Message to David Stern and NBA officials from a fan
Posted: Sat Jan 26, 2008 5:02 pm
Hello David Stern and NBA officials,
After watching the Kings play the Jazz on Friday, Jan 25 2008 I am perplexed on how the Kings will be able to compete against other teams. Ron Artest was given two technical fouls in this game. The first was while banging with Carlos Boozer. Both men were banging their bodies trying to gain advantage in the paint. Their was some hooking of arms going on, then a Technical was called on Artest. Ron may have hooked arms a little more than Boozer but not by much. Then later Matt Harpring decked the Kings leading scorer, Kevin Martin with his body. Martin jumped up a little ticked off and Artest stepped between them. Harpring suddenly was less agressive. Some bumping went on then the Refs tossed Artest with his second technical.
So there is a double standard. Matt Harpring can deck smaller players and get just a foul. But if Ron Artest bumps larger players such as Boozer he gets a technical.
The technique Harpring used on Martin of slamming his body into Martins body is practiced extensively by players coached by Jerry Sloan. The Phil Jackson led Bulls and now the Lakers also use this body slamming defense. Another variation of it is to ride the player you are guarding with your body, Jordan & Pippen made a living with this and now so does Kobe Bryant. The BODY riding/slamming defense needs to be called evenly for both teams.
How can this be called a competition? In this case the Referees called the game to the advantage of the Jazz. The First Technical on Artest should have been a no call or maybe a double technical, if the Refs wanted to control physical play. The play where Harpring got a foul for knocking Martin to the floor with a body block should have been a flagrant or a technical on HARPRING!!!! But instead the Kings were penalized and Artest was tossed.
If the rules are not enforced even handed the NBA is no longer a competition but some sort of reality TV show that is a scripted sham.
Mr Stern if you allow the Refs to enforce the rules differently for different players, due to their past history, the NBA loses much of its dignity and becomes a form of wrassling.
Good day sir,
King Baller
After watching the Kings play the Jazz on Friday, Jan 25 2008 I am perplexed on how the Kings will be able to compete against other teams. Ron Artest was given two technical fouls in this game. The first was while banging with Carlos Boozer. Both men were banging their bodies trying to gain advantage in the paint. Their was some hooking of arms going on, then a Technical was called on Artest. Ron may have hooked arms a little more than Boozer but not by much. Then later Matt Harpring decked the Kings leading scorer, Kevin Martin with his body. Martin jumped up a little ticked off and Artest stepped between them. Harpring suddenly was less agressive. Some bumping went on then the Refs tossed Artest with his second technical.
So there is a double standard. Matt Harpring can deck smaller players and get just a foul. But if Ron Artest bumps larger players such as Boozer he gets a technical.
The technique Harpring used on Martin of slamming his body into Martins body is practiced extensively by players coached by Jerry Sloan. The Phil Jackson led Bulls and now the Lakers also use this body slamming defense. Another variation of it is to ride the player you are guarding with your body, Jordan & Pippen made a living with this and now so does Kobe Bryant. The BODY riding/slamming defense needs to be called evenly for both teams.
How can this be called a competition? In this case the Referees called the game to the advantage of the Jazz. The First Technical on Artest should have been a no call or maybe a double technical, if the Refs wanted to control physical play. The play where Harpring got a foul for knocking Martin to the floor with a body block should have been a flagrant or a technical on HARPRING!!!! But instead the Kings were penalized and Artest was tossed.
If the rules are not enforced even handed the NBA is no longer a competition but some sort of reality TV show that is a scripted sham.
Mr Stern if you allow the Refs to enforce the rules differently for different players, due to their past history, the NBA loses much of its dignity and becomes a form of wrassling.
Good day sir,
King Baller