Daily Poll: When is foul not a fowl?

by Seth Pollack on Mar 13, 2009 1:25 PM MST in Phoenix Suns Commentary

Like that riddle? I have a 4th grader so don't get me started on these.

In last nights Suns vs Cavs tilt toward the middle of the 4th quarter Jason Richardson had a clear break away dunk and decided to go ~~360~~ 350 on it and in the process allowed the King James version of this year's MVP to catch up and "block" the ball.

It was clearly a foul but it wasn't called that way.

In my recap of the game I took out my frustration regarding that pivotal play on the guy with the ball and not the guy with the whistle. In the ensuing thoughtful discussion, I think I sensed frustration that I didn't blame the guy that blew the call (instead of the guy that blew the dunk).

We generally like democracy around here (at least we pretend to when it suits our purposes but like China we also aren't afraid to use the awesome power of the state when needed) so the polls are now open.

The play in question is YouTubed on the next page.

Watch. Think. Vote. Or die.

Answer: When it has stripes and a whistle

Poll

Who do you blame more for the result of the LeBron block on JRich's 350 dunk attempt?

LeBron...he should have been lazier and let the play go

11 votes

JRich...just finish the play and save the showboating for warmups

213 votes

The Zebra...a foul is foul always and forever...always and forever

127 votes

The Gorilla....he's set the bar too high and now everyone feels they need to rise up and entertain

26 votes

377 votes | Poll has closed

Tweet Comment 19 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Wow..

So honestly people think that the .3 seconds it took for jrich to start spinning would have made a difference in that block? Maybe Lebron wouldn’t have fouled him and he would have missed the dunk? I don’t understand the logic here. What happened happened. J-Rich DID attempt to make a nice dunk. Lebron DID foul him clearly. How can you turn your head and accept that this wasn’t called a foul. Especially since it turned into a 5 point turn around on your phoenix Suns and ultimately killed all spirit they possessed….. Those of you voting J-RICH to dunk in a boring normal Tim Duncan sort of way may be correct. But I don’t see anything in the rule book about not calling a foul if one player is attempting a 360 dunk during a breakaway play? Do you think that if that was Lebron James / Kobe Bryant or some one of that nature the call would have been missed? Absolutely not.

" I'm going to root for the Suns when they are winning or losing, but when losing I will point and blame the failing economy on the Referees."- Me.

by antiw0rm on Mar 13, 2009 1:49 PM MST reply actions

yeah, your right I think

I see it too often, there’s a few players in this league that almost always get the benefit of the call…
duncan, wade, lebron, kobe are the biggest I can think of, but I’m sure there’s a few others…on the flip side…players that rarely get the call…

amare, shaq (he’s unique…he actually has nights where he’s on the other side of the coin…strangely enough)…etc

by be-the-ball on Mar 14, 2009 10:38 AM MST up reply actions

This is revealing

You have inadvertantly (I think) illustrated the difference between a democracy and an orderly, freely flowing society, of which I sincerely hope we live in the latter. So let’s change the structure of the league according to how everyone votes.

I for one think there should be a team in Butte, Montana, and I think all of the other teams should subsidize it (actually, this is not far from a true scenario when you consider the (in)viability of the WNBA).

April 29, 2008 Total Eclipse of the Sun. Is the sky falling?

by Hawk42 on Mar 13, 2009 2:08 PM MST reply actions

I think David Stern

was a Chinese bureaucrat in his former life

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Mar 13, 2009 3:06 PM MST up reply actions

If you can fill an arena every night...

You might get the Sacramento Kings. Of, course, naming yourself the Butte Kings might generate a few giggles.

PSN ID- presbot

by presbot on Mar 13, 2009 3:10 PM MST up reply actions

yes...it did

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Mar 13, 2009 3:33 PM MST up reply actions

J rich should have just thrown it down like everyone else, but Lebron shouldn’t get away with that.

by Bostwik on Mar 13, 2009 2:50 PM MST reply actions

The dunk

Well I got two issues here. First, a foul is a foul. There isn’t any two ways around it. All LeBron did was run to the hole and grab JRich’s arm. It was blatant and it was something the ref’s could have seen and called. If they aren’t going to call stuff like this then why have them? Admundsen got called for a foul when he “waved” at a LeBron dispy doodle shot. Admundsen completely missed him. On bang bang stuff I get it that it can be hard but that’s why they are there.

