If Griffin was an unknown person with a regular job, making a regular person’s salary, the fact that he punched a co-worker would likely mean Griffin would be fired and possibly prosecuted.
Share on FacebookArchive for the ‘Basketball’ Category
Should The Clippers Release Blake Griffin?
Posted: 26th January 2016 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Blake Griffin, Doc Rivers, Los Angeles Clippers, Matias Testi, punched, Steve Ballmer
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NBA Returns: Will the Heat and Lakers Meet in the Finals?
Posted: 31st October 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBA, NBA FinalsTags: Dwight Howard, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Miami Heat, NBA season starts, Steve Nash
I won’t make the Heat the outright favorites to win it all this season. I think the Lakers will have something to say about that, now that Dwight Howard, the NBA’s best center, and Steve Nash the NBA’s best pure passer, have both joined Kobe in LA.
Share on FacebookPacers Pride: Reggie Miller and Mel Daniels Enter the Hall of Fame
Posted: 5th September 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, Hall of Fame, NBATags: Basketball Hall of Fame, Indiana Pacers, inducted, Mel Daniels, Pacers Pride, Reggie Miller
For 18 years, the boney, almost skeletal-looking, jump shooter from UCLA gave special meaning to the old advertising slogan – “Miller Time”. His deadly, high-arching shot became more thrilling than the most athletic windmill dunk
Share on FacebookLeBron James: Getting Fitted for His Crown
Posted: 20th June 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBA, NBA FinalsTags: coronation, crown, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA Finals, Oklahoma City Thunder
With a victory Tuesday night over the Oklahoma City Thunder, and now up three games to one, the Miami Heat are firmly in command and poised to win the NBA championship. But while basketball is a team game, a Heat title will really only be about one player.
The sport of basketball has been waiting a long time for this – a chance to crown King James, one of the most celebrated players in history. Game five in Miami on Thursday night should be his coronation.
In sports there is often a reference to “whose time it is”. It now seems that LeBron’s time has finally come.
Share on FacebookIndiana Pacers Finally Win a Playoff Series: Now They Must Win Respect
Posted: 9th May 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Danny Granger, David West, Indiana Pacers, NBA playoffs, Orlando Magic, Pacers win playoff series, Roy Hibbert
I doubt anyone gives the Pacers much of a chance against Miami’s Big Three of LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh. And as much I root for the Pacers I can’t in good conscience say they will win that series either.
But what they can win, something previous Pacer teams won years ago, is RESPECT. Whether they win the series or only a single game, the 2012 Pacers must give the Heat all they can handle and then some.
Greg Oden Reaches the End of His Oregon Trail: Is His Career Over?
Posted: 16th March 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Greg Oden, injury-prone, Is his career over?, Portland Trailblazers, waived
This is a truly heartbreaking story, not just because he had so much potential as a player, but he also seemed to be a young man with high intellect, an engaging sense of humor and insight far beyond the basketball court. From all appearances Greg Oden is a genuinely nice guy. The kind of guy the NBA can proudly market.
Share on Facebook100 Points: Wilt Chamberlain’s Indelible Mark Turns 50
Posted: 2nd March 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: 100 points, 50 years ago, Indelible marks, Wilt, Wilt Chamberlain
Growing up I devoured just about everything I could about sports. And reading about the story of Wilt’s 100 points was probably the first sports treasure that truly captured my imagination. It certainly hooked me on Wilt Chamberlain.
For those who don’t know the basic facts about that night, 50 years ago; the game was played in a little arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It was personally witnessed by a small crowd of just over 4 thousand people. It was Wilt’s 3rd season with the Philadelphia Warriors.
Share on FacebookJeremy Lin: The NBA’s Best Story In Years
Posted: 11th February 2012 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Harvard, Jeremy Lin, Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers, New York Knicks
Watching Carmelo Anthony, the woefully, underachieving “superstar” sitting on the sidelines in street clothes injured and cheering, made pulling for Jeremy Lin feel even better. If a “nobody” like Jeremy Lin can play so spectacularly and help the Knicks win games, why hasn’t Carmelo?
