Live from NASCAR … er, Game 4: Hawks look to drive safely
Milwaukee — You’d think this would be the last place to come for a traffic accident, there being little traffic downtown the Brew City. But by now you’re aware the Hawks’ bus was hit by a car leaving the Bradley Center after shootaround today at noon. We’re happy to report that nobody was hurt. Everybody, however, had a story.
The bus was struck by a driver who would later tell police her brakes failed, and the Hawks could believe it. Those seated in the front of the bus saw the car screeching around a curve. It hit side of the bus. The car’s front was crumpled. The bus was dented and suffered cracked — but not shattered — windows.
Mike Woodson was first off the bus — head coach sits up front — and reacted like an action hero. “I saw the smoke,” he said, speaking of the car, and he unbuckled a little boy from the back seat.
“He was about 3 or 4,” Woodson said. “He said, ‘I want my mommy.’ ” [The boy's mother had been driving the car.]
Then it got kind of funny. The Hawks milled around taking pictures of the dented bus. [Josh Smith showed me three on his cell phone.] Then they started looking for cabs. Five of them — Smith, Joe Johnson, Mike Bibby, Jason Collins and Randolph Morris — found one and piled inside, only to discover that it was already occupied.
“There was a lady in there,” Smith said. “She was going to the hospital. [This lady wasn't the one involved in the mishap.] We dropped her off there. She tried to pay for all of us, but we said, ‘No, we’ve got it.’ ”
It must be noted that the Bradley Center is maybe a 10-minute walk from the Hawks’ hotel. Did Smith consider walking? “No. It was cold. I was shivering.” [It was in the mid-50s today here, the balmiest day of the Hawks' stay.]
Besides, it just wouldn’t have looked right for a bunch of big-time ballplayers to be hoofing it in their sweatsuits. “You never know who you’re going to meet on the streets,” said Al Horford, laughing. “It’s rough up here.”
Said Hawks publicist Arthur Triche: “We were wondering if the Bucks’ mascot had anything to do with it.”
And that would have been truly weird. The Bucks’ mascot is named Bango and wears a deer costume. Deer strikes bus?
Oh, yeah. They’re also playing a game here tonight. It’s kind of important. If the Hawks win, they can clinch the series at home Wednesday. If they lose, they might not clinch this series anytime anywhere.
I’ll be happy to step away from my duties as Captain Herb to discuss Game 4 as it plays out. But first y’all have to promise to drive safely. Deal?
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437 comments Add your comment
NoShamSam
April 26th, 2010
9:43 pm
Too many fouls and an open path to the basket for the Bucks…this has to stop
IceColdATLien
April 26th, 2010
9:43 pm
When did you become a Hawks spokesperson, MB? “This is what you want from a road game.”???? Maybe if you’re in the conf. finals, this is what you would want. Against a team missing it’s best two players? I don’t think so
IBAR
April 26th, 2010
9:43 pm
Why can’t we ever play defense on the road!! We will not beat them in a shoot out on their home court. Mark, does that crowd sound as loud as it seems to?
ryc30078
April 26th, 2010
9:43 pm
Hey Mark; Is the Bradley Center as big of a dump as I think it is lol!
ryc30078
April 26th, 2010
9:46 pm
What is this “Bucks missing two players talk” The Bucks are missing ONE star player in Bogut. Micheal Redd hasn’t done anything but wear suits the last two years!
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
9:46 pm
The Bradley Center is a nice building, ryc. Nicely named as well.
LC
April 26th, 2010
9:46 pm
I’m sorry, but this is not at all what you want in a road game against a less talented team. If you want to know what you want in a road game, check out what Orlando has been doing with Charlotte, what Cleveland did in Chicago, what Utah did in Denver, what San Antonio did in Dallas, etc. The last thing you want is to end the half with multiple awful plays, getting the crowd even more involved and giving a lesser team more confidence that they will win the game.
I completely disagree with you that simply “giving yourself a chance” and that this “is what you want in a road game” is sufficient. This team is past the point of having success on the road judged on the above when they are the more talented team. The above analysis is fine when playing Orlando on the road, but not Milwaukee.
NCBravesFan
April 26th, 2010
9:48 pm
A-la Bobby Cox, do they call their building “Brad?”
stephen
April 26th, 2010
9:51 pm
Some of you guys need to relax. Obviously we are not playing the best opponent, but this is playoff basketball. You aren’t going to blow out your first round opponent every game, especially on the road. We need to play a solid second half, get the win, come back to atlanta and take care of business, and it is a good series win.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
9:51 pm
They call it the “BC,” NC.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
9:52 pm
And folks, if you haven’t noticed: It’s hard to win on the road. No matter where you’re playing. A one-point road victory in the playoffs is a mandate.
ryc30078
April 26th, 2010
9:53 pm
C’mon Mark I’ve attended an event at the bradley Center 2 years ago; I’m sorry but it is was one of the most antiquated arenas I’ve been to. The seats are uncomfortable, the video and sound system are horrible, and the it took forever to park! To each its own I guess
NCBravesFan
April 26th, 2010
9:54 pm
BC. IC. TY, MB.
