Atlanta Hawks: Gearon: Garnett ‘dirtiest guy in the league,’ Hawks ‘don’t get any calls’
Hawks co-owner Michael Gearon Jr. was the featured speaker today at the Third Annual Art of It Luncheon at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. The event is sponsored by the W.E.B. Du Bois Society, an Atlanta-based nonprofit that is “focused on bridging the academic gap that exists between African-American students and their white and Asian peers.”
The AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter was at the event and reported the following Hawks-related highlights from Gearon’s speech.
On media coverage of Hawks’ playoff series against the Celtics
“Did you see what Al Horford did last night? The timeline for recovery for his injury is another three months. He’s not even supposed to be playing and Josh [Smith] should not be playing. Zaza [Pachulia] can’t stand up, but if we can get past this round there is a chance that we can get him back. So this is a team that is overcoming adversity. I wish . . . some of the national media or even some of the local media, more the paper than the TV guys, recognize how hard these guys are playing based on how injured they are.
“On top of all that, we don’t get any calls, which I know everybody always hears. But I’ll give you a stat. Last night, we are playing this old physical team. They are old. I know what happens when you play basketball, old guys foul. [Kevin] Garnett is the dirtiest guy in the league. We are playing Boston last night and they had two fouls the whole first half. We had five times that and we’re athletic.”
On the Hawks’ injuries
“Derrick Rose goes down and the No. 1 seed is playing the No. 8 seed and everybody is like, ‘Chicago is down 3-1, that’s what you should expect with Derrick Rose down.’ Well, we’ve been playing these playoffs without Zaza, without Al Horford and Josh Smith should not be playing. Our center is Erick Dampier, God bless his heart, but he looks like a granddad. (laughter) He’s a great guy. It’s difficult enough to win a playoff series, but when you lose your whole frontline and nobody ever says, ‘Gee, you are out playing with guys that are hurt.’”
On Josh Smith and his Atlanta roots
“We wouldn’t be where we are without him. The tough thing for our team, I’m a lifelong Atlantian. I was born here. I lived the first 25 years of my life within two miles of where I was born. Right there near Piedmont Hospital. I moved to Cobb County back in 1994 when my Dad convinced me to buy a little house . . . . But the thing about our team, and it’s tough in every city. . . but when you look at the Atlanta Hawks and you know it’s tough.”
Michael Cunningham, Hawks beat
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348 comments Add your comment
kuhndog
May 9th, 2012
10:22 pm
It is OK to call out players,in professional sports you try to get every edge that is part of it.If the refs. are tainted well that is another story,that is why I go to bots for reffing I think it is the only fair way.There is so much money in professional sports it could have it own stock market, it does Las Vegas and people make a lot of money on it that is why pro sports is so popular,along with the fact it keeps all of us following this instead of all of the other problems in the world.Damn I should start my own blog NOT
Sautee
May 9th, 2012
10:23 pm
@ Sautee: I never said anything about the mid 70’s. – Eb
Actually you just referenced that time when you asked: “What about the other 21 years before the actual “winning” started in 1991? AND you said the first 4 years (’68-’71) were honeymoon years.
Or is my subtraction incorrect?
Look man, I’m not sure what you are trying to argue and don’t care. I was just interjecting that you were wrong about Atlanta not being a baseball town before the Braves. You can have the rest of your argument and run with it. Have fun.
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
10:25 pm
Rudy Gay is shooting blanks tonight…
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
10:26 pm
“But the thing about our team, and it’s tough in every city. . . but when you look at the Atlanta Hawks and you know it’s tough.””
I have no idea what this means
William
May 9th, 2012
10:31 pm
I don’t want to sound like a homer, but the Hawks don’t get the same calls as the Celtics. Watch tomorrow night when we drive the lane there will be no foul. Watch when they drive, foul everytime. They are not calling it both ways. The refs have cost us some points and maybe even a game.
Eb
May 9th, 2012
10:35 pm
@Sautee: For real? Best of luck to you as well Old man.
Sautee
May 9th, 2012
10:35 pm
“But the thing about our team, and it’s tough in every city. . . but when you look at the Atlanta Hawks and you know it’s tough.””
“I have no idea what this means”
Jeje, when every word that comes out of his mouth is spin, it’s inevitable that some of it would be gibberish. And I still think he’s hired some flunkies to post here.
CT
May 9th, 2012
10:36 pm
who ever says the celtics are dirty or what ever, there not, they are actually one of the best defenses in the league, sure KG can be but every team needs one of those guys who will get down and dirty. And that it what the atlanta hawks are missing. passion.
heat check
May 9th, 2012
10:37 pm
I agree with Gearon, but his timing sucks. KG bearhugged and grabbed Al’s arm on that last inbounds play. The play’s design looked awful from the get go, but once KG mauled Al there weren’t any other options for Josh before 5sec was up.
