Sorry Miami enjoy your championship...just a few quotes from around the country.............Note: I'm not saying I agree with these perspectives ... but here's a very fair sampling of the e-mails that drifted into my mailbox on Sunday night and Monday morning.
I do solemnly swear, this 19th day of June, 2006 that I will never watch an NBA game again. Everyone is supposed to say what a great game that was with a straight face? At least the WWE has the grace to give you a wink. If watching a man in a flak jacket and thigh pads repeatedly throw himself into defenders to draw foul calls is what passes for "competition," or better yet watching said man hit layups because no one can breathe on him, I believe I can live without [it]. Why would anyone follow a "sport" that employs Dick Bavetta and Stu Jackson? All that was missing was David Stern running onto the court with a steel chair, ABC execs in tow. Bill Simmons, I name thee prophet. It went down exactly as you said it would.
-- James, Richmond, Virginia
Twenty-five free-throw attempts is nonsense, not even MJ would have gotten some of those foul calls. And I'm not just saying this because I'm a bitter Pistons fan. Sixty-year-old officials should not be officiating 20-something-year-old professional athletes.
-- Paul, Detroit, Mich.
Have you ever, I mean EVER, seen a guy get more calls than Wade in Game 5? As staggering as it is to even think it, much less say it out loud, this surpasses the level of calls Jordan used to get in the playoffs. Simply AMAZING. I am a die-hard NBA fan, and I understand and accept the whole "stars get calls" factor, but this is an insane new level. Every time Wade falls down (even if not touched) he gets a call. You called it in your preview, the refs were gonna give some games to Miami, and they did.
-- Jonathan, Raleigh, N.C.
Please admit to everyone that the treatment Dwyane Wade is receiving is absolutely absurd. The final play in Game 5 summed it up: He commits a backcourt violation, pushes off on Terry, then goes wildly to the bucket and gets bailed out on a phantom foul call. Is what the NBA has to do to create its star of the future?
-- Mark, Chicago
I watch very little NBA basketball; however, as the playoffs have been playing out, I have found myself watching more and more games, becoming more interested. Then comes the Finals and I feel like I am watching pro wrestling, except I can fool myself into thinking those matches aren't fixed. At least it makes the NBA the easiest sport to gamble on.
-- Jeremy Louden, Cincinnati
I want to say something about Dwayne Wade, but I fear I may get called for a foul.
-- Warren, Ludington, Mich.
Unfortunately you were right that the NBA finals could come down to the officials. David Stern would rather choke to death on his own vomit than hand Mark Cuban the trophy. It's clear he instructed the refs to take an active interest in the outcomes of the games. Every time Wade drives the lane the refs call a foul on whoever is closest.
-- Jeff, Baltimore
After witnessing the Game 5 debacle, I am absolutely convinced that Stern is trying to fix the Finals for D-Wade and the Heat. Stackhouse's suspension, Dirk's phantom foul in OT, and then Joey Crawford's inexplicable call for a Mavs timeout -- it all adds up too perfectly. This could be a conspiracy as far-reaching as Watergate. I can already imagine the inevitable ESPN movie, "All The Commissioner's Men," where a stubborn, upstart young sports columnist brings down Stern and the entire NBA hierarchy. So, Simmons, the only question is: Will you be our Bob Woodward?
-- Robert P., Topeka, Kan.
All the comparisons between Wade and Jordan need to stop right now. There's no way Jordan would have gotten that call in the final seconds of Game 5.
-- Chris Richardson, Charleston
2006-06-22 16:47:26 · 9 answers · asked by djmantx 7 in Sports ➔ Basketball
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/060620
2006-06-22 16:48:18 · update #1
Oh my gosh! YES!!!! The Phoenix Suns were beat up for the first two rounds!!!! But we were rooting for Dallas during the Finals. I am so aggravated! This is crap that seriously needs to STOP!!!!! Ill always watch my Suns, but I cant ever watch a game without wanting to throw something at the tv. Nash is a double MVP and he doesn't get anything called for him ever,. Its just plain ridiculous.
2006-06-22 17:12:16 · answer #1 · answered by Barbarianmomma 2 · 8⤊ 0⤋
if the phantom call in game 5 goes uncalled as it should have, Miami most likely would not be a championship team right now.
oh, and nevermind the D Wade elbow to Dirks ribs in the closing minutes of game 6 that somehow was a foul on Dirk?!?!
2006-06-22 20:46:29 · answer #2 · answered by scratch7 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Wade got 97 free throw in the finals. Jordan never got more than 72 in a finals series. Nuff said
2006-06-22 17:20:19 · answer #3 · answered by dolfan 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
I was sick of the NBA long ago, and therefore was fortunate enough to not follow the Finals this year. We have the greatest basketball talent in the world, but don't often win anymore on international levels because our pro players don't play team basketball. They all seem to have the "It's all about me" thing going strong, and their ultimate goal is to get the #1 Top Play on SportsCenter.
So to hear that screwed-up stuff is going on in the NBA doesn't surprise me one bit!!!!
2006-06-22 17:18:43 · answer #4 · answered by frenchy62 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
No. Grow Up and Get OVER It!!
~luv Caramel-Heat's #1 Fan
2006-06-23 07:05:51 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋
yea but old kobe vs todays lebron isnt fair at all
2016-03-27 01:38:10 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
No. Name a sport where no controvesy exists and no errors are made.
2006-06-22 16:56:30 · answer #7 · answered by Fortuna 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
I'll just go with Fortuna.....
2006-06-23 03:30:13 · answer #8 · answered by ♥ ^Someone^ ♥ 3 · 2⤊ 1⤋
no
2006-06-22 17:02:27 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