Live from Game 5: Do the Hawks have an answer for Bango?
Seeking to one-up a deer, Joe Johnson shoots from the bench. (Photo by M. Bradley)
Big game. Lots of pressure. If the Hawks lose tonight, they probably lose the series. But enough gloom and doom. Let’s talk about Bango.
Bango is the Milwaukee Bucks’ mascot. He — and I believe he’s a he — wears a deer costume. He’s not what you’d call intimidating. (When last did you see a scary deer?) But Bango did become the biggest Internet sensation of the NBA playoffs with a feat performed in Game 4 on Monday.
During a timeout, Bango climbed up a 20-foot ladder and, with his back to the basket, jumped off and dunked the ball. The Bradley Center crowd went Bango-ballistic, and even the Hawks took note. “That,” Joe Smith pronounced before tonight’s Game 5, “was sweet.”
And here’s my challenge to the Hawks: Last year Philips Arena produced a playoff star in Spirit the Hawk, who flew rampant before Game 2 of Round 1 against Miami and became so famous that he — the bird himself informed me in a Tweet that he was a he — had his own Twitter postings. But Spirit has been strangely quiet this time.
I say, on the behalf of Hawks fans everywhere, it’s time to unleash the fury. Un-tether Spirit and let him dunk the ball from the rafters. This is the postseason. Gotta bring your mascot’s A-game.
Oh, about Game 5 itself: You all know what’s at stake. So do the Hawks. They seem ready, and they’d better be. Lose tonight and Bango could easily sky-slam them into the floorboards Friday in Milwaukee.
And with that, we’ll open the floor for questions, comments and your favorite anecdotes about dunkin’ deer. I’ll be here until the Hawks have taken a 3-2 lead in the series — yes, I think they’ll win, but I’ve been wrong rather recently — and I’d love to have you alongside.
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736 comments Add your comment
Ree Roe
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
I hear what you’re saying Mark, but I agree with the basic point Kenny & Charles were trying to make: Physical play isn’t just hard/flagrant fouls. It’s the way you defend & the way you play. I do think the Hawks are capable of being more physical, but I wish the Hawks would play with more of a physical edge in EVERY game, not just tonight
-REEach for Roe!!!
Steve
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
In Hockey, how about Montreal upsetting Washington? 8 seed over a 1 and they beat Washington at home in a game 7. Wow. I know, irrelevant.
Meanwhile...No way Mark
April 28th, 2010
9:30 pm
testing the boldface
Meanwhile...No way Mark
April 28th, 2010
9:31 pm
Did you say 2-nil Mark? Did they agree to play a soccer match for Game 7 LOL?
Steve
April 28th, 2010
9:31 pm
You beat me to it Mark.
Greg
April 28th, 2010
9:32 pm
Washington just scored with 2:16 to go to cut Montreal’s lead to 2-1. Still looks like the best regular season team in hockey is going down in round 1. As bad as the Hawks losing to the Bucks sounds, it’s not THAT bad.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:32 pm
I’m a soccer guy.
Zach
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
5 points for stud Joe in the playoffs!! But he’s as good as Kobe! He deserves 20 million!!
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:33 pm
Marvin again. He has 15.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Tied. Salmons with a 3.
Steve
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Anyone want to guess how many runs the Braves have scored so far tonight?
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Joe driving dunk. Joe doesn’t do that much.
More variety Steve
April 28th, 2010
9:34 pm
Steve it brings up some more sayings that mean Glaus struck out.
Glaus at the plate; and hockey is played on ice.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
Kurt Thomas fourth foul. Moving pick.
Zach
April 28th, 2010
9:35 pm
Yay now he has 7!! How many did Kobe have last night?
Ben
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
Both the hawks and braves are a joke.
Ree Roe
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
Damn. Josh out of the game with a cut on his head.
-REEtest Roe!!!
Greg
April 28th, 2010
9:36 pm
Caps lose
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:37 pm
Joe’s going now. Hawks up 58-52.
buddy c
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
Mark, doesn’t really matter what the hawks do in the rest of this series. IF they can manage to beat the bucks they will be crushed by orlando! I have been a loyal hawks fan for 35 years but I am really tired of this team. They are mentally WEAK! It is really pathetic. How in the world did this team win 53 games in the regular season?
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:39 pm
Hawks up six, Williams with free throws when play recommences. They’re taking command.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:41 pm
This is the biggest lead of the night.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
You’re right, Buddy C. Much better to lose now.
Are you KIDDING?
Adam
April 28th, 2010
9:42 pm
Looking good for the Hawks. Bucks haven’t shot well
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:43 pm
Marvin with a drive. Makes it 10. And gets fouled. He has 19 points.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:44 pm
Twenty for Marvin.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Horford give and go jam from Bibby. Thirteen up.
Pi$$onaDAWG
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Tell the NBA to cut the saeson by 20 games, and MLB to cut out 40 games, and the NHL to just play 90 games total. The HAWKS SUCK, The THRASHERS SUCK, & the BRAVES ARE CATCHING UP. The Falcons? Who cares about Pro footbal in the South? If it ain’t College Football on Saturday then it is NASCAR on SUNDAY.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
This is close to being over. Bibby got fouled. Gadzuric with five.
Greg
April 28th, 2010
9:45 pm
Now can they put the Bucks away. Is the killer instinct there?
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
Marvin is playing great tonight… I can’t remember the last time he showed up like this
jcw_ATL
April 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
Marvin is playing hard!!!
bobo
April 28th, 2010
9:47 pm
9 points.Far from over.
JSS
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
@Glasgow Celtic! And Hawk fans should learn how to sing “You Never Walk Alone” in full throat!
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
Switch works for once. Horford sticks with Jennings. Forces an air ball and a clock violation.
JeJe
April 28th, 2010
9:48 pm
FIRE MIKE WOODSON.
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
9:50 pm
Marvin is playing great tonight… Jennings is a punk (wish the Hawks had him though)
JSS
April 28th, 2010
9:50 pm
What is it about columnists, sportswriters, and media folks in Atlanta not learning to wait till the clock reads ZERO-ZERO-ZERO (0:00,0)?
Greg
April 28th, 2010
9:51 pm
Mike Bibby with 2 points, Josh Smith with 3 and Crawford 3 for 9. Good thing High Pockets came to play tonight for a change. Josh hasn’t done much of anything since Game 2 ended and he mouthed off about the city of Milwaukee.
Greg
April 28th, 2010
9:52 pm
Crawford is clearly playing very tight…
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:53 pm
Horfy with 20.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:54 pm
Smith had five stitches in his eyelid after the collision with Kurt Thomas. He’s back now.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:55 pm
Ridnour hits. Smith slow to close again.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
Break for the Hawks. Jennings stripped Crawford but Ridnour couldn’t stay inbounds. Hawks with final shot of the period.
L-town
April 28th, 2010
9:56 pm
smh choke time
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
Whoops. Refs changed the call. Bucks with the ball.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:57 pm
Hawks up eight headed to the fourth. They came close to putting the Bucks away, but they didn’t.
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
Josh actually had a decent Game 4. We just didn’t have enough from everyone else not named Joe Johnson.
buddy c
April 28th, 2010
9:58 pm
No Mark, I am dead serious!!! They should be blowing this team off the floor, this series should have gone 5 games max! Do you honestly believe they have a prayer against orlando? They are makin the Bucks look like a good team!
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
9:59 pm
I’d disagree with that, D Hawks. Smith scored 20 points in Game 4 but really didn’t play very well. Seven of those points came on jump shots.