The Josh-bashers need to give it up and GTFO. Dude’s the heart of this team that is otherwise sorely lacking it (Al’s fire was GREAT last night, but that was more reminiscent of his rookie season than his last, unfortunately). It’s got to be frustrating for Josh to play in the shadow of a max-contract player who looks like he could care less while playing for another coach who spews excuses and can’t draw up a play to save his life. I’d be scowling, too. In a better market and/or under a polished coach, he’d be a much bigger name and multiple all-star.
And replace Nique, please. Great player, brutal commentator.
Ryan
May 9th, 2012
10:37 pm
Has anyone who has posted even watched any of the games? If you did, you would realize the Celtics have had more foul shots because the Hawks playoff foul them every time the Celtics have a guaranteed basket. On the other side, however, the Celtics give up the easy baskets, trying to preserve their fouls. The difference is simply one team not allowing an easy dunk and the other allowing it so their players won’t foul out.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
10:39 pm
Josh Smith is the only athlete I’ve ever seen who is the best and worst player on the team at the same time.
One second he looks like LeBron, the next he is throwing one-handed in-bound passes to a teammate covered by 2 players
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
10:40 pm
Hire Jerry Sloan.
JJ
May 9th, 2012
10:42 pm
@ William- I don’t want to sound like a homer, but the Hawks don’t get the same calls as the Celtics. Watch tomorrow night when we drive the lane there will be no foul. Watch when they drive, foul everytime. They are not calling it both ways. The refs have cost us some points and maybe even a game.
So what game did they cost you exactly? Cuz the Celtics never won by fewer than 2 possessions. You can’t count the OT game cuz the Celtics had that in the bag and just stepped off a bit. If it was closer, Celtics wouldn’t have done the same and still would have won. If you want to talk about refs taking a game, then why aren’t you talking about the 3 missed goaltendings last game that was decided by 1 point.
JoeBlow
May 9th, 2012
10:44 pm
first of all i can’t believe im responding and legitimizing quotes by the owner of the Hawks. THE WORST team of owners i have ever seen, and not just in basketball intelligence but business wise also just complete idiots. this idiot ownership group sold the thrashers franchise for less money than the worth of joe johnson’s contract. im not a fan of the celts but i dont understand this perception that they are dirty and play like thugs. those players are probably one of the most professional and passionate players ive seen in the nba. at least they play with emotion. i would love to see joe johnson change his facial expression just once during the game.
fanaticfriar
May 9th, 2012
10:49 pm
U hawks fans are all idiots. Have you not watched this team the last 5 years?? soft as hell and have no legit player who has ever stepped up and made a big shot. You will get drubbed in Boston tomorrow night. another season of ‘wait till next year”
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
10:55 pm
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
10:39 pm
Josh Smith is the only athlete I’ve ever seen who is the best and worst player on the team at the same time.
One second he looks like LeBron, the next he is throwing one-handed in-bound passes to a teammate covered by 2 players -Grandmaster-
That’s because his Father did not teach him the fundamentals and he never got proper coaching..See[ Woody and Woody Jr]..
I wish I could show him how to shoot a real Jumper..That set shot needs be retired 15 years ago..I’m left handed too so he could relate…Its a thang of beauty…lol
BigTimeTECHFan
May 9th, 2012
10:56 pm
He’s right on all points
Celtics foul all the time and never called.
Ref give Paul Pierce 5 min to discuss a call, then give him a make up call. Never give Hawks any calls.
If calls were fair Hawks would sweep Celtics
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
11:02 pm
Man the more I hear CWebb calling games on TNT the more I want to hear him!
He’s good! Makes our guys sound amateurish?
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
11:06 pm
Carmelo put up 45!! He showed up..
Carmelo for Iso…
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
11:07 pm
I know that trade would not work.. Its just a wish
DawgNole
May 9th, 2012
11:17 pm
heat check
May 9th, 2012
10:37 pm
And replace Nique, please. Great player, brutal commentator.
________________________
Co-sign.
DawgNole
May 9th, 2012
11:18 pm
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
11:02 pm
Man the more I hear CWebb calling games on TNT the more I want to hear him!
He’s good! Makes our guys sound amateurish?
___________________
Our guys ARE amateurish.
ATLtodolavida
May 9th, 2012
11:19 pm
Hey Atlanta sportwriters, don’t motivate Atlanta’s opponents by calling them dirty right before a big game! (I talking to you MC, MB, and JS.) It just makes it harder, and lord knows it is already hard enough.
O'brien
May 9th, 2012
11:20 pm
Sautee,
I have no idea where these new bloggers came from.