Share on FacebookNBA Labor Deal Ratified: But Start of New Season Suggests Old Habits Die Hard
Posted: 9th December 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: Chris Paul, Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, New Orleans Hornets, trade
Despite a new labor agreement, just ratified by owners and players, it appears the NBA has still not figured out that it is not in the league’s best interests to continue to promote stars over teams.
The league must find a way to raise the profile and prestige of smaller-market teams or risk even more devastating financial problems and conflicts in years to come.
Share on FacebookThe NBA Lockout: More Complicated Than it Seems
Posted: 1st July 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBATags: basketball, complicated, NBA, NBA lockout
At first glance its pretty easy to understand why NBA owners resorted to a lockout. Its about finding a way for team owners to protect themselves from their own actions. The lockout is also a way to close the ever-widening financial gap between large and small market teams, a gap that could destroy the gains the league has made in TV ratings, public perception and quality of play. But the truth is this lockout is much more complicated than one might think, and is not one that very easily can be blamed on well-paid players or their union.
Share on FacebookLeBron vs. Dirk Evokes Memories of Legendary Rivalry
Posted: 31st May 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, NBA FinalsTags: Dallas Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James, Miami Heat, NBA Finals
The NBA Finals which tipoff tonight, will feature the Miami Heat against the Dallas Mavericks, the two teams who through three playoff rounds have clearly proven to be the best in the world this year. That said, the real headliners of this series are the Heat’s LeBron James and Mavericks’ Dirk Nowitzki.
This match up is reminiscent of the classic Bird versus Magic rivalry more than 25 years ago – two of the league’s most important stars playing the best basketball of their careers.
Share on FacebookThe Butler Way: Time to Believe
Posted: 25th March 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, College Basketball, NCAA TournamentTags: Brad Stevens, Butler, Cinderella, Elite Eight, The Butler Way, Wisconsin
The Butler Way starts with players who actually believe in TEAM. No one player is bigger or better than the whole. The Butler Way is also about defense, swarming, suffocating, in-your-face, annoying defense. Butler held Big Ten powerhouse Wisconsin to just 27 points for the first 30 minutes of the game. Butler defenses the passing lanes better than any team in the nation. They also lead in floor burns.
Share on FacebookWere the Fab Five Authentically Black?
Posted: 19th March 2011 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, College Basketball, NCAA Tournament, Race, RacismTags: authentically black, documentary, Duke University, ESPN, Fab Five, Grant Hill, Jalen Rose, University of Michigan
I have some questions, you might too. What does it mean to be an African American today? And just who is authentically black? And do Uncle Toms still exist? Are you a racial sell-out if you happen to come from an affluent home instead of the inner city? Some of you might ask: Do we need to have this discussion? I think we do.
If ever there is a subject that needs re-airing, and re-evaluation in the black community it is this one. Jalen Rose gives voice to this in his recent ESPN documentary about what he and his famous “Fab Five” University of Michigan basketball teammates went through 20 years ago.
Share on FacebookBYU’s Tough Choice: Honor the Honor Code or Play to Win
Posted: 3rd March 2011 by DavidBurnett in Academics, Basketball, NCAA, NCAA TournamentTags: Brandon Davies, BYU, honor code, Jimmer Fredette, Suspension
A lot of folks outside the state of Utah are scratching their heads, wondering how it is that a consensual act of sex may well sideline a dream basketball season at Brigham Young University. For unmarried students at BYU, having sex constitutes a violation of the university’s ultra-strict honor code. Sophomore center and leading rebounder, Brandon Davies admitted to having sex with his girlfriend and has been suspended from the team for the remainder of the season, and pending further review, now faces dismissal from the university.
Share on Facebook2010: What a Year in Sports
Posted: 31st December 2010 by DavidBurnett in Basketball, football, Golf, NBA, NCAA Tournament, Quarterback, Tiger WoodsTags: Brett Favre, Butler, Cam Newton, concussions, Duke, Final Four, LeBron James, Michael Vick, Tiger Woods
This year challenged many of our beliefs about sports issues and the athletes who play the games. The highlights and the lowlights of 2010 offered us important insights into what athletes face, and what fans expect and are willing to accept. How the games are played and what we think about sports going forward will most certainly be shaped by what happened in 2010.
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