There's nothing like the giving spirit that the holiday season brings. All the brightness of everyone's Christmas lights. Holiday songs that your radio station can't get away from. People are more willing to share with others, especially those that are less fortunate. Whether you live in snowy or balmy conditions, this is the time of year where love, peace, and harmony rule all.
Well, maybe not everywhere.
It's been a couple of years since all hell broke loose for the NBA. The near-riot in Auburn Hills brought a sour taste to a sweet time of the year. The Pistons, the Pacers, and select Detroit fans introduced an image the Association will always regret. Sure, there had been player brawls before, but those never got to the extent that one did.
This past Saturday was the first time since November of 2004 the league had another brawling incident to cringe at. Late in the Knicks/Nuggets game, Madison Square Garden became littered with basketball players, coaches, and officials. Fortunately, this fight wasn't as widespread or lengthy as "The Brawl." But it was still out under the bright lights.
By now, everyone knows the story of how it happened. The perceived lack of sportsmanship, the expected "protecting of this house," and the Godfather-like threats have all been discussed by any and every sports outlet. So, for a different approach, let's take a look at some of the quotes said after the incident.
First up is New York point guard Nate Robinson. He was none too pleased with how everything was going.
"It's a slap in the face to us as a franchise," said the second-year player out of Washington. I used to be a big fan of Robinson when he was up here in the Northwest. It seems that the prima donna culture of the Knicks has seeped into his soul over the last couple of years, souring my opinion of him."
Yeah, this could be seen as another hit to the once-proud franchise. But they've been treated like Zsa Zsa Gabor's manservant for years now. The dissensions of Allan Houston, Stephan Marbury, and Steve Francis are all slaps. The Larry Brown debacle was a slap. Isaiah Thomas and James Dolan are both backslaps. The constant state of losing and declining fan support are slaps. The Knicks' face has been numb for some time now.
Next, we'll pick on Thomas, who I believe was at the center of everything. TV cameras showed him warning Nuggets players not to go into the post area because they wouldn't like how they'd be treated. He continued to let us know about his on-court warnings to Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony in the locker room.
"(Anthony) You're up by 19 with a minute and a half to go," Thomas said. "You and (Marcus) Camby really shouldn't be in the game right now."
"I thought that Mardy (Collins) didn't want to have our home crowd see that again and he fouled (J.R. Smith)," he added.
In regards to the first quote, we've always known it was in you, Isaiah. You played with the Bad Boys in Detroit. You grew up tough in Chicago. But while a coach can think that way, you show no class in threatening players on the court with retaliation. You convey that not only your team consists of a bunch of thugs, but you won't hold any responsibility for that lack of integrity. (Plus, did anyone else notice the constant grin on his face through the whole thing? Who is he, the Joker?)
The later comment speaks to the competitor in all of us. I don't know many people that like being one-upped. I know I don't. I know that I've thought about taking someone out when they're showboating against me. I've even acted on that thought once or twice. It was extremely selfish and stupid, but I can understand the feeling. The thing is, acting like a spoiled sport will get you deservedly punished. I did, and so did everyone involved in this incident.
The final quote that peaked my interest came from an outsider's viewpoint. Jermaine O'Neal knows something about the subject, though. The Indiana star was right in the middle of the Malice at the Palace, and he had some thoughts about where brawling belongs in the lexicon of sports.
"The NHL lets (the players) fight. Fights happen in baseball. Fights happen in football. Why are we under scrutiny about our game?"
He's right. Hockey and football are, by nature, violent sports. You don't see board checks or concussion-causing tackles on a basketball court, and that much vicious interaction can lead to tempers boiling over. Baseball brawls, while having as little contact as possible, usually start with the help of a projectile. I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be beaned by a 90-plus fireball, either.
Here's the thing. It's the severity of the incident we fans don't appreciate. This was a two-team brawl, not a two-player fight. This would get bad publicity in any sport. So calm down, Jermaine. It was your peers that gave us the gift of emotions turned ugly. Just another reminder that at this time of the season, not every Christmas gift will be well received.
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