O'brien
May 9th, 2012
11:24 pm
From espn new york;
Negotiations or no negotiations, Woodson desperately wants to keep his job, and the Knicks are seriously considering him as their long-term guy.
Asked Tuesday if he believes he has done enough to earn a contract, Woodson said, “Hey, I went 53-29 in Atlanta and was out of a job. I don’t look at it that way..
dmb,
Both melo and Amare have endorsed Woody. From an article on May 8.
ANTHONY: “Absolutely, absolutely. If they’re going to do it right now or if they’re going to wait until after the season, I’d love to see him back. I support that. Everybody knows what he’s done thus far since he’s been here in this short period that he’s had the head coaching job. There’s no need to cut it off right now. We’re kind of just getting started.”
STOUDEMIRE: “We had a great run so far. I think it’s something that we can build on for sure. I know as players, we all love his philosophy on both ends of the court. He has a good understanding and we all get along very well, so it’ll be great to build something solid sooner than later.” .
Slimjr
May 9th, 2012
11:33 pm
That Knick series goes 6 or 7 if the Knicks had not lost their 3 point guards…
Tough break for Woody… 18-6 was remarkable! That team was not going to the playoffs until Woody took the helm!
HIRE WOODY!
His team could win over 60 games next season if they can stay healthy…
Bluestreak
May 9th, 2012
11:34 pm
With Gearon, Slushiford Seydel and Pest-owitz still in charge, these Hawks won’t add anyone…but they will relocate to Seattle. And the NBA sleezeball will get a call from the NHL sleezeball and he’ll let the Hawks move without a fight, just like his bestus bud let the Thrashers move without one. Tweedle-dumb and Tweedle-dumber are a match made in heaven. When they make Bud Selig look like a genious, that should tell you something.
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
11:41 pm
“we all love his philosophy on both ends of the court.”
Amare loves Iso-Melo?
JSS
May 9th, 2012
11:43 pm
“O’brien
May 9th, 2012 11:20 pm
“Sautee, I have no idea where these new bloggers came from.”
Columnists blogs and those UGA and college blogs… They drift around…
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 9th, 2012
11:48 pm
And replace Nique, please. Great player, brutal commentator.
________________________
Co-sign.
****
been streaming online all yr and rarely do I get Hawks feeds, thank God, even though I think Rathbun is excellent
JSS
May 9th, 2012
11:49 pm
Look, for the 9 millionth time, the Hawks cannot move even if they are sold without a massive payout of the ENTIRE bond on the building and financing of Philips Arena… All of you disgruntled Thrashers fans and anti-basketball fans can forget that pipe dream for the foreseeable future! Too bad the Thrashers weren’t put on the lease agreement when they financed the bonds!
O'brien
May 9th, 2012
11:59 pm
What can good defense do to a scorer? In 5 games against the Heat, this is JR Smith’s shooting lines.
Game 1: 7-17 (42%
Game 2: 6-11 (55%)
Game 3: 5-18 (28%)
Game 4: 3-15 (20%)
Game 5: 3-15 (20%).
Not to mention 5- 28 from 3 (18%) for the series. Ouch. I wonder how jamal would have fared.
cdog
May 10th, 2012
12:14 am
another example to support mr gearon, espn doris brooks who shouldnt be calling nba games, rode and criticized the hawks for playing close contest vs the celtics bench. she kept reminding everyone that the celtics were missing players but never reminded that the hawks ere missing plaers also. what she fail to realize, the celtics bench was playing inspired where the hawks starters had nothing to prove even though it was for homecourt which they on. what he should know is this is the nba
Grandmaster JeJe (GM)
May 10th, 2012
12:20 am
No reason AT ALL to support Moron Jr.
Idiot thinks we have a top 5 payroll. Said the goal is to be competitive and entertaining and that expecting a championship is unrealistic.
Sounds like a loser to me
Najeh Davenpoop
May 10th, 2012
12:24 am
Reggie Evans might be the Clippers’ 2nd most valuable player. They are winning this series because of denial of post entry passes and 2nd chance opportunities, and he is the guy who makes both of those things happen.
Grandad
May 10th, 2012
12:30 am
My, my, my, what an interesting topic on the blog this eve.
I appreciate you fine folks for recognizing there is a problem:
1st … *’`Mr Gearon`’* … brings up the topic:
1. officiating
2 KG is a dirty player
Then *’`Slimjr`’* states:
” the fix is in ” … referencing “the Chief Gangster”
Oh, and I also forgot, *’`Mountain Jim`’*
even weighed in on the topic !
____________________________________________
Well I`ll be darn !
