunday. Just as long as we accomplish OUR GOAL of getting to the SECOND ROUND. If so I hope to see all of you great fans for games 3 and 4. We are having a special CHICK FILA FAMILY NIGHT for the playoffs!
Hawksgirl
May 1st, 2009
4:54 pm
I swear miami is acting like little bitches. Wade had a nerve to say their not playing dirty, watch your teammates. Im sure he saw zaza’s black eye in game 5. He is such a hypocrite it makes me sick. Mario hardly gets time to play to of course he will get excited, but if wade pumps his chest after a dunk its okay? Pleeeeease grow up miami. Its starting to get pathetic.
And whatever your name is(you know who im talking to), al is one of the toughest guys in the league. wade stayed on the floor 10 monutes but came back out the locker room in like 2 minutes. Looks like a publicity stunt gone wrong to me. Dont insult al like he’s an average player. That mans a beast. You probably wont see it this round, but you will in the second round when we play the cavs.
mike
May 1st, 2009
4:55 pm
Dwade knows that this series is over and is just trying to fire up his team. Game over Dwade go ahead and make some plans to shoot some more T-mobile commercials cause youre gonna have lots of spare time now. Keep doing your thing Mario!!
C. Barkley
May 1st, 2009
4:57 pm
Man, I a excited about that charter fishing trip my little buddy D.Wade and I have set up for this Sunday afternoon! It’s going to be sweet!! Oops! Nevermind, just forget what I said.
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
OK DIRTY BIRDS DON,T GET MAD TONIGHT AT THE GAME
S. Jones
May 1st, 2009
4:59 pm
Oh, no your are NOT going fishing on Sunday! Little Dwyaney and I are going to have a picnic on the beach in South Beach. I can’t wait!
Stewart
May 1st, 2009
5:04 pm
I just like the fact that Atlanta seems to have figured out the way to deal with D Wade over these last two games. It’s a pretty old formula in sports – if the opposing team is totally dependent upon one excellent player, you go hard after that player. The Hawks aren’t out there trying to hurt anyone, but they are playing hard basketball (like most sports, contact is involved). The Hawks also have enough useful players that they can substitute so that they don’t have too many foul problems. Spread out the foul count on your players while ensuring that D Wade feels the majority of your fouls.
The end result is that D Wade gets frustrated and maybe thinks twice before driving the lane. After all, he knows he has to play for the Heat to have a good chance at victory. Make him a little bit more tentative and then you can better defend his jumpers.
Holman’s mockery of him is just good fun. He says the same thing I say while I’m watching the game. It doesn’t mean I hate D Wade as a person or that I wouldn’t cheer for him if he was on my team. For the moment though he is on the enemy and as such I’ll call him a punk when he acts like one.
Gilley
May 1st, 2009
5:07 pm
Josh Smith WILL GET FOULED HARD this game. Tell him to expect it BUT PLEASE OVERLOOK IT because Jamaal Magloire has been trying to pick a fight with him for the longest and would love to see him get suspended for a Game 7. We cannot afford for that to happen. So Sekou or Micah Hart or anyone who has access to J-Smoove tell him to NOT react to any hard fouls or get kicked out the game.
On a side note: F*** PETA! I cant stand them!!! Argggghhhhhh
S. Jones
May 1st, 2009
5:17 pm
MAYBE Dwyaney and I will go to the Kentucky Derby again this year! Oh, he just lovessss those little mint juleps!
bigjohnhawksfan
May 1st, 2009
5:19 pm
Rick Sund is back on the boards = life is good!!
Reggie
May 1st, 2009
5:23 pm
Wow, I used to really like Wade. After this series I am tired of his face and I actually can’t wait to see Lebron which I can’t believe I’m saying. Wade is the biggest hypocrite I have ever seen. They guy is a baby and is just as immature as Smith. Except Smith is actually tough and won’t lay on the ground for 10 minutes whining that he has a little knot on his head. Horford sprained his ankle and got up and shot free throws quicker than Wade go up after bumping his noggin. The guy acted like he was paralyzed. I’m seriously tired of watching the Heat try to make us the bad guys in this series. Let’s get this over with tonight. Although I have a weird feeling the Cavs will be much better if we do the tiniest thing wrong against them.
Eric: That link was pretty good and funny. Everyone should read that. Why do the Cavs suddenly think they are unbeatable and are perfect after sweeping the PISTONS! We have beat them this year and there’s no reason why we can’t beat them again. I believe we can at least make this a 6 game series if not 7. Do we win it? Probably not but we can make it interesting.
Reggie
May 1st, 2009
5:25 pm
I meant to say I have a feeling the Cavs series WON’T be much better. Sorry about that.
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
5:32 pm
HEY HAWKS HOW ABOUT D-WADE COMING TO ATLANTA IN 2010 WILL YOU BOOING?WILL YOU TRADE D-WADE FOR MISS A DUNK I MEAN J-SMOOVE. I GUESS YOU WILL.
no id
May 1st, 2009
5:33 pm
If there’s a game 7, I hope they let Spirit fly and he takes an unexpected dump on D. Wade’s head..That should really make him feel insulted then.
SB
May 1st, 2009
5:34 pm
Haven’t been on in a while. We need Joe and Josh to step up big time. Need Josh to be a monster on the boards as well as giving us around 20 points.
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
5:36 pm
COME ON PIGEONS I MEAN HAWKS SAY WITH ME LEST GO HEAT
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
5:41 pm
I have my whole body oiled up and waiting for D Wade tonight.
Anywhere you want it, big boy. Just put it IN ME!!!
galaker
May 1st, 2009
5:42 pm
all this trash talk about ATL showin out Well MIA needs to stop em or get **itted on.Glad to see the Hawks trying to embrass teams it surely happened to them.
Reggie
May 1st, 2009
5:42 pm
gumsman: Your posts are kind of stupid. At least give us thoughtful posts that we can reply to. I’m fine with Heat fans coming on here and would enjoy talking with one about basketball. But you haven’t brought any thought or talk about basketball with your posts.
ZULU
May 1st, 2009
5:56 pm
We got Coach K no less traveling the country promoting the ‘greatness’ of some of last summers Olympic Basketball squad. Three of whom are turning out to be playoff whiners. You can’t watch a game without the constant replay of that tiring commercial staring you know who with Howard & the ‘overrated’ Barkley. ESPN talking heads constantly promotes certain players exploits. Play ball Wade! As for PETA? Wonder if they are upset at the Florida homeowner who called to have that 11 foot gator taken from her front porch yesterday. After all who was there first? With all the dunks J. Smith have put down on the Heat! Yea they have a right to be p____off. GO HAWKS!
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
5:58 pm
OK REGGIE”MILLER” SAY WITH ME LEST GO HEAT
Reggie
May 1st, 2009
6:09 pm
reggie miller? Good one. LEST GO HEAT? Never heard that saying.
gusman354
May 1st, 2009
6:23 pm
My bad, meant to say LOST GO HEAT¡¡¡
Who’s the idiot now, smart ass??
Reggie
May 1st, 2009
6:28 pm
LOST GO HEAT? Still never heard of it. Maybe you should dumb it down for me gunsman.