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
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
Way to box out guys
i_am_soulstar
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
oh goodness gracious
Justin
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
absolute meltdown right now
Rural Education
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
Looks like the Hawks are playing that Atlanta favorite “the choke”
Too Harsh?
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
In spite all of his strengths, Woodson strikes me as a coach with a low basketball IQ. His team doesn’t play smart consistently.
NCBravesFan
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
Wow – the Hawks are playing like they’re the playoff newbs.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:31 pm
Jennings misses the second free throw. But Ilyasova runs down the rebound. Salmons gets fouled.
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Let’s go Max Money Joe!
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Joe fouls out. Man.
Justin
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
complete meltdown
bobo
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
LOL, very sad.
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Sutton and Powell talking about the all star game now. Let’s toss in the towel already.
Hawks vs. Bucks
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
gone is the lead and gone is my confidence in this team
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Lead’s history.
Greg
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
Joe Johnson trying to do it all himself as usual. The Bucks are playing with no fear. Hawks playing like pus**#S as usual in crunch time..
Dave
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
let Joe go to the Knicks, he’ll fit right in with CHOKERS
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
How do you foul out of this game when you’re supposed to be our superstar?
GatorJacket
April 28th, 2010
10:32 pm
JJ is worthless, how can anyone want to pay him a max contract after watching this BS – fouling out in our most important game with less than 20pts!!!
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Mark, WHO wins?
Justin
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Why is Josh taking 3 pointers?!!!
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
This is one of the all-time Atlanta sports chokes.
Hawks vs. Bucks
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
happy trails Woody, I don’t know if I’ll miss you or not …
bobo
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Badly coached. No plays,nothing.
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Smith misses a trey. Horfy misses the follow.
Delfino hits a three. Bucks up four.
Spitting in the graveyard
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
best game I’ve ever——–
Rural Education
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Its official, the Hawks suck
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Joe fouls out…. Josh is shooting 3’s? WTF????? This is awful!!!!
Justin
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
We’re gonna lose this one. And we deserve to. And we will lose the series. Mark it down.
Nique's Revenge
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
BYE WOODROW!!!
FIRE WOODY
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
I really can’t believe this.
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Game Over, CHEETAH!
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
Braves still down by 6
lewis
April 28th, 2010
10:33 pm
over
Hawks vs. Bucks
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
1:16 from this series ending
Dave
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
TWO new head coaches in Philips next season….
Adam
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
HAHAHHAHAHAHA GO BUCKS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Greg
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
What a bunch of losers…13-0 run at home to this team! Wow. This is more frustrating than winning 13 games in a season.
Nique's Revenge
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
i dont even want to post anymore.
sigh
GatorJacket
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
Woody is worthless, hope you are happy in Philly, hope you grow some eyebrows!
D Hawks
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
I can’t believe it, either, MB. Ridiculous.
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
you remember Woodrow Lowe?
Mark Bradley
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
Place is shocked. As am I.
Cletus Dooley Earnhardt SR.
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
when the heck doez collleg fooetball start guys? whaat in the nayme of rusty walltripp is this baysketball stuff? I neeed anoother pabst blu ribbeon
-GO UGA!
L-town
April 28th, 2010
10:34 pm
joe johnson has played his last game as a hawk
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Way to go MB… thanks for the curse! You should never say the Hawks are going to win until the game is in hand
dee harlin
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
The Hawks have the basketball IQ of a stump.
truthspitter
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Back to the lottery
lewis
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
done with the hawks until they fire bibby and get a new coach. peace.
J-Smoove
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
L-town… I think Joe will probably play in game 6
todd grantham
April 28th, 2010
10:35 pm
Mark, I cant wait to see who all you blast in the next edition.