(And co-signing your excellent point about NBA playoff road games.)
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
9:55 pm
Three fouls on Horford.
Cedric
April 26th, 2010
9:55 pm
LC ditto that response we too often give this team a pass on some lackluster performance vs inferior opponents and I think the fans deserve a better effort from our team. Like I said before look at what these other teams are doing on the road. Going in their building and taking it to them from the jump.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
9:56 pm
Marvin and Woodson are screaming at referee Eddie F. Rush.
They ought to be drawing up a play. They’re down eight. Salmons with two buckets.
Justin
April 26th, 2010
9:56 pm
Mark, was that offensive foul on Al legit?
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
9:59 pm
Four-point trip. Free throw on defensive 3-seconds, then a Bibby three.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:00 pm
I didn’t have a look at the Al foul, Justin. They’ve called two of those on the Hawks.
Dawgs2010
April 26th, 2010
10:00 pm
We are terrible!
IBAR
April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm
They are on fire, but whenever they miss and we play good defense it seems like they get an offensive rebound. I smell a 7 game series….
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm
Joe Johnson takes a hard foul trying to stop Luc Richard Mbah a Moute.
Hawks vs. Bucks
April 26th, 2010
10:01 pm
a ton of fouls in this game ..
jcw_ATL
April 26th, 2010
10:02 pm
Why is Marvin is the game?!?!?!?!
jcw_ATL
April 26th, 2010
10:03 pm
Someone tell me why Marvin is in the game? He is not playing defense at all!!!!!
marvin and smove suck
April 26th, 2010
10:03 pm
smoove and marvin done mailed it in again. Dang, it’s tough to get dat check.
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:03 pm
Jennings beats the Hawks downcourt and finds Salmons. Bucks 70, Hawks 62. Woodson calls time.
Dawgs2010
April 26th, 2010
10:04 pm
Disgusting!
Dawgs2010
April 26th, 2010
10:05 pm
Didn’t they resign Marvin before the season and everyone was excited?
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:05 pm
The Hawks are hanging in, barely. Joe has scored seven points this period
Cedric
April 26th, 2010
10:05 pm
They need to send Marvin and Josh azz’s back to the ATL now
Josh Smooth
April 26th, 2010
10:05 pm
Dar ain’t nutin to do in Milwaukee, ‘cept get my a$$ handed to me.
IBAR
April 26th, 2010
10:06 pm
Until we stop them we will not win…They HAVE 70 already!
JASon
April 26th, 2010
10:06 pm
I don’t normally complain about the officiating but they really have us by the balls tonight. Bucks are playing good, no doubt, but its much easier with Horford and Smith in foul trouble. Thanks, refs.
Jacket13
April 26th, 2010
10:06 pm
Joe is good but when he goes 1 on 5 it puts the defense in bad situations. This will be a 7 game serious. The Hawks cant win on the road. They get frustrated and fluttered to easily. They will get beat by Orlando 4-1
Justin
April 26th, 2010
10:07 pm
If all we have to rely on is JJ making tough shots, we have no chance in this game.
Terrible
April 26th, 2010
10:07 pm
Joe puts up a fall way, every hawk stood and watched, no one attacked the rim for the rebound. Terrible execution, terrible coaching, terrible effort. Just Terrible.
Jacket13
April 26th, 2010
10:07 pm
Did I mention that Marvin Williams SUCKED!
IBAR
April 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
Gosh we are making Brandon Jennings look awesome
Why
April 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
why does Josh Smith stand in the corner every trip down the floor?
T
April 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
What playoffs have you been watching Bradley?
every team has a road win at this point except for us mil okc chi and lal and Mia
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:09 pm
Bucks are making layups. Layups, I say.
T
April 26th, 2010
10:10 pm
Hell we can’t even keep games close
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:11 pm
Bibby trey. Down to six.
IBAR
April 26th, 2010
10:11 pm
Why pick up full court when we can’t even stay in front of them off the dribble in the half court???
todd grantham
April 26th, 2010
10:12 pm
Mark, you heard Logan Gray is considering leaving UGA?
J Smooth Jersey
April 26th, 2010
10:12 pm
Where can I get a hawks jersey with Josh Smith’s number on it. I want to put the name “No Effort” on the back…
todd grantham
April 26th, 2010
10:13 pm
I believe Coach Ritch is reassessing his dismisal of Mettenberger.
patriots75
April 26th, 2010
10:13 pm
The Hawks are a joke, no leadership and no heart!!
Mark Bradley
April 26th, 2010
10:13 pm
And declaring for the NBA draft, Coach?