____________________________________________
note – this post was –>Not<– my usual sarcasm
Thanks again,
G-dad
Rod from College Park
May 10th, 2012
12:32 am
“Not to mention 5- 28 from 3 (18%) for the series. Ouch. I wonder how jamal would have fared.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxKEou4vPHk
smb4034
May 10th, 2012
12:33 am
Enter your comments here
paul
May 10th, 2012
12:39 am
Stop crying about injuries.All teams have them and have to play who,s healthy.EVEN the “dirty,old CELTICS!!!
smb4034
May 10th, 2012
12:46 am
There is a great clip on you tube….it was a game in the TD Garden…not going to give you the date…if you are really interested you will research it. I am a celtics fan, but Kevin Garnett is a hard nose player, and at times can be dirty. With that said, any team and any smart fan that knows the game would want KG on their team…so stop pretending. Second, the Hawks have shot 2 more free throws in this series, not much…but they have still benefited more. And for all the…”the hawks dont get the same call” comments…seriously? Did you watch game two? the play before rondo got the tech, the ref completely missed the out of bounds on the hawks no call, then allowed the hawks to travel(you can’t roll over from one side to another with the ball…thats a travel) and secondly, it wasn’t a foul!!! So hawks fans know your stats, because the celtics overall in the Big 3 era have recieved a total of 895 less foul calls than their opponents….keep crying, because the refs arent the reason you are losing…well you wouldn’t know because nobody is there to see the game.
Slimjr
May 10th, 2012
12:49 am
At one point the Hawks were shooting 12-33 in the 1st half at home?
Shoot like that on the road and expect a 14-20+ point deficit before the half..
Just a “turrible” shooting performance up to that point..Cant come out like that in Boston..
TMACfan
May 10th, 2012
12:54 am
JOE JOHNSON REPLACEMENT:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=92pQIYhLo-k
DRAFT HIM
Hawks Blog Legend Worldwide Clyde
May 10th, 2012
1:03 am
Another first round playoff loss for Woody.
FIRE SUND
najah dappenfart
May 10th, 2012
1:17 am
I miss sittin on my Dad’s lap in the OMNI.(Mikey)
doc
May 10th, 2012
1:19 am
i am sorta glad he called em out but it wont help. gdad said it and i reinforced it that tere is a lot of sham calks goingaganst usboth ways. and i was so sick of pp doing his thing when he took the ball out of bounds late on the i
opposite side from the benches and then started about five mi utes with the refs thengot yhe clean up crew and then acted like he had gum on his shies all the way back onto the opposite court to defend. showboat sh!t.
come on hawks win tomorrow
Hammer
May 10th, 2012
1:45 am
smb4034
May 10th, 2012
12:46 am
There is a great clip on you tube….it was a game in the TD Garden…not going to give you the date…if you are really interested you will research it. I am a celtics fan, but Kevin Garnett is a hard nose player, and at times can be dirty. With that said, any team and any smart fan that knows the game would want KG on their team…so stop pretending. Second, the Hawks have shot 2 more free throws in this series, not much…but they have still benefited more. And for all the…”the hawks dont get the same call” comments…seriously? Did you watch game two? the play before rondo got the tech, the ref completely missed the out of bounds on the hawks no call, then allowed the hawks to travel(you can’t roll over from one side to another with the ball…thats a travel) and secondly, it wasn’t a foul!!! So hawks fans know your stats, because the celtics overall in the Big 3 era have recieved a total of 895 less foul calls than their opponents….keep crying, because the refs arent the reason you are losing…well you wouldn’t know because nobody is there to see the game.
What a dumbass you are…The game was sold out last night. You lost all credibility saying that.
tbone
May 10th, 2012
2:16 am
Shut the hell up Gearon. Go spend your daddy’s money and enjoy those tickets to your former hockey team in Winnipeg. This is what happens when you mismanage a franchise.
Hawks rookie and owner call Garnett a dirty player | Roundballchat.com
May 10th, 2012
2:39 am
[...] at the Piedmont Park Conservancy. Here is what he said to say thanks for the quotes from the Atlanta Journal Constitution. “On top of all that, we don’t get any calls, which I know everybody always hears. But I’ll [...]
chris
May 10th, 2012
2:40 am
sounds like a team about to be eliminated
vava74
May 10th, 2012
3:00 am
From Bill Simmons’ latest column:
“Remember, a basketball team follows the lead of its coach and its best players. They have to be in synch or everything falls apart like it’s the end of a Jenga commercial. That’s why the Spurs never go away — because Gregg Popovich and Tim Duncan built something that transcends the grind of any season. That’s why the Lakers never cave — because Kobe’s teammates are petrified to let him down. That’s why the Celtics never folded before the 2012 deadline — because Doc Rivers, Rajon Rondo and the vets had built too much collective pride to get submarined by rumors and hearsay. That’s why Miami ebbs and flows depending on the moment — because their best player (and the league’s best player, by far) can’t totally decide what he wants to be.”