Second was LeBron’s comments after the game. He said, it was all ball. Come on. I play a lot of pickup games and I know a foul when I commit it. Had LeBron admitted that he got away with one I would have respected it more. As it is, that and the hustling for the boards at the end of the game (“What triple double?”) just made me respect the dude less.

by LA Eric on Mar 13, 2009 4:18 PM MST reply actions

Haha..

Yeah I mentioned the same thing at the end of the in-game thread about Lebron and his denial of both the foul and knowing about the triple double. Seriously? Everyone knows you’re the best in the league. Grow up and admit when you got away with something.

by brian13 on Mar 13, 2009 4:33 PM MST up reply actions

Truehoop's take...

Pretty interesting. It makes me wonder why my reaction was more severe in the Rudy instance, and I can only come up with because he got injured.

PSN ID- presbot

by presbot on Mar 13, 2009 5:02 PM MST reply actions

Here

PSN ID- presbot

by presbot on Mar 13, 2009 5:03 PM MST reply actions

I didn't see the J-rich dunk-attempt due to sleep

But one thing I saw was the goaltend on LeBron when Barbosa shot the ball. It was a GREAT play by Lebron, showcasing his physical ability. But they only showed it once, and that was live, and from what I saw it was a goaltend. The ball was at the top of its arc and appeared to begin its downward path when the ball was splattered by James’ big hand. Of course it was NOT a goaltend as Lebron was not charged with one, and I guess someone thought it was a goaltend and didn’t want to embarass the King, so they didn’t bother showing the replay of what should have been a highlight. Maybe it was on ESPN.

Ever notice that when there is a foul and it’s not called, and the play is a pivitol or exciting play, there is almost NEVER an instant replay? Conspiracy?

Take care of the little things, and the big things will take care of themselves.

by SunDolphin on Mar 13, 2009 6:01 PM MST reply actions

random question:

plz humor me, it doesnt even warrant a fan post, and its not phoenix-related. if the rockets advance to the second round, can we still say t-mac never made the 2nd round of the playoffs, since technically he is still a part of the team?

by ryansunsfan on Mar 13, 2009 6:58 PM MST reply actions

I don't know how anyone can blame J-Rich

If he would’ve gotten the dunk it would’ve brought the house down. Great hustle by LeBron, but that doesn’t stop it from being a foul. Same with Wade’s block on Grant where he body checked him into the basket. Refs are too scared to blow their whistles and most casual fans are just excited about the highlight play by that guy from the commericals.

Just more bullshit super star calls we’ve got to live with now that we’re not in Stern’s “Fave Five”.

by hcblankscreen on Mar 13, 2009 7:32 PM MST reply actions

Say what you want

about Tim Donaghy, There’s plenty of truth to his accusations. That’s why whenever David Stern talk about “preserving the integrity” of the game, I always feel like breaking something.

"I can shoot with my left hand, I can shoot with my right hand, I'm amphibious"

by Diosnomeama on Mar 13, 2009 9:01 PM MST reply actions

So the foul is the after thought?....

How the h3ll are you going to blame JR for missing the dunk. Had he not had LeBron hack his arm, he would have been all over espn for a great dunk. Media outlets need to get their priorities checked. If refs keep babying LeBron, he’s going to end up like Jordan, where he can do no wrong. Please, let them play the game. Don’t worry about the NBA’s golden boy. Let him work just as hard as the rest of them. (By the way, LeBron, you are a liar. JR’s arm wouldn’t feel anything like the ball.)

by Tmiller on Mar 14, 2009 12:40 AM MST reply actions

In context, not a foul

By definition yes. But I can’t blame the refs for not calling it. What upset me was LeBron claiming, after the game that he got “all ball!” What a joke!

Why are you an azFan? Become one today at azFans.com!

by azFans on Mar 14, 2009 2:42 PM MST reply actions

Maybe

JRich’s hand feel like leather?

Blogging Suns Basketball

by Seth Pollack on Mar 14, 2009 3:37 PM MST up reply actions

Noooo.....Maybe Lebron's hand IS leather

So he has no sensation at all; completely no sense of touch. That explains his jump shot, and his inability to tell the difference between a round leather ball and a black man’s arm.

I blame J-Rich for not finishing the play despite getting fouled.
I blame LeBrawn for fouling J-Rich and lying about it being “all ball”.
I blame the refs for not calling that super-obvious foul.
I blame David Stern for ruining my favourite sport.

by felixthm on Mar 15, 2009 1:08 AM MST reply actions